By Nancy Weshkoff

On Sunday, September 7th, we are celebrating the two-year anniversary of the opening of the doors at Moonflower Yoga.    How quickly time has gone by!

For those of you who may not know my background, I spent over 35 years in the corporate world, most of these in the music industry where I worked my way up the ranks and had an opportunity to meet some amazing people.    While it was an interesting and important phase of my life, it is this new phase at Moonflower Yoga that is so special to me.

When my life in corporate America came to an end, it was a gut-wrenching period trying to decide what to do next.    I decided to turn to the one thing that always brought me peace during the stressful times in my life: my yoga practice.    Shortly thereafter I enrolled in a teacher training program, and realized this was my new destiny.    Upon graduation from the teacher training program, Moonflower Yoga was born.     I decided to open the studio in Bellmore in Long Island’s Nassau County (New York) and say goodbye to commuting on the LIRR every weekday.

And while I had a dream of what I would like the studio to be, it has far exceeded what those initial drawing plans were.     Moonflower Yoga offers a very interesting mix of classes, and I am very proud of how varied the schedule is, with classes such as Vinyasa flow classes for energy and strength, Iyengar-style classes that increase your flexibility, Kundalini yoga, wonderful meditation classes, restorative yoga to reduce stress, Tai Chi,  very gentle yoga classes for the beginner, and an eclectic mix of classes under “Calming and Healing Your Spirit” ranging from Angel Healing (IET), to a Reiki Healing Circle, to Laughter Yoga, to a Gallery Reading with an intuitive medium, etc.    The small-class setting at Moonflower Yoga has encouraged newcomers, as well as fellow baby boomers such as myself, to come and try yoga, and they are getting stronger, more flexible, and finding inner peace as a result.

I also love the workshop programs on very wide-ranging topics from natural ways to improve your health, astrology, spiritual development, Feng Shui, Tai Chi and Qigong, crystals, aromatherapy, meditation, Tarot Cards, ways to relieve neck and shoulder discomfort, goal setting to help you reach your dreams, etc.   These have enabled people to learn so many fun and interesting things.   And in the last year the Moonflower Yoga Book Club was formed where we have a great time meeting every 4-6 weeks, sharing the new things in our lives, and learning something new through the books selected.

Most of all, it is the students and teachers who have become such an important part of my life that have helped to make Moonflower Yoga special.   I love the community that has developed here with people meeting other people, becoming friends, and supporting each other.   I feel very, very blessed when I open the doors of the Moonflower Yoga studio every day and know that amazing things are going to happen at the studio.    I send out my thanks to all of you who have made Moonflower Yoga a success!!   And a final thanks to the other half of my life: my husband, Bob, who has been my rock through my journey and helps with so many of the functions at the studio, especially those absolutely delicious homemade goodies that we serve for the workshops and the Moonflower Yoga Book Club.

If you are in the area of Bellmore (Nassau County) on Long Island’s south shore this weekend, come join us for our fun two-year anniversary party this Saturday, September 7^th, from 1 PM – 5 PM.   Come say hello and help us share in an important milestone.   You will get to meet some great people.   And thank you again for your support!!!!  

The post Reflections on Moonflower Yoga’s 2-year anniversary celebration first appeared on Moonflower Yoga Inc..

Written by Nancy Weshkoff

It has been a brutal winter here in Bellmore, on Long Island, New York.   Our snow fall totals have already reached approximately 60” and there is another snowstorm on the way later this weekend with the prospect of possibly 10 more inches of snow.   Mother Nature has not been kind to us this winter.  

I am, however, shaking off the winter doldrums.    While the temperatures are still cold outside, there are signs of better days ahead.   Officially spring is just 3 weeks away.   Have you noticed the extra daylight?   It is no longer dark at 5 PM.    And when the snow is cleared away in my garden, there is beauty coming from the earth.   Several of my spring bulbs already have a couple of inches of green foliage.  A few of the spring perennials also have some green growth.   The robins have returned.   The flowers and birds know that spring is just around the corner.

There is something wonderful about the prospect of spring.   It marks a new beginning.   Are you ready for spring?

Warmer weather means shedding those baggy, extra layers of clothes that have kept us warm.   It is time to start thinking about getting in shape for the lighter clothes of warmer weather.    It is a great time to get off the couch, wake up our bodies, and get toned and stretched.   If you start now, you’ll feel fabulous and be ready for the warm days which are ahead.

Moonflower Yoga has some great yoga classes to help you get in shape for spring.   If you have never practiced yoga before, or have been inactive, start slowly with one of our fantastic beginner yoga classes which are offered several times a week.  We have lots of props on hand to help our students as you are getting back into shape.   Ready for something more challenging?   Try our Stress Reduction Vinyasa Flow class on Monday night at 7:30 PM or Sunday Flow at 9 AM each Sunday.   We also added a wonderful Move and Stretch class to the Tuesday schedule at 6:15 PM, and there is a fun Stretch and Flow class every Thursday morning at 10 AM.    We have an Iyengar-style Level One class on Tuesday at 10 AM and Thursday at 6:45 PM to help you tone.   If you are working in the vicinity of Bellmore, Long Island, we added a Yoga Lunch Express class on Mondays at 12:30, which is a great 45-minute lunch class: skip the heavy calories and try a wonderful class to energize you.

Remember spring is just around the corner.   It is time to shake off your winter doldrums!    Come visit us at Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore, New York, in Long Island’s Nassau County, for a great yoga class with our dedicated team of yoga teachers to help you get into shape and feel great.   Hope to see you soon!

The post Goodbye Winter Doldrums written by Nancy Weshkoff first appeared on Moonflower Yoga Inc..

By Nancy Weshkoff

This weekend we changed our clocks back one hour from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time.   And while it was nice to have that extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning, the changing of the clocks also reminded us of something else: the changing of the season to cooler temperatures and less daylight as it is dark by 5 PM.

When it gets darker and cooler, we naturally spend more time indoors.  While that is understandable, it is important that we continue to move our bodies during the cooler months.  We need to keep your muscles flexible.    At Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore on Long Island’s Nassau County, all of our great yoga classes emphasize stretching and flexibility.  Did you know that tight hamstring muscles can cause back pain?    You can keep your hamstring muscles loose through yoga.   Our Stress Reducing Vinyasa flow classes, Level one and Level one-two classes, Sunday Flow, Beginner, Tai Chi, Stretch & Flow, Adaptive, Easy Beginner & Easy Flow yoga classes are all great choices for keeping you flexible.  And being active can prevent weight gain over the winter months.

Aside from our physical body, our mental state can also change with the cooler temperatures.   We spend less time socializing outdoors.  For some people, this means spending more time watching television, playing video games, or with social media sites.   While these can be fun in moderation, they may not help you deal with stress in your life.   Stress can be harmful and health care professionals all agree that it is a contributing factor to many health problems today.  You can reduce your stress through the physical movement of a yoga asana practice.   You can also reduce your stress through meditation which provides a wonderful opportunity to let go of things that might be bothering you and to teach you to focus on the present moment.   Our bi-monthly Meditation class is fantastic for this.   We also have a lovely Candlelight Restorative class on alternate Tuesdays, which rotates with the Meditation class, where you have an opportunity to completely relax and refresh yourself while you stretch on bolsters, pillows, and blankets.   If you are looking for a combination of light movement and restorative, there is the Unwind and Relax class on Thursday night which is a perfect way to end your day.

You can combat the winter blues, stay in shape, and feel better through a regular yoga practice.  Hope to see you soon at one of our great yoga classes.

The post The Changing Season by Nancy Weshkoff first appeared on Moonflower Yoga Inc..