Whole Sky Yoga

11/13/2025

Indian mythology is rich and diverse, filled with stories of deities and sages that illuminate the spiritual philosophy at the heart of Hinduism and yoga. The Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita (a part of the Mahabharata) bring the philosophical teachings of the Vedas and Upanishads to life through story, symbol, and the human experience.

The Ramayana tells the story of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his loyal companion, Hanuman, who is a half monkey-man, half human god (father is Lord Vayu, the wind god).

In one tale in the Ramayana, Rama’s wife, Sita, is kidnapped and when searching for her, Hanuman sees the island of Lanka, which has not yet been searched. In order to see if Sita is there, Hanuman must take a literal and figurative “leap of faith” over an ocean to the island. He kneels down, prays to his father (the wind god), and summons every iota of faith he can muster to take this leap, all while chanting Rama’s name in deep devotion. Spoiler alert: he makes it and finds Sita. That’s not the end of the story, but it’s the end for now

This imagery of the “leap of faith” is represented in our asana practice through hanumanasana (split pose or monkey pose) as a pose of devotion, faith, and surrender. We take a leap of faith when we come to any yoga practice or class. We put faith in our teacher to guide us, and we put faith in ourselves to do the practice to the best of our ability. We devote ourselves to the practice.

Some food for thought:

✨When was the last time you took a leap of faith?
✨What's stopping you from taking your next leap of faith?
✨How does it feel to envision taking the leap?

11/04/2025

Slow down, breathe deeply, and feel your energy flow. 🌀 Join us for a special Qigong Workshop with Patrice — an afternoon of mindful movement and breath. Qigong is an ancient gentle movement practice that brings healing and balance to our body, mind and spirit. 🌿

✨ Sunday, November 9 at 1pm!

10/31/2025

Enter if you dare. There are no windows OR fans. And we’re doing core work today. Happy Halloween! 👻

10/27/2025

Interested in learning more about our upcoming yoga training? Annie will be hosting an info session this Saturday 11/1 at 11am. Bring all your burning questions!

Whether you’re considering teaching or simply deepening your personal practice, this session offers a chance to ask any questions you have and learn about the two tracks we are offering. Annie will talk through these simultaneous programs - the curriculum, schedule, and philosophy behind the programs.

There will be light movement and breathwork at the beginning of the session before we open the floor for questions.

Can't make it this weekend? We're holding another sessions Saturday, November 15 at the same time. See you there!

Thinking about deepening your yoga journey? Join us for an open and informative session about our upcoming Yoga Teacher and Yoga Life Training. You’ll meet with Annie (lead trainer), learn about the curriculum, schedule, and philosophy behind the program.

10/20/2025

Breathe and move in a room filled with artist expression.

Each Thursday at noon, we will be offering a weekly Hatha Yoga class taught by Georgina Berbari, in collaboration with Whole Sky Yoga + Queen of Rogues Art Gallery .of.rogues

Queen of Rogues is located in a sweet little nook in Woodstock next to a stream and just outside the liveliness of the town center.
 
WSY Membership, class passes, and drop-ins are all valid and available for use at the WSY Outpost. Intro passes may not be used. Located at 59 Tinker Street in Woodstock - just walk down Waterfall Lane to find the entrance. Street parking available.

10/13/2025

Annie here! I wrote about non-attachment in the most recent WSY newsletter. Do you subscribe? Here's an excerpt!

Fall brings on significant change (in weather, schedule, clothing, etc). Particularly during this time of the year (and while the world simultaneously feels chaotic), it can seem hard to ground yourself, so I ground myself in my practice.

In my practice (abhyasa), non-attachment (vairagya) has been coming up a lot. In simple terms, non-attachment means to let go or release expectation.

Non-attachment doesn't mean we become indifferent or aloof to the matters of the world. Non-attachment teaches us to not be attached to a specific outcome and to be in the present moment of what's happening.

Imagine you decide, "I want to go for a walk on my favorite trail." When you get to the trail, the leaves are falling, the temperature is perfect, and you have a very pleasant walk. You feel joyful. Imagine the same scenario, but your trail is closed for maintenance, and you can't go on your walk here. How do you feel? Do you still feel joyful? Or do you feel disappointed?

One practicing non-attachment might say to themselves, "That's disappointing, but I can discover a new trail today or I can come back tomorrow. I feel joyful."

Attachment to a specific outcome causes suffering. You expect something, you get disappointed. Non-attachment helps us release from ups and downs, so we can maintain a certain level of steadiness in our lives.

This doesn’t mean we are complacent or we don’t have goals that we wish to attain or that emotions don't come up. It means, when there is a roadblock, we don't get completely derailed. Non-attachment helps us to stay steady on the path and to see things as they truly are.

What are the small ways you can bring non-attachment into your daily life and your practice?

10/01/2025

Yonah is back! 🙌 Recovered from her back surgery, Yonah is teaching her in her 9:30am Gentle Floor Yoga class this morning (virtual only, of course). We're so happy to have you back. See you there! https://bit.ly/4mHSxTu

09/18/2025

Grateful for everyone who came to book club last night—what a great chat! 📚 Next month we’re diving into Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. Mark your calendar: Wednesday, October 15 at 5:30pm at the studio. Bring a snack and some hot takes 🤓 📖

09/15/2025

Sweet gathering of Whole Sky teachers over the weekend at ! Great food, great people, great views! Feeling so lucky to surrounded by such a wonderful group of teachers 🧘🏻

09/09/2025

Our yoga practice is sometimes meant to push us beyond what is comfortable, so that we can discover how resilient we are when faced with a challenge.⠀
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Coming up at the end of the month, Lizz DeFeo will be offering a two-hour long Master Class that incorporates a vigorous vinyasa sequence with arm meridian stretching, flow variations, strength building, opportunities for inversions, and time to travel deeper into postures. While the practice may be intense, there will be room and space to explore - to slow down and experience postures at your own pace. There will be support and guidance throughout.⠀
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Created by Dr. Rose Erin Vaughan of Science of Self Yoga, this complete practice is open to all who seek a journey deeper within. Some yoga experience is suggested. ⠀
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Held on the last Sunday of every month - starting September 28, 2-4pm. See you on the mat!

Join Lizz DeFeo for a vigorous vinyasa sequence that is a complete practice, including arm meridian stretching, vinyasa flow variations, strength building, opportunities for inversions, and time to travel deeper into traditional postures, back bending, forward folding, and more.