August 20 Meeting Summary

A small meeting with Jen, Ann, Katie Zonoff and Helen. We discussed how to try to connect the needs of our BYH community members with the support and resources we can provide for each other. It can be hard to discuss much of anything significant in the short time before and after class. Specifically, we discussed how to get the childcare "Yoga Nannies" project going. The logical first step will be to collect names of those interested in being involved in the project, either on the giving or receiving end. Jen will send out a newsletter soon and will let people know about the project and ask people who are interested in either giving or receiving childcare to contact Helen. If you or someone you know needs help with childcare or is interested in providing childcare, contact Helen (hburke8@gmail.com).

We also discussed the Kirtan nights starting up in the fall as a way to allow for more conversation and connection with each other. Ways to do this might include incorporating meditation, scripture readings and discussion into the Kirtan sessions. We would also like to invite and welcome the teen yoga community to the sessions.

As a way to communicate what is happening with the Karma Yoga Project, we plan to have a bulletin board in the studio beginning in September. There will be sign ups for the Yoga Nannies as well as information about the Kirtan nights and other relevant information. Please feel free to send us your ideas and suggestions.

Next Meeting Monday, August 22

Our next meeting will be held at BYH on Monday, August 22 right after yoga class - about 11:00.

Hope to see you there. If you can't make it but have ideas you'd like to share, please post a comment here or e-mail Helen at hburke8@gmail.com.

July 21 Meeting Summary

Present at the meeting were Jen, Ann, Joyce, Denise and Helen. If you are interested in receiving e-mail updates from the blog but did not receive the meeting notice be sure you have signed up by inputting your e-mail address at the very bottom of the blog. Please feel free to send us your ideas and suggestions via comment or e-mail - we know there are many of you out there who can't make the meetings but who are a part of the Karma Yoga Project.

Unfortunately the Karma Yoga Car Wash won't happen this year because the Chevron is completely booked for the rest of the car wash season. We discussed a few other ideas in a similar vein:

1. Community Yoga in the Park August 5: Jen was planning to lead a free yoga class at Battlepoint Park August 5 from 9:00 - 10:15 so we decided to open the event to the community. Ann will create a flyer and Joyce will post it around town. We hope people from the BYH community who come might bring some brunch-type food items to share after class - fruit, muffins, hot drinks, etc. Please let Helen know via comment or e-mail (hburke8@gmail.com) if you are interested in bringing some goodies to share after the yoga class.

2. Karma Yoga Nannies: We discussed setting up a way for BYH members to care for children of parents who need childcare to attend yoga classes. Ideas included watching children at Jen's house or watching them at their own house. If you are interested in helping watch kids or if you need help with your kids so you can come to yoga please let us know.

3. Creating personal altars: We talked about creating and delivering personal altars for BYH community members and family members who might need extra love, support and healing during difficult times.

Happy Summer to everyone and we will meet again in August.

Next Karma Yoga Meeting July 21

Wanted to remind everyone about our next gathering to talk about the BYH Karma Yoga Project. We will meet Thursday July 21 right after yoga class at BYH. If you can't make it but have ideas you'd like to share please post a comment or e-mail Helen or Jen - we'd love to hear from you!

Karma Yoga in a Labyrinth

My family and I are slowly making our way north to Jasper, Alberta and spent last night at a campground on Lake Okanogan in gale force winds - we literally tied our tent to our car - just in case . . . . Needless to say, our kids were less than cheerful in the morning despite our best attempts to cajole them to the top of the trail to see a waterfall. So much whining. On our way back down, my youngest daughter and I took a side trail and ended up at a labyrinth tucked between the campsite areas. There were some young kids having fun there so my daughter wanted to go check it out - I almost said no worried the rest of our family would get annoyed waiting for us but said yes instead. A sign in front explained the labyrinth was a replica from a cathedral in France and although it occupied only 60 feet in diameter, walking it without cheating covered one half of a mile. We walked it and as we did I noticed a man carrying watering cans from the lake up to the labyrinth to water recently planted flowers around the fringe of the labyrinth. I asked if he had planted them and what they were and thought how nice it was for someone to take such good care of an area so out of the way. When we reached the middle of the labyrinth and sat down we saw a memorial for the woman who had created the labyrinth, Cathryne, who had been a wife, mother and sister and had passed away in 2004. The man watering the flowers said to us that kids just loved this labyrinth and that his wife would have been so happy to see them meandering its paths. I asked if Cathryne had been his wife and he said yes. He went on to tell me about her and that she had died only one month after the labyrinth had been completed and two weeks before they were to move from Vancouver to a house on the shore of Lake Okanogan. He told me about his children in Vancouver and his continuing indecision whether to move to the house he and his wife had purchased. He said taking care of the labyrinth was really the only thing that kept him driving the nearly 4 hours from Vancouver. My daughter decided to retrace her steps to get out of the labyrinth - meaning she walked an extra mile despite complaining of the heat and her tired feet just 20 minutes earlier. I guess you just need to feel inspired. I was so grateful that we happened upon that labyrinth. What a gift to meet that man and get to share that moment and recognize its beauty.

Summary of June 16 Karma Yoga Meeting

Present were Jen Breen, Joyce Cooley, Denise Laveson, Susan Loftus, Ann Strickland, Jon Crane, Karen Richter and Helen Burke. Several others expressed interest but were unable to attend. E-mail Helen if you want to get involved and receive information about the project.

Initial ideas for a mission statement include:

• Seeking union with Self and others through selfless service;
• Bringing joy and light to people and places in need;
• Building relationships through service with and for one another;
• Involving family in a community of service and love

We discussed a common desire to give back to those in need in a way that feels genuine and manageable and that will build meaningful relationships.

Possible structure:

• Monthly meetings to discuss interests/passions and plan events
• Two annual events providing some sort of community service as a group; involving families
• Recognizing different levels of service; individual vs. group service
• Creating an ongoing relationship with one organization over time
• Offering yoga, music and/or chanting as part of community services provided
• Allowing for spontaneous service as the need arises with friends/family in the community; tapping into resources of the group to help those in need; possibly using website/blog to make connections
• Kickoff event such as “Karma Yoga Kar Wash” for the community; no money accepted – pay it forward

We left with the intention to think about and bring to the next meeting specific passions/interests each of us would like to contribute to this project – external vs. internal, areas of expertise/experience, etc., ideas for projects/events

Next Meeting Date: Thursday July 21, 10:30 at BYH

Posted by Helen Burke