Karma Yoga Gathering Thursday, March 21

Join us around the fire on Thursday, March 21 at 10:45 to talk about Karma Yoga and welcome spring!  Hope to see you there.

Spring Karma Yoga Update

Poppy from last year's Karma Garden

We gathered around the fire recently to talk about Karma Yoga and came up with some great ideas.

Karma Garden Time:  Spring is just around the corner so we are excited to get the Karma Garden going again.  This year we will expand to include not only Joyce and Darrell Cooley's garden but also Kristi Tonti's garden in Suquamish.  Our hope is to expand to provide organic produce not only for Helpline House but also for Fishline in Poulsbo and for our own community at BYH with a market table in the studio.  Our kickoff work party will be at the Cooley's on Sunday, April 7.  Hopefully this will work for those wanting to get their hands dirty!  As usual, kids are invited and welcome.  we will focus on getting the dirt ready and planting seeds and starts.  Bring what you have or just come and help.  We will have more specific information with times and addresses as the date gets closer.

Karma Library:  You've probably seen a little free library somewhere in your travels and we thought it would be fun to sponsor one on Bainbridge Island - likely somewhere at Battle Point park.  If you have carpentry skills or materials that we could use let us know!  If you'd like to suggest a spot on the island for the library comment here.  Contact Julie Bennett at partera@drizzle.com with questions, offers and ideas.

Karma Yoga Community Service Day:  We are looking for ways to serve together in our community those who need help.  We have contacted the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers and hope to find a place or person needing help with yardwork, housework or other things amenable to group service.  If you have ideas, please let us know - comment here or email Helen Burke at hburke8@gmail.com.

We will meet again on Thursday, March 21 at 10:45 around the fire at BYH - maybe the sun will be out!  Hope to see you there.

Karma Card Kickoff - Spread the Love!

Next time you have the opportunity to practice an intentional act of unexpected kindness - take it!  Help yourself to some Karma Cards and keep them in your wallet or your car as a reminder.  Leave one behind as a calling card for kindness and a way to connect with others.  The opportunities are endless but here are a few ideas:

-leave a book you've enjoyed on a bench or table where someone will happen upon it - tuck a karma card inside so they'll know it wasn't an accident;

-put a flower on someone's windshield in the grocery store parking lot;

-write a hand-written love letter to a stranger and include a karma card in the envelope (watch a Ted talk about this here http://www.ted.com/talks/hannah_brencher_love_letters_to_strangers.html);

-leave a stack of quarters on a washing machine at the laundromat.

Then - share what you've done with the BYH community!  Leave a note on the Karma Yoga bulletin board, post a comment on the Karma Yoga blog or on the BYH Facebook page.  Small acts of kindness have a big impact.

Karma Yoga Gathering Thursday, 10:45 at BYH

It is time for our first gathering of the new year!  Please come if you can to discuss ways to connect to each other and our community through service.  We would love to hear your ideas.  We will meet right after class on Thursday in front of the fireplace.  Hope to see you there!

Send a Piece of Your Heart to Newtown

Next time you come to Bainbridge Yoga House, near the cubbies behind the front desk you will find an  opportunity to connect to the residents of Newtown.  You can write a heartfelt message or create an image from your heart to theirs on one or more of the paper hearts that will be strung together with many others.  Or, if you love to create paper snowflakes, cut one (or many) and we will include those.  If you feel moved to write a letter of love or hope to a stranger, leave it under the string of hearts and snowflakes.  We will mail the hearts and snowflakes along with any letters in January with the hope that our string of creations will bring some light to the students as they return to a new school.  Here are a few links of other ways to help and connect with our neighbors in Connecticut:

http://www.ctpta.org/About-CT-PTA/SANDY-HOOK-FUND.html

http://www.uwwesternct.org/sandyhook

Santa the Karma Yogi

Thought you would all enjoy this article about how Santa is really a Karma yogi at heart: Santa - The Best Karma Yogi in the World.

The MedMob last night was so lovely - there were about 15-20 of us sitting together in the bustle of the ferry terminal.  With help from Island Kirtan, we sang songs about light and love that made us laugh and smile - and we noticed more than a few smiles from commuters walking past.  Thanks to everyone who came and sang!

Our next Karma Yoga gathering will be January 17 at BYH.  You can look forward to more offerings from Karma Yoga in 2013 and we look forward to seeing you and hearing your ideas.

Peace and love to you ALL!

MedMob Redux 2012

Join us for another peaceful evening at the ferry terminal to welcome home our families, friends and neighbors on December 19, 5:30 pm at the Bainbridge ferry terminal. Our theme this year is light and joy. We will meditate for about 30 minutes, then begin the sound bath when we hear the motorcycles rev up off the 5:30 Seattle ferry. Bainbridge's very own Island Kirtan will be there to help with the musical part of the evening. Spread the word!

Karma Yoga Happenings

This Thursday, November 15 at 10:45 we will have our monthly Karma Yoga Gathering at the new studio and it will be so cozy!  Stay after the 9:30 class if you can or come on by the studio at 10:45.  Everyone is welcome and we would love to see your smile there.

We had a fun night at the bead shop on election night with Amy Margaret learning how to make wrist malas.  If you couldn't make it but are interested in learning more about these, let us know and we can help you out.

Medmob anyone?  We are planning a reprise of the 2011 Winter Solstice Medmob at the ferry terminal.  More details coming soon!

Come to the Happiest Happy Hour yoga class on Fridays at 5:30 if you can - everyone is welcome and the class is free.  Donations for the Karma Yoga Fund gratefully accepted.

If you know of service opportunities in our community and would like to get the word out, let us know and we will post them on the blog.  There are so many wonderful ways to get involved and help.

All About Malas - November 6

Take a break from election night madness and join us at Beads of Bainbridge on Tuesday, November 6 from 6:30-7:30 to learn about and make malas.  If you know Amy Margaret from the bead shop then you know this will be a great time!  She will teach us finishing techniques to make these beautiful creations.  We will have food and wine to share.  Bring any beads you may want to use or get what you need while you are there.  $10 per person.  Please let us know if you can come by e-mailing hburke8@gmail.com.  Hope to see you there.

Karma Yoga Gathering Thursday, October 18

It is time again for our monthly Karma Yoga gathering this Thursday, October 18 at BYH just after yoga.  We will talk about a mala making party at the local bead shop with Amy Margaret Kapphan.  Please come if you can or send us any ideas you might have.

Karma Yoga Meeting this Thursday, September 19

Fall is coming, the round earth is rolling and we have a Karma Yoga meeting coming up this Thursday at BYH after yoga, starting about 10:45.  Come if you can and share any ideas you might have for fun yoga field trips or community gatherings.  Hope to see you there!

Karma Events Coming Up

Yoga in the Park, Friday July 27 at 4:30 - Come join us at Battlepoint in the grassy area near the playground for fresh air yoga and fun.  Bring a food item easy to share after yoga.  Kids and dogs are welcome!  All donations will go to the Karma Yoga fund.

Karma Garden Work Party August 5, 9:30 - 12:30 Join us  in the beautiful garden at Joyce and Darrell Cooley's home near Kiana Lodge - 14969 Cedar Grove Road (left on Sandy Hook Rd, then right at second sign for Cedar Grove Rd.).  We'll be weeding, slug picking and harvesting and would love to see your smiles there!


*Date Change* Karma Yoga Service Swap Labor Day, September 3:   We have decided to change the date of the Karma Yoga Service Swap kickoff to Labor Day, Monday September 3 from 11 - 1:00 at the Point White dock. Please come and share your labor of love!  If you are wondering just what exactly this is, think of it as a hobby/skill/passion swap where you can share with others what you love - no matter how simple.  If you love to garden and have too many flowers or green beans, bring them to share and your best gardening tips (good luck getting rid of your zucchini!)  If you love to bake, bring your favorite treat along with some copies of the recipe.  There will be paddleboards, kayaks, massage, food and yoga on the beach.  Bring your ideas or your trade and we will share our gifts of service in community.  If you have questions or ideas, contact Helen at hburke8@gmail.com.

Poppy growing in the Karma Garden

Karma Yoga meeting this Thursday

Just a quick reminder that there is a karma yoga meeting this Thursday, July 19 at 10:45 at BYH. All are welcome and we would love to see you there!

Karma Garden Work Party on Sunday!

Hard at work in the Karma Garden in June

Just a reminder that our next Karma Garden work party is this Sunday, July 8 from 11 - 2:00 at Joyce and Darrell Cooley's home near Kiana Lodge - 14969 Cedar Grove Road (left on Sandy Hook Rd, then right at second sign for Cedar Grove Rd.).  We'll be weeding and harvesting and would love to see your smiles there!

Harvested and washed lettuce - delivered 10 bags full to Helpline!

Coming Up This Week

Treats after Yoga in the Park last week.

We hope you can join us for a couple of things happening this week:

• Karma Yoga Meeting - Thursday, June 7 at BYH, 10:45 - all are welcome;

• Karma Garden Gathering - come help us plant, weed and harvest at the Karma Garden for Helpline House in Joyce and Darrell Cooley's garden. We will gather on Sunday, June 10 from 11 - 1:00 at the Cooley's home - 14969 Cedar Grove Rd. Bring your family, gloves and a picnic lunch. If you have a favorite flower or veggie (besides kale per Helpline), feel free to bring starts. E-mail Joyce with any questions at joycemcooley@hotmail.com

Yoga in the Park and Karma Yoga's Birthday!

   

Join us for Yoga in the Park at 4:30 this Friday, June 1 at Battlepoint park.  The class is donation based and all donations will go to the Karma Yoga Fund.  We will gather at the grassy area near the playground (not too much) rain or shine!  Kids can play at the playground and we will celebrate the first birthday of the BYH Karma Yoga Project with a cake and sparkling cider so come if you can!

Thanks to the amazing and vibrant group of generous yogis at BYH, Karma Yoga has connected us to come together in so many meaningful ways over this last year:

• Supporting BYH community members in a number of ways - financially through the Karma Yoga Fund, providing nourishing meals, providing yoga nanny childcare so parents can get to yoga (this is still available is you need it!);
• The soulful members of Comfort Station gave donations of over $500 to an Island family struggling with illness;
• BYH members donated beads to help create malas for Martha and Steve along with lots of powerful prayers and positive energy;
• Donating food for Helpline's Project Wishbone and gifts for their holiday gift shop;
• Jen led an Evening of Meditation and Compassion for the Warga family - Comfort Station provided the music and BYH members and friends of the Wargas donated over $1,500 for the family;
• We brought peace to the ferry terminal at the MedMob in December;
• Thanks to Joyce and Darrell Cooley's inspiration and land we started the Karma Garden to grow produce and flowers for Helpline House - next work party is Sunday June 10, 11 - 2:00.

We have more ideas for the coming year and would love to hear yours!  Our next meeting will be Thursday, June 7 at 10:45 at BYH and all are invited and welcome.  If you can't come but have ideas or questions, e-mail Helen at hburke8@gmail.com.  Hope to see you Friday at the park.

Dinner for the Wargas

I signed up to bring dinner to the Wargas on Monday, May 14 so if there is anything you would like to send along to them (i.e., notes, flowers, baked treats), you can leave it in or near the Karma Yoga box in the studio and I will include it.  I would also love any suggestions of your favorite meals/recipes to share that are good crowd pleasers for kids and adults.  You can leave a comment to this post if you have any ideas.

Coming Up . . . .

Who wouldn't want to go to this place - the elephant looks so happy!  Try to guess where it is then scroll down.

Wanted to let everyone know about a few wonderful things happening this week:

Kirtan with Comfort Station - Thursday, May 3 at 7:30, Grace Church.

Karma Class - Yoga in the Park - Friday, May 4 at 4:30, Battlepoint Park.  Join us for an evening of yoga, family time and a picnic dinner.  We'll gather on the grassy area near the playground, rain or shine.  This is a community class and all are welcome!  Donations are accepted for the Karma Yoga Fund.  We will do this the first Friday of each month throughout the summer.

Heart of Yoga Discussion Group – Sunday, May 6 from 7 – 9 pm at the Island Yoga Space.  Conversation and libations – our first reading will be the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.  This will continue on the first Sundays of each month.  Contact Julie Bennett with questions or ideas at partera@drizzle.com.

Not what I expected to find in downtown TACOMA!

Goodbye Weeds

We had a great time weeding and planting, chatting and eating delicious treats at Joyce and Darrell's garden on Saturday.  The beautiful black dirt in the foreground was covered with weeds when we started.  Thanks to Steve Prentice, Susan Loftus, Joyce and Darrell - a great way to spend one of the warmest days of the year!  Our next work party will be on Saturday, May 19 from 11:00 - 1:00 - 14969 Cedar Grove Rd. (just off Sandy Hook Rd. near Kiana Lodge).  E-mail Joyce with any questions or ideas - joycecooley@hotmail.com

Karma Yoga This Week

Just a quick reminder of 2 things coming up this week:

Monthly Karma Yoga Meeting Thursday, April 19 at 10:45 at BYH. All are welcome - we'd love to see you there!

Karma Yoga Garden Gathering - come help us prepare and plant the Karma Yoga Garden for Helpline House in Joyce and Darrell Cooley's garden. Our first work party is this Saturday April 21 from 11:00 - 1:00 at the Cooley's home - 14969 Cedar Grove Rd. Bring your family, gloves and a picnic lunch. If you have a favorite flower or veggie (besides kale per Helpline), feel free to bring seeds or starts. E-mail Joyce with any questions at joycemcooley@hotmail.com