Happy Spring from Jade!

Greetings!

Wow, spring has really sprung :) The cherry tree outside of the studio window is in its glory, the birds wake me before my alarm, and the sunlight and 60 degree days make me want to play outside! So try it, bring your device outside and join us for any of our Virtual Yoga offerings from your own backyard. Embrace the grounding nature of your bare feet touching the earth, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the fresh air in your pranayama. Nothing lands us in the present moment like time in nature, so come on yogis, the earth is calling.

Class updates as we head into late spring:

• Qigong has moved outside! Join James Wednesday mornings at 8am in Payson Park here in Portland for Qigong in the Park. In the event of rain class will move to our studio at 1023 Washington Ave Portland, but please make sure your Punchpass profile includes your phone number just in case.

• Gentle Yoga on Wednesday mornings at 7am will take a break for the summer starting June 1st, but please join Karie for Gentle Yoga at noon beginning that same day!  

• 50+ w/Chair Option will also be taking a break for the summer starting June 15th, but be on the lookout for opportunities to enjoy some fun yoga events with Heather including a Partner Yoga Pop-up in June!

Ever debate about which class pass option is right for you…? Here are some things to consider;

• A 5 class pass saves you $1 off the drop in rate for every class you take, a 10 class pass saves you $3, both of these passes never expire and are easily transferable to another Jade student, and we will even use one of your passes if you’d like to bring a friend.

• A monthly unlimited membership actually costs less than a 10 class pass, and you can take as many classes as you’d like in that period, no limits!

• A 3 month membership commitment means even bigger savings, and the perks of both of these membership options are huge! 

Membership benefits include:

• Bring a friend for free 1x month

• 10% discount off Monthly Series or Pop-ups

• Unlimited access to classes & content library

  One free 30-minute consultation with a yoga instructor

• *One free 30-minute consultation with an acupuncturist or physical therapist

I hope this information helps make that next pass or membership purchase a little easier :) 

That’s all for now folks, enjoy the beautiful mild days and reach out! I love to hear from you and I know a lot of our Prenatal Yoga graduates have new additions this spring, please send pics, or better yet swing in for a Mom & Baby class!

Peace, Love & Gratitude <3

Namaste,

Sarra

April Yoga Nidra and Meditation Pop-ups!

Greetings everyone!

In the Spring our energies begin to rise like the sap in our beloved maple trees. While an apt metaphor this energetic shift is not necessarily a smooth one. When Yin energy moves into Yang there are bound to be some hiccups, some clogs, some ragged edges. That's why we practice, why we move. This is the season where we physiologically shift from preservation to production, so honor this transition by giving your body what it needs. An inversion each day can help dust the cobwebs from the corners of your mind. Backbends and chest openers can help to amplify the beating of your heart furthering the flow of your own life blood, and awakening the body to its annual state of growth and renewal. If it’s been a while since you’ve been in the studio, join us, it may be just the shift you've been looking for.

And speaking of growing…we added 26 new students to the Jade studio community last month! Welcome one and all :)

• Bootcamp will come to a close this Friday the 8th. A huge thanks to Heather for covering this class for the last few months…make sure you get your workout on while you can!

• Our next Pop-up offering will be Yoga Nidra: Spring Cleaning your Energy. Join me here in Portland Saturday April 30th at 10 am for this meditative restful practice. Not quite sleep, deeper than meditation, Yoga Nidra opens a portal to the authentic self, identifying your Sankulpa, the heart's deepest desire. Yoga Nidra leaves one feeling grounded, refreshed, and rooted in their intention. If you’re struggling with change or simply need space for a guided contemplative experience this is for you. Registration is $20 through Punchpass, space is limited. Register Here!

• Be on the lookout for the annual migration of Qigong from the studio back to the great outdoors! Starting Wednesday May 4th at 8am, James will see you and other members of our dynamic Greater Portland community outside in Portlands Payson Park. This beautiful outdoor space is the perfect place to experience the peace fostering, strength building practice of Qigong the way it was meant to be

• Are you in need of a little emotional rinse? I will be leading a FREE, 15 minute  Mood Change Meditation on Sunday morning April 10th at 9am. This brief, simple, virtual meditation is structured to help you release any trapped frustration, anxiety, or aggravation, using breath, visualization, and mantra. Sign up through Punchpass and a Zoom link will be delivered to your inbox :) all you have to do is find a quiet seat and Let Go. Register Here!

•  Injury Prevention For Runners returns this Spring In-person here in Portland. Led by PT Melissa Belcher and myself, this annual Jade offering might be just the thing to launch you into a very active Spring and Summer season. Join us outside and In-person Monday, May 2nd, 5 to 7pm in Portland’s Payson Park. Click here for more information and to sign up! Register Here!

• Check out some new additions to our video content collection, including two Prenatal Yoga videos from Amanda and Sarah. Using our content collection when you can’t find the time to plan for a class is a great way to maintain your personal commitment to practice, as well as the connection to your yoga community. Even when you are not in the studio, our instructors know you, and you know them, this relationship makes the difference between being seen and just another YouTube experience. 

That’s all for now! Please reach out, say hi, share what's on your mind, or ask that question you've always wanted to ask about yoga…I love connecting with you <3

Peace, Love, & Gratitude,

~Namaste

Sarra

Spring Updates from the Fitness Studio

Happy Spring everyone!

I just wanted to reach out with some opportunities here at Jade that you might find intriguing…

• Our Prenatal Yin Yoga Pop-up is this Sunday the 27th at 10am! Prepare the mind, breath, and body with lessons for labor in this special In-person class taught by Julia Redman e-RYT 500, at our peaceful Brunswick studio. Space is limited! Register here!

• Just like the snow, our Winter Restoration Yoga series is coming to a close. This Sunday, 4/27 at 6pm, marks the last time this seasonal restorative, virtual class will be held…until next winter that is. Get your rest on. Sign up here!

• If this seasonal adjustment period has you feeling a little frustrated, a bit irritated, or downright angry, join me Sunday morning, April 10th at 9am for a free Mood Change Meditation! Hop on Zoom for this 15 min, group meditation experience, bringing mindful awareness to aggravation so we can Let It Go. Grab your coffee and a quiet seat in your house and jump in, just sign up, a link will be sent to you the morning of. No experience necessary, stillness not required.

That’s all for now folks. As always I do love to hear from you, so reach out any time!

Peace, Love, & Gratitude,

Sarra

March Greetings!

Hello all,

And just like that, March is upon us! March 20th marks the 1st day of spring, and spring marks a period of natural rebirth; an awakening from dormancy, and for some of us a period of frustration and irritability! I recently learned that in Chinese medicine the emotion associated with Spring is anger, and no one likes feeling short fused for no apparent reason. So, let's discharge some of that excess aggravated energy:

• Take a warm soothing bath or treat yourself to a sauna.

• Lay down with a couple of chilled green tea bags on your eyes and just breathe, visualize frustration leaving your body and the universe receiving it for disposal.

• Get outside! Walk and fill your lungs with the prana of Spring, or for a deeper lung cleanse, run until your heart rate is up and you are short of breath.

• Eat green, drink green! Take advantage of the fresh baby greens and herbs available at the market, a little greening of your diet has a huge impact.

• Hit some extra classes; a restorative, yin, or vinyasa class may be just the thing to flush out some of that stagnated energy. Try a class option you don’t typically take, something new to you. 

• And, my favorite, it’s daffodil season! A bunch of these beauties in your home is a literal vase full of Spring in your space…be kind to you.

A few things to share with you about this Spring’s studio offerings!

• Our Winter Restoration Yoga series with Heather has 4 more weeks left. This home based, Sunday evening class is just the thing to start your week from a grounded place. Join us from the comfort of your home this week at 6pm! Click here for more information and to register!

• Injury Prevention for Runners returns this Spring In-person here in Portland. Led by PT Mellisa Belcher and myself, this annual Jade offering might be just the thing to launch you into a very active Spring and Summer season. Join us outside and In-person Monday, May 2nd from 5 - 7pm in Portland’s Payson Park. Click here for more information and to sign up! 

• Attention Moms to be!!! Our Prenatal Yin Yoga Pop-up takes place Sunday, March 27th at 10am in Brunswick! This 75 min, yin yoga based class is designed to:

• Establish a sense of feeling grounded and practice building strength and endurance to help prep for labor and delivery

• Explore the difference between relaxed tissues and the softening effects of elastin so as not to over-stress ligaments and cartilage.

• Stimulate the meridian lines sending qi energies to the tissues that need them most.

• Experience postures and breath work that help cultivate a calm, peaceful energy in body and mind

• Connect with your baby and meditate on positive attributes that you’d like to share with your little one

• Opportunity to connect and share with other expecting mothers

Click here for more information and to register

Stay tuned for the return of more outdoor movement opportunities, including Community Qigong and Men’s Stretch intensive later this spring. And, please share with me any ideas you may have for outdoor classes in the coming warmer months! 

As always, I love connecting with you so please feel free to give me a shout and say hi! Our students are the lifeblood of our Jade Studio Culture, you literally create the space you want to practice in…

Namaste~

With Peace,

Love & Gratitude,

Sarra

Free to You This Weekend Only!

Hey all,

Feeling the winter blues a bit? Need a little gentle nudge to help hit your "reset button"? We've got just the thing...

This weekend only try our Winter Restoration Virtual class for free! Thats right, FREE. You do not need an active pass to be able to sign up, just go to our yoga schedule and sign up! See you Sunday evening at 6.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, spring is in sight!

Peace, Love, & Gratitude,

Sarra

February in the Fitness Studio!

Hello friends!

How about that storm!? How did you spend the time, what gets you through the periods of cozy confinement only New England weather tends to bring? I spent Saturday reading and listening to my partner tune his piano, then like true Mainers we decided to take a drive down Rt 1, not the best idea. My son turned our side yard into a ski/snowboard park complete with jumps and rails, and all my windowsill plant babies finally got potted! We thoroughly enjoyed our snowy weekend, because we let go to the reality of forces beyond our control. My friend Rick says “let go, or get dragged”. When life; when nature, when family, interject themselves into your best laid plans, with all the chaos those forces can bring, what do you do, how do you respond? Do you become frustrated and shake your fist, or do you let go, make some French Onion soup and listen to the wind?

Events & Reminders for February!

Shoes, Masks & Cancellations: With all the salt and sand, please remember to remove your shoes before walking on the studio floors. In Portland this can be done at the foot of the stairs or on the upper landing, and in Brunswick shoes can be removed on the mat just inside the studio entrance, or outside the clinic door. There’s nothing worse than kneeling on a piece of salt while trying to let go of external triggers!

Please remember to wear your masks at all times in our studios and if you forgot yours, just let us know and we will grab one for you :)

Can’t make class, and it’s less than 24 hours until start time? That’s ok, just reach out. We all get flat tires, or children or pets stage a coup, we get it. Let me know and chances are I can move your reservation to a new time…otherwise, per our cancellation policy, I have to charge your pass. 

Spread the Love: Partner Yoga Pop-up! Thursday, February 17th, 6pm in Brunswick.

Invite a loved one, family member, or friend and join Heather for Partner Yoga with a Restorative Finish! Only one pass needs to be purchased, and only half of the couple should register...

We will spend the first half of class in “partner-postures” that offer connection through creative and playful stretches, providing counter-movements to our partner in Gentle ways.

The second half of class will be spent in Restorative Yoga postures, taught by the soothing ambiance of candle light. We will nourish the Mind and Body, while bringing a Calm to the Nervous System in this practice of intentional stillness. 

We’ve added Yoga for 50+ w/ Chair Option to the Brunswick schedule! This class takes place In-person every Wednesday at 11. And, for those of you who can’t make the drive, sign up for the virtual offering and simply close the door to your bedroom or office, you’ve got a class to take!

 Winter Restoration Virtual Yoga is here! Start your week off right, or end a long weekend well. This virtual, restorative, home based practice is designed to open the body passively and to find a deep sense of relaxation. Using props as necessary, including bolsters, blocks, blankets, straps, and pillows, these restful poses are supported for longer periods, many times for several minutes. By working with the force of gravity, muscles can release tension and provide the body the opportunity to focus on breath and the clearing of accumulated stress. These classes are ideal for all-levels, find a space in your home where you can close the door, get comfortable, and be led through the grounding practice of restoration. This first ever annual, virtual class will be held Sunday evenings through the end of March, at 6pm from the comfort of your own cozy home. Join us starting this Sunday, Feb 6th.

Monday evenings Gentle Yoga now has a virtual option! Please be sure to sign up for the Virtual option for this class early as the Zoom invite will be sent directly from the instructor instead of auto generated through Punchpass. Our teacher will need a 10 minute window prior to the start of class to guarantee you will receive the Zoom link, thank you for being mindful!

Our beloved Samantha welcomed a beautiful, healthy, baby girl to the world on January 15th! Both mom and baby are resting at home, safe and sound <3

That's enough out of me for now! As always, I do really love to hear from you so please reach out with your comments or questions. And, if you have a loved one who would like to see what a class here at Jade is all about, let me know and I will set them up for a great experience :)

With Love & Gratitude,

Namaste~

Sarra

Happy 2022 Everyone!

Hello All,

I’m not a big New Year resolution maker. They become one more thing on my plate, one more thing I’m not doing right, one more thing I’ve got to figure out how to get out of (don’t get me started on the type of self destructive mental gymnastics that particular thinking enforces!) Essentially, I find that a New Year’s resolution is a set up for failure, and no one likes that...I mean, have you ever thanked anyone who has “set you up” before? NO, and chances are you ended up with a huge sleep disrupting resentment that you obsessed about for a week toward that person until you burned enough incense to let it go. Well, it’s likely that you do a bit of that to yourself each time you try for the annual ritual of change, and that’s not healthy.

So I propose a Daily Resolution, a small difference you agree to make just for the day. No negotiations, no year long subscription, just a daily contract you sign in the morning that expires when your head hits the pillow at night. Try it, wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and say to the person looking back at you “Today I resolve to ______”. That’s it, keep it simple, one maybe 2 succinct simple items: Today I resolve not to yell at my kids, Today I resolve to drink one less cup of coffee, Today I resolve to go to yoga, and take a bath. Setting a daily intention is so much easier than setting a lifetime intention, life changes too frequently for that, there is just too much uncertainty. But today, I can resolve to get on my mat at 4pm (I already booked the class) and cook a healthy dinner for my family (I’ve already been to the grocery store). And, if I get a flat tire, or burn dinner it’s no big deal, I can try again in the morning. Change is a series of small successes, keep it in the day.

Shifts and new offerings here at our studios:

• Our lovely Samantha has stepped away from teaching as she is due any minute! However, Friday Bootcamp will still be offered by Heather Laffely! Check out her bio and sign up!

• Speaking of Heather, she will be leading a new In Person offering in Brunswick. Gentle Yoga starts Monday the 10th at 5:30 at our Brunswick location, 12 Windorf cir…get your stretch on! Register here!

• All Levels Yoga is moving to a new day, this popular class will now be offered on Wednesdays at 5:30 starting January 12th with a bonus Virtual option!

• Be on the lookout for Couples Candlelit Restorative in February, A Night For Nurturers: A Self Care Workshop for the Professional Caregiver Community, and a Sunday evening Virtual Restorative Class.

• Did you know that any of our instructors are available for 1:1 instruction? If you have a ton of questions, a pose you’ve been struggling with for years, need some personal alignment strategies, or are seeking to break through a yoga or fitness plateau, a 1:1 class is a game changer! Give us a call and we will get you scheduled, 207-773-5778 or 207-844-8280…I love to teach arm balances, just saying :)

• And as always, take a look at our content library. You can access this collection from anywhere, all you need is an active membership, or multi class pass. And, for those of you who drop in one class at a time, there are some short and sweet freebies available as well.

That’s all I have for now, as always I love to hear from you so please reach out. And, thank you to our Jade Studio Community, we can’t teach without you. Happy New Year!

Peace, Love & Gratitude,

Namaste~

Sarra

Seasons Greetings From Jade Integrated Health Fitness Studio!

As we launch into the busy holiday season, I found myself ruminating on the simplicity of life pre-technology. No, I don’t mean pre-machine, or pre-electricity, I mean pre-cellphone, pre-social media, pre-face time. Then I stopped as the gravity of how these things, while sometimes glitchy and intrusive, have made the last 21 months of life astoundingly more bearable for every single one of us! We have been able to maintain family connections through Zoom and Face Time, participating in some of life's most precious moments, instead of missing them entirely. We have been able to meet new people and remain socially active and informed because of online groups and classes. And, we have been able to stay abreast of vital information, and changes in data, taking back the power of due diligence for ourselves, instead of being reliant on biased outlets. When I really think about where we would be without the internet, without our devices and apps, I am floored with the amount of resilience our digital platforms have provided us, despite the occasional error or outage.

As your holiday schedule amps up; as you’re squeezing in a virtual yoga class, wishing your extended family a merry one on Face Time, googling cookie recipes, and searching Youtube for toy assembly tutorials, remember that for every instance of technological frustration you’ve encountered in the past 21 months, you have also been awarded 10x those moments in Connection, and that is priceless.

• Just in time for the holidays: Candlelit Restorative Yoga Pop-ups! Hosted in Portland on Dec 8th from 6pm - 7:30 & in Brunswick on Dec 15th 6pm - 7:30. Treat yourself, or someone you love to a relaxing hour and a half of supported movement so gentle and restful that your body will feel rejuvenated, and your tension and stress totally mitigated. Passes are $20 and available online. SIGN UP HERE!

• You may have noticed that when joining a virtual class Zoom may be asking you for a “passcode” occasionally. This passcode is included with the Zoom class invitation sent to you via Punchpass, it will be between 4 and 6 digits and is located near the top of the invitation close to the link you would select if you join directly from the email. I apologize for the inconvenience, it has to do with how the 2 platforms integrate, but please let me know if you have any problems at all and I will do my best to resolve them.

• Try to sign up for weekend classes ahead of time, that way I can preemptively troubleshoot any connection issues by sending you a backup Zoom link, just in case. I want you to get the most out of your Passes and Memberships, and collaborating with other studios allows this to happen, but the tech hasn’t quite caught up to us yet...that’s right, we’re cutting edge :)

• Our lovely Mama to be, Samantha Wood will be stepping away from her classes the last week of this month, so get some Sam time while you can! And, stay tuned as coverage for her classes is secured to make for a seamless transition, as well as some other exciting shifts coming to our schedule for 2022!

• Have you checked out the content library lately? Our latest video editions include Super Slow Motion Gentle, Yoga for 50+ (or any body for that matter), and 40 Minute Morning Vinyasa. With the content library you can access a Jade class anytime, anywhere.

• And give this little blast from the past a gander. As we venture back into our winter yoga routines, and maybe up the frequency of our mat time, little reminder cues like this can make a world of difference. Watch the video here!

As always, I love to hear from you. Our connection makes this community stronger so please reach out.

Happy holidays everyone,

Peace, Love, & Gratitude,

Namaste~

Sarra

Happy November Jade Community!

November is the kickoff to the holiday season in our culture and probably the most important aspect of any holiday; high holy day, individual, or cultural celebration, is the aspect of togetherness.

The act of gathering together, sharing a positive experience with others, reinforces the brain's mechanisms which develop memory, learning, and intelligence. We don’t get together every November just because we love turkey, we get together for the effect, the resonance, the afterglow of sharing time and attention with friends and family. As a response, your brain releases endorphins, making you feel good, tying that feeling to smell, sight, taste, sound, even touch, eventually forming long term memories. The dopamine that is released by all that stimulus is what drives us to go back to the situation, year after year, that’s why the very thought of the holiday season can make us feel giddy, we know what’s coming, and we look forward to the effect of togetherness.

If you’re reading this and asking yourself what any of this has to do with yoga, barre, bootcamp, or Qigong, here’s the answer: togetherness. The togetherness you share in a group fitness experience has the same effect on your brain as gathering for a celebration, and your mind and body are really missing this. If it’s been a year or more since you’ve come to the studio, come back. If you don’t feel safe, reach out, call me, let’s talk about it. I propose we coin a new term, invoke a new state of mind: to-gather-ness. Happy November everyone, we miss your face!

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Jade Now Offers Weekend Virtual Class Options

Courtesy of an exciting collaboration with Scarborough Yoga we now have 2 new classes to offer you as part of our weekly class options. Sign in and check them out, and as a heads up you will receive a manually generated email from us containing the Zoom invitation before class begins, so it is in your best interest to sign up early!

Virtual Core & Deep Stretch Yoga: w/ Scarborough Yoga’s Kristine Keegan, Saturdays at 10:15am

There are over 25 muscles between your shoulders & hips, having a strong core helps eliminate back pain. Your core is your stabilizer, it helps with balance, posture and over all better movement.

In this 60 minute class we will build strength and find that deep inner core, your power!

We will flow to warm up, then slow down to deeply stretch and lengthen muscles, strengthen your core then land blissfully in savasana.

Virtual Slow Flow Yoga: w/ Scarborough Yoga’s Chris Byrne, Sundays at 8:00am

Join Chris Byrne for this 60-minute slow flow practice designed for all bodies, abilities and experience levels. Rooted in the practice of mindfulness, this class has a heavy emphasis on connecting with the compassion that resides within your heart, both for you and the people around you!

You have an open invitation to explore this practice to meet whatever you need in the moment; movement, stillness, breathwork, or anything else, this practice is truly yours to explore. You are invited to let go of worry or fear about what practicing yoga may "look" like. Instead, this class encourages you to give yourself permission to be just as you are, wherever you are, and celebrate all the things that make you an incredible person!

A great introduction to the practice of yoga, this class is slower paced with plenty of adaptations provided so you can make the practice your own. It is also perfect for more experienced students who want to slow down and take the time to explore their practice and invite deeper connections with the self.

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Qigong has Moved Inside for the Winter

Join Jade provider James Constantine, every Monday evening at 5:30, In-person in Portland, or virtually from anywhere. I highly suggest trying this deep movement experience. Qigong is 100% adaptable and James will help you develop and explore expressions that will work for you in you journey to build strength and presence.

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New In-Person Prenatal on Thursday in Portland

We have added a second In-person Prenatal Yoga option at our Portland location! Join Sarah Geores CYT, E-RYT every Thursday at 5:30. Connect to the self within the self, you’re practicing for 2 now. To sign up for these classes and more use this link.

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That’s all for now beautiful people! I am grateful for each and every one of you who show up for self, family, and community by joining our classes to care for the body your spirit inhabits. And I am grateful for our outstanding circle of teachers here at Jade, these people share their passion for movement, for mind/body connection so selflessly, I am blown away by their weekly expressions of service.

As always, I love to hear from you, and will get back to you, so reach out!

Peace, Love & Gratitude,

Sarra

October is Here!

Hello & Happy Fall!

Fall is the time of year to slow down and appreciate the cycle of our seasons, and the gifts a healthy and consistent routine yields. There is an expression in the school of yoga I come from that goes “how you do anything is how you do everything”...this means that if I skip my practice, I skip other things that are good for me too. If I push myself too hard on my mat, I probably push myself too hard in other areas as well. If I fail to view even the most simple pose as preparation for the whole practice, or even future practices, then I’m probably failing to prepare for the future in other aspects of my life as well. As you prepare for winter by canning and pickling the last few veggies from the garden, or scheduling and planning a getaway, or splitting and stacking that fire wood, remember that how you do anything is how you do everything, and your practice will help you get ready.

I have some really great stuff to share with you this month!

• Your Core & Pelvic Floor Workshop: Awareness Through Movement - This evening workshop takes place Wednesday October 27th at 5:30pm. You can participate In-Person here in the Portland Studio, or virtually through Zoom from anywhere! In-Person space is limited, so sign up soon, use this link for more information. Register Here!

• Jade is going down in art history! We have been asked to participate in a public art event inspired by the Clifford Ross exhibition Sightlines. Please join us for a 45 minutes, All Levels Flow, outside at Portland Eastern Prom, Saturday October 23rd at 10am. This low impact, hip focussed flow will concentrate on the simultaneous use of Ujjayi Pranayama, Sanskrit for victorious breath. Together we will collaborate to make the sounds of waves crashing, the subject of Ross’s work. Check out the exhibition by clicking this link and reach out for more details.

• Mom & Baby Yoga is back in Portland! Please bring your non-toddling infant and join our new Jade instructor, Sarah Geores for some mat time for both you and your baby every Monday at 10am. And just a reminder, our Brunswick studio offers Mom & Baby Yoga Fridays at 10am.

• Yoga for 50+ is back! Join us In-Person in our Portland Studio, or on Zoom for this classic individualized class designed to increase stability, build strength, and maintain your range of motion. In-person and on Zoom Monday’s at 12 here in Portland.

• Qigong is moving inside for the winter. Starting October 25th, come and spend an hour with James Constantine L.Ac Monday evenings at 5:30pm, in our Portland studio and on Zoom. Register Here!

• These classes and more are all available to sign up for on our website, add us to your Bookmarks.

• No time for class? Take a look at our content library on Punchpass, our latest additions include Yoga for 50+

• Lastly, this month's How To Yoga features our very own Samantha demoing her favorite Prenatal poses...take a look. View the video here!

And, you know we love to hear from you….tell us how you prepare for the changing seasons, or tell us what we can do to help? We might not be there to help stack that wood, but we will definitely go through some shoulder strengthening and stretching with you. Drop me a line, or come on by!

With Love and Gratitude,

Sarra

~Namaste

Meet Our Instructors - September 2021

It's time to get back to class! This September we interviewed our amazing studio instructors. This great team of talented teachers offered decades of teaching and practice experience. Get to know our instructors and get to class!

Karie Wik DPT, LMT, CYT teaches a Gentle Yoga class on Wednesdays in our Portland studio. She is also a physical therapist and massage therapist in our Portland clinic

James Constantine DAIM, L.AC. teaches a free community qigong class in Payson Park during the summer and at Jade Integrated Health Portland studio in the cold months. James is also a licensed acupuncturist in our Portland clinic.

Meet Julia Redman E-RYT, YACEP, C-LYT! Julia teaches Prenatal Yoga, Mom & Baby Yoga and Yin Yoga in our Brunswick studio. Julia is also available to yoga 1-on-1 session in our Brunswick clinic.

Meet Sarah Geores CYT, E-RYT. Sarah teaches our Mom & Baby Yoga class in the Portland studio. Her interest in teaching yoga began during her pregnancy with her second child.

Amanda Delorime MSPT, CYT teaches our Prenatal Yoga class in the Portland studio. Amanda is also an occupational therapist and a women’s health therapist in the Portland clinic.

Meet Heather Laffely CYT! Heather teaches All Level Yoga and Chair Yoga in the Brunswick studio. She also teaches class at Crossroads in Portland.

Karie Wik DPT, LMT, CYT - Meet Our Instructors

Karie graduated from Western Carolina University with a doctorate degree in physical therapy. She has been granted certification as a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Women's Health Physical Therapy and enjoys treating men, women and pediatric patients. Her yoga training includes the EmbodiYoga® 230 hour yoga intensive and teacher training program completed in May 2008, and Subtle® Yoga 200 hour yoga intensive and teacher training program in June 2020, and numerous yoga intensives.

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Where and when did you complete your training?

I've completed two intensive yoga teacher trainings in North Carolina, the first in 2008, and the next one more recently in 2020.

Is there a particular practice or theory that informs your teaching?

My teaching has been very influenced by what is known as somatic practices. My initial teacher training was based on the work done in Body-Mind Centering® called Embodiyoga, and I've continued learning from a neuroscience-oriented yoga practice called Subtle® Yoga. Both practices have a focus on how you feel in your body while you practice versus a more fitness-based approach. I believe this makes the practices very valuable, as well as accessible for all bodies.

How long have you been practicing?

I took my first class in 1999, so over 20 years.

What is your favorite class to teach?

I love slow, challenging classes that incorporate some form of mindfulness or breath/meditation techniques.

What inspired you to start your personal practice?

Honestly, I struggled for years to have a regular daily personal practice. A few years ago I was introduced to a traditional sequence of movement, breathwork, and meditation which comes from the tantric tradition (which is very logical and organized) and this (versus a more etheric or mysterious approach) resonated with me and I've stuck with it. Yoga is a very practical tool.

What in-class memory warms your heart?

I was in a class years ago. It was a popular flow class with lots of weekly regulars. During the final resting pose, about 5 minutes into deep silence I started to hear a man's voice talking from the front row. And then it sounded like a female voice shushing him. He kept talking to her and eventually she gasped, and all 30 something participants in the room started to look up front at why these two were disturbing our savasana so blatantly. It turns out he had chosen that moment to propose to this women, his girlfriend. The studio was in on the plan but it was such a sweet surprise to her, and the rest of us. A celebration of their love in the same spot they met years earlier in this very Thursday night yoga class!

If there was one thing you could impart to your students, what would it be?

Our bodies have a lot to tell us, especially when we slow down and listen.

James Constantine DAIM, L.Ac. - Meet Our Instructors

James Constantine has had an interest in Asian philosophy and culture from a young age. He majored in East Asian Studies at Boston University. James received his Master's and Doctoral degrees from the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley, CA.

James teaches a free community qigong class in Payson Park during the summer and at Jade Integrated Health Portland studio in the cold months.

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Where and when did you complete your training?

My training is nowhere near complete, but I've studied Medical Qigong in Berkeley, CA, and classical QiGong/DaoYin forms have been a part of my Martial Arts and TuiNa(Massage) practice for years.

Is there a particular practice or theory that informs your teaching?

The practice is the path; its about the process, and not the destination. That and the fact that everyone thinks their breathing is fine until they actually start paying attention...

How long have you been practicing?

I'd say some form of QiGong has been a part of my martial arts practice since 1998, but its become a more daily focus in the last 6 years.

What yoga/fitness-related continued education courses have your attended?

I have been a personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise and National College of Exercise Professionals. I credit Dr. Jen Reznick, Suzannah Stason, and Tom Bisio for revitalizing my QiGong Practice

What is your favorite class to teach?

QiGong

What inspired you to start your personal practice?

Probably Kung Fu movies on Channel 56 when I was 7 years old.

What inspired you to start teaching?

My Hawaiian Kempo Grandmaster passed away almost 3 years ago, and it reminded me that the important things in life need to be passed on, and not allowed to fade away.

What in-class memory warms your heart?

A smile that signifies a breakthrough into the moment.

If there was one thing you could impart to your students, what would it be?

You can always relax more.

Julia Redman, E-RYT, YACEP, C-LYT - Meet Our Instructors

Meet Julia Redman, E-RYT, YACEP, C-LYT! Julia teaches Prenatal Yoga, Mom & Baby Yoga and Yin Yoga in our Brunswick office. Julia recognizes yoga as her strongest anchor in both her personal and professional life. She has been teaching for nearly a decade and has a dedicated personal practice.

Julia believes yoga is for everyone, and she enjoys offering variations and options in her classes, encouraging people of all levels to feel comfortable in their body and practice.

Where and when did you complete your training?

I completed my first teacher training in Hawaii in 2011. I have taken multiple trainings since, most recently having completed over 300 hours of training in the LYT Yoga Method.

Is there a particular practice or theory that informs your teaching?

Developed by a physical therapist, LYT Yoga blends traditional yoga with functional movements that help optimize our postural and energetic alignment, light up the brain, and enhance our sense of compassion towards ourselves and others.

How long have you been practicing?

15 years

What yoga/fitness-related continued education courses have your attended?

Prenatal yoga, gentle yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, and more!

What is your favorite class to teach?

Tough question! I enjoy teaching a variety of classes and styles.

What inspired you to start your personal practice?

I grew up taking dance classes, so movement has always been prominent in my life, and I fell in love with the mindfulness component that yoga offers.

What inspired you to start teaching?

My experiences in my personal practice and my first teacher training.

What in-class memory warms your heart?

A few years ago I taught a prenatal series (I happened to be pregnant at the time, too) and after all our babies were born we got together for a mom & baby class, it was so sweet!

If there was one thing you could impart to your students, what would it be?

Stand tall and breathe deeply.

Sarah Geores CYT, E-RYT - Meet Our Instructors

Meet Sarah Geores CYT, E-RYT. Sarah teaches our Mom & Baby Yoga class in the Portland studio. Her interest in teaching yoga began during her pregnancy with her second child. Sarah believes yoga is for all bodies and abilities, and she continues to self-educate on how to make yoga more accessible and inclusive.

Where did you complete your training?

At the Alanna Kaivalya Yoga School

Is there a particular practice or theory that informs your teaching?

A huge force that drives my practice is the belief in the mind body connection, and that to keep one healthy you have to keep the other one healthy as well. Yoga helps me to go inward to keep my mind healthy and sane while also keeping my body in movement to stay healthy physically.

How long have you been practicing?

10 years

What yoga/fitness-related continued education courses have your attended?

Pregnant and powerful prenatal course, Grounded Goddess pelvic floor workshop, and a restorative workshop

What is your favorite class to teach?

I love to teach gentle stretch classes for the prenatal or postpartum yogis

Tell us about a positive interaction you had with a yoga/fitness student that has stuck with you?

I love hearing about students that are just getting back into yoga after an injury or a surgery that has set them back. I’ve had a couple people tell me that my classes have helped them ease back into their routine which is a beautiful thing!

What inspired you to start your personal practice?

I had very casually practiced yoga for several years on and off, but it wasn’t until I was pregnant with my son that I really created a consistent practice that I felt very passionate about. I loved the deepened sense of intuition that I was able to find in my practice, and I found that it helped me so much in my postpartum experience. I’ve built on that over the past couple years and it’s part of my daily routine now!

What inspired you to start teaching?

I was really inspired to teach when I realized that I wanted to reach people who would normally wouldn’t take a yoga class. I wanted to show that yoga was so much more than just about getting in shape or staying fit. A huge part of my yoga experience has been yoga for healing, both mentally and physically. I wanted to share that concept with others who are looking for a way to heal.

If there was one thing you could impart to your students, what would it be?

Your practice is your practice! It may not look the same as a person next to you, and you may not be practicing for the same reason. Allow your intuition to drive your practice.

Amanda Delorme MSOT, CYT - Meet Our Instructors

Meet Amanda Delorime MSPT, CYT! Amanda is a Maine native having grown up on the coast near Popham Beach. She received her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from University of Southern Maine. Amanda treats women’s health patients in our Portland office.

Amanda also teachers prenatal yoga in our Portland studio. She takes a whole body holistic approach to pelvic floor rehab incorporating both yoga and occupational therapy to help individuals.

Where and when did you complete your training?

I got my 200 hr yoga certification through Pranakriya Yoga in 2013.

Is there a particular practice or theory that informs your teaching?

Pranakriya yoga is based off the hatha yoga teachings of Swami Kripalu. Swami Kripalu was an ascetic yogi whose intensive practices led him to a very deep understanding of yoga, which he passed on to his students. His teachings were the inspiration behind Kripalu Yoga© as developed by Yogi Amrit Desai and taught at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts.

How long have you been practicing?

I've been practicing yoga since I was in undergrad in 2007, about 14 years.

What yoga/fitness-related continued education courses have your attended?

I have taken additional yoga courses in prenatal yoga, yoga nidra, and restore your core - a yoga based program for postnatal women returning to exercise.

What is your favorite class to teach?

I love teaching a gentle class focused on stress-reduction.

What inspired you to start your personal practice?

I was an undergrad student in Boston and I found yoga as a way to de-compress from all the hustle and bustle of living in the city and all stressors of being in college. It helped me find my ground during a very busy time in my life.

What inspired you to start teaching?

After college, I kept practicing and practicing. It felt like the next right step to go on to get my yoga teacher certification.

What in-class memory warms your heart?

During prenatal, when all the moms are resting in a supported bound angle pose. They look to me like they are finally getting the rest and space they so need.

If there was one thing you could impart to your students, what would it be?

Have fun! Be yourself. Don't judge yourself in a class full of other students. Come to yoga to practice you. Let it be a practice to go inward and create a loving relationship with yourself.

Heather Laffely CYT - Meet Our Instructors

Meet Heather Laffely CYT! Heather has been practicing yoga since 1996, when she took a class offered at her college, held in a beautiful little campus chapel.

Heather’s classes are creative, inviting, and blend her passion for body movement with subtle body awareness. Heather welcomes ALL bodies and ALL levels to her classes.  

Where and when did you complete your training?

I completed my YT-200 in Feb. 2021, through the Maine YogaFest School in Scarborough. I have been teaching Latin dance-fitness(2016), Buti Yoga(2017), Trauma-Informed Yoga (2019) and other fitness classes since 2016.

Is there a particular practice or theory that informs your teaching?

I teach intuitively, often using the chakra systems, or a particular area of the body, to help guide and structure my classes. I always address both the Physical and Subtle( mental and emotional) body of whichever system or area we are bringing focus to. My classes are always trauma-informed. I teach many different styles, and these principles are true for them all.

How long have you been practicing?

I've been practicing yoga for about 25 years. My practice deepened in my pre/post natal years( more than a decade!) in the early 2000's with pre-natal and baby and mama yoga. When I discovered vinyasa, after I was done with the mama and me years, I fell in love!

What yoga/fitness-related continued education courses have your attended?

Trauma-Informed, Yin, Chair, Fiesta Fitness, POUND Fitness

Tell us about a positive interaction you had with a yoga/fitness student that has stuck with you?

I recently had someone come up to me after a Yin class, one that had been focused on the Heart Chakra and the Shoulders, Arms and Chest. She told me, teary-eyed, that the class was exactly what she needed and so wished her daughter had been there as planned, but a hurricane prevented it. They had just lost a dear family friend unexpectedly, her daughter's best friend. She said that it was as if the class had been created just for her. Two things stuck with me:

1. Trust your Intuition and Create....If I hadn't I probably would not have taught that class, that morning

2. It shone a spotlight on the Gratitude and Honor I have, being able to offer my love of Yoga to the Community as an Instructor

What inspired you to start your personal practice?

I was looking for a way to offer slower movement and more meditation in to my practice. A balance to the higher impact classes I was taking.

What inspired you to start teaching?

I was already teaching Movement classes and I had wanted to take a Yoga teacher training for a while, though could not find a way to make it happen with my schedule. When studios and other employment were shut down in 2020, I decided there was no better time to train, especially because much of it was online. I wanted to work with, and bring Mindfulness Meditation and Yoga Classes too, the Recovery Community. I have been able to do that and I am continuously grateful for my decision to train when I did.

If there was one thing you could impart to your students, what would it be?

Self Love

Welcoming Fall

Hello & Happy September!

This month signifies a return to routine for many of us; kids go back to school, our offices settle into familiar and predictable patterns, even the flow of traffic finds a typical synchronicity and the birds have begun to migrate! But we, just like the birds, only need to fly one day at a time. As we set out on new, or old routines, remember you don’t have to view this as a goal oriented period interrupted by holidays, or the occasional 3 day weekend. Instead, try looking at like the birds and stay in the day! Remember, all periods of change, of shift are easier, if we remain mindful of our needs, drink enough water, or go to sleep a little earlier. If you put down your yoga or weekly fitness class this summer, like many of us did, now is the time to come on back! Both your body and your mind will thank you.

I have loads to tell you all about this month!

1. We are offering 2 great new classes!

Prenatal Barre

This class specifically designed for the changing needs of a pregnant body, and company! The class will move through an energetic sequence that is safe during all stages of pregnancy, suggesting modifications as needed, in order to promote the wellbeing of your changing body. This Barre class is designed with virtual participation in mind, there is no special equipment needed, but have a chair or countertop, and very light weights, ranging from 1-3lbs (we recommend water bottles or canned goods).

This one of a kind class is taught by our own highly energetic, and expecting mom-to-be, Jade PT Samantha Wood...Congratulations Sam!

Register HERE!

Full Body Stretch

This class is a highly accessible and adaptive 50 minute stretching class that is meant for anyone who could use a little gentle guidance and encouragement in moving the body into the right shapes to create more space and extension for tight muscles and achy joints. If you have been told to stretch more and don’t know where or how to start, this is the class for you. This relaxing movement experience is for anyone at any age or fitness level. All physical conditions are considered with alternatives given for people requiring more distinct modifications. You will stretch the entire body, but please feel free to ask about targeting specific muscle groups.

This in-person, Brunswick based class is taught by Jade PTA Dori Thompson. She has an extensive background working in chronic pain programs and teaching group classes for osteoporosis patients, and cancer survivors. She has refined the theme of this class into a narrative anybody can understand.

Register HERE!

2. This month begins our Fall Workshop Series!

Mitigating the Side Effects of Cancer Treatment

2 session workshop, September 22nd at 12:00-1:30 & October 13th at 12:00-1:30, Portland

Join acupuncturist Genevieve Sprinkle L.Ac and James Constantine DAIM, L.Ac as they explore the ways acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulas and nutrition can help ease adverse reactions to cancer treatment therapies.

For more information and registration HERE!

Forest Bathing

2 meditative sessions September 21st at 4:30-6:30pm & September 24th at 1-3pm, Brunswick

Join Meaghan Harmon, L.Ac for this mindfulness-based practice. The simple act of immersing ourselves in the forest and truly drinking in and experiencing the natural environment gives us a necessary pause in the midst of the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Find registration information and more about Forest Bathing HERE!

3. We love your stories and really want to hear from you! Anyone who shares a personal story about their yoga or fitness journey with Jade Integrative Health will receive a free class on us...please email me yoga@jadeintegratedhealth.com and let us know how your practice has impacted your life!

4. As things develop we will continue to modify our Covid 19 Studio Protocol. Please review for recent changes and reach out with any questions. Covid 19 Studio Protocol

5. In case you missed it while squeezing the last drops out of summer, our new Jade Studio Instructor Julia Redman has brought In Person Prenatal and Mom & Baby classes back to our Brunswick location! Get on your mats Mama’s Register HERE!

6. Watch out for this months “How To” Yoga series featuring the Jade Fitness Studio Yoga Staff striking their favorite pose! AND, check out this gem from August’s Stop Drop & Yoga series...

That’s all for now, enjoy these last few days of our glorious summer!

Peace, Love & Light,

Sarra

It’s Officially August!

Hey All!

It’s officially August...how are you wrapping up your summer? Any fun trips planned, or summer guests coming? We have a couple ideas that might help you fill those dog day hours, and come in handy for those seemingly frequent rainy summer days.

• For those of you who tend to join us one class at a time, and therefore don’t have access to our entire video content library on Punch Pass, we have a one of a kind Monthly Video Subscription Membership! This inexpensive subscription auto renews each month so you don't have to think about it, and your at home yoga experience can grow and flourish without interruption. We add new content every week, so there’s always a new class for you to try! Purchase the Monthly Video Subscription!

• We also have the perfect solution for summer boredom, long rainy days, or a fun way to entertain your visiting friends. Our exclusive Rainy Day Pass gives you access to our complete content library for 72 hours, so you have 3 days of Bootcamp, Barre, Yoga, or Qigong to practice on your own time! Unlike a rental on Prime, the clock on this pass starts upon purchase, so get those backyard projectors out, and send me pics. Purchase the Rainy Day Pass!

• Our Brunswick studio welcomed a new teacher last month! Julia Redman has joined our teaching staff and is offering 2 new In Person classes in Brunswick, Prenatal at 5pm every Wednesday, and Mom & Baby is back, every Friday at 10am! Sign up ahead of time as space fills quickly. If you’re a new mom, or mom to be, these classes are a great way to connect with peers, and form a community that literally grows together. Learn more about Julia!

• Do you follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Insta? Did you know that last month our How To Yoga series also doubled as a Contest, with real Prizes!? There is still time Punch Passers, no one guessed the correct locations of our last 2 video posts, so there is still a free massage (courtesy of Jade Integrated Health LMT, Beth Mitchell) and a Monthly Unlimited Yoga Pass up for grabs! Ne the first to comment on facebook with the right location and win!

  • July Week #3 “Hot to Yoga” Video

  • July Week #4 “How to Yoga” Video

• Our Fall Workshop schedule is coming together! Please keep an eye on our website for more information and how to sign up. Jade’s workshop calendar.

• Do you have any yoga questions you’d like to ask, or poses you’re curious about but don’t know where to start? Please share them, we’d be happy to help, and even turn your questions into September’s How To Yoga series.

That's all for now, as always you know I love to hear from you, don’t be shy, reach out!

Enjoy the rest of summer,

Peace, Love, Light,

Sarra

Happy Independence Month - Yoga Updates

Hi All,

Happy Independence Month! That’s right, I said month...since the holiday I’ve been reflecting on the meaning of the word Independence, how I embrace this in my life, and foster it in the lives of others. If I expect to lead a truly autonomous, independent existence, I must allow others the same expectation. This is the embodiment of NAMASTE!

So much to catch up on this month!

• How to Yoga Video Contest! This month, each time a new How To Yoga video is posted, the 1st person to identify the correct location the video was filmed wins a fantastic prize from Jade! Just comment in the chat. Like us on Facebook, or follow us on YouTube, or Insta to see where we show up next! Watch Here!

• Have you checked the content library lately? There’s new stuff from Yin, Gentle, All Levels and Barre/Yoga Blend! All you need for access is an active Punch Pass account. I love hearing about your experience with this great resource, and if there is content you’d like to see let me know :)

• Free Qigong In The Park! Join James every Wednesday morning at 8am for FREE community Qigong in Payson Park here in Portland! Grab your coffee (or tea) and mix up your movement practice, and connect with your fellows.

• In Person Prenatal Yoga starts tonight, Tuesday at 5pm, here at Jade Portland! Brought to you by our new OT, Amanda Delorme, this class is for mums-to-be approaching yoga from any level of experience. Prenatal Yoga is a wonderful way to share the journey of maternity with others, please share this news with someone expecting today! Pre Registration required

• Pop-Up Men’s Stretch Intensive has been rescheduled for tomorrow, that means you still have time to sign up! Come learn effective adaptive stretch for your body, and align to the specific needs of the male anatomy. Move the way you were intended! This class is appropriate for all fitness levels and experience, Wednesday, July 7th, 6pm Payson Park, Portland. Drop ins are welcome, class fee is $20. Register Here!

• One time class offering in Brunswick! This Friday, July 9th at 12pm, join Jade Yoga Instructor, Heather Laffely for a Yin Yoga Experience. Yin yoga is a quiet contemplative practice that targets the deepest tissues of the body, our connective tissues – ligaments, joints, bones, and the deep fascia networks of the body – Sign up on Punch Pass and try something new, all regular pass holders and members welcome! Register Here!

We are adding new class offerings all the time. Please keep an eye on the schedule, so you know what’s coming next. And let me know what you’d like from Jade, we seek to help you make your studio practice part of your weekly wellness practice.

Independently yours,

Namaste~

Sarra