Yoga Party!

I love parties. I might even I love parties even more than I love yoga (is that possible?).

So, when I was approached to host a surprise yoga birthday party for one of my favorite yogini's ( a regular at my Thursday night class) and her 5 friends, I was thrilled to have an afternoon to indulge some of my favorite obsessions: food, yoga, music, and parties.

Here's what it looked like: the birthday girl was bamboozled into coming to the yoga studio (I think a blindfold may have been involved and her husband was even enlisted to set aside a change of yoga clothes) where her bestest friends greeted her alongside a table outfitted with a fanciful spread of beautiful food, pink tulips, and candles galore.

After a bit of fanfare around the guest of honor's arrival, we settled on to our mats and set out on a 2 hour yoga practice. A few of the girls were new to yoga, so a bit of time was spent breaking down poses but a lot more time was spent breaking into laughter.

We did some parter yoga poses towards the end, which was so much fun and the final savasana (complete with a lavender oil mini massage) was a proper 15 minutes -- there is usually not enough time to offer up this much time for relaxation in most classes, so it was so nice to be able to give that gift to everyone! And after the practice, stomachs were grumbling and it was time to feast.

Ok, my skeptical carniverous cronies, I know what you're thinking: the menu at a yoga party better subsist of something a bit more intoxicating than hemp milk and vegan gluten-free sugar-free pseudo-cookies. While this particular menu was indeed meat-free, it was a substantive sampling of simple cold tapas: a 3-bean Mediterranean salad, roasted red pepper hummus, couscous & beet salad, savory tamari spiced nuts, artichoke tapenade. And for dessert, chocolate covered strawberries and baklava. Yum. But have no fear: if franks and beans are what you fancy, I can do it up all-American picnic-style, though that happens to sound completely repulsive to me (no judgement, though, I swear).

So,how much will a yoga shindig set you back? The price per head for a party of this kind starts at $50/head, but could potentially be less, depending on the menu. For example, I'm not sure how much hot dogs cost these days, it's been a while since I've made that purchase. Thc party price includes:

- 1 1/2 hour customized yoga workshop

- 1/2 guided meditation and savasana

- Food & drinks (customized menu)

- Customized Vinyasa Yoga CD*( for this event I made a playlist that included some of the birthday girl's favorite song)

- Party Favors * (i.e., Paper tea lights & Japanese Incense from RUKA* (see http://www.ruka.com/)

*- possible add-ons!

A good time was had by all, it seems. In a shameless act of self-promotion, I will share with you the rave reviews from this yoga soiree, just in case you think I'm making this up to fill space on my blog. Actually, the feedback was quite lovely indeed:

Holly,
Saturday was absolutely amazing!!! we all had a great time and it was an awesome bonding experience. everyone just kept talking about how much they loved it. you really did a great job and made everyone feel comfortable trying new things and experiencing yoga in a whole new way. I keep getting emails today from everyone about how much they loved it!!!!!!!!
Thanks a million tree poses!!
Jenn

Anyway, it's a good kind of party to get invited to -- at the very least you don't have to worry about what to wear. Or who to bring. Just bring a mat, a sense of humor (mandatory) and a hearty appettite.

( Now, dare I write this? I think I must.)

Party OM! (Sorry. Had to. Couldn't resist.)

Hope to see you all soon! If you're thinking of having a yoga party, email me at hwestyoga@gmail.com for more info.

xo

Holly

Nest eggs

This beautiful mama bird lives on the air conditioner outside my bedroom window. I wonder if she shopped around before settiling down on the 2nd block of Catharine Street here in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. After all, she probabbly could have had a ton more window sill space in the Art Museum. With a garage. And a roof deck.


Anyway, I'm glad she landed here. I do believe she posed for this picture, regal creature that she is. And I cannot help but look for the symbolism in her presence -- rebirth, transformation, renewal, protection, growth, family... all these hallmark happy things.


Then again, maybe the universe (just in time for tax season), well aware of my propensity for procrastination, has delivered a nudge to start building some semblance of a nest egg before I go gray. This is also possible, but I prefer the more poetic interpretation, especially since I have been very busy lately with the syrupy stuff of poetry-- quite a departure from my last lovelorn blog entry, it's true.



I'm not quite ready to write about this new adventure and will instead defer to e.e.cummings. Be advised, if you're still cynically clinging to your winter doldrums, these super saccharine sounds of springtime might make you downright nauseous. Try it out. Read it aloud. See what happens.

I'll be back soon with more tales about the crazy magic of yoga. Meantime, come yoga with me-- check out my updated spring schedule. Hope to see you in class!

when faces called flowers float out of the ground
and breathing is wishing and wishing is having-but keeping is downward and doubting and never-
it's april(yes,april;my darling)it's spring!
yes the pretty birds frolic as spry as can fly
yes the little fish gambol as glad as can be
(yes the mountains are dancing together)
when every leaf opens without any sound
and wishing is having and having is giving-but keeping is doting and nothing and nonsense-alive;we're alive,dear:it's(kiss me now)spring!
now the pretty birds hover so she and so he
now the little fish quiver so you and so inow the mountains are dancing, the mountains)
when more than was lost has been found has been found
and having is giving and giving is living-but keeping is darkness and winter and cringing-
it's spring(all our night becomes day)o,it's spring!all the pretty birds dive to the heart of the skyall the little fish climb through the mind of the sea
all the mountains are dancing;are dancing