ReDefining Yoga & Pilates Tai Chi

ReDefining Yoga & Pilates Tai Chi You, at your highest potential… Studio opens and closes throughout the day based upon classes and appointments. Text Tracy at 207.319.0102 if questions!

To view class schedule, schedule appointments, reserve your spot in a class or upcoming workshop go to our official website; www.redefiningyogaandpilates.com, click on classes tab, and the 'Sign Up' tab and you are on your way!

Thank You...I would like to say thank you to our Studio Members and Teachers for your on-going support of my on and off ...
02/03/2026

Thank You...
I would like to say thank you to our Studio Members and Teachers for your on-going support of my on and off classes, and of me during my husbands journey. I am so grateful.

Kevin's journey ended peacefully yesterday morning;
I will be taking some time away to greive...

While Amber, Theresa and Carol will cover when able I once again seek your understanding should a class need to be cancelled.

Namaste
Tracy

Sunday Snip~it'A conversation...Loosely quoted from the 'Power of Myth' ~ Joseph Campbell.'In all of these journeys of m...
01/25/2026

Sunday Snip~it'

A conversation...
Loosely quoted from the 'Power of Myth' ~ Joseph Campbell.

'In all of these journeys of mythology, there's a place everyone wishes to find. The Buddhists talk of Nirvana, and Jesus talks of peace, of the mansion within many rooms' ~ Moyers

'The place to find is within yourself. I learned a little about this in athletics. The athlete who is in top form has a quiet place within Self, and it's around this, somehow, that Self action occurs. If one is all out there in the action field he/she will not be performing properly. My wife is a dancer, and she tells me that this is true in dance as well. There is a center of quietness within, which has to be known and held. If you lose that center, you are in tension and begin to fall apart' ~ Campbell

In Buddhist philosophy this is Nirvana, the center of peace, the escape from suffering, which is life.

In yoga we seek Samadhi, our destination by way of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, to find our center of quietness within. A release from our life tension and our avoidance of falling apart.

Today the dogs that live with me woke me earlier than I wished after a night of numerous wake ups due to numerous reasons and I was tense, and agitated.

But quickly, just behind my agitation a voice from within said "But, this IS life'...

And I was immediately grateful.

Yes, this is life...

The aggravated, unexpected and not my wished outcome parts.
The messy parts.
The really truly hard parts.

And after working thru the momentary suffering of what life was throwing at me in this moment a realization...

Yes, this life...

And I am grateful for it.

Namaste
Tracy

*Showing up for the hard parts given the right step for the greater good just might be a step towards Nirvana, Samadhi...

Is this not the practice and life of a yogi...

Sunday Snip~it'Your tool.Saturday 1.24.26 @ 8.00 am our Focused Class on the Gift of Balance begins.A focus on finding, ...
01/18/2026

Sunday Snip~it'

Your tool.

Saturday 1.24.26 @ 8.00 am our Focused Class on the Gift of Balance begins.

A focus on finding, through Breath, Precise Alignment [body / mind], balanced engagement of foundational muscle, the use of props and the ability to rise from the ground upward to create balance within form.

But more than finding the physical balance within form the ability to find bliss, and joy in that which you have created.

The essence of yoga is finding balance. Finding Joy. Finding your peace within what you have created. And this is what we teach.

The below is loosely quoted from B.K.S Iyengar, and his philosophy, one parallels what we teach at our studio.

If we are not able to walk in balance, we walk in Mayhem.
Confusion, disorder.
Is this really your choice?

Balance is viewed as a physical expression of mental and spiritual equilibrium; that physical balance is the foundation for a balanced life. A state of "perfect present" where the past (regret) and future (anxiety) meet [Center of the Bridge].

*The Median Line and the "Present Moment"
Balance emphasizes finding the median line of each posture; wavering from this center is equivalent to drifting into the past or future. A perfectly balanced pose—where dynamic extension and expansion are equal—anchors the practitioner entirely in the present moment [Center of the Bridge].

*Physical Stability as Mental Stability
Yoga philosophy asserts that the mind and body are inextricably linked; you cannot have a steady mind if the body is wavering.
Drishti (Focus): Maintaining a steady gaze at an unmoving point (drishti) is essential to steadying the mind, which in turn stabilizes the physical body.
Compactness: Advanced balance requires drawing the limbs toward the center (the pelvic and spinal axis) to create a sense of "compactness," which fosters inward gathering and mental focus [Centering, the Center of the Bridge].

*Equilibrium of Opposing Forces
Balance is not considered a static state but a constant, rhythmic adjustment. It involves harmonizing opposing energies:
Effort vs. Ease: Balancing the physical exertion required to hold a pose with the mental relaxation needed to remain calm [One part of the body should not be working harder than any other / Using your Breath as the tool to find balance at the Center of the Bridge].

*Role of Props in Philosophical Depth
In this method, props (like blocks and walls) are not just physical aids; they are tools for "meditation in action". By using props to achieve perfect alignment, practitioners can hold balancing poses longer, which allows them to observe their subtle internal reactions and cultivate the patience and resilience needed to face life's instabilities [Yes, yes, yes, yes! Do not dumb your posture down by going too deep too fast, allowing for imbalance and an abundance of stress pushing you off the anxiety 'fight or flight' end of your Bridge! Use a prop and breathe your path back to the Center of your Bridge]!

*Center of Gravity
Every movement, physical and emotional shifts our center of gravity. Mastering balance requires a refined "sense of direction" and a deep awareness of this center. Through this awareness, yoga philosophy "cures what need not be endured and endures what cannot be cured," helping practitioners stay grounded when life wavers.

Life is precious, moment to moment.
It is not static but fluid and ever changing.

Set an intention to live it, moment to moment while being prepared to breathe and thrive thru the ups and down.

Yoga, in its whole is your tool.

Namaste
Tracy

*Those who practice with us are familiar with the Center of the Bridge, join us!

'Yoga is the dance of every cell with the music of every breath that creates inner serenity and happiness' ~ Yogi Vishnu...
12/10/2025

'Yoga is the dance of every cell with the music of every breath that creates inner serenity and happiness' ~ Yogi Vishnu Panigrahi

*This tree at MMC [Maine Medical Center]

Sunday Snip~it'"I see it now - this world is swiftly passing" ~ the warrior Karna, in the MahabharataAnd the switch move...
09/07/2025

Sunday Snip~it'

"I see it now - this world is swiftly passing" ~ the warrior Karna, in the Mahabharata

And the switch moves from Summer to Fall, and so follows our Schedule!

'Housekeeping' Updates...beginning SUNDAY 1.11.2026!

SUNDAY:
Yin w/Tracy moves back to 9.15 am [vs 8.00 am] and,
Morning Vinyasa Vibe w/Tracy at 8.00 am returns!
*We're talking that coffee morning AM vibe jive here followed by a layered inward practice. A gift for those who love traveling that bridge [you know what I'm talking about] from the outward world work walk to the layered inner world work! Say that 5 times in a row!

MONDAY:
Vinyasa: Sustainable Slow Flow w/Tracy continues at 6.45 pm.
*That practice that will sustain you until you are 'A Hundred and Twenty-Five' -Tracy's kind of go to kind of mantra!

TUESDAY:
Vinyasa w/Amber continues at 9.00 am and,
Yin w/Tracy continues at 6.45 pm.
*Yup - by 6.45 pm Tuesdays there is a majority who need to recover from Monday and just move to that layered inner walk work that we do in Yin to kick start our Wednesday!

WEDNESDAY:
Yoga Presence w/Brenda stays on the schedule...5.30 pm!
*This is the perfect 'Middle of the Week Hump Bump Over' class to just kick start you into Thursday!

THURSDAY:
Tai Chi w/Carol moves to 9.00 am [from 8.30 am] and,
NEW CLASS = Chair Yoga w/Brenda at 10.20 am!
*This is such a GREAT Back-to-Back practice!!!
Imagine...movement w/Carol in Tai Chi and then a supported Chair Yoga class incorporating gentle strength practices to balance the movement - AMAZING!!!

FRIDAY:
FRIDAYS are for FAMILY...
An occasional FRIDAY Night FOOD FIGHT BATTLE OF THE CASSESROLES might arise during the New Years Schedule -
Stay Posted...

SATURDAY:
Yoga Presence w/Brenda at 7.30 am continues and,
Tai Chi w/Carol at 9.00 am continues!
*Specialty Classes w/Tracy @ 11.00 am once Monthly will appear on the Schedule [Specialty Classes earn hours for those with intentions to work towards becoming a teacher but are open to those who want to simply deepen their practice as well. If working towards becoming a Teacher see Tracy for enrollment with YAP [Yoga Alliance Professionals ] to start your journey]!*.

Saturday October 4th, 2025 we celebrate our doors being open for 15 Years!!!

I am at a loss on how to show my gratitude, and the gratitude of the committed Teachers here to those who have consistently kept our doors open. Through Covid, through years of heat issues here in our 'new' Studio...through my need to cancel classes due to family medical emergency...

Sincerely... thank you.

We are a strong Community...let's continue to build it and share that Community with others...

"Let us share our practice with all beings through Prayers for Peace, Wellbeing, and above all Joy"...

Namaste
Tracy

Sunday Snip~it'Ethical behavior...The Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga or, The Eight Limps of Ashtanga Yoga...Yes, you read ...
03/09/2025

Sunday Snip~it'
Ethical behavior...

The Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga or,
The Eight Limps of Ashtanga Yoga...

Yes, you read correctly...
The Eight 'Limbs' of Ashtanga Yoga vs The Eight 'Limps' of Yoga.

A 'limb' implies locomotion, forward movement whereas 'limp' implies slow movement, difficult locomotion, stiffness to stagnant movement.

In past years there has been sense of 'limb' walking, a sense of forward, progressive movement towards more ethical behavior; the non-violence of ahimsa, the truthfulness of satya, the freedom of greed in asteya, and the disciplines of brahmacharya and aparigraha...

The Limb of Yama.

How many have reverted to limping on the limb of Yama? Stuck just one step away from an inward reach to replace negative and destructive thoughts [actions] with that of non-destructive [ahimsa].

Never getting close to the truthfulness of satya, and so very far away from reaching any sense of the freedoms via locomotion through asteya, bramacharya and aparigraha to the next limb of Niyama and what that limb brings us.

Possibly one must consider a 'leap'...

A 'leap' from the Yama limb to the Niyama limb, start with the practices of Niyama and become 'un-stuck', locomotive, moving!

*Cleanliness of Self [saucha, which incudes the flavoring of ahimsa];
*Self-contentment [santosa, seasoned with satya];
*Self-austerity, a practice of living simply [tapas, ateya...bramacharya];
*Self-study of body, mind, intellect and ego [svadhyaya aparigraha]; *reaching isvara pranidhana [surrending one's ego]

Possibly one needs to 'limb' through the Self-care of the Niyama's before we can fully feel the locomotion of the Yama's...

How can we show up for others if we cannot fully show up and realize who and what we truly are?

The 8-Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga simply offers a guiding path for consideration of you; what you are putting forth in the world around you; and asks is that which you are offering positive, forward moving ethical behaviors that nurtures the world and those in it in an ethical manner.

Namaste

Saturday 7.30 AM Hatha Focus/Restorative Class Notes: UTTANASANA [Intense Forward Stretch]...'The regular, persevering a...
02/16/2025

Saturday 7.30 AM Hatha Focus/Restorative Class Notes:
UTTANASANA [Intense Forward Stretch]...

'The regular, persevering and alert practice of yoga is the foundation for stabilizing the consciousness' ~Iyengar

Today our focus asana was Uttanasana. You know, that transitional posture that you blast through to get to the Chaturanga sequence and that next asana of real importance!

Today we spent time in Uttanasana,
Listening to this postures voice,
Restorative?

Let's consider the benefits of this amazing form...
Reduced depression, insomnia and fatigue~
An increase of BTB [Blood to Brain], soothing the nervous system.
Regulates Blood Pressure,
Tones abdominal organs [Pranayama, pranayama, pranayama]!
Increases mobility in the hip joints... and much more.

Today we explored variations of this incredible posture...
Ragdoll, with head supported by blocks.,
Palms to ankles - still support to the head.
Wider stance with palms to the floor, support of blocks for the head, and palms to blocks with head support.

The restorative benefits of experiencing the varying forms of this one form? Incredible...

And yet we dumb it down and rush through it.

Is there a lesson here ?

Namaste

Sunday Snip~It'"As a society we must reconnect to a set of values that reignite our collective humanity so that it burns...
02/02/2025

Sunday Snip~It'

"As a society we must reconnect to a set of values that reignite our collective humanity so that it burns bright within each of us. No society survives for very long without a moral compass to guide its evolution and progress, especially not one as powerful and rapidly changing as our own. We need to bring our values back onto center stage as a people. We must consciously choose a set of core values that every one us can embrace despite our many differences - - -values like compassion, freedom, equality, justice, sustainability, democracy, community and tolerance. Then we have to go about delibrately building our society as a place that increasingly reflects and nurtures the growth of these values in the world. We can create this world by having each of us idividually choose to live and act in ways that more closely reflect our own persosnal values and those values we share as people. We must begin by creating a vision of a better world' ~ Jean Houston, The Wizard of Us

'Feel good, be good, and do good' ~ Yogi BhajanSimple, and worthy...A great way to start and live your New Year!Namaste
01/06/2025

'Feel good, be good, and do good' ~ Yogi Bhajan

Simple, and worthy...
A great way to start and live your New Year!

Namaste

"There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy" R. Blum‘Let us bow gently as we release our practice out...
11/28/2024

"There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy" R. Blum

‘Let us bow gently as we release our practice outward to all beings in the Universe, with prayers of well being , of peace and above all…joy’ t.noyes

Celebrate this day by giving thanks,
Namaste

AUTUMN Equinox Celebration Class: We will Celebrate 2024 Autumn Equinox during our 8.00 AM Class on Sunday September 22n...
08/31/2024

AUTUMN Equinox Celebration Class:

We will Celebrate 2024 Autumn Equinox during our 8.00 AM Class on Sunday September 22nd, 2024!

Class Focus:
'A Return to Balance; the Art of Letting Go'

*Slow Flow Vinyasa with essence of Balance posture work.
*Detoxification, cooling of Summer fire energy; Twists and turns.
*Inner Reflection for Deeper Rest and Relief; Breath work.
*Harmony; Meditation.

A Gift to You:
4 Ritual Practices to welcome Autumn Energy!

Namaste

'We are one leaf among many...' ~ tracy

Address

889 Roosevelt Trail
Windham, ME
04062

Opening Hours

Monday 6:45pm - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 10:15am
6:15pm - 8pm
Wednesday 5:30pm - 6:45pm
Thursday 8:30am - 9:15am
5:30pm - 6:45pm
Saturday 7:30am - 8:45am
9am - 10am
Sunday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+12078920964

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WELCOME!

Our Studio opens and closes throughout the day based upon classes and workshops. To view class schedule, reserve your spot in a class and/or upcoming workshop refer to our official website; www.redefiningyogaandpilates.com.

We are a Community based, teaching Studio that offers each a unique and personal journey within the traditions of yoga practice and philosophy.

We believe that creativity is key to learning and that everyone’s learning path is a personal journey. It is this belief that provides the underlying motivation of classes, events and workshops. Our Tai Chi and Pilates programs share this same underlying motivation.

Open Studio / Open Floor Sadhana is offered for those who seek private meditation time, practice time, talk time or simply time to check out the Studio Saturday and Sundays from 11.00 - 12.00 pm.