Thank you and a Happy New Year

Another year almost gone. I am going to have to say what I have been saying every year for the last however many years – “This has been the best year of my life!” There are many reasons why, but one thing I have to mention for sure is how grateful I am to teach in a yoga community that’s diverse, caring, giving, sincere and fun.  It’s like seeing friends every day I go to “work.” Here are few reminders of what this little yoga community has done this year, through the Holistic Movement Center.  

For starters, Narayni, a long time teacher at HMC, decide she has to wake up at the crack of dawn and offer a Karma yoga class to benefit the Red Cross and their relief effort in Chile after the earthquake. Folks got up for a yoga class once per week at 6:30 am. HMC matched donations. Then Narayani had to do it again and did the same thing for the floods in Pakistan. We had our Karma yoga classes collect money and HMC matched the donations again. 

Then came the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and with only 2 weeks, or so, to prepare we put a team together and walked the walk collecting almost $3600, which incidentally represents about 10% of what the event raised, out of the 20+ teams present. People came out, shared their stories and walked for a 24 hour period in the relay. It was by far the most touching of events. Yours truly shed a few tears and you know me – not one to sob over anything, unless it’s a chick flick. 

We also collected donations for the Woman’s Shelter for a couple of months and for the Animal Shelters to help them keep the animals cozy in the winter.  It seems like the donations bin and the Karma classes were taking turns almost every month. And people kept giving! In these tough economic times, people kept giving. That’s why I want to thank everyone for their support and compassion. 

What does 2011 hold for us? I don’t know, but I already have a beginning planed. On 3 consecutive Saturdays, I am teaching 3 classes at 3 different locations to raise awareness and support for the work of San Luis Obispo Child Development Center. The Center offers programs for protection, prevention and treatment of children who are neglected or abused. Their work is valuable as the children need all the help they can get. So, come to a class and instead of paying for the class, donate something to SLOCDC. Here’s where you can go: January 1, 2011 at 10:30 – 12:00 noon at HMC, 845 Napa Ave, Morro Bay / Jan 8 2:00 – 3:30 pm at Smiling Dog Yoga, 1227 Archer St, SLO / Jan 15^th at 3:00 – 4:30 pm at Serenity Natural Living, 104 Main St, Templeton.  (To learn more about this event, please visit our website, or call at 805-909-1401, or find on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/HolisticMovementCenter)

So, yes, I feel privileged to be a part of such a big hearted community. It’s fun seeing you all a few days per week and hearing people’s stories. Thank you all for being a part of “the best year of my life.” Happy New Year to all and my 2011 be the “best year of your life” too. 

Cheers.