Connect the Dots - Old Habits and New Patterns

September has been all about change.  The change of seasons, back to school time changes, making changes in our lives and recognizing changes that need to be made.  We've had so much great content this month, its hard to choose which blog posts to highlight here.

At the beginning of the month we focused on National Yoga Month with a great series of introduction snapshots to Mind Key Affiliate Thames Street Yoga, staring with a profile of the owner, Kyla Rose Maher.  Check out what Kyla had to say about her wonderful instructors.  Each "snapshot" provides bios for two of the great and varied yoga instructors at Thames Street Yoga. Gentle Instructors for a Creative Workout, Holding Space for Growth, Devotion and Energy as a Spiritual Path and Running with Instructors. We also heard from Lisa with some great info about the connection between postures and paradigm.

During Building a Better You week, we featured many stories of making yourself important and positive thinking.  In Self Kindness, Tamara talked about how positive self talk has really made a difference in her life.  Sarah realized that being her most authentic self is important through a Facebook quiz in Your most authentic self.  Danielle gives us great tips and tricks for feeding the fam in Back to School snacks that break the mold.

New Patterns for Old Issues week brought us to talk about child-driven learning, the many benefits of yoga  and being important to yourself, because if you're not important to you, how can you be important to others?

Thinking Outside the Box week brought us to the beginning of Autumn with Bring in new energy for spring now, the creativity of an event to paint your own yoga mat and some helpful information about the Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping).


In October, we'll be transitioning to the Harvest.  How can you harvest what you've sown over the summer or in your life in general? How the harvest season effects you and the environment, traditions surrounding the harvest and October in general and harvesting your talent in ways that can be beneficial to your life.  Stick with us, its going to be a great ride!

Running with instructors--Thames Street Yoga Highlight #4

In honor of National Yoga Month, and our September issue of old habits, new patterns, we'll be highlighting instructors at Thames Street Yoga in Newport, RI.  Whether you're into yoga, or just curious, Kyla tells the story of each class from an informative and entertaining down-to-earth perspective.
 

By Kyla Rose Maher


Rebecca Polan - Friday Morning 8AM Express, Friday 9:30AM Restorative and Yin

Rebecca Polan

Another 8 am class I have yet to get to.  Sara said this: “When I take any of Rebecca’s classes I always leave thinking…I LOVE HER! She is sweet and gentle but at the same time her classes are physically challenging.  I love how playful she is and how she can laugh at herself. Her knowledge of the body is really evident in her teaching style.”

Danielle Putier

Danielle Putier - Tuesday 8AM Express

Danielle is a Fiona Apple doppleganger and a soft spoken gentle teacher who immediately puts you at ease.  She told the class she is a recent graduate of Patti’s teacher training, but really I would have never known. I loved the morning practice and how gracefully she led us through each posture.





Kara Discenza - Monday 8am Morning Flow Community Express

Kara Discenza

I haven’t been able to get my tush up for the Monday morning yet, but Sara did and loved it.  Here’s what she said: “When I walked into Kara’s class she immediately welcomed me with her warm smile. Her 8AM class is a perfect way to start the day. She has a very gentle light way about her as she teaches.” Plus, she’s a total yoga babe!








 Thames Street Yoga
198 Thames Street  |  Newport, RI  |  02840
EMail  |  401-374-2553

Devotion and energy as a spiritual path--Thames Street Yoga Highlight #3

In honor of National Yoga Month, and our September issue of old habits, new patterns, we'll be highlighting instructors at Thames Street Yoga in Newport, RI.  Whether you're into yoga, or just curious, Kyla tells the story of each class from an informative and entertaining down-to-earth perspective.
 

By Kyla Rose Maher

Erin Coonan - Thursday 5:30PM Vinyasa, Saturday 8AM Express

Erin is awesome.  Smart, real, constantly aware of the entire room.  Ready to jump in with a witty joke but still bringing it back to spirituality in a grounded way.  She started the class by translating the ever thrown around “set an intention” as “why are you here”?  I loved that.  Lots of great energy in her class, I can tell why she’s so popular! Sara summed it up by saying “I pretty much loved everything about her and her class and can’t wait to come back next Thursday and the Thursday after that.”



Patti Confort - Thursday 9:30AM Vinyasa

Oh how I love Patti C.!  A beautiful, well thought out, and balanced sequence along with her dry sense of humor made for a really enjoyable class.  She says these very funny, quirky remarks with a serious face - but the twinkle in her eye lets you know she’s so not serious and that she’s full of love.  She told me in an e-mail “I am basically a humorless mathematician who just recently turned toward the yogic path” and she went on to tell me that yoga changed her life.  You can sense that devotion from her in her class, which I love and can relate to.

Thames Street Yoga
198 Thames Street  |  Newport, RI  |  02840
EMail  |  401-374-2553

Holding space for growth--Thames Street Yoga highlight #2

In honor of National Yoga Month, and our September issue of old habits, new patterns, we'll be highlighting instructors at Thames Street Yoga in Newport, RI.  Whether you're into yoga, or just curious, Kyla tells the story of each class from an informative and entertaining down-to-earth perspective.
 

By Kyla Rose Maher

Gretchen Peterson - Tuesday 9:30AM Community Yoga ($5)

Gretchen Peterson

Gretchen is just cool. Cool outfit, cool music.  Very easy going.  There was an older woman who came into the class looking very nervous and said “I don’t know if this class is right for me.  I’m not a kid!” - Gretchen looked at her with a smile and said “don’t worry, neither am I!” and then welcomed her into the space. We started with simple stretches, then got to some harder stuff and ended with some left nostril breathing. Throughout the class she gave interesting tidbits of spiritual wisdom - like, who knew your fingers represent your self esteem?  And YAY for yummy smell savasana head rubs.  Thank you, Gretchen.



Lori Pagliaroni - Monday 5:30 Heated Vinyasa II, Monday 7PM Dharma Mittra, Wednesday 9:30 Heated Vinyasa, Saturday 9:30 Heated Vinyasa

Lori Pagliaroni

This woman lives and breathes yoga.  When you go to her class it’s immediately evident that she has an incredibly strong practice and is a seasoned teacher.  She’s intense, in the best possible way. She teaches four different styles of yoga at studios all over the place.  One of the things I love about Lori is that it doesn’t matter if she’s teaching a small intimate four person class, or a mat-to-mat packed high energy session - she puts her whole heart into every time. When she teaches she projects!  She’s five-foot-nothing, but you would never guess with the amount of power that comes out of this little lady. She calls every pose like she MEANS IT. and SHE DOES! She’s not shy when it comes to adjusting either.  I loved her confidence in my body.  Wow.  Sara agreed and said, “She is tiny and fierce! Do not be fooled by her sweet demeanor because she holds a space and teaches a class that will kick your booty.”

Thames Street Yoga
198 Thames Street  |  Newport, RI  |  02840
EMail  |  401-374-2553

Gentle instructors for a creative workout--Thames Street Yoga highlight #1

In honor of National Yoga Month, and our September issue of old habits, new patterns, we'll be highlighting instructors at Thames Street Yoga in Newport, RI.  Whether you're into yoga, or just curious, Kyla tells the story of each class from an informative and entertaining down-to-earth perspective.


By Kyla Rose Maher

Patti Doyle - Sunday 8:30AM Vinyasa, Sunday 10AM Heated Vinyasa II

I think I can safely say that the jury is in about the owner of Thames Street Yoga, Patti D; and the they’ve found her guilty of being totally awesome! The few classes I attended have been super creative and masterfully crafted - we go from one place to another, and then boom - my leg goes there, arm there, swoop - and wow I’m upside down before I know it! Her soothing voice, down to earth yet stylish demeanor, and incredible attention to each student, makes her classes challenging in the most gratifying way.  She gave me a foot massage in one of the classes - I would have paid $15 just for that!  My boyfriend is actually getting jealous because I talk so much about how cool this woman really is.  We’ll leave it at that. Two words from Sara: “SO GOOD”

Greg - Friday 6PM Happy Hour Yoga, Sunday 6PM Community Yoga ($5)

This guy is a paradox, and I mean that as a compliment. Green Beret Special Forces Sergeant Major in the army and probably the most gentle and sweet man you’ll ever meet.  He’s got a caring voice, an honest approach, and he ain’t bad looking…so that makes for a pleasant yoga class! I first went to his Monday 9:30 class which was slow, flowing, and easy to follow.  He’s the type of teacher that fixes your shirt before giving you an adjustment - very polite! He closes the class by saying something like “thank you for letting me serve” - and I do believe he’s one of those people that genuinely wants to be of service to others.

Thames Street Yoga
198 Thames Street  |  Newport, RI  |  02840
EMail  |  401-374-2553