Moonflower Yoga
2093 Bellmore Avenue
Bellmore, NY 11710
Phone: (516) 557 2206
Email: moonfloweryoga@optimum.net

It is Moonflower Yoga’s 10-year anniversary! By Nancy Weshkoff

September 8, 2022 by  
Filed under Blog

This week marks a major milestone for Moonflower Yoga – it is our 10- year anniversary!

Ten years ago, I decided to leave corporate life behind and pursue something that I loved and that made me feel great, which was yoga.   I knew that I did not want to work at a gym but instead wanted my own yoga studio.  I had a dream that I wanted to reach students who might not feel comfortable in a gym setting or large studio and would often choose to “hide” in the back of the room.

Moonflower Yoga was born with a mantra of “small class, personal attention”.   Having this type of studio enabled the teachers to interact with the students and guide them more closely in their practice.  It also helped many yoga students learn, improve their practice, and discover how much they love yoga.  By having the small class size, friendships were formed, and many of those students now spend time with people they met at Moonflower Yoga.

I also knew that community was important to me, and so I launched the Moonflower Yoga Book Club where we had fun reading a book and then discussing it.  The Moonflower Yoga Book Club is still going strong today with monthly online meetings.  Later, the Moonflower Yoga Needle Arts Group was formed and the Moonflower Yoga Mah Jongg club.

I also became a Reiki Master Teacher and began offering Reiki training at Moonflower Yoga.  Reiki is a wonderful way to relax and take care of you.

We also learned something new in great workshops on a range of topics from creating art, cooking ideas, crafts, and so much more.  Lots of laughs have been shared in these workshops.  Some of these activities are now offered online such as “In the Kitchen with Bob” where we cook a meal together from our respective kitchens and then eat it together at the end of the workshop at our kitchen tables.  There is also “An Evening of Guided Meditation and Relaxation” with Bhante Sujatha, the loving kindness monk, who offers his words of wisdom from all over the world.  We have witnessed the sun rising over the mountains of Sri Lanka as Bhante taught his relaxing meditation. There is also “Yoga Nidra” with Jackie who helps you completely chill out and get ready for a good night’s sleep.  There are special yoga-related workshops from Moonflower Yoga’s great roster of yoga teachers where you can more deeply understand each pose to help improve your practice.

I cannot say there have been no bumps in the road.    The onset of COVID and the forced closure of the studio for in-person activities for over a year has been very difficult.   With every cloud there is a silver lining, and online classes via Zoom were formed.   The online classes enabled Moonflower Yoga to remain open, albeit virtually.    But it also did something great too which is it allowed us to connect to students who lived geographically away from the studio.   We now have students who live in Florida, Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, etc., who regularly attend activities.  And some teachers who we missed because they moved out of state can once again teach for Moonflower even though they live hundreds of miles away from Long Island.    Last year, I launched “hybrid” yoga classes which are the best of both worlds: up to 4 fully-vaccinated students are attending in person at the studio while there are simultaneously students attending online via Zoom.

So what does the next year bring?   It brings a great variety of yoga and meditation classes that students can attend on a weekly basis.   It also brings special workshops and other activities.   Most importantly, it brings people together to feel physically better and stronger but also mentally by providing a de-stressing environment where you can relax and feel better.

For those of you who have never tried an activity at Moonflower Yoga, we welcome you to give it a try!  Check us out in Bellmore (Nassau County, Long Island).  If you do not live near the studio, online classes are available 7 days a week.  There is NEVER a contract to sign.   You can register for just one activity of your choosing from the Schedule tab on the moonfloweryoga.com website, following the simple registration steps, and see how you like it.

To those of you who have supported Moonflower Yoga through these 10 years, THANK YOU!!   You have helped the studio grow and created a very special community.   And to those great teachers who join me every week to teach amazing yoga classes and workshops, THANK YOU to you as well.   Dozens of students have discovered the benefits of yoga through your great yoga and meditation classes.

With much gratitude!

Namaste,

Nancy

 

 

Heart Disease and Women by Nancy Weshkoff

February 4, 2022 by  
Filed under Blog

Heart Disease and Women

By Nancy Weshkoff

Heart health is something I take very seriously.  And while it is important to focus on heart health all year, the month of February is Heart Health Awareness Month and part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Movement.  I am therefore writing this blog to discuss this very important topic.

Let’s begin with these key factors about heart disease in women:

–Heart disease is the NUMBER ONE killer of women in the United States.

–If you stacked up ALL cancer-related deaths for women together (breast, lung, ovarian, liver, skin cancer, etc), all of these cancer-related deaths together would still be number two behind heart disease.

– One in three women in the United States will die every year from heart disease.  If you were sitting in a group of women and looked to your right and to your left, sadly one of you will die from heart disease.  And of this number, more than 1,800 of these women who die from heart disease will live here on Long Island in New York.

-If you have heart disease, you are at a higher risk of contracting COVID or having serious complications related to COVID.  With the spread of coronavirus, it is even more important to pay attention to your heart health.

– Did you know that you can help PREVENT yourself from becoming one of these very sad statistics by proactively taking steps to lower your risk?

While there are some things that you cannot change, such as your family history of heart disease, there are several things that doctors all agree that you CAN do to lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.  These include:

– Engage in moderate exercise on a regular basis.   Sitting on a couch and not moving is bad for you in so many ways.   Spending long hours in front of a computer screen without moving is not good for you.  Your body needs to move.   Yoga is extremely helpful in helping you with your fitness goals.   The postures in a yoga class will build strength and flexibility, stretch your muscles, and at the same time, the deep breathing techniques (pranayama) used in a yoga class increase the flow of blood to your heart and your organs.

– Reduce your stress levels.  This can be particularly challenging these days where we might find ourselves multi-tasking.  It makes it even more important to notice how you cope with stress.  Being in a “fight or flight” mode, which is how our body reacts when our stress levels are high, is putting a huge strain on your body functions – including your heart. Meditation is a wonderful tool to help you lower your blood pressure and stress levels.  Yoga classes also help you reduce your stress.   The online yoga and meditation classes at Moonflower Yoga can get you on the path to accomplishing your stress-reduction goals.  Perhaps you do not have a lot of spare time right now with multi-tasking due to the pandemic.  I would suggest that it is so important to take even 30 minutes FOR YOU which helps lower those stress levels and enables you to better cope with life’s challenges.  Moonflower Yoga currently has great online yoga and meditation classes, including 30-minute yoga and meditation classes, which you can do from the comfort of your home to help you lower stress and help your heart health.  The Schedule tab on the moonfloweryoga.com website lists the daily options taught by our great yoga and meditation teachers.

– Learn to be “in the present moment”.  We often worry unnecessarily about things from our past that we cannot change or things in the future that MIGHT happen but have not happened yet and may never happen.   In our classes and workshops at Moonflower Yoga, we teach you ways to be more in the present moment and let go of unnecessary worries bringing you more peace and calm.

– Lower your blood pressure:  Moving more, decreasing your stress levels, and using tools such as meditation and yoga mentioned above can all help you with this.  How about learning something new?   Spending some time reading a great book or engaging in a fun activity can help lower your stress levels.  We have several great online activities that you can do from home including two fun FREE “Clubs”.  In the Moonflower Yoga Book Club, we have fun going on a journey with a new book which helps you discover something new. There is also the Moonflower Yoga Needle Arts Group where you crochet or knit (very meditative!) while enjoying each other’s company.  With the Moonflower Yoga Needle Arts Group, we also donate some of our beautiful creations to various charities, including Operation Gratitude which ships our finished creations to our brave men and women in the military.   We have online meditation classes, as well as a wonderful monthly Evening of Guided Meditation and Relaxation with Bhante Sujatha, the loving kindness monk, including a Special Valentine’s Day Evening of Guided Meditation and Peacefulness this month.  There is also a monthly online yoga nidra evening with Jackie Lee on the last Wednesday of each month, which is deep relaxation “yogic sleep”, a wonderful way to de-stress, which you do while reclining at home.  One hour of yoga nidra = four hours of sleep!  These types of interesting and meditative activities can help you on the path of stress reduction, lowering your blood pressure, and having fun – all great things for your heart.

– On February 11th, in honor of Hearth Health Awareness Month, Moonflower Yoga also has a wonderful “Natural Support for Heart Health” workshop with author and herbalist, Jovanka Ciares. Jovanka will discuss natural ways to care for your cardiovascular system. Incorporating these ideas into your wellness routine can go a long way in ensuring that your heart stays healthy and strong. Topics to be discussed include the history of modern heart disease, the relationship between stress and the heart, and heart-healthy food options and botanicals.  Come join us for this important workshop!

– Fighting loneliness:  In this coronavirus period, it is very important to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.  But social distancing often creates loneliness.  We need social interaction.   Online yoga, meditation, and other activities via Zoom are a great way to combat loneliness and help you feel better.  Before and after each online class, there is a Zoom Room where you can safely see and chat with fellow attendees, have a laugh, or share a story.   It makes a big difference to have this social interaction and help you feel better, thereby reducing your stress levels.

-Are you eating a healthy diet, or are you eating fast food, processed food, or other unhealthy foods that are high in fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugar?  Eating unhealthy foods can clog your arteries and increase your risk for heart disease.  One fun online activity that we offer at Moonflower Yoga is a monthly “In the Kitchen with Bob” cooking workshop where we connect online via Zoom, and we cook healthy meals together during the workshop and then enjoy the finished product together in our respective kitchens at the end of the workshop. These delicious recipes are plant-based, low in fat, and heart healthy.  And we have a lot of laughs cooking together – a great stress reducer.

– See your doctor on a regular basis.   Your doctor can access your risk of heart disease and offer recommendations on ways to improve your heart health.

As someone who has a history of heart disease in my family, I take heart disease very seriously.   My stress levels and blood pressure were very high – all red flags for being on the path to a heart attack or stroke.    Through yoga, meditation, learning to be more in the present moment, and spending time in engaging activities such as reading and needle arts, and eating a healthy, plant-based diet, I have been able to lower my blood pressure to normal.    You, too, can lower your risk.  We hope to see you soon at a great online yoga class, meditation, or workshop at Moonflower Yoga.  With online yoga and meditation classes offered via Zoom, there is also no longer a geographic limit to Bellmore, Wantagh, Merrick, East Meadow, Freeport, Seaford, Massapequa, or other towns in Nassau County, Long Island.   We now have students joining us from states other than New York including Florida, Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Vermont. It is great to connect with new people!  All are welcome!

Please take care of yourself and reduce your risk of heart disease, or the risk of heart disease for a special woman in your life.   I hope we will see you soon for a great online yoga class, meditation, or other activity as you take positive steps to lowering the risk for heart disease!

#heartdisease #heartdiseaseawareness #heartdiseaseprevention #hearthealth #healthyheart #womenshealth

 

It is Moonflower Yoga’s 9th anniversary by Nancy Weshkoff

September 8, 2021 by  
Filed under Blog

It is Moonflower Yoga’s 9th anniversary!

By Nancy Weshkoff

This week marks a happy milestone for Moonflower Yoga – it is our 9th anniversary!

It is hard to believe how quickly the years have flown by.  When I embarked on the journey of opening a yoga studio 9 years ago in Bellmore, Long Island, New York, I was not exactly sure how things would progress.  I will be the first to admit that some things did not always go as planned.   But I am happy to say that many things did.

The vision that I had of building a community where people could come together to practice yoga and meditation but to also make friends and expand horizons through the Moonflower Yoga Clubs such as the Moonflower Yoga Book Club and the Moonflower Yoga Needle Arts Group have all happened.    And we have all had fun and learned something new in the great workshops including cooking workshops, jewelry workshops, yoga-related workshops, and much more.   Meditation activities to promote relaxation and stress reduction were added to the schedule, and we now have ongoing classes, as well as a monthly evening of Guided Meditation and Relaxation with Bhante Sujatha, a Yoga Nidra evening with Jackie Lee, and a Gong Meditation and Relaxation event at the studio with Cathi.  Reiki became an addition to the schedule, and many people have become trained in this calming healing system  for stress reduction and relaxation.  And, of course, the yoga classes which were just a handful of classes at first but have grown to a wonderful variety of daily classes.  I have personally witnessed students of all ages who were not familiar with yoga fall in love with yoga as they become stronger, more flexible, improve balance, take care of themselves, and make friends with their fellow attendees.

There have been challenges too.   The onset of the COVID pandemic with a forced closure of the studio doors for in-person classes was a very sad time for me.  I missed the sound of that creaky front door opening with students walking into the hallway.   Through online Zoom classes, we were able to stay in touch and practice yoga together, as well as still hold online workshops and other activities.  This proved to be very important for so many in the Moonflower Yoga community who felt less isolated because of the online activities, while they continued to improve their physical health with a regular yoga practice.   With the introduction of hybrid classes this summer, we are now welcoming a limited group of fully-vaccinated students into the studio for select classes, and it is nice to see people in person again.

I am so grateful to all the wonderful people who have supported Moonflower Yoga through the years – THANK YOU!   You have made a dream come true. Your support of Moonflower Yoga and your friendship have created a very special place.  I also could not have done all of this without the great yoga teachers who join me in offering an amazing variety of yoga and meditation classes.   To those who provide these great yoga and meditation classes and help students improve their practice, as well as lead wonderful workshops, I thank you for your dedication!

These are challenging times for many including small businesses as we cope with the ongoing pandemic.   With your continued support, we can weather the storm and look forward to clearing skies in the future.   THANK YOU for 9 wonderful years!

 

A New Beginning and the Launch of “Yoga Your Way!” by Nancy Weshkoff

June 4, 2021 by  
Filed under Blog

 

A New Beginning and the Launch of “Yoga Your Way!”

By Nancy Weshkoff

We have been through so much with the COVID epidemic.   Sadly, thousands have lost their lives.  Businesses have closed.   School children had to adapt to a new way of learning.   Our downtown areas have been dark as there were no patrons to support the business, and it was unsafe to open.  We have also missed simple things such as spending time with loved ones.

Through this dark period, I am grateful that there was a “Zoom” which allowed Moonflower Yoga to still be open – albeit remotely – by providing a platform offering great online yoga and meditation classes as well as workshops.    It has been a way for me, as well as the other Moonflower Yoga teachers, to stay connected with the students whom we have come to love.  For the students, it has been a way to cope with the stress of the pandemic, stretch tight muscles, as well as stay connected and chat in the Zoom rooms with fellow students and the teacher.

Things have been on a positive trend with combating the virus.   More people have been vaccinated.  Life is starting to slowly return to some of the “normal” things we did pre-pandemic.   Better days are ahead.   I have given a lot of thought to what this means for Moonflower Yoga, and I have decided to do a partial re-opening of the studio doors for a small group of classes limiting the attendees to 4 fully-vaccinated individuals.    This will take place in mid-June, and I am excited for this new chapter!

One of the things people have expressed is they have come to like the convenience and ease of Zoom classes.   They also may not feel comfortable yet attending a group class, even if it is limited to 4 students.   Keeping these concerns in mind, the idea for the new “hybrid” yoga class was formed whereby EVERY CLASS on the schedule will be available via Zoom, while simultaneously a group of hybrid classes will accommodate a maximum of 4 fully-vaccinated individuals in the studio room for an in-person experience.   These great new hybrid yoga classes offer the best of both worlds when deciding to attend a class: you can join remotely via Zoom or select the in-person option if you are fully vaccinated.

I have also come to realize that some classes work better solely as a remote class.  Cathi’s lovely Relax and De-Stress with Guided Meditation class on Mondays is an example of this.  Students enjoy being comfortable in their home – perhaps reclining on a couch or in their favorite chair – as they listen to the guided 30-minute meditation.   One of Moonflower Yoga’s popular teachers, Jessica, lives out of state, but she can continue to teach from her 2 popular yoga classes from her southern home using the Zoom platform.    Jackie Lee’s de-stressing, monthly Yoga Nidra, which most attend while reclining at home, also works well in the Zoom environment.   And Moonflower Yoga is blessed to have Bhante Sujatha, the loving kindness monk, provide a monthly de-stressing meditation and offer his wisdom and insight with a monthly guided meditation evening for Moonflower Yoga which he offers from various locations around the world using Zoom.

With all these choices now available, it provides an opportunity for a new beginning.   I am calling this new chapter “Yoga Your Way!” because it is just that – an opportunity to choose how YOU would like to attend a great yoga or meditation class based on YOUR needs.   We are taking some of the things that provided flexibility for our needs, such as online classes, and we are combining that with the in-person experience that so many of us have missed due to the pandemic.  For those who are seeking a beginner yoga practice, there are great beginner-level yoga classes on the schedule 6 days a week from which you can choose.   It is an exciting new start!

I hope you will take this opportunity to join me, as well as some of the other great yoga teachers at Moonflower Yoga and enjoy a fabulous yoga or meditation class.  With the new “Yoga Your Way!” program, you have the choice of deciding which way works best for you.  If you need additional information on “Yoga Your Way!”, click on the “Monthly News” or “Descriptions” tab on the moonfloweryoga.com website.    The Moonflower Yoga studio doors in Bellmore, Nassau County, Long Island, will start to partially reopen on Sunday, June 13th under the new “Yoga Your Way!” program.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

 

 

 

Spring: New Beginnings by Nancy Weshkoff

April 13, 2021 by  
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Spring: New Beginnings

By Nancy Weshkoff

Spring is my favorite time of year.   We shake off the remnants of winter.  All around you, life is starting to come alive gain.  The trees start to bloom, lawns and shrubs are turning green, spring bulbs are blooming, and the weather is warmer.  We have more daylight and start to feel more alive than when it is dark before 5 PM.

With a year of living with the Covid pandemic that has gripped the world, spring takes on added meaning for me.   I start to feel that we are leaving the darkness of the Covid winter behind us and are moving into the light and to better days ahead.  With spring’s arrival it is time to dust off the cobwebs of winter and start to feel renewed and refreshed.

With the warmer weather ahead, you start to wear thinner clothes.  Wouldn’t it be great to feel toned in those lighter clothes?   A great yoga class can help you tone and stretch your muscles, as well as improve strength, flexibility, and balance.  Yoga and meditation are also wonderful for stress reduction and helping us cope with these challenging times.   If you are a beginner, there are beginner-level yoga classes on the Moonflower Yoga schedule 6 days a week.  And while the studio doors remain closed for the time being, you can still enjoy a great yoga class with one of our great yoga teachers, as you join us online from the comfort of your home using Zoom.

In addition to the daily yoga classes, there are also some great meditation activities on the Moonflower Yoga schedule including a weekly Relax and De-Stress with Guided Meditation class on Mondays at 7 PM, as well as a deep, relaxing monthly Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) with Jackie Lee, and a fascinating monthly evening of Guided Meditation with Bhante Sujatha, a 30+ year Buddhist Monk who is singularly focused on adding more love in the world.  Bhante teaches loving-kindness meditation to people around the globe for all those seeking the art of happiness and contentment.  Discover how meditation can help you relax, reduce your stress levels, and put you on a brighter path.

Perhaps you would also like to learn something new as part of a spring renewal.   There is a monthly “In the Kitchen with Bob” cooking workshop where you cook in your kitchen, while we simultaneously cook from our kitchen.  We supply the recipes in advance, and have a blast cooking delicious, plant-based, healthy recipes together in our respective kitchens.  At the end, we enjoy sharing our meal together using Zoom.

For the month of April, we also added a “New Beginnings for Springtime” workshop with clinical herbalist, nutrition educator, and author Jovanka Ciares on Friday, April 23rd.  In this workshop, Jovanka will discuss how to use foods and botanicals to support our natural detoxification system and help improve our well being.

Come join us this spring at Moonflower Yoga and take a step towards renewal for yourself!   Using Zoom, you can join us from a wider geographic location and are no longer limited to only the Bellmore, Wantagh, Merrick, Seaford, or East Meadow vicinity of Nassau County, Long Island.    We have people joining us from other parts of the United States, including mothers and daughters from different states enjoying a class together.  I hope you can join us too and have a great start to your spring!

 

Moonflower Yoga feature on News 12 Long Island: One Year Later By Nancy Weshkoff

February 17, 2021 by  
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Moonflower Yoga feature on News 12 Long Island: One Year Later

By Nancy Weshkoff

 

One year ago, in February 2020, Moonflower Yoga was selected by News 12 Long Island for a piece which aired about Women and Heart Health.  The piece was hosted by Shari Einhorn of News 12, and it focused on the positive benefits of yoga and meditation on heart health, particularly for women.   I was so thrilled and honored that Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore was selected for this piece amongst all the other yoga studios in Long Island, New York.

The News 12 piece featured 2 classes: one was a traditional, beginner-level yoga class.  The second one was a Chair Yoga class which I taught.   Shari joined us for the Chair Yoga class.  As a Reiki Master Teacher, I also incorporated some Reiki into the Chair Yoga class that I taught, as well as brief meditation.

The response to the piece which News 12 Long Island aired was fantastic, and it was such a great day. We were able to all be in the same room together, enjoying the practice, as well as laughing at the end and even sharing some hugs.  For those who love Bob’s desserts, there was also his delicious homemade lemon lavender cake to share at the end of the filming.

If you would like to see the piece that aired on News 12 Long Island, here is the link:

http://longisland.news12.com/story/41735495/relax-and-destress-yoga-and-heart-health

We did not know at that time what lay ahead of us with the pandemic the next month.

So many of the simple things that happened that day, such as being all together in one room, not worrying about the spread of the virus, no social distancing, no mask wearing – all of these feel so alien at this point in time.

I am feeling nostalgic for that day in February when Moonflower Yoga was featured in the News 12 Long Island piece.

It is hard to imagine how much has changed in one year.   Online Zoom yoga and meditation classes are now the norm at Moonflower Yoga, as the studio doors remain temporarily closed for in-person classes.  Through Zoom, I am still able to stay connected with the Moonflower Yoga community of students, as well as the great yoga teachers who comprise the staff at the studio through daily online yoga classes via Zoom.  Moonflower Yoga was also able to switch to a live, online version of some of the great workshops, as well as the Moonflower Yoga Book Club and Moonflower  Yoga Needle Arts Group.   I am very grateful for this ability to still stay connected with the group of students and teachers who I have come to love, as well as have some fun in the online Moonflower Yoga Clubs.

I am also very grateful to Shari Einhorn of News 12 Long Island and her crew for selecting Moonflower Yoga and coming to the Moonflower Yoga studio in Bellmore to film the piece.

In addition to being grateful, perhaps, most importantly, this one-year anniversary of the News 12 piece is a reminder to appreciate every day that we have.  TODAY is the only day we can control.  As my yoga gurus before me have often emphasized, TODAY is the most important day of your life.   Enjoy and appreciate it.   Namaste.

 

Heart Disease and Women by Nancy Weshkoff

February 9, 2021 by  
Filed under Blog

 

Heart Disease and Women

By Nancy Weshkoff

Heart health is something I take very seriously.  And while it is important to focus on heart health year round, the month of February is Heart Health Month and part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Movement.  I am therefore writing this blog to discuss this very important topic.

Let’s begin with these key factors about heart disease in women:

–Heart disease is the NUMBER ONE killer of women in the United States.

–If you stacked up ALL cancer-related deaths for women together (breast, lung, ovarian, liver, skin cancer, etc), all of these cancer-related deaths together would still be number two behind heart disease.

– One in three women in the United States will die every year from heart disease.  If you were sitting in a group of women and looked to your right and to your left, sadly one of you will die from heart disease.  And of this number, more than 1,800 of these women who die from heart disease will live here on Long Island in New York.

-If you have heart disease, you are at a higher risk of contracting COVID or having serious complications related to COVID.  With the spread of coronavirus, it is even more important to pay attention to your heart health.

– Did you know that you can help PREVENT yourself from becoming one of these very sad statistics by proactively taking steps to lower your risk?

While there are some things that you cannot change, such as your family history of heart disease, there are several things that doctors all agree that you CAN do to lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.  These include:

– Engage in moderate exercise on a regular basis.   Sitting on a couch and not moving is bad for you in so many ways.   Spending long hours in front of a computer screen without moving is not good for you.  Your body needs to move.   Yoga is extremely helpful in helping you with your fitness goals.   The postures in a yoga class will build strength and flexibility, stretch your muscles, and at the same time, the deep breathing techniques (pranayama) used in a yoga class increase the flow of blood to your heart and your organs.

– Reduce your stress levels.  This can be particularly challenging in this coronavirus period where we might find ourselves multi-tasking.  It makes it even more important to notice how you cope with stress.  Being in a “fight or flight” mode, which is how our body reacts when our stress levels are high, is putting a huge strain on your body functions – including your heart. Meditation is a wonderful tool to help you lower your blood pressure and stress levels.  Yoga classes also help you reduce your stress.   The online yoga and meditation classes at Moonflower Yoga can get you on the path to accomplishing your stress-reduction goals.  Perhaps you do not have a lot of spare time right now with multi-tasking due to the pandemic.  I would suggest that it is so important to take even 30 minutes FOR YOU which helps lower those stress levels and enables you to better cope with life’s challenges.  Moonflower Yoga currently has great online yoga and meditation classes which you can do from the comfort of your home to help you lower stress and help your heart health.  The Schedule tab on the moonfloweryoga.com website lists the daily options taught by our great yoga and meditation teachers.

– Learn to be “in the present moment”.  We often worry unnecessarily about things from our past that we cannot change or things in the future that MIGHT happen but have not happened yet and may never happen.   In our classes and workshops at Moonflower Yoga, we teach you ways to be more in the present moment and let go of unnecessary worries bringing you more peace and calm.

– Lower your blood pressure:  Moving more, decreasing your stress levels, and using tools such as meditation and yoga mentioned above can all help you with this.  How about learning something new?   Spending some time reading a great book or engaging in a fun activity can help lower your stress levels.  We have several great online activities that you can do from home including two fun “Clubs”.  In the Moonflower Yoga Book Club, we have fun going on a journey with a new book which helps you discover something new. There is also the Moonflower Yoga Needle Arts Group where you crochet or knit (very meditative!) while enjoying each other’s company.  With the Moonflower Yoga Needle Arts Group, we also donate some of our beautiful creations to various charities.  And there are great yoga workshops, as well as crafting workshops where we make beautiful jewelry.  We have online meditation classes, as well as regular guided meditation workshops.  There is also a monthly online yoga nidra evening, which is deep relaxation “yogic sleep”, a wonderful way to de-stress.  One hour of yoga nidra = four hours of sleep!  These types of interesting and meditative activities can help you on the path of stress reduction, lowering your blood pressure, and having fun – all great things for your heart.

– Fighting loneliness:  In this coronavirus period, it is very important to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.  But social distancing often creates loneliness.  We need social interaction.   Online yoga, meditation, and other activities via Zoom are a great way to combat loneliness and help you feel better.  Before and after each online class, there is a Zoom Room where you can safely see and chat with fellow attendees, have a laugh, or share a story.   It makes a big difference to have this social interaction and help you feel better, thereby reducing your stress levels.

-Are you eating a healthy diet, or are you eating fast food or other unhealthy foods that are high in fat and cholesterol?  Eating unhealthy foods can clog your arteries and increase your risk for heart disease.  One fun, new online activity that we offer at Moonflower Yoga is a monthly “In the Kitchen with Bob” cooking workshop where we connect online via Zoom, and we cook healthy meals together during the workshop and then enjoy the finished product at the end of the workshop. These delicious recipes are plant-based, low in fat, and heart healthy.  And we have a lot of laughs cooking together – a great stress reducer.

As someone who has a history of heart disease in my family, I take heart disease very seriously.   My stress levels and blood pressure were very high – all red flags for being on the path to a heart attack or stroke.    Through yoga, meditation, learning to be more in the present moment, and spending time in engaging activities such as reading and needle arts, I have been able to lower my blood pressure to normal.    You, too, can lower your risk.  We hope to see you soon at a great online yoga class, meditation, or workshop at Moonflower Yoga.  With online yoga and meditation classes offered via Zoom, there is also no longer a geographic limit to Bellmore, Wantagh, Merrick, East Meadow, Freeport, Seaford, Massapequa, or other towns in Nassau County, Long Island.   We now have students joining us from states other than New York including Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Vermont. It is great to connect with new people!  All are welcome!

Please take care of yourself and reduce your risk of heart disease, or the risk of heart disease for a special woman in your life.   I hope we will see you soon for a great online yoga class, meditation, or other activity as you take positive steps to lowering the risk for heart disease!

 

Spring is a Time for Renewal by Nancy Weshkoff

April 17, 2019 by  
Filed under Blog

Spring is a Time for Renewal

By Nancy Weshkoff

 

Spring is a wonderful time of year.   The plants and trees shake off remnants of winter and start to come into bloom.   We have more daylight and start to feel more alive than when it is dark before 5 PM.

And, just like the plants and trees, spring is a time of renewal for us.  Maybe you were more housebound and inactive during the winter months.  With spring’s arrival it is time to dust off the cobwebs of winter and start to feel renewed and refreshed.

With the arrival of warmer weather, you start to wear thinner clothes.  Wouldn’t it be great to feel toned in those lighter clothes?   A great yoga class can help you tone and stretch your muscles, as well as improve strength, flexibility, and balance.   If you are a beginner, that’s not a problem at Moonflower Yoga.   We love beginners and offer beginner-level yoga classes 7 days a week.   Remember EVERYONE was a beginner at one point.  Just take that first step and you will feel amazing.   Our yoga instructors give you personal attention to help you as you begin a yoga practice.

Clearing out the cobwebs is not just about our physical body.   It is also true of our mind and thoughts.  Do you brood about things from the past, which you cannot change because the  past is over?   Do you obsess and worry about the future, which you also cannot control?   Stress is a leading cause of heart disease, and heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States behind all cancers combined.   So what can you do to stop obsessing about past events and the future, reduce your stress levels, and work towards a healthy heart?

Having a meditation practice is a wonderful way to start taking care of your stress levels and feeling good about  yourself.  Moonflower Yoga offers several meditation classes including “Stretch and Meditate 101” on Thursdays, “Chair Body Stretch and Meditation” on Wednesdays at 6 PM, and a monthly “Less Stress” meditation on Tuesday nights.  Plus the weekly Kundalini yoga classes on Thursday and Sunday offer some meditation in the practice.   There are also great workshops on the Moonflower Yoga schedule which can help with stress reduction.   And Reiki, which is offered at Moonflower Yoga, is a great way to take care of YOU.

Come join us this spring at Moonflower Yoga and take a step towards renewal for yourself!   We are located in Bellmore, on the South Shore of Long Island in Nassau County, but we welcome students from all over Long Island including the neighboring towns of East Meadow, Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford, and Levittown.   We look forward to guiding you to a great start to your spring!

 

 

New Year, New You! by Nancy Weshkoff

January 8, 2018 by  
Filed under Blog

 

New Year. New You!

By Nancy Weshkoff

Hello 2018!   When we ring in a new year, it is a great time to start fresh with new goals and ambitions.  I am reminded of a quote from one of my favorite books “tomorrow is a brand new day with no mistakes in it”.

For Moonflower Yoga, we are starting 2018 anew as well.   2018 welcomes in several great yoga teachers to the Moonflower Yoga staff.    We are pleased to have Danielle Meill, Jackie Lee, Rose Edelman, and Cathi Nashak join the Moonflower Yoga teaching team.   Each of these great yoga teachers bring their own unique style of yoga to the Moonflower Yoga studio.   You will learn ways to strengthen your body, become more flexible, improve balance, link breath with movement, and most importantly de-stress and take care of YOU.

As meditation is something that is important to learn, Moonflower Yoga has also added a great new class on the yoga class schedule: “Stretch and Meditate 101” with Lynn on Thursdays at 5 PM.  This gentle yoga class will help you de-stress from the day and then learn meditation tools to enable you to relax.

And to give the studio a great start to the new year, we have completed the facelift on the studio so it has a new design, better layout, beautiful colors on the walls, and new tapestries to help you feel relaxed as soon as you enter the doors.

It is our 2018 commitment at Moonflower Yoga to continue to offer great yoga classes with great yoga teachers where you receive personal attention and don’t get lost in the crowd.  And we have made the studio a warm, friendly place in Bellmore, Long Island, on the South Shore of Nassau County, New York, where we also welcome students from the neighboring towns of Merrick, East Meadow, Seaford, Wantagh, Massapequa, and Freeport.   Moonflower Yoga is also a great place to learn something new in one of our fun workshops or in one of our clubs.  Check out the Moonflower Yoga Book Club, the Moonflower Yoga Mah Jongg Club, the Moonflower Yoga Needle Arts Group where you learn to crochet or knitting, and the new Women’s Gathering.

So what are YOUR plans and goals for 2018?   First and foremost, it should be about taking care of YOU.  If you do not take care of you, you cannot take care of anyone else.   We often find excuses why we can’t take some time for ourselves.   When we DO take care of ourselves good things happen.  We sleep better at night, and sleep is important to giving our bodies and minds the down time it needs to function better.   We reduce stress which lowers blood pressure.   High blood pressure can lead to so many diseases including heart disease, the number one killer of women in the US.   Just giving yourself a couple a hours a week of YOU time can make a big difference in how you feel physically as well as mentally and it can make you MORE productive as you have a clearer perspective.   Are you a beginner and feeling nervous about starting a yoga practice?  No worries – Moonflower Yoga offers beginner-level  yoga classes 7 days a week.  You’ll see a full listing under the FAQ tab above.   Have problems reaching the floor?  Try Chair Yoga offered 3 times a week.

Yoga and meditation can help put you on a great path for 2018.   You can strengthen your body and de-stress while learning that important message of taking care of YOU.  Come try it!   You will be glad that you did and you will find yourself on the road to better health in 2018.  Happy new year, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

New Year, New Beginnings by Nancy Weshkoff

December 31, 2015 by  
Filed under Blog

NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS

By Nancy Weshkoff

 

new beginningThere is something very special about the new year.   It is a time for new beginnings.   One of my favorite authors is Lucy Maud Montgomery who wrote the wonderful “Anne of Green Gables” series of books.   In this series, Anne Shirley made this comment after having a not-so-good day: “Tomorrow is a brand new day with no mistakes in it.”   How true!   If there were some things in 2015 that didn’t turn out as planned, just say goodbye to that, and turn the page to 2016.   It is a brand new year!

One of the best things to do for 2016 is to take care of YOU.   If you don’t take care of yourself, you cannot take care of the others in your life who may need you – children, elderly parents, spouse, your boss and co-workers, friends, siblings, etc.

At Moonflower Yoga, we have a great selection of yoga and meditation classes where you can take care of you.   In just one hour you can de-stress, learn to take some deep, cleansing breaths to remove tension, and engage in physical activity designed to help you become stronger, more flexible, and improve balance.   If you are afraid to take that first step, don’t be!   Everyone is welcome and greeted who walks through the door.   Our class sizes are small and semi-private in nature (with generally no more than 6-8 students per class).   We have great yoga teachers who will pay attention to you and help you with alignment and feeling comfortable. There are many props at Moonflower Yoga to support you.  If you have difficulty with a standing class, we have Chair Yoga on Tuesday mornings where you’ll get a great workout and feel amazing while seated in a chair.   Or come to a Tuesday meditation class and find some inner peace and relaxation.

Make 2016 a year in which you learn something new. You can join us for the Moonflower Yoga Needle Arts Group where you will learn how to knit, crochet, or quilt, or try the Moonflower Yoga Book Club and go on a wonderful journey with a fascinating book.   There are great workshops on the schedule to start 2016 including a Feng Shui workshop to learn how to situate items in your environment to get the best energy flow, the Ayurveda workshop where you discover your “dosha” type and learn how following the lifestyle for your dosha can help you reduce stress, feel better and sleep better.   Or learn a wonderful healing energy such as Reiki in our Reiki training sessions or Reiki Healing Circle. Discover essential oils and how they can fill your home with aromatic bliss while also providing other benefits, and learn to make homemade, organic gifts using essential oils.   Most importantly, you can feel relaxed while meeting new people and making new friends in one of our great workshops, training sessions, or events.

Here is to 2016 and its new beginnings!   If you are on Long Island, New York, in Nassau County, come give Moonflower Yoga a try in the town of Bellmore.   We would love to help you start the new year with a great beginning!

 

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