Yogis raised $440.00 for LA Fire Department!

To honor Martin Luther King, Jr., every third Monday in January is a federal holiday dedicated to community uplift. This MLK Jr. Day, Nora taught a pop-up yoga class by donation and the group raised $440.00 for the LAFD Wildfire Emergency Fund!  Inspired to join in UVY's collective spirit?  Donate here on behalf of the "MLK Jr. Day pop-up yoga class at Upper Valley Yoga".  Because together—moment by moment, breath by breath—we will bring the light.  

With heartfelt thanks to today's donors: Katy Allen, Talia Gerstle, Patricia Denny Goodlin, Gyda Gunnarsdottir, Kathy Jones, Noelle Lamperti, Mike McFetridge and Wendy Teller-Ellsberg.

(WRJ) Midday Boost—a NEW Class!
Wednesdays, 10–11 am

Beginning January 22

Angie

I’m thrilled to welcome UVY’s beloved Angie back for a weekly class!
Midday Booster is an enlivening practice of yoga postures, somatic movement, strength-building practices, breathwork, and meditation to uplift your spirits, build energy and flexibility, and keep you focused.

Sign up to save a spot!

Restorative Yoga
Saturday, Jan 25, 4–5:30 pm

Miriah

Restorative poses make use of an abundance of props to support the body so that you can hold poses for longer than is typical in an active practice. This nourishing support allows you to open the body through passive, mild stretching. The postures are usually adapted from supine or seated yoga poses with the addition of blocks, bolsters, and blankets to eliminate strain. All are welcome and no experience is needed. Please bring your own yoga mat and sign up to save a spot as attendance is limited.

(WRJ) Meditation Exploration
by donation
Saturdays, 1:30–2 pm

Shambu (Andrew)

In this short community meditation offering we will practice a different style of meditation each week including guided, silent mindful, breath-focused (vipassana), Japa (mantra based) and primordial sound techniques of meditation. We will begin each session by setting an intention, briefly describing the type of meditation and the practice of meditation itself will last from 10-20 minutes. This class is open to all experience levels and gives you the opportunity to try various meditation techniques to see which one resonates with you the most. Meditation has countless benefits for your mental, physical and spiritual aspects of life. It requires no equipment and you can do it almost anytime, anywhere. Meditating in a group enhances the benefits and builds sangha (spiritual community). You will leave with everything you need to start your own at home practice after each class!

1/25 - Japa (Mantra Based)
2/1 - Vipassana (breath focused)
2/8 - Guided
2/15 - Primordial Sound
2/22 - Japa (Mantra Based) Cash or check of any amount is welcome. No experience is needed.

All are welcome. Donation by cash or check.

INTRO TO YOGA
Tuesdays, Feb 4–March 18*
6–7 pm

Nora

Would you like to breathe a little easier?

How about stretching, strengthening and toning your body—all the while growing more resilient and more comfortable in your skin?

This Introduction to Yoga series is suitable for beginners, people who have tried yoga but been away awhile, and current students interested in holding poses with a little more tailored attention. 

You will be guided through foundational yoga poses and breathing techniques that help calm the mind and bring peace to your demeanor. If there’s interest, we can delve into broader topics—meditation, history, the philosophy and cosmologies of yoga. Bring your curiosity, your questions, even your skepticism. All are welcome.

$105 if registered before January 28; $115 thereafter. A minimum of 6 participants required to run the series.
Register now (If you’d prefer to mail a check, get in touch)

*(no class on Feb 25)

(WRJ) Mantra and Music for Soulful Elevation

Kirtan with Angie, Josh and Ko
Friday, February 7, 7 PM

Pure Kirtan has been performing their unique, energetic, and blissful style of Kirtan throughout New England since 2011.

The group is a trio of spiritual practitioners, teachers, and musicians: 
Angie Follensbee-Hall, born in Catania, Sicily, is a yoga instructor, spiritual teacher, and fine artist who leads mantra and vocals. Joshua Hall, a classical guitarist, composer, and music teacher, leads on guitar. Ko Dustin, a yoga teacher and musician, masters the rhythm of djembe and percussion.

Kirtan ("Kheer-tun") is a practice of Bhakti-Yoga and comes from India. Bhakti is a practice of devotion and open-hearted love for all beings. Kirtan works with sound vibration and is usually sung in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. Everyone is encouraged to join in during the Kirtan, making the practice a "co-formance" rather than a “performance” where the audience group becomes an essential part of the energy.

Suggested donation $20 at the door

(WRJ) Transformational Sound Bath
Saturday, February 8, 3–4:30 pm

Andrew Switz (Shambu)

A sound bath is an immersive and healing sensory experience for the body, mind and soul. An array of Instruments that are tuned to specific healing frequencies are played while the group is laying down in a deeply relaxed meditative state. We begin the session by setting an intention for the journey, whether you need to manifest, release, shift or heal. Our intentions are followed by brief pranayama (breath work) and a short guided meditation before being serenaded in a high vibrational soundscape including singing bowls, chimes, gong, drum and more! Feel the effects of these potent healing vibrations for yourself and leave feeling a renewed sense of inner peace. 

All ages and abilities are welcome, wear comfortable clothes and arrive with an open heart and mind! Sign up to save a spot.

Andrew is deeply passionate about helping others through exploring the mind-body connection and healing effects of sound. He is a certified primordial sound meditation instructor and Sivananda yoga teacher.  He currently studies with a Nepalese Jhankri lineage holder Bhola Banstola. Through these diverse practices he helps to facilitate reconnecting people with themselves and the elements of nature to heal us and our environment. 

Yoga Nidra
Sunday, February 9, 3:30–4:30 pm

Greg

In this class, offered once a month, you’ll begin with gentle movement and breathwork before being guided on a Yoga Nidra meditative journey into deep calm, stillness, and clarity. Lying comfortably supported, you’ll be led through body scans, visualizations, and breath techniques that invite deep relaxation.  This practice gradually guides you toward the threshold between wakefulness and sleep, helping to release tension, quiet the mind, and deepen self-awareness. Suitable for all levels, this practice requires no prior experience.

Sign up to save a spot.