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Foundation for a New Beginning

You’ve made your New Years Resolutions, now let us support you in your commitment to yourself and your practice.

I will be leading a a workshop on Sunday, January 19th, from 1:00 to 4:00pm at River Tree Yoga.

This will be a careful examination of ten poses that will always nourish and rejuvenate you. These are poses that you will see in almost every yoga classes; poses that are the foundation of so many other poses; poses that you can use to build your home practice.

Start your year refreshed, re-centered and re-dedicated to your personal goals.

This workshop is open to students to all levels.

Class size is limited, register early

$40.00/student

Call Diana Bonyhadi to sign-up:
425-765-3173

River Tree Yoga
6922 Preston-Fall City Road
Issaquah, WA

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Holiday Greetings and Abundance for 2014

Solstice Fire

Solstice Fire

Happy Holidays Everyone

As we turn the corner from darkness to light, we look to the New Year and see so many opportunities for expansion and fulfillment.

River Tree Yoga continues to grow, serving an enthusiastic population of yogis who love the woods, nature and their practice in equal measure.  Yoga in the Pond Room has become a haven for many and our workshops an inspiration for all.  I will continue to teach Wednesday nights 6:30-8:00pm, and alternating Saturday mornings at 9:30am.

Mark you calendar for January 19th, 1:00 – 4:00pm for Foundation for a New Beginning, the first workshop of the year will focus on Ten Fundamental yoga poses – perfect for building your home practice and/or deepening your understanding of the poses you see so often in class.

Village Green Yoga has also expanded, adding more teachers and opportunities for learning across a broad range of yoga styles and techniques.  My classes continue to be popular with students frequently coming early to reserve their favorite spot.

  • Sunday Morning Vinyasa has grown to become such a warm and nurturing community of yogis, that we all look forward to the weekend, just so we can spend our Sunday mornings together yoga-ing, laughing and healing.
  • Monday & Wednesday morning’s Hatha Integration Class is the workshop class for the studio.  Come and explore your favorite asanas, practice pranayama and meditation. Study and Inquiry are the hallmark of this alignment-based class. So much to learn, so many ways to deepen.
  • Tuesday & Thursday Mid-Day Bliss/Gentle is just exactly that; a gentle exploration of posture and breathe, which is massages the mind, body and spirit. An hour of movement in the middle of the day – a beautiful way to renew and inspire.
  • Tuesdays and Thursday Evening Vinyasa Flow is a steady and playful sequence tuned to some awesome vibes, designed to get the heart rate up and the stress out.

I offer to all a bow of gratitude for your continued  support throughout the years.  It has been an honor and pleasure to be your teacher, as you continue to be my muse.

May the blessings of the season and the twinkle of bright lights bring joy and peace to you and your loved ones.

Shalom & Namaste

Diana Bonyhadi

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Live Music at Gratitude Workshop

Dear Seattle Yogis,

Are you ready for an amazing workshop, guaranteed to open your heart to the abundance of the Holiday Season?  I can’t wait for this Sunday.  I just got off the phone with our musicians and I am so psyched.  We are going to move and chant and be moved by their incredible voices and rhythms.

See you soon.

Diana Bonyhadi

A Practice of Gratitude
Sunday, November 24th
1:00 – 4:00pm

Welcome the Holidays with this Essential Heart Opening practice featuring live music by Tova Ramer and Steve Grant.

Steve has been singing Kirtan for years and has performed with his Bhakti Bliss Band as well as studied with Jai Uttal and Gina Sala. Tova has been singing for years in Jewish, interfaith and folk rock groups in the Seattle area.  She’s inspired by Snatam Kaur, Gina Sala and Deva Premal.

This workshop features heart-opening asanas such as backbends to help you open more fully to the experience of the holidays and digestive asanas to help with you process the physical and emotional  abundance of the season.

Our flow will be beautiful and deep and enhanced by the sweet sounds of live kirtan.

Open to students of all levels.

River Tree Yoga
6922 Preston-Fall City Road
Issaquah, WA, 98027

$40/student, pre-registration strongly recommended.
Workshop limited to 15 students

Contact Diana Bonyhadi to sign up
425-765-3173
Diana@KharmaBellaYoga.com

 

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A Practice of Gratitude

Dear Seattle Yogis,

Seriously, how can Thanksgiving and Chanukah be in two weeks?  That’s not possible.  Okay, maybe it is, because they have a bunch of Turkeys, Christmas stuff, and even a Chanukah gift basket for sale at  CostCo, and there have been numerous articles saying that this won’t happen again for another 70,000 years. If you want more details on why this is so, click here.  Anyway, I doubt I will be around in 70,000 years, so I had better make this year’s co-joined feasts both phenomenal and memorable.  And so, I find myself thinking of turkey and stuffing and latkes and pie and family logistics.  I notice that I am already feeling full and maybe a bit overwhelmed.  Anybody else out there feeling this way too?

The good news is that I will be offering a new and  inspirational workshop next Sunday at River Tree Yoga. This one is specifically designed to help you get ready for the holidays. Come to this workshop so you can be truly open and present for the bounty you are sure to consume, both physically and emotionally.

A Practice of Gratitude
November 24th
1:00 – 4:00pm

Welcome the Holidays with this Essential Heart Opening practice featuring live music by Tova Ramer and Friends.

This workshop features heart-opening asanas such as backbends to help you open more fully to the experience of the holidays and digestive asanas to help with you process the physical and emotional  abundance of the season.

Our flow will be beautiful and deep and enhanced by the sweet sounds of live kirtan.

Open to students of all levels.

River Tree Yoga
6922 Preston-Fall City Road
Issaquah, WA, 98027

$40/student, pre-registration strongly recommended.
Workshop limited to 15 students

Contact Diana Bonyhadi to sign up
425-765-3173
Diana@KharmaBellaYoga.com

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Yoga on Haloween? You Bet!

jackolantern_omHello Yogis,

Hasn’t October been a wonderful splash of color here in the Pacific Northwest?  I know it happens every year, but honestly, the beauty of Fall never fails to inspire me.  I have managed to tromp through the woods several times in the past two weeks, and have even found a few more mushrooms for supper, yum!

In case you were wondering, I am indeed teaching on Thursday evening, which just happens to be Halloween.  Seems to me, being strong and flexible and open is a good idea on the night when spirits come out to play.  And if you are planning on nibbling on that Halloween candy, then you had better come get your practice on beforehand to help stimulate you digestive system.

Classes are going great, both at River Tree Yoga and at Village Green Yoga.  Each studio is dedicated to the wellness of our bodies and our souls and our communities.  This is a mighty combination, leading to healing and inspiration for all of us.  So whether you want to do your yoga in the city or in the woods, drop in for a class or sign up for a series.  It will change your life for the better.  And be sure to mark your calendar for my next workshop at River Tree Yoga: 

A Practice of Gratitude

November 24, 1:00 – 4:00Pm

featuring live music with

Tova Ramer & Friends

Shalom & Namaste

Diana Bonyhadi

 

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Discovering the Heart of Yoga – October Workshop

Dear Seattle Yogis,

I am pleased to announce that I will be offering the amazing workshop which completely sold  out this summer one more time this year.  Be sure to sign up early , as class sign is limited.

 

Discovering the Heart of Yoga

Dynamic Sequencing for Stability, Strength & Intentional Alignment

Moving from our core not only stabilizes our practice, it also invites us deeper into ourselves.  Core strength refers not only to  the strengthening and toning of the abdominal muscles which hold us stable in standing poses and allow us to float gracefully upward in inversions, it also refers to our ability to connect to the emotional essence of who we are, so that we may stand in our essence and act from our heart.

This workshop will help you discover the strength and stamina you need to live and move from the center of your being.  We will explore a range of asanas, including backbends and inversions, as well as breath work and meditation.

October 27, 2013
1:00 – 4;00PM

River Tree Yoga
6922 Preston-Fall City Road
Issaquah, WA, 98027

$40/student, pre-registration strongly recommended.
Workshop limited to 15 students

Contact Diana Bonyhadi to sign up
425-765-3173
Diana@KharmaBellaYoga.com

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So Many Yoga Books – How to choose?

Happy Friday Yogis.

 

I hope it has been a good week for you.  Mine has had its share of ups and downs, including a most unfortunate auto accident.  Now I get to practice my own best advice.  Breathe, rest, ice, careful alignment and good posture.  I guess the positive is that as a result of the accident, others around me, are being more careful in their own driving practices.  My husband is convinced that as a result of my accident, he was saved from having one himself, as he was now being more present and cautious at the wheel.

Students in my classes at River Tree Yoga and Village Green Yoga continue to inspire me. This week I was honored by a guest at Tree House Point/River Tree Yoga who said her practice with me on Monday was the best addition to an already perfect vacation.  I figure that is a good thing, seeing as the next part of her vacation was going to need some modification – no she can not go to Mount Rainer.

I just came upon this book list from an article published on YogaJournal.Com.  Many of my students ask me for my recommendations on what to read.  I think this article does a remarkable job of listing and describing some of the best resources in the yoga book world.  This is by no means comprehensive and some of my favorites are not listed, but it is a good start.

One more thing.  Here is a beautiful video of Vladimir Horwitz playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto #23.  It is fun, it is inspiring, and heart warming.  I must say that in many ways this man is a true yogi.  He is so present, skillful, learned, humble and joyful.  Enjoy!

 

Happy Weekend Yogis

Namaste

Diana Bonyhadi

 

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Adjusting to Fall Weather & New Opportunities

Good Morning Yogis,

If anyone had any question as to whether or not summer has ended, I think the last two weeks of rain should answer that question. But today, the sun has come out after so much rain.  I think everyone here in the Seattle region will be heading out-of-doors for at least an hour.  I am planning a several hour hike for myself.

There’s lots to do in the next few weeks.

Salmon Days this weekend in Issaquah, Harvest Festivals in Carnation and Duvall, Octoberfests in Fremont, theater, dance, concerts and symphonies.  The hardest part will be deciding how to spend our time and how to ensure we do not overdo.

With the change in Season, it is important to adjust our daily cycles to reflect the changes in weather and hours of daylight.  It’s time to establish new routines that allow you to get more sleep, eat warming foods, adjust your asana practice to create more heat for your body, set aside time for meditation, and take note of how you feel.  If you are tired – try to rest.  It is completely natural to feel a physical response to the changing season, the trick is to pay attention.

Svadhyaya, the 4th of the yamas reminds us that self-study is indeed an essential aspect of our yoga practice.  Taking time in our lives and in our asana practice to notice how we are feeling and what we are thinking is critical to maintaining our health and our peace of mind.  If you are in the middle of an asana and it hurts like bloody hell – Don’t ignore it.  That pain is a message that you need to adjust your position and/or come out of it completely.  If you are feeling groggy, heavy and spaced-out in your daily life, don’t ignore it. Those feelings are messages from your body that your diet and routine need adjustment.  If you really want to get everything done that is on your to-do list, you may just need to do a bit of tweaking.  The trick is to pay attention.  Taking time on and off your mat for self-study is an important part of living your yoga.

Speaking of yoga…I have a couple of really exciting offerings for you.  You probably noticed that I have expanded my teaching schedule to include two classes on Wednesday nights at River Tree Yoga in Fall City, and alternating Saturdays at River Tree Yoga.  That means that tomorrow morning you can come out to the woods and be inspired by their beauty and strength and a dynamic and powerful flow class. Come get your yoga on!

Sunday I will be offering my regular Sunday Salutation class at Village Green Yoga and a FREE sample class at 1:30pm.  brings your friends and family. Be aware that there will be extra traffic due to Salmon Days.

WORKSHOPS & MEDITATION

Discovering the Heart of Yoga – Dynamic Sequencing for Strength, Stability & Intentional Alignment
October 27th, 2013, 1:00 – 4:00pm
River Tree Yoga – Fall City
Moving from our core not only stabilizes our practice, it also invites us deeper into ourselves.  Core strength refers not only to  the strengthening and toning of the abdominal muscles which hold us stable in standing poses and allow us to float gracefully upward in inversions, it also refers to our ability to connect to the emotional essence of who we are, so that we may stand in our essence and act from our heart.

This workshop will help you discover the strength and stamina you need to live and move from the center of your being.  We will explore a range of asanas, including backbends and inversions, as well as breath work and meditation.
$30 pre-registration, $40/on-site registration

Mediation Retreat – Restoring your Soul
November 8 – 10, 2013
Whidbey Island

Guided and silent meditations, yoga (led by your truly), dharma talks, kabbalah, walking meditations, beautiful space, yummy food, laughter and friendships, reasonably priced – what more could you want?
While this workshop is led by Rabbi Olivier, and presented through Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue, you don’t need to be Jewish to attend.  The teachings of the Kabbalah are available to all of us, and can help guide us to a deeper connection to our souls and our  own personal connection to the Divine. Click here to learn more and register.

There are more workshops in plans, including one with live music and a special Practice of Thanksgiving.  Stay tuned for updates.

 

I look forward to seeing you both on and off the mat.

 

Shalom & Namaste,

Diana Bonyhadi

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Celebrating in Nature

No Classes Tonight @ River Tree Yoga

 

Dear Yogis & Yoginis,

Today is Wednesday.  Wednesday is the day where I normally teach two evening classes at River Tree Yoga.  But here is the thing,  River Tree Yoga is located at a magical setting – Tree House Point.  It is so magical, and so wonderful, that people like to have their weddings and other important celebrations there.  And sometimes those events take place mid-week, like on a Wednesday.  And when that happens, we need to let the celebrants enjoy the all the beauty that is Tree House Point, all alone, by themselves, without us yogis saluting them and the sun and the moon.

So, I will see you all next week.  Enjoy a walk in the woods, by the water, with your family.  Toss in a couple of Sun Salutations for good measure, and don’t forget to breathe.

 

Shalom & Namaste,

Diana Bonyhadi

 

 

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Reclaiming Routine – Monday-Wednesday Morning Classes Return!

Hello Yogis and Yoginis,

For those of you who live in the Seattle area, I hoped you enjoyed the lightning show tonight as much as I did. The power of mother nature never fails to inspire me.

We are half-way through September and I am now stepping back fully into my routine.  My daughter has returned to school and our schedule has once again become full.  There is something nourishing about routine.  In a strange sort of way, I find it allows  me to do more in less time, without confusion and fatigue…  There is freedom in structure?…there is freedom in alignment?…yes, I guess there is yoga in everything.

I am happy to announce that starting tomorrow morning, I will once again be teaching my Monday/Wednesday morning Hatha Integration class at Village Green Yoga.  If you are looking for a careful, thoughtful, intentional, heart-based yoga class that allows you to explore and deepen your understanding and practice of yoga, join me Monday & Wednesday mornings at 9:30.

Beautiful News – Village Green Yoga has a gorgeous new bamboo floor.  Not only is it beautiful, it also is a great floor upon which to practice.  It has a bit of a give, but not too much, it is level and smooth but not slippery. I love it and I bet you will too.

So, here it is.  The New Fall schedule in its entirety.  I look forward to seeing you on the mat.

Shalom & Namaste,

Diana Bonyhadi

Village Green Yoga

Sundays             9:45 – 11:00am

Mondays             9:30 – 10:45am

Tuesdays              Noon – 1:00 & 5:30 – 6:45pm

Wednesdays        9:30 – 11:00am

Thursdays         Noon – 1:00 & 5:30 – 6:45

River Tree Yoga

Wednesdays   5:00 – 7:00pm

Wednesdays    7:30 – 9:00pm

Alternating Saturdays    9:30 – 11:00am