Rock the Vote!!

ROCK THE VOTE!!

National Voter Registration Day is 9/22/20

It’s never too early to exercise your Constitutional right to register.  

Voters need to register or update their registration if 

  • they have moved since the last election
  • turned 18 
  • became a citizen
  • changed their name. 

The changes to voting procedures in response to COVID-19 make it crucial that voters register or update their registrations well in advance of Election Day. Only voters that are registered in advance may be able to take advantage of options such as mail-in voting or early in person voting.

California Voter Registration Deadlines:

California counties which have adopted the California Voter’s Choice Act use a vote-by-mail system for all elections, meaning that every registered voter is sent a ballot in the mail 29 days (10/5/20) before Election Day. As of 2020, these counties include:

El Dorado

Sacramento

In 2016, over 65 million citizens were unable to vote because they were not  registered. In a 2020 one study found more than one in four eligible voters (27%) reported not being registered because they didn’t know how, they kept forgetting, they didn’t have time, were too busy, or they recently moved. Among unregistered voters ages 18-24, this number was even higher: 42%.1.  If you, your friends or family members fall in this age group please pass the below information on to them.  

With recent Post Office challenges, please register early so you don’t miss the mailing date for your ballot this year.  Check your voter registration status at https://registertovote.ca.gov/

Our country and democracy are stronger when we all vote.

When in doubt, offer chocolate!!!

When in doubt, offer chocolate!!!

 

My hometown of Sacramento CA feels pretty safe by comparison to other cities. However, there are times when things can get wild and tumultuous out on the streets.

A few days ago, Tristina and I heard some violent screaming coming from the front side of our apartment complex. We walked outside and witnessed a large, imposing man wearing American flag overalls. He was fiercely yelling at another person on the street.

His attire was funny, but the situation was serious. Some people ran out to see what was happening, but quickly retreated back into their homes. It was intense to say the least.

My first instinct was to focus on my breath. I felt compelled to do something, but it was a situation that could turn dangerous. To not appear as a threat, I felt like I needed to extend an offering. What do most people like when they are upset?

Then it came to me…CHOCOLATE!

I ran inside our apartment to grab some chocolate, but at first glance it didn’t appear that we had any. I kept redirecting my awareness back to my breath to stay focused and composed.

After pushing things aside in my kitchen cupboard, I found a bag of cacao nibs. Good enough! I ran back outside, and the following is how the interaction went down (since I didn’t get his name, we will just call him Flag Overalls).

Me: Hi, my name is Michael. I am sorry to interrupt. Would you like some chocolate?

(an intense stare down ensues, while the person he was screaming left the scene) 

Flag Overalls: Yeah, I will take some chocolate.

(I hand him the cacao nibs and he throws them into his mouth) 

Me: These are actually cacao nibs. It says here on the package that it is a plant based superfood!

Flag Overalls: Is that right?

Me: That’s right! So, how are you feeling sir?

Flag Overalls: Not good bro. I lost my job. I have been homeless for five months now. Nobody will hire me. I don’t have any skills.

Me: I am so sorry brother. That sounds really tough.

Flag Overalls: That’s right, it is really tough. It has placed a lot of pressure on me and on our relationship (the person he was screaming at).

Me: It seems like that would place a lot of pressure on anyone. Stay strong.

Flag Overalls: Thanks man, I got to go make things right.

Me: Much love man.

Flag Overalls completely changed his voice. He became calm and was able to articulate his inner experience. Our interaction seemed to help him without escalating the situation.

My biggest take away from this interaction is that a scary situation can turn into a heart-opening experience in a matter of minutes. Attention to the breath and approaching other human beings with compassion can produce powerful results. Make every interaction you have an offering, even if you don’t have cacao nibs. 😊

 

Michael Fong.

Confronting the Wasp

 

Confronting the Wasp

 

I have always been afraid of wasps. When I was about 9 years old, I saw my little sister alone out in the distance on a big patch of lawn. She looked oddly frozen with her arm extended far away from her body and her head down facing the grass. Confused, I walked up to see to that a wasp had landed on her hand! She stood there crying, with a clenched fist, and screamed for help.

I was scared. I wanted to run. Instead, I stayed put and told her to remain calm. Apparently, my sister’s phobia of wasps matched my own. I told her that on the count of 3 I would swat the wasp off of her hand. Still crying, she agreed with strong trepidation. I began to count, “1, 2, 3!!!”. I swiftly brushed the wasp away and then we both ran like hell.

In this story, the wasp represents fear. Fear can be paralyzing or it can provide the opportunity for us to rise up into a state of courage. Being courageous in tense or even terrifying moments doesn’t mean you will have an absence of fear. It just means that you tip the scales in favor of being brave.

We can also gain more courage by finding what is meaningful. The meaningful connection and love for my little sister gave me the courage to overcome my fear of the wasp. Courage comes from the root word cor, which means heart in Latin. WHEN YOU LIVE WITH COURAGE, YOU LIVE FROM YOUR HEART.

Stay courageous my friends!

Michael Fong.

Back to Leap VIRTUAL Live

 

New Regulations force suspension of IN STUDIO Classes.

So as per California and Sacramento County requirements, we are suspending In STUDIO classes and going back to VIRTUAL Live streaming of classes only for a while.

However we will be announcing outside classes very shortly! In the meantime we have great classes for you to enjoy at home!

Our website is being changed to reflect the new regulations, but please put up with the inconsistencies while everything has been gone through!

We hope you are healthy and safe and continuing to take really good care of yourself and others.

We can’t think of a more important time to remain flexible and there’s just no better way than practicing yoga to accomplish this. We are here, ready, and committed to serving you.

Namaste

The Leap Yoga Team

Treat Your Mind Like An Infant

 

Treat Your Mind Like An Infant

 

 

Meditation can be a really tough practice. One of the big challenges is the unrelenting judgment of your critical mind. It can feel disheartening when you lose concentration or get distracted by the discomfort of being still. You might overly criticize yourself to the point where you want to quit.

Here is a helpful tip: try treating your mind like an infant learning to walk. Your mind can be wobbly and fragile just like a baby trying to take their first steps. Patience and loving encouragement are absolutely necessary.

Be kind to yourself, especially when you are learning a new skill. You would not get angry at a baby if they lose their balance when walking. In the same way, it is not helpful to get upset when your mind loses concentration in your meditation.

This compassionate approach to your mind applies to more than just your meditation practice. Observing and treating yourself with great care creates a life with more compassion and limits the propensity to cause harm.

Let go of self-judgement and acknowledge your intrinsic value. Your input affects your output. If you are inputting love and care for yourself, you will have a greater capacity to share this with others.

Practice loving attention in your meditation and then notice how you treat yourself and others throughout the rest of your day. It can change the entire landscape on how you view the world.

Michael Fong

Fear and Kindness

 

Fear and Kindness

 

 

Dear friends,

 

A few weeks ago, my teacher asked me to do something.  If it had been for her, I would have said yes, of course, anything. But no, this was for me.  And I immediately said no.  But then I stewed on her words and much to my chagrin, she has never asked me to do anything that did not cause fear and end in personal growth.  And everytime she has asked, I have immediately said, no thank you and then went through the process.

 

Ok, this is minor.  But what it brought up was how fear and the anxiety around that fear can cause us to retreat, to shy away, and to get that sick feeling at the pit of our stomachs.  And I think in these unknown and untried times, we are all experiencing a fear of sorts on different levels. So we go through the what if’s, and we worry about the unknown outcomes that may or may not happen.  And we all do it, it is natural.

 

Recognizing fear.  Where do we feel it?  How do we internalize it? How do we name it?  Or is it too big and murky to be named?  Fear is real;  don’t dismiss or discount its importance to you. Others can say it is irrational, but that doesn’t make it less important to you.

 

Looking inside.  As we dig a little deeper, you may find this unease living inside perhaps causing disquiet, sleeplessness and even pain.  Consider meeting these feelings with kindness.  And if that doesn’t help, be kinder. Nurture, console, and delve more deeply into those feelings.  There are many ways you can do this:  long walks, meditation or meditative activities, getting out in nature, talking with a friend or, perhaps, a little yin yoga.

 

Why yin?  Yin is deep, dark, centered, rich, earthy and ultimately healing. I have been struck now, more than ever, that this is the practice for these times around us.  When the panic sets in, when the unrest and unease are pervasive, how do we find healing.  How do we nourish and nurture ourselves so that we can bring a bit more peace to others in a world where people are seeking ease.  It is now that we need to slow, we need to feel more fully, we need to spend more time healing from the inside.  So that when we emerge from our practice, we are a bit more settled and comforted;  a bit more nurtured.  Does the pain leave? No, but the suffering is less and is slowly replaced bit by bit with kindness, tenderness and grace.

 

Please join me on the mat as we face our fears hand in hand, with kindness, comfort and open hearts.

 

Love,

 

Molly

 

 

Leap, Yoga, Grief and Love

Leap, Yoga, Grief and Love

 

At Leap we believe in the power of community and that yoga has the power to heal. Practicing yoga in community can enhance the power of intention exponentially. Our practice gives us the ability to come back to ourselves over and over again. When we become still we can align with the place inside that is intelligent, wise, and centered. We can correctly identify what we are feeling and use our wisdom to determine the next right step. There is great power in this process. There is great power in love.

I recommend this short read from LightOmega. For me it’s spot on. This helped me to identify that the feeling underneath the confusion, anger, sadness and frustration is grief. Understanding this has been helpful to me and maybe this article will feel helpful to you in determining what your next right steps might be.

“Dr. King understood this principle. He understood how grief can be linked with love whereas violent retribution cannot. It can only be linked with further violence. He understood that grief, if it involved only a feeling of helplessness, was not enough. But grief connected with a burning desire to prevent suffering and to create change, grief in the presence of love could change the world.”

LightOmega Article: https://lightomega.org/…/death-george-floyd-and-healing-po…/

We want you to know that we are here for you. We continue to teach yoga as a service because these timeless practices help us to evolve and have blessed humanity for thousands of years.

We invite you to continue practicing with us as often as possible as we continue to offer Leap Live VIRTUAL classes led by your dedicated Leap teachers. Our classes are rooted in tradition and are designed to help you tune into your own intelligence for answers, cultivate inner strength, grace, and compassion.

Om namo Bhagavate. Om namo namah. May the Supreme One that we are all part of ignite this fire of love and commitment within us.

Namaste,

Stacy, Butch, Michēal, Cindi and Marco

Leap’s 30 for $39 VIRTUAL Yoga

Leap 30 for $39 Unlimited VIRTUAL Yoga for Newbies

Are you new to Leap or do you have a friend, relative or neighbor that could benefit from the Leap VIRTUAL Yoga Experience?

 

If yes, sign up for our 30 consecutive days of Yoga for $39 and gain full access of our Leap VIRTUAL live yoga classes and Leap VIRTUAL yoga Library. With over 60 classes of different types of yoga available to view at your convenience stored on demand, access to purchase Leap Workshops and multiple daily live classes held on interactive Zoom, what are you waiting for?  Join our AMAZING Leap community and experience some of the best teachers around, practicing a variety of different Yoga, in a professional, quality way to maximize you home practice.

 

Simply click on the photo below:

 

 

 

 

leapyoga.net becomes friendlier

leapyoga.net becomes friendlier

 

After much discussion and customer feedback, it was time for a change!  Nothing drastic but much needed.

Websites are always a difficult animal to develop, not technically, but because clients become familiar with the layout and without malice, become resistant to change.

The last 2 months have been hectic to say the least.  VIRTUAL was certainly a learning experience with on demand Leap Live being added and the creation of a Leap Library, utilizing our existing provider platform.  The funny thing is we had been talking, and signed off on the offering of a VIRTUAL experience about 6 months ago, but obviously COVID sealed the deal!  This along with the creation of a completely new website, but current events took over.

Leap Library is still being developed and categorization will follow to replace our current listing ordered alphabetically by Yoga type, then by teacher, followed by date.  Our provider also has developed and rushed their VIRTUAL booking platform in order to keep up, as an interim, while their refined version is still to be launched.  This should be out shortly and can’t come soon enough.  Our thinking of not utilizing multiple, perhaps more advanced, platforms was for web stability and seamless transfer.  This has temporarily not allowed us to post previews and thumbnails in our library, but that will come.

So while Leap – our studio – is currently undergoing major refurbishment and rejuvenation, so is Leap on line.  Major category changes have been made, with VIRTUAL SCHEDULE now containing our full range of offerings in a drop down menu.  Our menu has been simplified to reflect Yoga as currently provided.  This should be much simpler to navigate, while still maintaining an air of familiarity.

When changes are made, websites rebel and drop links, so please be a little forgiving until all is repaired, should we have missed something.  All changes have been made while live, as we did not want to disrupt things more than necessary.

Further changes will be made and eventually a second in STUDIO offering will be added when we are given the thumbs up to open.

The Leap VIRTUAL schedule drop down menu now provides you with a full listing of what we have coming including Workshops and Teacher Trainings. It also shows technical pointers on how to get set up.

We have added new sections if you are NEW TO LEAP and expanded the information under ABOUT US drop down menu, as well as adding a link to help you log in under MY ACCOUNT.  Sliding banners have been renamed and are fewer, hopefully more relevant, adding to the navigation experience.

 

 

 

 

We have also tried to simplify things when the site is viewed on different devices, including cell phones and tablets.  Though the best experience is undoubtedly on your computer, especially during these VIRTUAL times.

We sincerely hope that once you have become accustomed to the changes, you find the revisions a marked improvement to assist you in maximizing you enjoyment of Leap VIRTUAL and the Leap experience.

Leap is gearing up to have you back!

Leap is gearing up to have you back!

 

So we are both excited, but also a little sad.

Excited because we can’t wait to see your friendly faces come through our doors. The smiles, the chatting, hearing how you have all been doing during the past 2 or so months.  The vibe, the love, the caring as we share our love for yoga, wellness, community and peace.  It has been difficult for us all to give up our vital interaction.

A little sad as we still can’t definitively say when our opening will be.  We realize it will come, but await directives from the State as to when this might be,  The fact that other businesses are opening gives us joy, but being a Yoga studio, we have been deemed a category 3 business, which makes us a little apprehensive as to when we will have our new normalcy begin, and we can all reunite.

However enough musing.  In the interim we certainly have not been idle in the pursuit of providing Leapers the best experience ever.  New classes, new schedules, new VIRTUAL classes, new offerings, new website and a completely refurbished Leap environment for you all to enjoy. But more of that to come!

In the meantime, we thought it would be fun to post a few images of what has been going on behind the scenes over the past few weeks.  A true labour of love.

 

 

 

In the meantime, we need all the support we can get.  We will continue to have a complete VIRTUAL offering as we simply can’t let all this amazing work not complement our in studio offer.  So if you know of anyone near or far, that could benefit from the Yoga experience at Leap, please refer them.  Drop us a line that you have done so either via messenger, or email to cindi@leapyoga.net and when they sign up for a 30 for $39, will give you a little something to show our appreciation.  With much thanks and love, Namaste.

 

Simply click on the photo below: