Dear Yogis,

We kicked off our 3rd annual Teacher Training program this past week with great enthusiasm for the transformative journey ahead. In addition to leading the training, Amanda Wentworth will also be teaching classes over the next 5 weeks, so be sure to check our weekly schedule for her class times.

This month, we celebrate partnership and love with our annual Valentine's Day workshops for couples. It is a great reminder to cherish our friends and loved ones, and to find ways to show them how special they are to us.

In addition, we're co-hosting a launch party for our new event space, Studio Arte. Please join us on Wednesday, February 15 from 7-10pm for this special gathering in collaboration with Rachel Goldstein & Agent of Change.

Our featured events this month include a very unique workshop called SoundBody, SoundMind. Gaura Vani & Kirtan Smith weave Asana, music and mantra together into a multi-sensory exploration of the essence of Yoga. We've also added a new AntiGravity Yoga workshop to our calendar, and class series on specialized topics, including Kirtan Culture (Mondays) and Philosophy of Yoga (Thursdays).

For those who wish to deepen their AcroYoga studies further, the Lunar Immersion provides a gateway to the healing practices of Thai massage and therapeutic flying. This 5-day intensive begins on March 10. Sign up by February 14 to take advantage of early registration prices.

Please read on for more information about these programs. We hope that this month brings more love, sweetness and connection to each of you...

With Love,

The OF Family

Here are some updates for January's weekly class schedule with some exciting additions: Here are the updates for February's weekly class schedule... we're thrilled to welcome back Amanda! She's only here for the next 5 weeks, so be sure to make the most of this opportunity to practice with her. Another exciting addition... Constanza will be leading Ashtanga on Fridays at lunch time. Rock it! Mondays Vinyasa (Foundations), 5:15-6:15pm with Adam Rinder Kirtan Culture, 7:15-8:45pm with Acyuta Gopi Restorative Yoga (Open), 8:15-9:15pm with Kirsten Trued Tuesdays Vinyasa (Open), 1-2pm with Amanda Wentworth Wednesdays Vinyasa (Foundations), 5:15-6:15pm with Amanda Wentworth AntiGravity Yoga Restorative, 5-6:15pm with KD Diallo Vinyasa (Open), 7:15-8:45pm with Amanda Wentworth Thursdays AntiGravity Yoga (Open), 12-1:15pm with Ariel Williams AntiGravity Yoga (Foundations), 5:30-6:45pm with Lorianne Major Vinyasa by Donation (Open), 8:15-9:15pm with Kristin Comis Fridays Ashtanga (Intermediate Level), 1-2pm with Constanza Roldan Saturdays Vinyasa by Donation (Open), 6:30-7:30pm with Jess Jones Sundays Vinyasa by Donation (Open), 5:30-6:30pm with Amanda Winkler Remember to visit our online schedule for the most current schedule of classes and teachers, including updates regarding substitutions.

Mondays, 7:15-8:45pm

Kirtan Culture: Let Your Heart Sing with Acyuta Gopi

Standard Class Prices Apply: $18 Drop-in OR Class Packs / Memberships
Click here to register online for this series of classes
Kirtan, or Sankirtana, represents the art of chanting and singing in community to reflect upon and connect with supreme consciousness. It is an ancient yoga practice within the Bhakti Yoga tradition which has been used for hundreds of years to establish and deepen one's relationship with the supreme. In this series, we will familiarize ourselves with the different aspects of Kirtan and its origins, and cultivate our own Kirtan practice so that we can begin to see how this ancient art can be applied to our modern-day lives.

Students will benefit most from attending all classes in the series, as lessons will build progressively from one session to the next, starting with the first session of each month. This is an open and safe environment to sing and be free in a light-hearted and fun way. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Thursdays, 7:15-8:45pm

Philosophy of Yoga with Adam Rinder

Standard Class Prices Apply: $18 Drop-in OR Class Packs / Memberships
Click here to register online for this series of classes
Yoga is a transformative practice from the inside out. This class is intended to help you gain insight into the philosophical framework for a Hatha Yoga practice as a means to harness its true potential for personal growth and transformation. The basic premise is that we use our bodies as a vehicle to experience our own divine nature... to know ourselves deeply so that we can express ourselves fully from the essence of our being. As we cultivate a deeper relationship with ourselves, we can tap into the source of our inner wisdom and develop a more meaningful, integrated relationship with the world all around us.

The class experience includes a brief discussion followed by the physical practice... come prepared to move. All levels are welcome to participate!

Sunday, February 12, 6-8pm OR Tuesday, February 14, 7-9pm

AntiGravity Yoga for Couples with Christopher Harrison & Shelly Bomb

Price: $85 per couple, pre-registration required
Click here to register online for this workshop
Celebrate on the Eve of Valentine's Day in a healthy, creative way with partner massage and AntiGravity Yoga! Come with a lover or a close friend to explore the blissful feeling of giving and receiving therapeutic touch and the fun of balancing two people with one AntiGavity Yoga hammock. In this special workshop, you will nurture intimacy by moving playfully through partner asana, connect energetically through breath and gaze, and practice deepening your relationship with an unconditional loving kindness (metta) meditation. No experience is necessary to attend!

Tuesday, February 14, 7-9pm

Cuddle Puddle: Thai Massage Playshop with Chris Loebsack & Greg Franklin

Price: $75 per couple
Click here to register online for this workshop
Chris and Greg will guide you in a series of partner flows that will help cultivate receptivity and mutual support in your partnership, as well as open new channels of non-verbal communication. The practice of Thai massage informs us that by serving others, we can truly serve ourselves in an organic cycle of giving and receiving. Both partners will have an opportunity to give and receive during the session, and will be guided through the sequence step-by-step. Comfortable clothing recommended.

Thursday, February 23, 6:30-9pm

SoundBody, SoundMind with Kirtan and Gaura Vani
Living Yoga: Insects to Gods through Asanas

Price: $45 by February 16, $55 thereafter
Click here to register online for this workshop
In this workshop, we witness the scope and evolution of the universe represented by the range of Asanas: from tiny insects to various species of animals and plants, great sages and warriors, all the way to the Gods. Through these Asanas, the wonders of the universe all gain representation. We will delve into the mythological symbolism of these postures, their significance in the great tales of Hindu mythology, and discuss their relationship in Hatha-Vinyasa Yoga to the energetic body. Through a multimedia, multi-sensory exploration, we will delve into the very texture of the Universe and explore how yoga Asanas can bring a greater understanding of our inner-connectedness and oneness with the Universe.

February 25, 2-3:45pm

Body Bliss: Optimum Energy AntiGravity Yoga Workshop with Lorianne Major

Price: $35
Click here to register online for this workshop
Are you ready to take your practice to the next level? Heighten your flying skills and receive a great workout at the same time. You will be empowered techniques focusing more on the strengthening and conditioning aspects of AntiGravity Yoga. Enhance your bodies flexibility, agility, and power with a healthy amount of sweating to reach your optimum energy!

PRE-REQUISITES: This workshop is for more experienced fliers with a minimum experience of 5 open-level classes.

March 10-14, 2012

AcroYoga Lunar Immersion:
Rejuvenation Through Healing Arts with Adam Rinder & Jennifer Yarro

Tuition: $495 before Feb 14, $595 thereafter.
Please click here for more details
The Lunar Immersion focuses on the healing, relaxing and rejuvenating practices of Thai massage and therapeutic flying. The Lunar Asana Sequence teaches basic body mechanics and with a focus on self-love cultivation, in preparation for the dance of Thai massage. The techniques learned on the floor are then translated to the flying work, using the element of gravity to amplify the healing flow of prana (life force). Often, we will work in teams of three for safety and support, and everyone will have the opportunity to base and fly, heal and be healed. This training offers invaluable tools for yoga teachers, massage therapists, and energy workers who wish to develop a new dimension of healing touch for students or clients.

Skills covered:
• Lunar Asana Sequence
• Thai massage in Supine, Prone, Side Lying, & Seated positions
• Forward, Backward & High Flying Whale Therapeutic Flying Sequences

CRY America

India is a beautiful country, rich in culture, heritage, religion and history. But life in India is a lottery. Since its inception, CRY America has irreversibly changed the lives of over 280,000 children living across 1,762 rural, tribal and urban communities of India through 47 projects. Every time we finish our practice, we extend our gratitude by saying "Namaste". This offers us an opportunity to go beyond our yoga mats and help a country in great need.

Please visit their website to donate online or to get more information about how you can support their humanitarian efforts abroad. CRY America is a 501(c)3 registered organization and all donations to CRY America are tax-deductible.

Lakshmipriya Easwaran, one of our most dedicated Om Factory Yogis, is a core volunteer for Child Rights And You. She plans and manages fundraising events, is a researcher for corporate foundations, writes grant proposals and provides IT support. Priya believes "Children are our future. What happens to children in their first days, months and years of life affects their development, the development of our society, and the development of our world." She wants to make a change that endures.

Studio Arte Launch Party!

Studio Arte, in collaboration with Agent of Change, is hosting a launch party on Wednesday, February 15 from 7-10pm. Please join us to celebrate the opening of our event space and to celebrate Love!

This gorgeous 4,000 square foot space offers the perfect venue for receptions, fundraisers and other special events. This versatile facility is well equipped to host a variety of events for up to 200 guests, offering the warmth of a yoga studio blended with the clean sophistication of a showroom. Contact info@studioartenyc.com for a tour, rates and more information about the space.

Om Factory provides work exchange opportunities for students who wish to trade service hours for class credits and discounts on specific workshops. By joining our Karma Yoga program, you do us a great service. Our staff is the foundation of this studio and its community, and one of the most essential elements of our administrative team. The Karma Yoga program is a great way to explore a yoga practice while giving back to the community. Please email staff@omfactorynyc.com to inquire about our Karma Yoga program.

Om Factory Yoga Center is dedicated to hosting events that enhance health and well being and cultivate inner harmony and happiness. Please contact info@omfactorynyc.com for information about hosting a workshop or event at our facility. You may also use this email address to inquire about other services, including psychotherapy, acupuncture, massage, private yoga lessons, holistic health counseling, and more. Let us be of service to you and your community!