Inspiration

September 2010

'These Damn Foggy Goggles!'

by Jessica Bellofatto

Maya Angelou, in her book, "Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now," recalls a memory of her grandmother teaching her about whining. Whenever a "known whiner" would enter her store in Stamps, Arkansas, she would pull Maya aside and make her listen. "My grandmother would ask the customer, "How are you doing today, Brother Thomas?" and he would reply with a whine of "not so good, this heat is killing me, i just hate it... and i hate plowing. That packed down dirt ain't got no reasoning, and mules ain't got good sense... my feet and my hands are sore..." Maya said that as soon as the whining customer had left the store, her grandmother would pull her in front of her and make her look her in the eye, and say: "Sister, there are people who went to sleep all over the world last night, poor and rich and black and white, but they will never wake again. Sister, those who expected to rise did not, their beds became their cooling boards, and their blankets became their winding sheets. And those dead folks would give anything at all for just five minutes of this weather or ten minutes of that plowing that person was grumbling about. So you watch yourself about complaining. If you don't like a thing, CHANGE IT, and if you can't change it, CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT IT."

As I was racing today for the third year in a row in the Mighty Hamptons Olympic Distance triathlon, I had a moment in the water with my goggles fogged up, and no buoy in site, where my mind jumped to complaining mode. For a moment I thought to myself, "This sucks," and then proceeded onto a tangent about how I should have trained more, and how I should have tested my goggles, and what the hell was I doing this for anyway???? And then a moment later I just as quickly caught myself, reeled it right back in and shifted my focus to how gorgeous the morning was, how perfect the temperature of the water with no jellyfish, glassy, and beautiful. I then thanked the gods of wind and water for such perfect racing conditions and in the next moment, I had the most overwhelming sense of gratitude for everything in my life as it is today, all the difficulty, ease, messiness and happiness. And I thought how perfect it all is and how EMPTY. Meaning, it is anything that I make it to be. It is anything YOU make it to be.

And Maya Angelou's grandmother is speaking of that emptiness when she tells Maya that if you don't like a thing to change it, but if you can't change it, to change the way you think about it... It has no qualities of its own... this life is your own, is my own projection. So simple. Step into that power, that knowledge, and be completely liberated in the process. Are you ready???

Click here to view NEW fall schedule online | Click here to download a PDF

Special Offers this Fall at KamaDeva Yoga...

5% DISCOUNT FOR ONLINE PURCHASES OF CLASS CARDS!

To invite you all back into the yoga studio from the outdoors this fall, (how amazing was this summer??) we are offering a LOT of great deals.... please note that ONLINE PURCHASES bought through our website get an EXTRA 5% DISCOUNT!! (Excludes auto-pay deal, workshop & retreat purchases)

$90 for 90 Days of Unlimited Yoga!!!

For $90, you can attend an unlimited number of yoga classes at our studio for up to 90 days. This enables you to check out as many classes as you like to discover your favorite classes and teachers to suit your style and pace of practice. Or just come every day if you are a yoga junkie! We have 27 Classes every week with amazing teachers - ranging from beginner to intermediate/advanced level yoga classes, athlete oriented yoga, surfer yoga, hard-core abs, meditation, ashtanga inspired yoga and so much more!!
Click here to take advantage of this offer (Buy it online at get it for only $85.50!)

For our regulars, we have the following great deal...

Auto-Pay Monthly Unlimited Yoga!!!

For our regulars, our un-matched monthy auto-pay deal for UNLIMITED yoga classes is only $79/mth for 4 months - and get your fifth month FREE! Five months for the price of four works out to $63/mth for yoga... CRAZY! This is a limited time special fall offer. At the end of the 5 months you will have to re-subscribe at the regular price of $108/month for unlimited yoga. If you renew within the last month you get to stay on the $79/month rate! We will even send you a gentle reminder when the time nears! For regular KamaDeva Yogis - It doesn't get any better than this!
Click here to take advantage of this offer!

Upcoming Events...

SUP DEVA: Yoga & Stand Up Paddleboarding with Jessica and Gina!

Saturday, September 18, 1:00-3:00pm

STAND UP PADDLING / YOGA CLASS will continue on Saturdays through the FALL! Join Gina Bradley of Paddle Diva and Jessica Bellofatto Saturdays from 1-3pm for an exquisite walking on water and yoga on the board experience. $110 per person ($90 for each consecutive session) includes all gear, paddle instruction and stroke refinement, yoga on land, yoga on the board, and refreshments... Gina and Jessica both placed FIRST in the stand up paddling relay a few weeks back for Paddlers for Humanity (Gina in the all Women's diviison, and Jessica in the Mixed Division). You are in great hands with us, and we will turn you into a rockin' stand up paddler in no time!!! Please click here for details.

RINCON, PUERTO RICO: Yoga, Stand Up Paddleboarding and Surf Retreat with Jessica Bellofatto and Gina Bradley!

October 21 - 25, 2010

JOIN US for our 2nd Rincon, Puerto Rico RETREAT October 21-25, 2010 for 4 days of amazing, organic cuisine, yoga, stand up paddling, surf instruction, fitness walks or runs, and relaxation in the cool surfer town of Rincon, Puerto Rico. QUICK, CHEAP flights (currently $99 each way) from JFK to Aguadilla on JetBlue, fly you just 20 minutes from our beautiful accommodations. Space is extremely limited so sign up soon! And, on September 15 ONLY, receive $100 OFF the cost of the retreat! Click here for full retreat details.

FULL MOON PADDLE: Last of the Season on Georgica Pond in the Hamptons with Jessica Bellofatto and Lars Svanberg!

Friday, September 24, 6:00pm

The last of our popular Full Moon Paddles, as featured in the New York Times Style Section takes place on Friday, September 24. Think a meditative paddle across Georgica Pond in good company and gorgeous scenery, followed by a short Yoga and meditation session on the beach, bonfire, some food and refreshments, and a paddle back by the light of the full moon. These nights are truly magical and we have been told time and again that they are the highlight of the summer season. Paddle instruction is also included. You do not have to be on a stand up paddle board - single and double kayaks are also available. Click here for full event details.

LIVING LEGS: A Yoga Workshop with Jessica Bellofatto at Ishta Yoga in New York City

Tuesday, October 5, 6:30-8:30pm

The legs are the workhorses of our bodies. The limbs of locomotion. As much as we rely on our legs, can we have gratitude for this powerful part of the body? How do the legs feed into the pelvis and spine? When the legs are inflexible, it affects everything from digestion to sleep. In this workshop taught by KamaDeva Yoga, East Hampton director Jessica Bellofatto, we will explore the use of the legs in a range of postures from standing to backbends to seated poses. We will learn and apply clear principles of alignment in order to use the legs in such a way that they liberate the spine, open the heart, and invite in the breath. Click here to sign up for this workshop online.

 

Downloadable Yoga Classes...

THE YOGA TOUR: Videos of Yoga Classes with Jessica Bellofattoat KamaDeva Yoga Now Available for Download!

Ask and You Shall Receive!

There are 3 yoga classes with Jessica Bellofatto available as video downloads from The Yoga Tour Website. You can watch previews or purchase the videos here. They are only $12 each, and if you purchase one, I welcome ALL feedback to make your at home yoga experience even better!

In closing, enjoy the bounty and beauty of the upcoming fall season... we are so blessed to have such abundance...

So much LOVE,

Jessica and the kick-ass KamaDeva teachers!!!