Everyday Mindfulness & Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

“Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives. It is about perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment. We feel more alive. We also gain immediate access to our own powerful inner resources for insight, transformation, and healing.” John Kabat-Zinn

Hi there!

I wanted to share something that has truly changed my life with you. About 15 years ago, I was going through a tough time during my pregnancy journey and a friend suggested I take the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course. It's based on the work of John Kabat-Zinn from UMass Med School and has been backed by science and embraced by both the medical and mindfulness communities.

The benefits of this course include reducing stress, decreasing medical symptoms, improving self-care, managing anxiety and depression more effectively, loosening the grip of negative habits and thoughts, and improving symptoms of burnout. It helped me so much back and is still very much a part of my life & support system.

At Flow Yoga, we always include elements of mindfulness practice in all of our classes, but we've never had a full focused series - until now! Janelle Mirabeau, one of our teacher training graduates and now a part of our teaching faculty, will be leading a brand new training for us and for our corporate clients.

Read her bio below to get a sense of what she is bringing to our new series called "Everyday Mindfulness" including what to expect & and how these tools can support you too.

We begin next week on Monday for eight weeks. Learn more about it and reserve a spot at here.

Meditation is now a helpful part of my life. I'm still trying to get my oldest son Jonah, who I had shortly after taking the course, to practice with me. The closest I get is him listening to one of my Yoga Nidra recordings before bed - but that's a great start!

I hope to see you in the course. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Warmly,

Debra

ps. I had so much fun leading last Friday's Chill Yoga class, I'm doing it again!

It's a slow and gentle vinyasa sequence. You'll have the option to enjoy essential oils, linger in longer-held poses, and find some peace. Plus, I'll be sharing reiki during savasana for an extra dose of relaxation.

After class, we'll hang out, sip some tea, and you're welcome to join me in our co-working lounge. It's a great place to work in a relaxed and inspiring space with room to take meditation and stretch breaks too! And for this month, it's FREE for our members.

I look forward to seeing you there or later that evening in Dan's weekly themed Happy hour class at 5:30pm. This week it's Disco Yoga! It sold out last week so be sure to sign up early to get a spot.

Teacher Spotlight: Angela Cerkevich

Yoga Teacher + Psychologist

Please meet our featured teacher, Angela Cerkevich! A dedicated yoga practitioner with a background in clinical psychology, Angela blends challenging asana with mindfulness practices.

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

Several items animate my desire to practice at Flow. First and foremost is Flow’s steadfast commitment to providing a wide range of quality classes. These, along with workshops geared towards mental and physical wellbeing, foster an environment where the practice of both participants and practitioners can grow and evolve. Additionally, a commitment to community has always defined Flow as a place that stands out from other studios. Having been with Flow since it first opened in 2004, I have been inspired by generations of Flowgis and their genuine interest in deepening their practices while building a community.

What was your first yoga experience like?

I grew up watching my father practice headstands in the morning, but it wasn’t until college that I explored the practice myself. However, my first class was in high school at a spa. While I have no recollection of the asana practice, I recall the sivasana as being unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It felt like heaven. I felt so clear, spacious and at ease. I wanted more of that.

What is your current practice like and how does it fit into your daily routine?

Yoga is fully integrated into my physical, mental, and spiritual life. I practice asana that supports my body’s changing needs and while this is what the observer would recognize as "yoga," it is only a small part of what I consider my practice. Yoga colors and shapes the perspective through which I view and engage with the world. This includes studying my thoughts and emotions, creating space for a pause to respond to others with a non-judgmental stance, and utilizing yoga nidra to restore my nervous system.

Who are some of your most influential teachers?

Joan Ravinsky. Richard Miller. Eric Baret. John Schumaker. Doug Keller. Para Soma. All the people in my life who have challenged me. All the people in my life who have loved me.

What is something the Flow community may not know about you?

Before working as a yoga instructor and clinical psychologist, I owned a pet–sitting company and cared for dogs, cats, and birds all over the DMV.

Anything else you would like to share?

My asana classes are geared toward balancing the mind as well as the body. That means that while you will get a workout, the emphasis is on a practice that results in mental and emotional alignment. I use the breath, specific energetic alignment cues, and a moderate, steady pace to do this. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in Georgetown. While I believe in the power of this work, I am convinced that talk-therapy can be more effective when combined with a body-oriented practice. This two-pronged approach is most useful in rewiring the circuitry of negative psycho-emotional habits.