Elle Newman

Transformation Through Self Awareness

Yoga with Elle News for May 30th 2020

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When I am feeling fragmented or limited, seeing any of my friends in their wholeness reminds me of my own capacity.
~ adrienne marie brown

Hi Everyone,

Last Friday I experimented with teaching outside at Levee Park. It was an impromptu practice, so no official announcement went out, only a quick announcement over the Yoga with Elle FB Group. Please believe this wasn’t intended to exclude anyone, just making it easy for myself to begin! If you didn’t know about it, or couldn’t make it, don’t worry, there will be more. In fact, this Friday—as long as there’s no rain—I’ll be teaching at Sinclair Park at 8:15am.

  • Message or text me if you want to attend and I’ll confirm I’ve reserved a space for you. Or I’ll put you first on the list for next week.
  • Please be respectful and stay 6 ft away from each other to ensure everyone who comes is safe and feels comfortable.
  • I’ll wear a mask as we’re setting up so if you want to come ask questions, tell me things, etc., you’ll be safe.
  • I’m going to take my mask off to teach so you can hear me and we can record sound, but I will stay on my mat and not walk around making adjustments.
  • If you are nervous to be around folks but really want to come, please come, wear a mask and set up away from folks. We will lovingly stay away and give you space.
  • Regular outdoor considerations to think of: You may want sun screen, bug spray, sun glasses, and a towel if it’s dewy.
  • Bring your mat and a block or a blanket if you have them.

I’ve been talking with Heather about Infinity organizing these classes, but there are many details that are unclear about how that could work. And in my communications with you I know that, while many of you are ready to meet out of doors with proper precautions, some of you are best served by continued recordings. So my plan is to record one class a week at home, and one class in an outdoor setting which some of you will be attending.

Below is a recording from our impromptu session on Friday. A train showed up near the end of class making it super difficult to hear for everyone present and of course the recording was not usable, so we fixed it by re-recording that portion of the class and Brett edited it together. Expect another recording from home on Wednesday or Thursday.

As always, thank all of you so much for the inspiration, encouragement, and support of all kinds. I’m deeply honored to practice with you.

Much Love,

Elle

Yoga Videos and Meditation

As always, these are shared with you under the category “pay what you can, if you can.”Paper cut heart with a hand in the middle making the sign for love
Here’s the link to PayPal your support: https://www.paypal.me/ElleNewman11

Yoga with Elle by the Levee

Meditations

Yoga Videos

 

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Wednesday

6:00-7:00pm All Levels

Thursday

7:15-8:15am All Levels
*You’re invited to stay online after class for coffee/tea and a chat.

 

Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Ways to Keep Connecteddog and cat curled up

 

Tips for Practicing At Home

  • Create a space for yourself, but don’t get bogged down in creating a perfect space for yourself.
  • Put your class on the calendar. Make space in your day.
  • Make it special for yourself. Maybe this means putting on your favorite fancy yoga pants, maybe this means you finally get to practice in your pjs.
  • Reach out to me if you get stuck.

Yoga with Elle News for Week of May 25th 2020

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Hi Everyone,

As evidenced by this image otters hold hands while they sleep to keep from drifting too far apart. This image has come to signify this time when our practice together is in some ways on hiatus (sleeping you might say) and yet we can stay lightly, yet significantly, connected.

A couple of you who got back to me are ready to start practicing together in person now, most of you indicated a preference for being outside and many of you are not sure yet if you are ready to start practicing together. As always I truly appreciate your willingness to communicate with me as we navigate this time together.

Yoga Studios do not yet have permission to open just yet, Heather and I have not been able to plan together around how outdoor yoga could work with Infinity. Brett is putting significant thought into how we could record practices out of doors for those who were not able to attend, or those of you who wanted to revisit a class. Many questions are not answered yet, but we will get there. Instead of diving off the starting block and proceeding with a competitively paced freestyle like I was tempted to do a couple of weeks ago, I am finding the current, and steering us towards our summer practice.

In terms of a personal check in, I am feeling much better physically and emotionally than I was a couple of weeks ago. Thank you again for encouraging the rest. I am still sore, but things are flowing in a good direction.

I’m excited to say, we have a new basics video for you below! I’ve also been working on a follow up to the first guided meditation. I will check back later in the week with any updates!

Much Love,

Elle

Yoga Videos and Meditation

As always, these are shared with you under the category “pay what you can, if you can.”Paper cut heart with a hand in the middle making the sign for love
Here’s the link to PayPal your support: https://www.paypal.me/ElleNewman11

Yoga with Elle Basic Balance 5 24 20

Meditations

Yoga Videos

 

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Wednesday

6:00-7:00pm All Levels

Thursday

7:15-8:15am All Levels
*You’re invited to stay online after class for coffee/tea and a chat.

 

Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Ways to Keep Connecteddog and cat curled up

 

Tips for Practicing At Home

  • Create a space for yourself, but don’t get bogged down in creating a perfect space for yourself.
  • Put your class on the calendar. Make space in your day.
  • Make it special for yourself. Maybe this means putting on your favorite fancy yoga pants, maybe this means you finally get to practice in your pjs.
  • Reach out to me if you get stuck.

Yoga with Elle Newsletter Week of May 17th

By

Hi Everyone,

For those of you who don’t follow the FB Yoga with Elle Group, last week I reached out letting folks know I was experiencing back pain to the extent I couldn’t record a regular class and gave them a couple of options: another meditation, or a class with cuing but without me demoing everything. Everyone who responded said, they would prefer to just use existing videos in their practice and encouraged me to rest. I could tell it was the right thing to do because my body relaxed and tears came to my eyes. Thank you to everyone who suggested this and all of you who I can feel agreeing with them and supporting this decision.

I have indeed enjoyed a weekend of rest, some of which looked very much like this picture. Because just laying around isn’t actually good for my back or my emotional wellbeing it also included icing, gentle movements, and some self care organizing and making my office fon and comfortable again.

Part of this was making a little bulletin board consisting of cards and notes you’ve sent me including birthday cards and holiday cards from this past year. For those of you who read this and are like, “oh no I didn’t send her a card” do not worry about it! First of all, there is no one worse at sending cards than me, I do not expect this! But more to the point, you have given me so many messages via FB, email, notes through PayPal along with needed funds, and even herbal remedies to support my immune system and trade for future massage and energy work, not to mention friendship and all the intangibles I don’t even have words for. When I look at this physical representation I feel all of you and just breath in the support. Thank you.

I am feeling much better than Friday and I hope to be able to record a normal (well normal for me) class this week, but if I don’t I will create something for you. I have ideas!

I also wanted to let you know that I’ve heard from both Amanda of Root River, and Heather of Infinity, and they will keep you informed of studio openings and policies once they are figured out. I am grateful to both of them for their leadership and ability to manage yoga studios right now! As a teacher this leaves me free to listen to my students and try to figure out how I can best serve you. This, as it turns out, is a position I LOVE. Please continue to share your wishes and concerns with me. Would you personally be ready to come back to a group practice in June?  Would you be more likely to attend classes at the studio or out of doors? Would you like online options to continue? Is it simply just too soon to know the answers to these questions?

Much Love,

Elle

Yoga Videos and Meditation

As always, these are shared with you under the category “pay what you can, if you can.”Paper cut heart with a hand in the middle making the sign for love
Here’s the link to PayPal your support: https://www.paypal.me/ElleNewman11

Meditations

Yoga Videos

 

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Wednesday

6:00-7:00pm All Levels

Thursday

7:15-8:15am All Levels
*You’re invited to stay online after class for coffee/tea and a chat.

 

Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Ways to Keep Connecteddog and cat curled up

 

Tips for Practicing At Home

  • Create a space for yourself, but don’t get bogged down in creating a perfect space for yourself.
  • Put your class on the calendar. Make space in your day.
  • Make it special for yourself. Maybe this means putting on your favorite fancy yoga pants, maybe this means you finally get to practice in your pjs.
  • Reach out to me if you get stuck.

Yoga with Elle Newsletter and New Video May 14th

By

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.”
~Etty Hillesum

Hi Everyone,

I’m writing to you soon after realizing that stay-at-home orders are changing to stay-safe orders and many restrictions are lifting. Even more by June 1st. Wow.

There will still be need for precaution when we can begin practicing together in persona, and I know there are a few different ideas about how that should look. Please give some thought to what you need from me and Infinity right now to support your yoga practice. Once I know more about what you need and what my options will be I will put together a short survey to help make decisions on how I proceed. I have been talking with some of you about the potential of taking Infinity classes outdoors this summer, which so far seems to be people’s favorite option. I understand some of you would still appreciate the option to practice online. I look forward to hearing your concerns and ideas.

For now our new video opens up the fronts of our legs. Hello hip flexors! Lots of lunges for those of us who spend a considerable amount of time sitting. It also features the debut performance of a lavaliere mic that Brett has donated so you’ll be able to hear me really well, even though I’m speaking in a normal voice, and you’ll hear less of the noises in the background. So that’s fun. 🙂

I am so humbled to have your support, and your belief in me motivates me and inspires me more than I can possibly express. I also deeply appreciate those of you who have contributed through checks and PayPal, which has made sure I can pay my bills and has kept me from the depth of worry and financial anxiety that I know so many independently-employed people are facing. I can’t thank you enough.

Much Love,

Elle

New Yoga Videos

As always, these are shared with you under the category “pay what you can, if you can.”Paper cut heart with a hand in the middle making the sign for love
Here’s the link to PayPal your support: https://www.paypal.me/ElleNewman11

Basic Lunges 5/14/20

Yoga with Elle All Levels Inversions 5 11 20

Remember, all of the videos are available here!

 

 

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Wednesday

6:00-7:00pm All Levels

Thursday

7:15-8:15am All Levels
*You’re invited to stay online after class for coffee/tea and a chat.

 

Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Ways to Keep Connecteddog and cat curled up

 

Tips for Practicing At Home

  • Create a space for yourself, but don’t get bogged down in creating a perfect space for yourself.
  • Put your class on the calendar. Make space in your day.
  • Make it special for yourself. Maybe this means putting on your favorite fancy yoga pants, maybe this means you finally get to practice in your pjs.
  • Reach out to me if you get stuck.

Yoga with Elle Newsletter May 10th

By

“Perhaps it takes courage to raise children.”
~John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Hi Everyone,

How are you?

This morning I slept in and was greeted by these blooms in my front garden, and orioles visiting our feeders out back. Just little reminders that the natural world is continuing to shift into spring, and soon into summer. Even though nature doesn’t prioritize one season over the other, these little signs, to me, connote hope.

Our first video this week is an all levels inversion class. You’ll have a chance for both Down Dog on the wall as well as Dolphin on the wall. It was a fun practice for me, I hope it brings a smile to your face as well.

As always, thank you for your generosity with me. One of the many things that I have to be grateful for right now is that I am part of a yoga community like this one, and that I am still an employed yoga teacher. You guys truly are the best!

Please continue to reach out and let me know what you need an how I can serve you better.

Much Love,

Elle

New Yoga Videos

As always, these are shared with you under the category “pay what you can, if you can.”Paper cut heart with a hand in the middle making the sign for love
Here’s the link to PayPal your support: https://www.paypal.me/ElleNewman11

Yoga with Elle All Levels Inversions 5 11 20

Remember, all of the videos are available here!

 

 

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Wednesday

6:00-7:00pm All Levels

Thursday

7:15-8:15am All Levels
*You’re invited to stay online after class for coffee/tea and a chat.

 

Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Ways to Keep Connecteddog and cat curled up

 

Tips for Practicing At Home

  • Create a space for yourself, but don’t get bogged down in creating a perfect space for yourself.
  • Put your class on the calendar. Make space in your day.
  • Make it special for yourself. Maybe this means putting on your favorite fancy yoga pants, maybe this means you finally get to practice in your pjs.
  • Reach out to me if you get stuck.

Yoga with Elle News and Something New

By

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”
~Winnie the Pooh

 

Hi Everyone,

I have something a bit different for you today, it’s a recorded seated meditation inspired by one of my own meditation teachers who passed away earlier this year, Herwig Schön. It’s one that I found particularly helpful while I was learning it, and one that I’ve returned to again and again over the years.

To thank you for your continued support I’ve included a way you can download an mp3 file to listen to it on any device you choose. You can also access it on my website, that link is also below. While we’re on this subject, Thank You!  I don’t know what my life would be like right now without your support. Thank you for the PayPal contributions, the checks, the healing herbs, checking in to see how I’m doing, giving me feedback, and letting me know what you need.

The basis of this meditation is simply imagining yourself sitting on the banks of a river and letting your thoughts flow by in the stream. I recorded the stream behind my house (pictured above) and Brett expertly mixed the track with the voice recording. Even though the recording is 20 minutes long you’ll be told during the meditation when you’ve reached the 5 minute, 10 minute, and 15 minute mark. That way you can work your way towards a 20 minute meditation if you desire.

When I first learned this from Herwig his instructions were to do this every day for 20 minutes before 6:30am. Then to do the same practice for 1 minute per hour I was awake in the day. I did it, and it was admittedly really effective.  And I will also admit that most people in our class showed up week after week telling him how they failed. My approach with my friends and clients that I’ve shared this practice with is a bit different and also seems to work quite well:

  • Set realistic goals for yourself. For real. Especially right now.
  • If your goal is a daily practice, then find a time during the day that works for you. Hint: it helps to set a time even if it’s different every day to accommodate your schedule.
  • A little is better than none. No beating yourself up about this. I mean it.

New Yoga Videos and Meditation

As always, these are shared with you under the category “pay what you can, if you can.”Paper cut heart with a hand in the middle making the sign for love
Here’s the link to PayPal your support: https://www.paypal.me/ElleNewman11

Stream of Thoughts Meditation

Gentle Balancing Sequence 5-4- 20

Remember, all of the videos are available here!

 

 

Root River Yoga on Zoom

Wednesday

6:00-7:00pm All Levels

Thursday

7:15-8:15am All Levels
*You’re invited to stay online after class for coffee/tea and a chat.

 

Register for classes and learn more about Root River Yoga here.

Ways to Keep Connecteddog and cat curled up

 

Tips for Practicing At Home

  • Create a space for yourself, but don’t get bogged down in creating a perfect space for yourself.
  • Put your class on the calendar. Make space in your day.
  • Make it special for yourself. Maybe this means putting on your favorite fancy yoga pants, maybe this means you finally get to practice in your pjs.
  • Reach out to me if you get stuck.

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