“Embrace your journey and look for the lessons. Believe in divine timing and know that what’s for you will not pass you.” -- Cara Alwill Leyba, Author of Girl Code  (This week's newsletter was composed by our wonderful on-demand teacher and full time writer Elinor Cohen. Check out her Instagram HERE and her amazingly empowering advanced & intermediate sessions on our on-demand archives.) Happy Spring, yogis! We’re officially in the season of what promises to be warmer weather and new beginnings. With that may come a reinvigorated yoga practice and the desire to challenge yourselves in new and interesting ways, both on and off the mat.
Something that often gets tossed around in yoga is the concept that everyone can do every pose if they just work hard enough. While there are some poses that can be achieved through perseverance, patience, and practice, this isn’t true for all of them. That begs the question: Is every pose for every body? The short answer is no. The long answer is no…and that’s a good thing. Part of the physical asana practice is learning how to do the postures that challenge us, whether physically, emotionally, or mentally. But another critical aspect of yoga is learning to accept that some poses are simply not meant for everyone. This isn’t about judgment or aesthetics; rather it’s about anatomy and an understanding that every yogi is unique. For example, some people’s legs will simply never bend into lotus pose (padmasana) no matter how hard they try. There’s nothing wrong with them – this is just how their bodies are made. Yoga is about learning to accept the poses that fit your body and riding the wave of emotions that come up as a result of the ones that don’t. In the same vein, there are some who may say “You’ll get it eventually” to practitioners who haven’t yet achieved a certain pose. While for some that may be motivating, for others this notion could be discouraging. The harm in saying “You’ll get it eventually” is that some people might not – and again, that’s okay. There is nothing wrong with your practice, whether or not you eventually nail that pose. In fact, your practice is perfect exactly as it is. It’s perfectly fine to want to get into physically demanding poses – doing so can feel empowering and satisfying! Still, remember that it is not a failure if you don’t get there, now or ever. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 4/3/2023
*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. REGULAR RATES:(when submitting payment, in note section state email for delivery of services)
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- Victor@YogawithVictor.com NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™
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“We have perceptions about our experience, and we judge them: “This is good.” “This is bad.” “This is neutral…” Then we have responses: fear, frustration, anger. We realize that these are just different aspects of the mind. They are not the actual reality.” – Dalai Lama  Brahmacharya is the fourth Yama and as explained by Patanjali’s yoga Sutras, this yogic principle of detaching from the small things in life to connect with the infinite yields enormous strength and energy. The literal translation of brahmacharya is “moving into infinity”; “Brahma” means infinity, the Absolute, or big; “charya” means to move or to walk, to live. Many times, it is taught as "celibacy" or moderation, but I like to think of it in a wider sense to keep the mind always engaged in thoughts of Brahma or the supreme consciousness. Dedicated practice of asana, pranayama, and meditation creates a strong foundation for brahmacharya to grow. These practices increase awareness and relax the nervous system, reducing the susceptibility to excitability and arousal and enabling us to better control our responses. These also help to separate your emotions from your thoughts, releasing the control your emotions have over the autonomic nervous system, endocrine glands, and hormonal activities. In this state, our sensual impulses have far less control over us. Meditation also connects us to our true nature of boundless joy and bliss. Remaining in periods of silence on a regular basis can help purify our minds and spirits of any negative impressions. Culture your senses by refraining from meaningless extravagances that deplete your energy and distract your mind - it may excess drinking alcohol or overeating. When you decrease the amount of energy you spend on sensory indulgences and instead turn the mind inward (pratyahara), you replace your dependencies and transient cravings with the experience of inner joy and peace. For yogis seeking the highest potential of yoga, Brahmacharya gives us a chance to unleash our creative energy, to remain soaked in the divine presence, to move into infinity or supreme consciousness (brahman), and thus find a way to fulfill the greatest and finest desire of all—the desire to connect with the unchanging reality. NEW TEACHER ADDITION... ON-DEMAND! We've added a new teacher to the on-demand squad; a colleague of mine who teaches exquisite flow yoga and will help you elevate your practice with her amazing style of vinyasa. Elinor Cohen, who began her journey with the practice at 18, believes that yoga should feel like a dedicated time of play. You can expect to be mentally and physically challenged in her classes. Elinor’s mission is always to provide a safe, fun, inclusive, and enjoyable practice. When not teaching, Elinor is a full time writer. Come play! We'll be adding sessions of varying durations and intensities to our library of archived classes for you to use anytime. Follow Elinor on Instagram: @elinorraerigby  HOLIDAY GIFTS...
With the Holidays just around the corner... memberships and giving the gift of yoga is a great present to a family member or loved one. Discounts for gifts, referral offerings are also available. Email Yoga with Victor to lock in your class packs or subscriptions for Holiday Gifts!!! YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 12/5/2022
*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 NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™ "It is easy to forget now, how effervescent and free we all felt that summer."  Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word that means "non-violence" and it is the foundation of all yogic philosophy. Defined as not having any desire to harm anyone or anything, either physically or psychologically, including ourselves when moving mindfully on our mat.
It is a process of self-control, self-awareness and awareness of everything that is around you. If you harm someone intentionally, even when it is just in thought, you have lost control of your mind and you are in imbalance with yourself. Violence means moving away from your true nature and practicing ahimsa simply means coming closer to who you really are. As we begin to wind down this Summer, bring to light the practice of non-violence beyond the mat. Take note on how you feel when approaching your asana practice and invite more meaningful movement and process self control and be completely aware of what serves you in the moment as we move into the Fall months. HOT IN-PERSON I'll be in-studio for hot classes at New York Yoga and Yoga Spark (Tribeca location) this week... check out their sites for availability and my weekly sessions. For non-heated in-person, LL Studio (Flatiron location) will host my Friday night classes. OUTDOOR CLASSES Subscribers, stay tuned early in the week for enrollment emails to our stunning outdoor classes in Long Island City. We'll have opportunities to flow outside overlooking the NYC skyline. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 8/23/2021
*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. UPDATED 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™ "August brings into sharp focus and a furious boil everything I've been listening to in the late spring and summer."  It's late summer, so be mindful about your energy depleting and let's continue to find balance on and off the mat.
Since it’s the season of the Earth element and natures’ harvest, make sure to slow down and come back down to earth when moving through your asanas. This will keep us centered, allow us to bask in the fruits from the exploration and growth of spring and summer time. Our flows have emphasized moving energy along the stomach and spleen meridian lines using digestion and immune boosting postures and sequencing involving core strength and awareness while emphasizing modifications to meet our individual needs. HOT VINYASA Yoga Spark classes in Westchester and Tribeca will be added to the schedule for this week. Check out their site if you want to catch up on some hot-action indoors with Vicyasa™: CLICK HERE. New York Yoga (85th st. and Lexington ave.) -- we have a weekly schedule there and loads of AM, late afternoon and weekend classes. Subscribers to the platform will continue to get FREE passes for any in person classes with me. Their website: CLICK HERE FRIDAY NIGHT FLOW Catch me weekly at LL Studio (formerly Laughing Lotus), Flatiron location, for a 6:00pm feel good and sweaty flow. Their site: CLICK HERE. OUTDOOR Members, check your inboxes on Monday, as we'll have enrollment for a Saturday Yoga in the Park session targeted for the 21st of August. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 8/16/2021
NO CLASSES *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. UPDATED 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™ “You don’t need a new plan for next year. You need a commitment.”  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. IN-PERSON THIS WEEK New York Yoga is one of Vicyasa's spaces for HOT in-person action. Wednesday's at 4:30 pm and Saturday's at 11:00 am (75 minute flow) are weekly. We have a few 9:30 am this week for those wanting an early power flow. LL Studio (formerly Laughing Lotus) will host my 6:00 pm Friday one hour weekly vinyasa classes. FYI: they have a wonderful special... your 1st class back to their space is FREE!!! If you haven't been to this beautiful space... check it out! Oh -- Victor is exclusive to the Flatiron location (166 5th avenue). More classes coming to Yoga Spark as well... both locations! OUTDOOR PILATES/YOGA CLASS THIS WEEK On Saturday August 14 at 5:00 pm, Tanya Mgrdechian & Victor Cotto will be teaching a one-hour collaborative Pilates/Yoga session in Long Island City. Overlooking the Manhattan skyline, this fun and challenging class will take place on the oval field (Hunter's Point Park South). If you have credit from a prior cancellation, we will honor your spot for this event -- please contact Victor or Tanya. To attend, please book: HERE. *Payment must posted prior to day of the event YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 8/9/2021
*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. UPDATED 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 is invigoration in relaxation. Freedom in routine. Confidence through self control. Energy within and energy without.”  Yoga and meditation encourage you to turn your focus inward and to listen to your deeper, more intuitive thoughts. As you gain more insight into your true nature, your values and your goals become much clearer. From such a loving, sacred place within yourself, you can make decisions about what you want, and don’t want, in life. By living such an authentic life you are showing nothing but love for yourself.
Regardless of where you are in your practice, yoga will teach you to appreciate your body and its abilities. It’s common to start yoga and think you should immediately be able to do an inversion or arm balance and when you can’t - we beat ourselves up for it. It doesn’t take long, however, before the essence of yoga grabs you and you become aware of the negative self-talk and find a way to switch it off. The more you turn up and tune in, the easier this gets. The more you come to see your body in a different light and realise that it is truly amazing. We then cherish what we can do, what we can accomplish and not look at ourselves with judgement, but with a love that only comes through when we embrace a practice that is devoted and adoring the self! HOT IN-PERSON THIS WEEK: Victor will be at New York Yoga (Lex. ave & 85th St.) this week Monday at 6:00 pm, Wednesday at 4:30 pm and Saturday at 11:00 am (75 minute). Another two hot classes will take place Sunday the 8th at 9:45 am & 11:15 am at Yoga Spark (Tribeca location). The 11:15 am hour long class at Yoga Spark is a BLACKLIGHT class. LL STUDIO: Formerly known as Laughing Lotus, LL Studio will be the spot for my in-person Friday night power flow classes at 6:00 pm. FREE IN-PERSON GIVEAWAYS: Stay tuned to Instagram and during virtual classes, I'll be giving away free passes to in-person classes to monthly subscribers. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 8/2/2021
*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. UPDATED 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™ “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”  Yoga is often seen as a physical exercise associated with stress reduction and fitness.
But there is much more to this ancient practice & within its essence, yoga allows us to create long-lasting life change by getting to know ourselves better and taking agency of our emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing from the second we wake up, till we rest our head at night for sleep. Yoga can help us improve our self-understanding and live empowered, healthier lives. By practicing self-awareness when taking shapes on our mat, we can learn to make positive changes physically & mentally. We start gaining clarity about our decision making on and off the mat through practice. HOT IN-PERSON This week, Victor will be subbing at New York Yoga a couple of times -- check their schedule HERE. Regularly scheduled weekly classes continue there Wednesday's at 4:30pm and Saturday's at 11:00 am (75 minutes). LL STUDIO (formerly Laughing Lotus) Victor's debut class at LL Studio (located at 166 5th avenue) will be Friday July 30th at 6:00 pm. You can pre-book online and check out their website HERE. OUTDOOR SESSION - L.I.C. We have an outdoor Yoga class scheduled for this weekend... members check your emails very soon for enrollment. YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: *downloadable schedule below MONDAY: 7/26/2021
*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. UPDATED 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™ “Self discovery is the most empowering time of your life, you remember who you are and you become the best version of yourself but what they forget to tell you is, to get to a point of pleasure you must face the pain.”  Victor will be back at Glass House Yoga this week... Sunday July 25th at 1:00pm. If you're in Brooklyn or want to visit this amazing outdoor space, now is the time to secure your spot for this fully immersive experience where music and yoga come together. Located at the Greenpoint Terminal Market, this yoga class will provide dope beats pumped into your headset and we'll flow for an hour - under tents if you want to stay out of the sun - while overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Props, mat and a cubby for your belongings will be provided with booking of this class at: https://glasshouseyoga.com.
Looking for in-studio hot classes? Vicyasa™ will be at New York Yoga on Lexington and 85th every Wednesday at 4:30pm and Saturdays at 11:00am (75 minutes) permanently. At that same space, he'll be subbing select Monday's in July and August at 6:00pm and Thursdays at 9:30am... just check their schedule here: https://www.newyorkyoga.com Yoga Spark (Tribeca location) will also be a spot for hot in-person classes (ClassPass availability)... catch Victor there July 23rd at 4:00pm and 5:30pm (Blacklight class). You can secure spots for his classes here: https://yoga-spark.com/studios/tribeca Also... stay tuned for non-heated in-person classes at LL Studio (formerly Laughing Lotus), as Victor will be joining the team there and leading classes at the Flatiron location on 5th avenue. Check them out here: https://www.llstudioyoga.com YOGA AT OHHHMMM VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: *downloadable schedule below MONDAY: 7/19/2021
*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. UPDATED 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™ “Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart.”  A special shout-out to all the morning warriors who begin each day with our invigorating, tone setting, seven A.M sessions. We'll continue to keep all morning classes at that time slot moving forward.
This week, we have Erin Giordano back for her muscle pulsing interval training HIIT class. Karen Hyland will cap the week with her expertly sequenced Yoga flow. IN-PERSON CLASSES Whether outdoor or in-studio, catch Victor for some in-person action all week. Yoga Spark (Tribeca location) on 158 Duane St. in Lower Manhattan is a spot you can roll into and catch me on the next few Fridays at 4pm and 5:30pm. Both are HOT and the second session is in a darkened black-lit room for some fun vibes. New York Yoga (Upper East Side) on 85th and Lexington is one of my other locations for in-person HOT. You can register for my classes there; every Wednesday at 4:30pm, every Saturday at 11am (75 minutes). I'll be subbing a bunch of Monday evenings at 6pm at this location next few months and Thursday's at 9:30am. BROOKLYN? I'm back at Glass House Yoga for the fully immersive outdoor class at Greenpoint on July 25th at 1pm. You can book your class here: glasshouseyoga.com. Mats, blocks, storage for belongings included with admission, along with tents to protect you from the sun and the amazing sound system and wireless headsets pumping my tunes into your body for 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: 7/12/2021
*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™ 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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