Balance is the state of the present – the here and now. If you balance in the present, you are living in Eternity.  Hey Yogis, hope the Summer is treating you with loads of love and giving you an opportunity to frolic and be playful under the sun. Finding balance ... breathing, work and play, effort and ease... get it? Same way we find balance during our poses; alignment, inhale, exhale, strength, disengagement, structure and playfulness.
We'll have loads of classes this week, with Demetra Kentrotas coming back for another fun power flow and Karen Hyland closing the week with her fluid vinyasa on Friday. Also, I'll be in NY Yoga for some in-person hot vinyasa; check their schedule, as I'll have sessions in their inferno space Monday evening (6pm), Wednesday early evening (4:30pm), Thursday (9:30am) and Saturday morning (11am - 75 minute class). We'll give away more free spots to these classes this week. BROOKLYN -- OUTDOOR CLASS Join me at Glass House Yoga at the Greenpoint Terminal Market this Saturday July 11th at 1:00pm. It's outdoors. We have tents to keep you shaded from the sun. We'll have amazing headphones for this immersive, music pumping, fun flow at this great space overlooking the entire NYC skyline. Mats, blocks and cubbies for belongings are included with the class purchase. Lock in your spot for this flow at: https://glasshouseyoga.com Next chance to get with me at this beautiful location will be July 25th at 1pm. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: (Hot in-person, Outdoor Classes/Events this week for active subscribers only - times and days not indicated on schedule) MONDAY: 7/5/2021
*ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 45/60 MINUTES *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com The team thanks you all for the support! NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™
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“I felt like summer had taken me over.”  Shout out to all the amazing yogis who take on the Summer, bask in the glory of the Sun and have been slaying during our outdoor classes. #BRINGTHEHEAT! Erin Giordano is back on the schedule for her heart pulsing, fierce HIIT session and Demetra Kentrotas has a power hour flow for you this week. BROOKLYN PEEPS... we're back at Glass House Yoga for a fully immersive outdoor class overlooking the Manhattan skyline; beats pumped through your headphones, tents set up to shelter you from the sun and blazing heat (optional) & guess what? Mat & blocks are included as Victor Cotto will guide you through some fun flows. Book your spots NOW... Sunday July 11th at 1:00 pm and Sunday July 25th at 1:00 pm we'll bring the fire playlist & grand vibes. Class will be at the Greenpoint Terminal Market.  In-door hot sessions? Yeah... FREE classes are given every week to members of the platform and loads of giveaways for you to practice with Victor at New York Yoga. Weekly classes at the Upper East Side studio - truly the hottest room in NYC - are Wednesday's at 4:30 pm (60 minutes) and Saturday's at 11:00 am (75 minutes). I'll be subbing classes at New York Yoga on Monday nights June 28th, July 5th, July 26th & August 2nd at 6:00 pm. For early birds, I'll be there Thursday at 9:30 am for the next five weeks. YES... classes at Yoga Spark in Tribeca and Westchester will be coming soon.
YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: (Hot in-person, Outdoor Classes/Events this week for active subscribers only - times and days not indicated on schedule) MONDAY: 6/28/2021
*ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 45/60 MINUTES *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com The team thanks you all for the support! NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ “Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.”  Choosing happiness from the moment you wake up, rather than feeling that it is something that you have to accomplish will change your outlook daily.
Choosing happiness requires us to be present. We can either choose to lose ourselves in fear, anger, or even despair, OR we can decide to think positively and attract all of that wonderful positivity back into our lives and practice gratitude instead. The peace and happiness we access on our mats is no accident. It's not just an exercise-induced dopamine high; yoga goes deeper than that. The mind-body connection created in yoga facilitates change at a cellular level. When we weave positive intention into our movements, we are imprinting these thoughts, not only on our minds, but also on our bodies. We are effecting change on our mat that will allow for change off our mat. Much of our unhappiness comes from our thoughts or feelings because we judge our experiences in terms of good or bad. Not only does a full practice of yoga and meditation gently remove these self-judgments, but with time, it can begin to reshape our attitudes, views, and thoughts. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: (Hot in-person, Outdoor Classes/Events this week for active subscribers only - times and days not indicated on schedule) MONDAY: 5/24/2021
*ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 60 MINUTES UNLESS NOTED *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com The team thanks you all for the support! NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ Yoga at OHMM Schedule 5/17 - 5/23: More Yoga (Dina, Demetra & Karen), More Outdoor Classes5/13/2021 “We seek the fire of the spark that is already within us.”  Tapas [one of the Niyamas] comes from the Sanskrit word “Tap” or to burn, and is defined as discipline, or purity. Another study or interpretation is the “burning off” of any obstructions (from what's not needed in the body or hindering thoughts and patterns in our minds) which can stand in the way of our true self, our Yoga or union with the divine.
The practice of Tapas must be sustainable; with a dedicated practice and a commitment to showing up. A decision to practice with complete dedication may be a great way to ignite your inner fire, but unless one has the commitment to oneself, about what we put into our bodies each day, and how we feed our minds, that fire will burn out as quickly as it started. True lasting change happens slowly – a fire must be tended mindfully so that it can continue to burn without becoming too intense. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: (Hot in-person, Outdoor Classes/Events this week for active subscribers only - times and days not indicated on schedule) MONDAY: 5/17/2021
*ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 60 MINUTES UNLESS NOTED *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com The team thanks you all for the support! NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™  Join Demetra Kentrotas for a fun, creative and challenging vinyasa class on Saturday March 20, 2021. This is the perfect class for you to invigorate and rev yourself up for the rest of the weekend. Demetra's first class left the community wanting some more of her energizing sequencing.
Here is part-two of our Q&A with one of the newer teachers on the Vicyasa™ platform: QUESTION: What are challenging poses for you? What pose are you looking to advance in? DEMETRA: "I'm opening my heart to backbends (no pun intended) despite being intimidated by them. I'm working on full Nataranjasana, right now holding a strap hooked on my foot. One day soon they'll be calling me Lord of the Dance!" Q: How would you describe your classes? DEMETRA: "I love to find ways to warm up the shoulders and back while staying off the wrists for most of class. We'll get the blood flowing from head to toe, and give every movement purpose and precision. A power flow happens when you take your time through a challenge, and I hope to empower students to achieve groundedness." Q: What have you missed the most from quarantine lockdown? DEMETRA: "I miss bopping from place to place with the flow of NYC. When dinner turns to drinks, turns to dancing. I won’t outgrow throwing my coat in a weird corner of a bar and dancing to a DJ." Q: Have you picked up hobbies/interests during lockdown? DEMETRA: "I spent more time in 2020 researching and trying new skincare products than I ever have before. It’s my special little hobby." Q: Do you like working out at night, or during the day? Time you like to practice? DEMETRA: "A midday class is the ultimate, but I can rarely make the timing work. I do love a night class that wrings you like a towel at the end of a long day." Q: Standing one-legged poses or arm balances? Why? DEMETRA: "One-legged poses! They're when I feel the most playful and energized from head to toe. My wrists get tired easily so arm balances can be straining." Follow DEMETRA on Instagram at @d_Meetch and if you want to read part-one of the interview, click HERE! “A relationship is not based on the length of time you spent together; it's based on the foundation you built together.”  It's been officially a year since our world was flipped upside down. Get it? Upside down... like an inversion in our yoga practice.
Inversions, like the quarantine, subsequent closures of studios and adapting to a new lifestyle, we all responded fittingly with fearful responses, were triggered with sensations of anxiety and panic due the unknown. Inversions, like this new lifestyle we had to adapt to, can be humbling, provide us opportunities to show perseverance, build confidence in ourselves and strengthen our inner focus during an unnerving situation. We've learned to be more compassionate, get in touch with our mindfulness and awareness process and have a heightened ability to adapt with courage through adversity. I'm proud of this community. I started this platform at the onset of this pandemic out of fear and facilitated by survival instincts in my effort to do what I love, hold space and stay sane. We've grown into having one of the largest communities and most active platforms in New York City started by independent teachers. I was a one man staff -- many times 20+ sessions weekly -- for 7 months as we amassed a community of 300+ members. We hired teachers after that to enhance our offerings, add versatility to the schedule and create a nourishing studio experience. Last Spring & Summer, we began outdoor offerings, had in-person collaborations with many wonderful teachers, took our classes to parks, rooftops and backyards. We pioneered, and for 7 months, added in-person HOT sessions and safely installed a therapeutic, fun and joyous schedule of indoor sessions. THANK YOU! The support will always be honored. The way we united and created a safe space to laugh, cry and just be... inspiring. It hasn't been easy, and we've had loads of moments of uncertainty and instability. But like a developing inversion practice, we've honed our focus and have fortified our resiliency. I've known many of you for years... some of you, we've just met during this pandemic. But like the quote above says, it's not about the length of time spent, it's about the foundation built. I love you all! As we move forward toward grander times, let's take all the teachings of yoga, the lessons learned the entire year to make us stronger and more mindful, aware and adaptable for our future. INTRO SPECIAL -- ONE YEAR SPECIAL: $35 If you haven't yet, what have you done for a whole year? Just waited... for what exactly? This is our lowest price point EVER at the intro rate. For $35... 2 weeks of UNLIMITED virtual classes. (available for a week) If and when studios open, there's no guarantee you can take classes consistently due to space limitations, scheduling restrictions and the fact that loads of studios across NYC have closed and there are less spaces to practice in. And if you're waiting for HOT vinyasa... just keeping it real, don't hold your breath. Have you checked out our YELP page? CLICK HERE! LAST WEEK... We began our outdoor schedule with our first 'Yoga in the Park' in Long Island City. Subscribers of our platform will get enrollment emails to secure a spot for these wildly fun classes. Like last year, we'll be in Gantry Park and Hunter's Point Park in Queens, Astoria Park and now... Upper East Side parks and Central Park! These sessions will be $10 per person. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: (HOT IN-PERSON, Outdoor Classes/Events this week for active subscribers only - times and days not indicated on schedule) MONDAY: 3/15/2021
*ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 60 MINUTES UNLESS NOTED *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com The team thanks you all for the support! NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ "Not everyone is gonna dance like you, act like you, battle like you, so stop hating on people who aren’t you. Embrace different tastes. Encourage courage.”  Have you met our roster of teachers?
I am proud of the amazing collective of teachers we have on this platform. If you haven't taken a class with these beautiful souls, grab that opportunity to enhance your practice, challenge your mind and body and invite a new perspective to your daily exploration. Dina Ivas, Tanya Mgrdechian, Karen Hyland, Erin Giordano, Josh Mathew-Meier, Becca Pace, Demetra Kentrotas & Babette Godefroy all serve to provide a safe space and challenge your mind and body through the disciplines of Yoga, Pilates, Barre, HIIT, bodyArt™ & skillfully complement each other's abilities to create a well rounded team. ** Please check out our YELP page and leave us a review. We have contests regularly, extending subscriptions and class giveaways - eligibility only for subscribers who leave reviews. Hot in-person sessions will be expanded and if you want a chance to practice in a heated room, you must have an active subscription to receive enrollment emails. ** YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: (HOT IN-PERSON, Outdoor Classes/Events this week for active subscribers only - times and days not indicated on schedule) MONDAY -- 2/8/2021
*ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 60 MINUTES UNLESS NOTED *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com The team thanks you all for the support! NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ "Breathe deeply, until sweet air extinguishes the burn of fear in your lungs and every breath is a beautiful refusal to become anything less than infinite."  Want to build heat in your practice? I got'yah!
The practice of yoga, when given true care and awareness can help you build heat and it ignites a rise in heat to the body, invigorates your internal organs, activates muscles and gets your cardiovascular system excited. Step 1: True attention to the Breath: keep the breathing consistent, control your prana (upward rising energy) and apana (outward flow). Are you really focused on your breathing or are you more worried about the posture, aesthetic of the pose and the next pose rather than staying in tune with the inhale and exhale? When we don’t connect with our breathing, the joints and muscles will be rigid and then you cannot align physically on the mat to meet your needs. Step 2: Focus on your alignment: It is imperative for muscular development and advancement into structured poses to practice proper alignment that serves your body's needs. Instead of over-stretching, practicing the same variations without taking note of your spatial positioning and not being self-aware of mechanics, allow the muscles to engage around our skeletal structure and allow your alignment to help you create heat through fitting positioning in poses. Step 3: What are we eating or drinking pre-class, doing pre-class? Select your foods carefully, drink hot drinks, warm foods and avoid inflammatory foods and alcohol. A hot shower or warm bath prior to the practice is also recommended. ** Stay locked-in to your inboxes for hot in-person sessions. We'll expand the schedule in the coming weeks and provide plenty of opportunities to get into the hot-room. This week we welcome Demetra Kentrotas to the schedule. We also get to bask in the glory of a 60-minute session with Josh Mathew-Meier. Make sure to catch Karen Hyland on Friday for some fun energetic and creative flows. Erin Giordano will make sure your total body gets lit on Wednesday night with her inspiring HIIT class. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: (HOT IN-PERSON, Outdoor Classes/Events this week for active subscribers only - times and days not indicated on schedule) MONDAY -- 2/1/2021
*ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 60 MINUTES UNLESS NOTED *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. RATES: (when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com The team thanks you all for the support! NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™  Another week... another teacher added to the roster -- lets welcome Demetra Kentrotas to the squad.
Demetra made herself familiar with the Vicyasa™ community teaching during our outdoor in-person sessions, but now she'll take her teachings in-front of the camera and onto the virtual platform. Get to know Demetra with part-one of her 'Teacher Feature': QUESTION: What is your favorite yoga pose/why? DEMETRA: "Parsvottonasana (pyramid pose) is amazing at any point of class because you can anchor yourself while easing into a forward bend and balance challenge. It's a pose I can stay in for a while and explore new points of sensation every time. My hamstrings need all the love they can get!" Q: What is your least favorite pose right now/why? DEMETRA: "Crow pose and I are frenemies. It feels compressed and I have trouble breathing through it. Popping right up into inversions and arm balances doesn't come naturally, and I admire those who can do it." Q: What lessons from the yoga mat have you applied off your mat? DEMETRA: "Take things one step at a time and stay curious- I have to remind myself about this constantly. Be gentle with yourself during transitional times, on the mat and off." Q: Do you have a guilty pleasure/binged watch anything etc., during quarantine? DEMETRA: "If I'm being honest with myself, I can't live without TV. I binged the entire series of Six Feet Under and wept. I binged the entirety of Big Mouth and belly-laughed." Q: What is your post-class meal craving? DEMETRA: "Trader Joe’s dried mango, I can't get enough." You can follow Demetra on Instagram @D_Meetch. Her debut class will be Sunday February 7 at 1:00pm. “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”  We continue to grow the platform and offer new voices, teachers with varying styles and an evolution in our programming with the additions of Babette Godefroy (Instagram: @babgod) and Demetra Kentrotas (@d_meetch).
Both teachers will be making their debuts during weekend sessions -- new afternoon classes on Saturdays and Sundays. Expect 'Teacher Features' for both Babette and Demetra before their introductory classes. Support these talented teachers and our entire team and start transforming and evolving your practice with our growing roster of instruction. See you on the mat! -Victor |
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