Mighty Community: Yogis helping out the Meat Locker!

We’re thrilled to be supporting a local fundraiser for the Meat Locker Pilot Project, thanks to one of our Mighty Yogis, Kat!  In a little more than a week, H&J Hospitality is hosting a Farm to Table Dinner & Silent Auction at Silver Queen Farm to benefit the project.  The Meat Locker is a walk-in freezer for consumers to store their local bulk meat purchases. The Locker Project, in conjunction with the meat marketing website, www.meatsuite.com, is designed to increase sales of locally raised meats in a 9 county region and beyond. For more information, please visit:  http://meatlocker.peaksoverpoverty.org/

Here are the dinner & auction deets, if you want to take part.  The auction includes a class pass from Mighty, too!

Farm to Table Dinner & Silent Auction to Benefit the Meat Locker Project
Hosted by H&J Hospitality at Silver Queen Farm
Thursday, Aug. 22, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Event information and reservations:  http://handjhosp.com/hj-sqf

Facebook event:  https://www.facebook.com/events/224561884359029/

Mighty Community: Fuel The Learning Web Spark!

Meet Augusta, one of the members in our Mighty Yoga community. She is doing a fundraiser for a local Ithaca nonprofit, The Learning Web, in which she is going to do 50 hours of yoga in eight weeks. She is trying to raise $20 for each hour of yoga for a total of $1000. With $250 raised so far and 37 days to go in her challenge, that would only mean just over 1 hour a day for the remainder of her time and she could meet her goal.

Check out her fundraising page to see more on how she is a Champion for this Cause: http://augustayc.peaksoverpoverty.org/?campaign=1278

Acro Yoga Demonstration Tonight

Ever wonder what Acro Yoga looks like? Too afraid to come to a full Acro class? Interested in how Acro yogis move? Well stop your Youtubing and come to the Summer Concert Series Downtown tonight to see Mighty Yoga's own Gina Newlin do an Acro Yoga demonstration during the intermission of the concert. Can't make it tonight, don't worry, she does a demonstration every Thursday!

Introducing our newest Mighty Teacher! Meet BrieLynn Sturm

When we met BrieLynn last August, just after she moved to Ithaca from Wisconsin, we knew we had a rock star yogini in our midst.  BrieLynn immediately showed some mighty amazing enthusiasm when she helped us kick off our 3rd anniversary (we lost count of how many trips to Wegman’s she made). Months later she awesomely took on the role of studio manager, and now, she’s drinking the rest of the mighty kool-aid by donning the teacher hat.  She recently completed her first immersion with Heather’s teachers Sean and Karen Connelly of Amazing Yoga, and we couldn’t be more excited that she’s teaching here at Mighty.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Ms. BrieLynn, here’s your chance to get to know why her friends call her The Briest! Meet her in person in class on Tuesdays now and Saturdays in the fall.

How did you come to yoga? 

Growing up I was very active. I played college tennis, downhill ski-raced, and danced ballet so I was always “working out” with a team.  After graduating, I yearned for a group exercise routine. One day after a weightlifting class at the gym,  a yoga class was offered.  I had an extra hour so I gave it a shot and became a weekly regular.  The gym had closed for a few weeks for the holidays and my body craved yoga.  I went to a local studio and fell in love with the atmosphere, the people, and the classes.  After my trial two weeks (which is all I planned on doing while the gym was closed) I became an unlimited monthly member and started an almost daily practice.  Being part of a community really drew me into the yoga practice.  I didn't know anyone at the studio when I first arrived, but I knew I was with a group of people I trusted.

What do you like about Power Yoga? 

Power Yoga allows me to find the perfect balance between moving, sweating, and breathing and has allowed me to step onto a path of an incredible journey. 

How has your yoga changed since the first time you practiced?

At the beginning of my practice I loved power yoga because I was able to sweat (a lot!) while I felt like I was dancing on my mat.  After a relatively short amount of time, yoga became, for the first time in my life, a time where I started to listen to my body and my mind.  When I listen to my body, I am able to push a little harder or  hold back depending on my breath.  It’s incredible how my yoga practice has guided me with a calming clarity and acceptance on my mat as well as in my day to day activities.  Yoga has taught me that I can’t control the situations but I can control how I react to them. Lately, I’ve shocked myself with how graceful I’ve reacted to what would be stressful, or intimidating situations.   Yeah Yoga! :) 

Why did you decide to teach yoga?

Every yoga teacher I’ve practiced with has helped me to uncover a better me. I would love to give back and facilitate in the shedding of the unneeded layers others are carrying around. 

Any tips for someone new to yoga? 

Yoga is called a practice. It’s not called Yoga Perfect.  Honor what your body can do, not what you think it should look like...or what the person next to you looks like. 

What is your favorite pose or poses? Why? 

I love, love, LOVE tree pose.  At the beginning of my practice it reminded me of a ballet position called Passé. Now I love it because I feel every tiny movement my body needs to make to be grounded and lifted at the same time.  I also smile when I get to “grow my branches” it’s such a funny saying and reminds me not to be too serious. 

What do you like to do off the yoga mat?

I’m still pretty new to the Ithaca area so I’m enjoying exploring the Gorges and wineries with my husband, Rob. We have a Boston Terrier who provides us with an endless amount of entertainment. We love to ski in Vail, CO where my sister lives, travel to see family, and play just about any sport, but mostly tennis and golf.  I do like running; though, I live on a busy road and am equally intimidated by the fast cars as are all the deer in the area! 

What fuels you?

Positivity and excitement. 

What makes you Mighty?

Smiling.  (I also feel pretty Mighty when I can carry a whole bunch of groceries into the house in one trip.) 

Mighty Mural on the Commons

YOU'VE GOTTA check out our mural on the Commons, across from Benjamin Peters! We couldn't have been more grateful to our lovely artist and Mighty yogini, Alexa Class, for sharing her talents!

Community Classes for Women Swimmin!

Join Lara for the Community Classes on July 1st and 3rd to support her fundraising efforts for the 10th Annual Women Swimmin for Hospicare and Palliative Care Services of Tompkins County!  A team of empowered local women swimming across Cayuga lake to support a wonderful cause? Mighty!  Lara will be one of 350 empowered local ladies taking part in this incredible community event.

Hospicare provides a peaceful and supportive environment for folks who have a terminal diagnosis and are living their final months of life. Supporting Hospicare is particularly relevant to Lara, because her grandmother, Olive Beauchesne Walsh, spent her last days there. Born March 10, 1917 in Ottowa, Canada, Olive was a dancer, figure skater, hockey enthusiast and mother of 7 children. She was a master of the art of living with an equal measure of grace and power. Lara will be swimming in her Grandmother's memory this summer. Join her on the mat to dive, ripple, and flow for Hospicare!

Click here for more info about Women Swimmin' or Hospicare.

Meet our NEW MIGHTY TEACHER!

WelcOMe Jess Shepard to the Mighty Family!  We're so excited for her to become part of our star teaching crew. Want to meet Jess? (We know you do!) Come to Jess's class, our NEW $5 Community Class, Saturdays at 6pm. Here's a little info for a sneak peek...Jess Shepard everybody!

How did you come to yoga? 

My first Power practice was at Mighty with Liz. What I remember is showing up with feelings of curiosity about what was so powerful about this style of yoga, and a desire to move my body in a completely different way. At the time I felt stuck in my skin and wanted a challenge. That particular sequence involved a lot of side planks and backbends so I got what I was initially searching for - empowerment, fresh and fierce ways to move, and a challenge. 

What do you like about Power Yoga? 

In short, this practice serves as a mirror. Every time I step onto the mat (or the grass, concrete, sand, et cetera), I am face-to-face with how I am choosing to show up to life. Sometimes it's messy and unclear and sometimes it's fluid and light, but either way this practice is making it okay for me to be human, to make mistakes, to fall and to fight. What I am watching unfold are my patterns of pitfalls that are keeping me trapped in a body of unworthiness and fear. This practice teaches me to loosen the grip on judgment and doubt and to relax into the experience as it is, unleashing an awareness that every breath is an opportunity to refresh your perception, to embrace the beauty of being alive, and to love yourself just as you are (even on the days you feel like a pile of fertilizer).

How has your yoga changed since the first time you practiced? 

Oh man, I can write a few pages on this, but to make it simple, I am currently learning how discipline and consistency brings transformation, but also how there is a tendency to hook in and attach to the poses. With awareness, a sense of freedom and vulnerability within the practice begins to unfold the layers of the gripping and striving, which eventually allows your body to respond to your breath verses your mind. So that's where I currently am - exploring movement without containment as a way to wake-up to how I am confining and compromising my life off the mat. 

Why did you decide to teach yoga?

I committed to teacher training with no intention to evolve as one who facilitates the practice; I was solely searching for a deeper connection within myself and the community I was living in at the time. What unfolded was a fiery passion to share this transformation - the asana (poses) along with conscious connection to the breath can offer a tool to break out of the framework of old patterns and behaviors, and choose to live a life with more awareness of the basic human right to feel good everyday. Sharing this practice with the role as a 'teacher' is the first honest decision that's made sense in my life.

Any tips for someone new to yoga?

1. Hydrate 2. Show up with open ears and an open Heart. 3. Active feet! 4. The voice inside who questions and doubts is the one who is not on your side. The voice that is soft and gentle is the one that needs to stay and be heard. So when you want to bail and run from any pose, emotion, drip of sweat, stay. Stay and just breathe.

What is your favorite pose?

Currently I have no pose striking me as a favorite, but one I am always grateful for is paschimottanasana, or seated forward fold. This pose calls on stillness and deep breath, which is an honest reflection of how I am showing up to my intention to practice every pose with a sense of an empty mind and surrender using big inhales and exhales. It's also a simple pose to remember that life can also be simple, yet full of powerful energy, if only we can detach from the need to always challenge and strive.

What fuels you?

Water. The Night Sky. Live music, especially drumming. The mystery and fullness of the woods. Dancing to Mary J Blige, Beyonce and Rihanna. Matcha Green Tea. Fierce and sassy high heels.

What makes you Mighty?

Showing up again and again with the courage and willingness to explore what my life would like if I believed what I know in my Heart to be true, and to start trusting the teacher within, even when things get messy.