Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Newsday Comes to Yoga Rocks!

On Monday, December 8th, Newsday reporter, Anne Machalinski, came to Yoga Rocks to take a class and spread the news about Yoga Rocks!

Check us out in this exclusive Explore LI video shoot! Yoga Rocks Long Island!





Thank you to our amazing yoga community for supporting Yoga Rocks!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

KIDS HALLOWEEN PARTY & FUNDRAISER FOR JDRF - A SUCCESS!









As a fundraising event for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Yoga Rocks held a special Halloween Party for kids and families on Friday, October 24th from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.

Kids and Yoga Rocks Kids yoga teachers dressed up as the kids participated in fun activities such as "Mummy Wrap Up", Spooky Crafts, Halloween healthy treats, stickers, games, and more!








The party was a huge success! Yoga Rocks is pleased to be a sponsor for JDRF, a Jeannine's cousin Nicholas, age 5, was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at age 3.

Jeannine also works collaboratively with the Winthrop Hospital Juvenile Diabetes Wellness Program offering yoga to kids and their families as part of their program.

Yoga Rocks will now hold this wonderful party each year as a Annual Event.

Coming soon....Yoga on Ice, a Winter Wonderland event for Kids!

Registration for the Winter-Spring Semester begins November 2oth.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

The Untethered Soul & The Yoga of Happiness

Dear Readers,

Here is an except from the new book, The Untethered Soul, by Michael A. Singer.

This is so important during times like these and I wanted to share this incredible piece with you.

Excerpt from Chapter 15:
The Path of Unconditional Happiness

The highest spiritual path is life itself. If you know how to live daily life, it all becomes a liberating experience. But first you have to approach life properly, or it can be very confusing. To begin with, you have to realize that you really only have one choice in this life, and it’s not about your career, whom you want to marry, or whether you want to seek God. People tend to burden themselves with so many choices. But, in the end, you can throw it all away and just make one basic, underlying decision: Do you want to be happy, or do you not want to be happy? It’s really that simple. Once you make that choice, your path through life becomes totally clear.

Most people don’t dare give themselves that choice because they think it’s not under their control. Someone might say, “Well, of course I want to be happy, but my wife left me.” In other words, they want to be happy, but not if their wife leaves them. But that wasn’t the question. The question was, very simply, “Do you want to be happy or not?” If you keep it that simple, you will see that it really is under your control. It’s just that you have a deep-seated set of preferences that gets in the way.

Let’s say you’ve been lost and without food for days, and you finally find your way to a house. You can hardly make it to the doorstep, but you manage to pull yourself up and knock on the door. Somebody opens the door, looks at you and says, “Oh my God! You poor thing! Do you want something to eat? What would you like?” Now the truth is, you really don’t care what they give you. You don’t even want to think about it. You just utter the word “food.” And because you really mean it when you say you need food, it no longer has anything to do with your mental preferences. The same goes for the question about happiness. The question is simply “Do you want to be happy?” If the answer is really yes, then say it without qualifying it. After all, what the question really means is “Do you want to be happy from this point forward for the rest of your life, regardless of what happens?”

Now, if you say yes, it might happen that your wife leaves you, or your husband dies, or the stock market crashes, or your car breaks down on an open highway at night. Those things might happen between now and the end of your life. But if you want to walk the highest spiritual path, then when you answer yes to that simple question, you must really mean it. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. It’s not a question of whether your happiness is under your control. Of course it’s under your control. It’s just that you don’t really mean it when you say you’re willing to stay happy. You want to qualify it. You want to say that as long as this doesn’t happen, or as long as that does happen, then you’re willing to be happy. That’s why it seems like it is out of your control. Any condition you create will limit your happiness. You simply aren’t going to be able to control things and keep them the way you want them.

You have to give an unconditional answer. If you decide that you’re going to be happy from now on for the rest of your life, you will not only be happy, you will become enlightened. Unconditional happiness is the highest technique there is. You don’t have to learn Sanskrit or read any scriptures. You don’t have to renounce the world. You just have to really mean it when you say that you choose to be happy. And you have to mean it regardless of what happens. This is truly a spiritual path, and it is as direct and sure a path to Awakening as could possibly exist. Once you decide you want to be unconditionally happy, something inevitably will happen that challenges you. This test of your commitment is exactly what stimulates spiritual growth. In fact, it is the unconditional aspect of your commitment that makes this the highest path. It’s so simple. You just have to decide whether or not you will break your vow. When everything is going well, it’s easy to be happy. But the moment something difficult happens, it’s not so easy. You tend to find yourself saying, “But I didn’t know this was going to happen. I didn’t think I’d miss my flight. I didn’t think Sally would show up at the party wearing the same dress that I had on. I didn’t think that somebody would dent my brand-new car one hour after I got it.” Are you really willing to break your vow of happiness because these events took place?

Billions of things could happen that you haven’t even thought of yet. The question is not whether they will happen. Things are going to happen. The real question is whether you want to be happy regardless of what happens. The purpose of your life is to enjoy and learn from your experiences. You were not put on Earth to suffer.

You’re not helping anybody by being miserable. Regardless of your philosophical beliefs, the fact remains that you were born and you are going to die. During the time in between, you get to choose whether or not you want to enjoy the experience. Events don’t determine whether or not you’re going to be happy. They’re just events. You determine whether or not you’re going to be happy. You can be happy just to be alive. You can be happy having all these things happen to you, and then be happy to die. If you can live this way, your heart will be so open and your Spirit will be so free, that you will soar up to the heavens.

This path leads you to absolute transcendence because any part of your being that would add a condition to your commitment to happiness has got to go. If you want to be happy, you have to let go of the part of you that wants to create melodrama. This is the part that thinks there’s a reason not to be happy. You have to transcend the personal, and as you do, you will naturally awaken to the higher aspects of your being. In the end, enjoying life’s experiences is the only rational thing to do. You’re sitting on a planet spinning around in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Go ahead, take a look at reality. You’re floating in empty space in a universe that goes on forever. If you have to be here, at least be happy and enjoy the experience. You’re going to die anyway. Things are going to happen anyway. Why shouldn’t you be happy? You gain nothing by being bothered by life’s events. It doesn’t change the world; you just suffer. There’s always going to be something that can bother you, if you let it.

This choice to enjoy life will lead you through your spiritual journey. In truth, it is itself a spiritual teacher. Committing yourself to unconditional happiness will teach you every single thing there is to learn about yourself, about others, and about the nature of life. You will learn all about your mind, your heart, and your will. But you have to mean it when you say that you’ll be happy for the rest of your life. Every time a part of you begins to get unhappy, let it go. Work with it. Use affirmations, or do whatever you need to do to stay open. If you are committed, nothing can stop you. No matter what happens, you can choose to enjoy the experience. If they starve you and put you in solitary confinement, just have fun being like Gandhi. No matter what happens, just enjoy the life that comes to you.

As difficult as that sounds, what’s the benefit of not doing it? If you’re totally innocent and they lock you up, you might as well have fun. What good does it do to not have fun? It doesn’t change anything. In the end, if you stay happy, you win. Make that your game, and just stay happy no matter what.

Copyright ©2007 by Michael A. Singer

I'd love for you to post a comment and let me know what you think of this!
Jeannie

Friday, August 22, 2008

Yoga Rocks Kids Summer Yoga Camp - A BLAST!






Today we completed our second week of Kids Yoga Camp at Yoga Rocks. The kids and teachers had such a great time learning poses, creative movements, breathing techniques, games, crafts, songs, and more!






We held the Kids Camp for one week in July and one week in August. Next year we will hold four weeks during the summer.

We all look forward to Kids Camp during the vacation/holiday weeks too!

FALL REGISTRATION ONGOING NOW. The Kids Fall Session begins September 15th.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Yoga Rocks Sponsors Olympic Trainees



For a few months now we have been sponsoring a local woman who is training for the Olympic trials in Racewalking, Loretta Schuellein-McGovern. Some of you may know her and her world-champion husband, Dave, in our classes. This has been an exciting aspect to Yoga Rocks and we have kept it quiet so they can join in classes and receive the full yoga experience without distractions.

Their trials are SUNDAY, JULY 6 and are being filmed for a documentary film on Racewalking and their CAMERA CREW will be filming them at Yoga Rocks on WEDNESDAY NIGHT, June 25th during the 7:30 pm class!

I am counting on you to be at the studio to support this event. It is not going to highlight you doing yoga. It will be focused on them during the class.

Please support this event and Yoga Rocks by coming down and bringing along anyone you know who would like to participate in this event!

LET'S ALL SUPPORT OUR OLYMPIC ATHLETES BY BEING PRESENT FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY!

BEST OF LUCK LORETTA!


Jeannine

Monday, June 23, 2008

Kids Yogs Show - A Success!

On June 14, 2008, Yoga Rocks Kids held their First Annual Kids Yoga Showcase - the first one of its kind! All teachers were present for this exciting event: Miss Jeannine, Miss Jessica, Miss Alie, and Miss Dawn.





The kids practiced their special sequence of poses all year along with specific poses to showcase as their "solo event."







Parents and friends gathered to watch and at the end of the show were asked to participate in a special Three Wishes Peace Candle Circle together creating positive thoughts and affirmations for health, happiness, and peace for everyone.



We look forward to the Kids Yoga Program next year as Yoga Rocks Kids grows and expands into schools, daycare centers, preschools, the girl scouts, and more!

If you would like to learn more about teaching the Yoga Rocks Kids program, contact us at 516.624.9642.

Bow Wow Yoga Rocks!

On June 14, 2008, Yoga Rocks teamed up with Mixed Breeds in Need, a local organization that provides a voice for animal welfare and shelter for animals. Mixed Breeds in need held a special event and featured Lauren Kane, from Yoga Rocks, performing BOW WOW YOGA!

GO LAUREN!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A Message from Jeannine

This message was written as an email in my newsletter that we send out a few times each month. I wanted to post it as a blog entry in case you are not receiving our emails yet. If you would like to receive our emails, sign up on our Home Page at www.yogarocks.us.

Please comment below because I love hearing from you!

JOY & PURPOSE
The Practice of Daily Yoga


I write to you again from my home tonight after being inspired during my Yoga Fusion class this evening. As I was teaching, I began to explain why it is vital to practice yoga on an everyday basis. We all know that exercising is good for you and of course we should do it everyday, but with yoga it is a little bit different.

Well, maybe a LOT different.

Yoga is, in and of itself, a complete practice. It really is all you need....that is, when practiced daily, working through postures, learning how to do them correctly and moving yourself to the next level.

But even more, yoga makes your body feel lighter. When you breathe deeply in each pose, more space is created within each muscle, gland, and cell and the vibration of your body is heightened. You feel a buzz, a uplifting sensation, a newfound happiness.

And in times like these, especially of late, with so many fears and anxieties developing around finances, the economy, politics, the environment, it is easy to be affected by low energy, low vibrational thoughts and fears, and negativity.

SO EASY!

You see, there are other ways to numb yourself from these occurrences (and you probably know what those are!), but what yoga does, is KEEP YOUR VIBRATION AT A HIGH LEVEL.

You don't have to live with the pain, stress, and anxiety anymore!

Daily yoga keeps you feeling alive, happy, and energetic.

Many of you are now seeing the benefits of a daily yoga practice and have never looked better. We can see it in you not only physically, but energetically and emotionally. It is beautiful.

What will it take for you to make yoga your lifestyle?

Most of us resist change until we are in too much pain to ingore it any longer. But why wait until then? Haven't you had enough? Prevent pain, prevent anxiety, and prevent stress by practicing now.

Keep your mat out in your room. Just start doing it! Begin again, when you forget. But don't waste a single minute! Live your life at a "10!"

This is living at a higher level, a happier level, where you can access JOY.

It is said that when you have JOY and PURPOSE, you have everything.

It is a choice you must make everyday.

What will you do? How will you choose to live?

With the world events unfolding as they are, I refuse to be affected by the fear and negativity.

Sure, I can begin the fearful dialogue in my head....

"What will happen to my business? Will it be affected by the economy? What if? What if? What if???????"

But that is not my purpose.

My purpose is not to fear change. My purpose to to create and educate. My purpose is to uplift and inspire. To do something to help. To be a light for others. (And when I forget this by the way (and I do sometimes!!!) , I remind myself to get on that mat and practice once again!

I want you to be at ease during these times. I want you to find solace at the studio and be able to practice regardless of what is going on in the world.

I will keep my fees at low rates and not raise them at this time so that you can feel good about keeping your practice going. I will support you in every way I can so that you are attaining all of the benefits that daily yoga gives you. I will give you the best classes and teachers possible. Everyone at Yoga Rocks is committed to this.

And this is my purpose. This is my joy. This is why I do yoga. Yoga has led me to a new way of living, breathing and being.

So....

Do yoga because it's good for you.

Do yoga because it gives you what you cannot get anywhere else, from anything or anyone else. You just can't. There is nothing else like yoga. It is complete.

Do yoga because within its magic, you will learn how to live your life with more joy and more purpose a little bit more every single day for you and for our world.

And then....do something wonderful and let me know what happens for you......I'd love to hear all about it!

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Jeannine gets published!

Check it out!

A writer from Delaware found me online and asked me for an interview. She asked me about kids yoga and her article was published. This is my very first media exposure!

Read the article here:
www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080317/PARENT/803170301/1128."

Thursday, March 13, 2008

The New Look of Yoga Rocks



Our new logo is strong and vibrant. It communicates a feeling of being grounded in the present moment. It is the here and now. It is a statement that proclaims a better world for us all in the very near future. That time is now.

Yes, yoga rocks! It makes you feel better than ever before. Well, that is, when you practice and live it everyday.

Feel the flow.
Feel alive.
Get motivated
and
live your best life now
at Yoga Rocks!

EASE INTO SPRING!



Log onto our website at www.yogarocks.us for FREE YOGA AND HEALTH TIPS for spring.

You can also see our SPRING SCHEDULE AND UPCOMING EVENTS!

Friday, February 01, 2008

Yoga + Cooking = A Balanced Life!

On January 31st, Yoga Rocks and The Health Conscious Chef, Kathryn Bari-Petritis teamed up to offer the first of a four-part series of cooking classes.

The class was held at Appliance World in Oyster Bay, directly across from Yoga Rocks Yoga Center.

Kathryn was amazing and handed out a beautiful folder of recipes and tips for making Nutrient Rich Soups. This class focused on warming soups for winter.

Kathryn was so knowledgeable and everyone got to take home samples of the soups and some yummy wheat-free muffins and carrot bread!

Our next Yoga + Cooking workshop will be Thursday, February 28th with a focus on heart-healthy, fat-flushing foods.

Call to register as space is limited to 12 participants.

516-624-YOGA (9642)

Yoga Rocks Girl Scouts!



At Yoga Rocks, we hold tons of classes for Girl Scout and Brownie Troops all year long. You can come to us or we will come to your school or location. Check us out in the Possibilities Catalog to see more about our awesome program for your troops!

We offer you the BEST in yoga for kids on Long Island and beyond!

YOGA DAY USA 2008


On January 26, 2008, Yoga Rocks held a special event in honor of National Yoga Day USA! All classes were free for members who brought in a new friend or family member. All classes were free for new members.

We offer this event each year to participate in this national event to help spread the awareness and benefits of yoga nationwide!

GO YOGA ROCKS!

We held classes for beginners and intermediate students as well as a very popular Family Yoga Class!