new weekly class schedule flier

Nicole Mark Yoga

Balancing effort (tapas) and contentment (santosha) in Hatha Yoga 1

In my Hatha Yoga 1 classes this month, we will focus on balancing effort (tapas) and contentment (santosha) by way of practicing the balancing poses. The physical postures of hatha yoga are metaphors, so whatever happens on our mat can tell us something about what is happening in our lives if we listen deeply to the quiet voice of the heart. Our efforts (tapas) to attain physical balance in our yoga asana practice help us to cultivate more balance in our lives outside of the yoga studio, off the mat. Effort is different from struggling, striving, or pushing. Effort is using our energy purposefully and mindfully to move towards a goal while being content (santosha) with where we are physically, today, at this moment. One of my teachers, Ti Harmony, often summarizes the relationship between effort and contentment by saying, “Everything is perfect, but there’s always room for improvement.” Join me for this exploration on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm and Saturdays at 12:30pm at Triangle Yoga.

Flier for my new class, Lil Asana, which begins Oct. 3!

lilasana

Autumn's almost here!

As the new season approaches, lots of transitions and changes are happening.  My yoga practice helps me maintain my equanimity as I transition from one role to another at work, as I perform household chores and try to allocate my financial resources wisely, as I take on new yoga teaching gigs (more about those in a bit), and as I try to remember to do everything with a sincere intention to be of service.

Some highlights from recent weeks:

• The lovely Lila Donnolo taught a super fun Partner Yoga workshop at Open Heart Yoga School while she was in town teaching AcroYoga at the Flowjo.  John and I both had a blast.  We met some new people, got a great workout, and deepened our connection to each other--all at the same time!  The experience got me really excited about playful ways of experiencing movement, so I've signed up for an aerial dance class at the Flowjo beginning on Sept. 28.  
• Jonathan Safran Foer came to UNC's Memorial Hall to talk about his book, Eating Animals.  If you haven't read it, it's a wonderful examination of the American way of raising and eating animals from the days of traditional animal husbandry to the current systems of agribusiness and factory farming.  If it leaves you really inspired to change the world one plate at a time, or if you just want to try a healthier way of eating, join the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, starting tomorrow.        
• Veda Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training is winding down, with only two weekends left!  I'm excited to be graduating, but I will miss meeting regularly with the amazing group of yogis I've been on this journey with since March.  As I work to complete the course's writing assignments and re-read my notes as I plan my yoga classes, I realize just how much I've grown during the course of the training, and how much more I want to learn.  At the end of October, during Halloween/Moogfest weekend, I'll be taking the Radiant Child training at Asheville Yoga Center between electronic music shows and frolicking about the city with John.  Another long teacher training is definitely on the horizon.  The question is, which one and when?  Maybe Jivamukti...

Yoga teaching updates:

• Caroline Kilaru and I will be co-teaching a FREE yoga class at Wilson Park in Carrboro on SUNDAYS from 8-9 am starting next Sunday, Sept. 11.
• I'll be teaching a second children's yoga class, Lil' Asana for ages 4-10, on MONDAYS from 4-5:15pm at Open Heart Yoga School in Carrboro beginning October 3.  
• I'll continue to teach Kids Yoga for ages 3-5 from 11am-noon on SATURDAYS and Hatha Yoga 1 from 12:30-2pm on SATURDAYS at Triangle Yoga during the fall session.  The new session begins on Sept. 17.  Please e-mail me at nicolelilyoga@gmail.com if you have any questions about any of the classes.    

Love to you all!

My friend Cab in tree pose, then drawing at the end of class.  So sweet! 

Summer photoblog part 2

Mom and I took a mother/daughter weekend trip to Wilmington, NC.

We enjoyed the sun, sand, and surf at Wrightsville Beach...

We successfully avoided tsunamis...

And we ate.  A lot.

Summer photoblog part 1

I had my first Padron pepper at a farm dinner at Foster's Market.

Our farmer friend Alex told me shishito peppers are very similar, so I cooked some up at home!

Bounty from a recent trip to the Carrboro Farmers' Market

My new Kona, a birthday gift from John.

John's sweet niece Kensie turned 3!

Swiss chard from the Carrboro Farmers Market

spring!

The first time I ever visited Chapel Hill and Carrboro was in April of 2007 with my beautiful mother Alexis, about a year before I moved here.  The Carolina blue sky, balmy temperatures, and wealth of good food and places to practice yoga won me over immediately.  A job at UNC and a perfect living situation in Hillsborough with my friend Charna sealed the deal--I was moving here.  I arrived at Charna's beautiful home on April 20, 2008, after midnight, exhausted and exhilarated.  A lot has happened over the past three years, but moving to North Carolina was the best decision I've ever made.
April is still the most beautiful month in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.  Everything is bursting with spring energy!
It's been a fantastic couple of weeks:

Yoga teacher training is going fabulously well.  I am learning about yoga poses, but I am learning so much more about myself.  Big thanks to Allison Dennis at Open Heart for guiding me and my thirteen classmates through this transformative journey.  So much love to Allison, Ti Harmony, and Open Heart!!  Speaking of Ti, I am taking a Mantra and Kirtan class with him for the next few weeks. (I didn't have enough to do--ha!)  I'm finding that, of all the yoga practices, chanting is the most powerful for me.  It focuses my mind and just generally brings good vibes all around.  John is an amazing musician, and he and his friend played guitar and keys while we chanted the Gayatri mantra together at our house for two hours the other night.  Bliss!  John's friend even called us last night, asking us if we wanted to chant again.

Dad, me, and Mom at Weaver Street

Michael, me, Mom at the Siena

My parents, Alexis and Don, visited from Baltimore over Easter weekend, and we had a splendid time.  They stayed at my favorite hotel in Chapel Hill, the spectacular Siena Hotel, where we had  Easter Sunday breakfast and fellowship with my brother Michael (who I'm blessed to have living right around the corner from me in Carrboro these days), John's super cool parents Mary Jane and Clem, John's gorgeous and kind sister Jordan and brother-in-law Joe, and Jordan and Joe's beautiful children Kensie and Oliver.  After breakfast, we attended Sunday service at Grace Church, the Ferris family's church, and heard a great message about mercy.  I have to say that even though I've had mixed feelings about Christianity and church in the past, I love Grace!  Later that day, the Mark family and John ate a big Easter feast at The Washington Duke Inn's Fairview Dining Room.  I had the opportunity to take my Dad to Johnny's, my favorite Carrboro community gathering spot, for a quick beverage and a chat at a picnic table.  On Saturday night, Michael, Dad and I ate a huge feast at Vimala's.  The Mark family LOVES to eat, obviously.   

feast at Vimala's!

More to come soon, including updates on the little garden John and I have started in our backyard with the help of his Mom, MJ.

Little baby squash plant from our new garden.