NEWS
News From VegaYoga
- Holyoke Plus: "Yoga Studio Helps Teens Deal With Stress"
- Beat the Heat Summer Deal
- Valley Advocate Poll Winner!
- Music at VegaYoga
- Vega Yoga Receives Community Foundation Grant For Outreach
- USELESS now at Vega Yoga
- Many Hands: Yoga in Unusual Spaces
- MARCH 1ST, 2010 - NO LONGER ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS AT STUDIO
- VOTED 3RD PLACE in Advocate Best Of Poll!
- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun:
- JEWELRY by Aaron's Daughters For Sale in Lobby
- Many Hands: "Now, en Espaņol! Holyoke teacher brings yoga to Hispanic community"
- Many Hands: "Yoga, Each It's Own World: A look at the studio scene"
- Holyoke Plus: "From Film Editor to Yoga Instructor"
- Holyoke Sun: "New yoga center joins Open Square in Holyoke"
- IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER
- HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS from Vega Yoga
- Check out our NEW VIDEOS PAGE
- Aaron is teaching in The 2009 Northampton Global Mala
- Pre-Natal Yoga Class
- AARON VEGA - Holyoke's Newest City Councilor at Large!
- Thank You for attending Aaron's City Council at Large Kick-Off Fundraiser
- CELEBRATE OUR 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - Saturday, April 24th
- THANK YOU for your donations
Holyoke Plus: "Yoga Studio Helps Teens Deal With Stress"
By STEPHANIE CHELF
HOLYOKE - Inside a renovated mill building, city teens are experiencing yoga for the first time, learning how skills of meditation, relaxation and deep breathing can help them overcome everyday challenges.
"Take with you what you can and leave behind what you don't need. Namaste," said Aaron Vega, owner of Vega Yoga, wrapping up an hour-long class with teens from the Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps' Experiment With Travel School.
During the month of May, the students from Experiment With Travel, a special-education day school in Holyoke, traveled to Vega Yoga for their first-ever series of yoga classes. The program was made possible by a community outreach grant Vega's studio received.
“We're giving the skills of yoga to teens who never had access to it before," Vega said. "It's a calming, peaceful experience for them."
Vega will teach 70 such classes this year to Holyoke teens, thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and a $500 grant from the Save Yoga Network.
In addition to the students from the Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps program, Vega Yoga will teach free classes to teens from Girls' Inc., the Holyoke Boys & Girls Club and Youth Build, among others.
The students from the Experiment With Travel School face a variety of emotional, behavioral, and educational challenges and were referred to the school by their local school districts. The school has 18 students from age 12 to 21. It is one of the 19 programs run by the Kennedy Children's Action Corps, a child welfare and juvenile justice agency in Massachusetts.
In one of the final classes of the program, Vega led five students along with senior clinician Megan Lutz and the school's program director, Dave Madeloni, through an hour of traditional breathing techniques of yoga and a series of stretching and balancing poses.
"And, you can use this pose when you feel stressed," said Vega, as he led the students onto the floor for "child's pose."
Student Tamara, a 17-year-old from Holyoke, said the weekly class was relaxing and helped her get through the day.
"I like the calmness of it. I feel good after," Tamara said. "It releases stress and keeps me going. When I get mad, I think about the class and it calms me."
Tamara said she has used deep breathing and other skills from yoga to deal with stress at school and home.
"The ability to relax is a skill and yoga is teaching that skill to our students," said Madeloni. "Our students have had bad experiences in schools in the past. Going to yoga is a good experience for them. We hope they continue to take all those skills of mindfulness, breathing and relaxation techniques back to school with them."
Beat the Heat Summer Deal
Purchase an unlimited class card for July and August, and save $50
Cost is only $120 for 2 months of Unlimited Yoga
Offer available from June 14th - July 6th
Card is good from July 1st to August 31st
This Summer Unlimited Card cannot be shared, frozen or extended, HOWEVER, if you have a current card that expires in July or August, we will freeze that card and reactivate September 1st.
(i.e. If you have a current 6 class card that expires July 10th and you have 2 classes left, we will freeze that card when you purchase our VegaYoga Summer Unlimited Card, then reactivate your old card with the 2 classes Sept. 1st. You will not lose any of your classes.)
- You can purchase your card with a check or cash.
- We continue to offer over 15 classes per week to fit your schedule and practice level.
- The Unlimited Summer card makes a great gift for yourself or a friend!
Valley Advocate Poll Winner!
VEGAYOGA & MOVEMENT ARTS
Voted #2 In 2010
Voted #3 in 2009
We are honored by the support of our students, our teachers, and our community.
We will continue to provide classes for all people at all levels of practice.
And most importantly we will continue to have fun and enjoy life.
Thank you!
Aaron & Debra Vega
Music at VegaYoga
Ever wonder where we get some of the music we use at VegaYoga?
Music has been a key ingredient to Aaron's teaching style. From traditional Indian Music to Alternative Rock, from Krishna Das to Citizen Cope to DJ inspired groves you never know what music you might be practcing to at VegaYoga but it's always good.
Here are some links to the signature music we use in class - enjoy
And a radio station that always plays songs that make their way onto our playlist
Soon we will have our playlist page updates with some of our latest creations.
Vega Yoga Receives Community Foundation Grant For Outreach
Thanks to the talents of our grant writer and fellow yogi, Jessica Berger, Vega Yoga & Movement Arts received, not one, but TWO GRANTS to be used toward community outreach with the urban population of teens in Holyoke.
Working with such great organizations as Holyoke Health Center, Girl's Inc, The Care Center, Nuestras Raices/Youth Build, and Midwifery Care of Holyoke, Vega Yoga will be able to provide FREE YOGA to the teens whom these organizations work with.
$5,000 was given by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and $500 was given by the Mass Yoga Network SEVA Grant. Classes will be taught by Aaron, Debra, Jessica, or Michelle and will include yoga for teens, pre-natal yoga and meditation classes.
Debra and Aaron are thrilled at the possiblity of helping hundreds of teens throughout the next year to be able to discover the joys and benefits of yoga!
Read the Press Release form Girls Inc.
USELESS now at Vega Yoga
Need a new water bottle?
Need a new tote bag?
Want to do good for the enviornment?
VegaYoga is proud to be a part of the USELESS movement. All items below available at Vega Yoga.
Big water bottles: $12
Small water bottles: $9
Tote bags: $40
Messenger bags: $150
T-shirts: $25
Hats: $20
Many Hands: Yoga in Unusual Spaces
Our Collaboration with photogapher Jeffery Byrnes is starting to get some press!
The concept is to honor our yoga practice in our true enviorment and blend the human form into the suroundings.
Being a yoga studio in an urban enviorment we took our practice to the streets - literaly.
Check out the article at many hands, see the 8 prints we have at the studio and check out our online gallery.
http://www.true-resolution.com/yogainunusualspaces.html
We will be shooting more in the next few weeks so don't be surprised when you see tree pose in downtown Holyoke!
MARCH 1ST, 2010 - NO LONGER ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS AT STUDIO
NEW POLICY: Due to increased costs of credit card processing for us as a small business, as of March 1, 2010 Vega Yoga will no longer be accepting credit card payments at the studio. However, coming soon you will be able purchase class cards online via paypal here at our website.
As always, Cash and Personal Checks are still acceptable at the studio.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
VOTED 3RD PLACE in Advocate Best Of Poll!
Due to your overwhelming support, we are proud to announce that in our first year of business, we have placed 3rd Best Place for Yoga in the Valley Advocate "Best Of" Poll for 2009!
Thank you for all of your votes and your contiued support!
-Aaron and Debra
JEWELRY by Aaron's Daughters For Sale in Lobby
AARON'S DAUGHTERS ARE SELLING JEWELRY IN OUR LOBBY TO RAISE MONEY FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES:
-check out the hemp jewelry by Destiny (age 16) to raise money to attend a special soccer training in Brazil this summer. She was 1 of 200 young women chosen from all over the United States.
-check out the silver jewelry by Courtney (age 15) to raise money to travel with her show choir/chorus to a National Competition in Philadelphia, PA this Spring.
Holyoke Plus: "From Film Editor to Yoga Instructor"
A story about Aaron Vega in The Republican's "Holyoke Plus" supplement, from August 2008.
Holyoke Sun: "New yoga center joins Open Square in Holyoke"
An article about the Studio in the Holyoke Sun, July 11, 2008
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER
If the weather and the roads are questionable, please call our studio phone number, 413-519-4966 for an outgoing voice message stating updated class cancelations or studio closings.
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS from Vega Yoga
-Gift Certificates for any of our class cards or in any denomination
-Custom Eyepillows - $20
-Yoga Mats - $20
-"OPC-3" Nutritional Antioxidant Supplements
-"Nutri-Clean" Natural Cleansing and Detoxification System - $48
-COMING SOON - Vega Yoga T-shirts, Muscle Shirts and Tank Tops
Check out our NEW VIDEOS PAGE
2 new videos! -Testimonial Video and Web Advertisement
*both produced by Aaron's new online video production company, Cats Eye Productions Online.
Aaron is teaching in The 2009 Northampton Global Mala
Global Mala Northampton Proudly Presents: Global Mala 09
A day-long fundraising event of Yoga & Spiritual Activism
Saturday September 19th
at the Northampton Center for the Arts
Schedule for the day includes:
12pm: Registration opens at the Northampton Center for the Arts
1-5pm: Afternoon Program begins promptly at 1pm and includes:
108 Sun Salutations featuring many of the area's top yoga instructors accompanied by local kirtan musicians including Dave Russell & Shubalananda
27-minute Meditation with Mark Hart
7pm: Evening Program features:
Keynote Address: "Inspiring Spiritual Activism: Cultivating A New Generation of Leaders" by Alexander Souri, Founder and Executive Director of Relief Workers International
Performance by The Nataraj Dancers
Cost: $27 (or greater donation) for afternoon program
$27 (or greater donation) for evening program
$54 (or greater donation) for afternoon & evening tickets together
Tickets available at:
World Eye Books in Greenfield, The Hempest & Yoga Sanctuary in Northampton, Yoga Center Amherst and Food For Thought Books in Amherst
Cash or Personal Checks Only
All proceeds from this event will be donated to
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and Food For Life Vrindavan
For more information, please visit www.globalmalanorthampton.com,
or call 413-367-0377 or 413-367-3021
Pre-Natal Yoga Class
Pre-Natal Yoga Class
For beginners
With Jessica Berger, RYT, RN
At the Midwifery Care of Holyoke office Holyoke Health Center 230 Maple Street
Mondays 3:30pm - 4:30pm April 5th, 12th, 19th & the 26th
Prenatal yoga classes are more popular than ever. When paired with a cardiovascular exercise such as walking, yoga can be an ideal way to stay in shape during your pregnancy.
This age-old practice keeps you limber, tones your muscles, and improves your balance and circulation, with little, if any, impact on your joints.
Yoga is also beneficial because it helps you learn to breathe deeply and relax, which will come in handy as you face the physical demands of labor, birth, and motherhood
To register contact VegaYoga at 413.519.4966
Or sign up at Midwifery Care of Holyoke
For more information visit www.vegayoa.com
Brought to you by VegaYoga & Movement Arts, The Holyoke Health Center and The Community Foundation of Western Mass through the Yoga for the Urban Teen outreach program for Holyoke.
Contact your midwife or primary doctor before starting any exercise program while pregnant.
Wear comfortable loose fitting cloths for yoga class. ------ All props will be provided.
AARON VEGA - Holyoke's Newest City Councilor at Large!
AARON DID IT!
A GIANT THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HELPED WITH THE CAMPAIGN IN SO MANY WAYS...
You stood out and waved.
You donated your time.
You held coffee hours.
And most importantly, YOU VOTED!
So now, the real work begins...
To keep up with Aaron's political adventure, visit his website: www.vegaforholyoke.com
Thank You for attending Aaron's City Council at Large Kick-Off Fundraiser
Tuesday, June 9th was a huge success!
A big thank you to all who came out to support. It was a truly inspirational evening!For more information, visit Aaron's campaign website: www.vegaforholyoke.com
Like to make a donation? Please make checks payable to:
Aaron Vega for City Councilor at Large
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Aaron Vega to City Council at Large 2009, Treasurer Suzette Durand
CELEBRATE OUR 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - Saturday, April 24th
Saturday April 24th
Tai Chi Workshop
"Create a life of Balance"
2-4pm w/Carol Clark
Learn a Tai Chi short form you can practice on your own.
All Levels Welcome
$25 per person/$20 for current VegaYoga members
Live Music and Yoga Experience
Our signature classes that fuses music and movement.
4:30 - 6pm w/ Tony Silva & Aaron Vega
Open Level
$20 per peson/$15 current VegaYoga members
Social Celebration
food music & fun
6pm - 8pm FREE - All are welcome.
Come share some food and drink and celebrate our 2 Year Anniversay.
THANK YOU for your donations
A very special “THANK YOU” to those who took advantage of free classes in exchange for non-perishable food donations for Kate's Kitchen of Holyoke.
We are proud to announce that we collected over 100 cans and food donations thanks to your support!