A mighty thanks for helping the community's uninsured!

In all of the fun college graduation festivities, we didn't want to forget to thank the rockin' yogis who came out earlier this month to practice in support of the Ithaca Health Alliance's efforts to build a new clinic facility and continue their great work for the community. Mighty Yoga hosted a donation yoga class Saturday, May 8th, and we not only welcomed some new faces, but raised more than $100 in donations for IHA! That's mighty helpful! Thank you!

Summer Specials, Memorial Day Yoga & Schedule Change

Planning to spend the summer playing at Mighty? Take advantage of our special: Purchase 2 months of unlimited classes for $220 ($190 for students) before June 15th.

For those math-minded yogis, check out the savings if you attend:
3 classes/week = $9.17/class ($7.92 for students)
5 classes/week = $5.50/class ($4.75 for students)
7 classes/week = $3.93/class ($3.39 for students)

Memorial Day Yoga
Yes, you can still squeeze in a bit of yoga between those Memorial Day barbecues and picnics! The studio will be open for our regularly scheduled classes.

Summer Schedule Change
After May 31st, our Tuesday 7:30 PM Basics and Wednesday 4:30 PM All Levels classes will be cancelled for the summer. The Thursday 6:45 AM All Levels will continue as long as we have willing morning yogis, so remember to register online!

Taking yoga to the kitchen, grocery stores, restaurants. . .

Need another reason why yoga is good for you? Feel free to check out another plug for mindful nourishment here, where a Yahoo! Health expert notes recent studies that connect yoga with weight loss. And it's not just about a butt-kicking asana practice. As we've touched on in past posts and newsletters, yoga has a way of influencing the decisions we make about food, too. Yum, yum yoga!

Yoga and Weight Loss, Yahoo! Health

A second Golden Rule?

In this month's newsletter we discussed the Sanskrit term, ahimsa, which means nonviolence/nonharming. In this fast-paced world, full of distractions, sometimes we may forget to apply this peaceful, compassionate attitude toward ourselves. The Golden Rule advocates treating others as you would like to be treated. Well, if that means we treat others with kindness, generosity and fairness, then what if we expanded on that rule: Treat yourself as you would treat others? Hmm, perhaps that inner monologue might not sound so harsh.

So feel free to take a moment and be kind to yourself, whether it means giving yourself kudos for doing a good job or giving yourself a break when things might not turn out as well as you'd hoped. And, if you like, check out this thoughtful article on how to apply ahimsa in your life.

Beginning the Journey, Yoga Journal

Practice yoga anywhere, even in a bank vault.

Yoga is so fun, even Family Guy’s Stewie does it. Feel free to check out the clip from a recent episode below. Even being trapped in a bank vault with Brian doesn't stop Stewie from doing a little, er, stretching. Happy practicing this week!

Late to the yoga party?

Brian and Stewie (air date: May 2, 2010)

Courtesy of Hulu.com

Find a tree, embody a tree!

Now that spring is giving us a sneak peak at some gorgeous days, we can enjoy some time outdoors. And it's wonderful to see people pair their fresh air time with exercise. Remember, the same can go for your yoga practice, too. Consider taking your mat outside one of these nice days, perhaps to a quiet spot at the park, your backyard or near a park bench (as Zainab was so inspired here), and enjoy Tree Pose among the the ones that do it best!

Plus, check out the article below, which talks about the mood effects of exercising with nothing between you and the sky. In short, it's awesome!

How to improve mood? Study touts green exercise, USA Today

Help Ithaca's uninsured with yoga this Saturday!

Mighty Yoga is hosting a benefit class this Saturday to raise money for a new facility for the Ithaca Health Alliance’s Free Clinic. Bring friends and join us for a fun class for a great cause!

Since 1997, the Ithaca Health Alliance has aimed to facilitate access to health care for all with a focus on the needs of the uninsured. The IHA’s Free Clinic in downtown Ithaca offers 100% free conventional and holistic healthcare services for anyone without health insurance or under-insured. However, the IHA is housed in a space too small to accommodate the many uninsured members of our community. Join us on the mat to help!

Ithaca Health Alliance Benefit Class
Saturday, May 8, 2010
2– 3:15 PM
All Levels Welcome
Suggested Donation: $15