WORKSHOPS

There's still time to sign up for our 200hour Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Training Certification! It begins July 1st and ends August 15th. Whether you want to be a teacher or just deepen your practice it will be an amazing journey into the essence of yoga. If you can't make it to the training but were still looking to deeper your practice and understanding of yoga, you're in luck!! I'm teaching a Monday night lecture series as part of the training which will also be open to the public. The 7 week series begins July 1st, and can be done as a drop-in or you can save some money by signing up for all seven!

Monday Night Workshops

6pm - 8pm

@ Ocean City Zen Den Studio (900 Asbury Ave)

July 1st
1. Pranayama + Meditation: Using our breath to find peace of mind.

July 8th
2. Surya Namaskar: Salutations to the Life-Giving Sun! Explore the variations of sun salutations, their mantras, and the power they hold! (This is an asana class as well as a lecture class, please dress appropriately).

July 15th
3. AUM: Exploring the history of the universal sound "AUM" (including a blessed mala from India)!

July 22nd
4. Chakras: working through all seven of our energy centers, learning how to activate and empower each one. (Light asana)

July 29th
5. Chanting + Devotional Sound: Devotional singing is another way to practice yoga. Learn several famous chants to empower, and learn how to use a mala to help.

August 5th
6. Ida + Pingala: Opening and activating our two main energy lines through asana and pranayama. (This is an asana class as well as a lecture class, please dress appropriately).

August 12th
7. Sensory Yoga: Learn how to use your breath and intuition to guide you through a blindfolded yoga practice. (This is an asana class as well as a lecture class, please dress appropriately).

If you are interested in the workshops, please contact Arianne Green @ 609.335.6232 or email me @ cailin.callahan@gmail.com . The workshops are $40 drop-in or $210 for all seven (that's a $70 savings!)

HipHopBootyPop

Despite having little-to-no-voice (I had to cancel last nights gig!), I managed to teach two packed classes this morning! The first class was a hip hop booty poppin' class, dj'd by my girl Kelly Croce Sorg! It was such a success, and I was flying SO high, that I decided to make my second class a hip hop booty popping flow as well! The theme of the class wasn't just vulgar music, shouting "holla muthafuka", or dancing like its 1999...but it was about LETTING GO, and the best way to let go is to loosen up! Tonight is a full moon, and the full moon is a powerful and auspicious time of month that encourages and empowers us to let go of anything that we are holding on to. Rumi puts it perfectly...

Dancing

Dance when you're broken open.

Dance when you've torn the bandage off.

Dance in the middle of fighting.

Dance in your blood.

Dance when you're perfectly free.

Struck, the dancer hears a tambourine inside her,

like a wave that crests into foam at the very top,

Begins.

Maybe you don't hear that tambourine,

or the tree leaves clapping time.

Close the ears on your head,

that listen mostly to lies and cynical jokes.

There are other things to see, and hear.

Music. Dance.

A brilliant city inside your soul!

--Rumi

So today in class, we let go of the lies and cynical jokes that we attach ourselves to, and just danced- celebrating the brilliant city inside our souls! 

the zen den

Come check us out at THE ZEN DEN!

Living WELL.

Jean, Brooke, Lauren and Carmen in supported headstands in Wednesdays Sweaty Vinyasa / Yin class @ Ocean City Zen Den (922 Asbury Ave).

 Holy shitballs...it feels like every day of mine is full - every.single.minute. But, I'm okay with that. I have been seeing Dr. Adonis for my knee/hamstring lately and there have been miraculous results. After NO success with my Orthopedic, and no help from my doctors - my knee and hamstring are completely pain free for the first time in a year (and after only 3 visits). Dr. Adonis is the man who has me teaching Yin at his CrossFit center. So the other day (after my truck broke down and I was stuck with Chris Paisley at Living Well CrossFit) I was peer pressured by trainer Chris Paisley to finally try out a cross fit "WOD" (workout of the day). I was ill prepared - bare feet, bathingsuit, and a negative attitude towards exercise. Well, I only worked out for about a half hour - but it kicked my ass. Pullups, rowing, air squats, crunches, pushups, hell. Surprisingly, I felt good after - invigorated. 

Next day - not feeling as epic, but feeling strong. It was a GOOD tired. Now, two days after the workout I feel exhausted - I can barely bend or lift my arms - but I have been reassured that the first time is the most painful and then it becomes less painful as time passes. 

Well, last night when I was teaching YIN at Living Well CrossFit, I read a quote from Osho about pain (yin poses can be quite uncomfortable...):

"When pain disappears, the desire for pleasure also disappears. When you are not in anguish, you don't ask for indulgence."

So instead of the fighting and resisting the pain, I'm surrendering. I'm super excited for the SIX classes that I'll be teaching these next three days, and I can't wait to get back into Dr.Adonis's office, and into CrossFit.

I'm Living WELL...how are YOU living?

Wave Sliding Wednesday

Yesterday was a glorious day from start to finish. Taught my 9:30am flow class at the Ocean City Zen Den {922 Asbury Ave} and had 9 beautiful women in class. It was especially great because my friends Bridget, Kaitlin and Megan were able to come - and probably for the last time until Fall {they all work round the clock in the summer}. There were some new faces in class: Erin and Jess, and some previous (amazing) ZenDenners: Shelby and Angela, and then a special surprise were my friends Brooke and Lorraine (Brookes mama) who happened to be in town. Beautiful, magical morning. 

After class Bridget, Megan, Kaitlin and I headed to my favorite place in the worlddddd (or should I say favorite cafe in New Jersey?): Who's on 1st Cafe. It is simply the BEST, and Mila (the most spectacular beautiful kind and wonderful Barista) was working which always is a plus.  We had 3 lattes and I had the most spectacular grilled cheese with asparagus on it and fresh pesto. Holy shitballs, it was ammmmazingly finger-licking-good. 

I had my board with me...which has been no easy task . As soon as the girls left the cafe, I got a text from a friend saying that the waves were super fun. It was pouring rain, but the air was warm and I had my wetsuit in the truck. I headed to Delancey and surfed for over 2 hours with just 3 other guys out. Wave after wave after wave after wave....nose ride after nose ride. The rain maintained a steady downpour throughout the session, but that couldn't shake the smile from my face. There is nothing, truly nothing, that beats a surf session like that...where your whole body and soul just seems to be in alignment with the universe. Hallelujah.

After surf I headed to my friends Jay + Marthas house to use their outside shower and to hang out for a bit. Martha has two art shows coming up so it was great to get a peek into her studio and see what she's been working on. All of her artwork is inspired by her travels in Europe this past winter with her husband, and she's also painted me playing music into one of the pieces! 

I still had some time to kill before I headed to the Zen Den (in Margate) for my 5:30pm Yin, so I bopped in and out of a few thrift shops, picking up some treasures. Taught Yin and then headed to Northfield to teach my third class of the day: another Yin class @ Living Well Holistic and CrossFit Center. Living Well is owned and operated by Dr.Adonis Alejandro, an amazing chiropractor and CrossFit coach. I love Living Well, I love Dr.Adonis,  I love all of his CrossFit clients and I love teaching Yin here. After class we went back to Chris Paisleys house for a late "paleo" dinner (grilled steaks and lots of vegetables). I did some thai massage on everyone, Dr.Adonis did some adjustments on my body - working specificially on my meniscus and hamstring, and all around it was just a mellow ending to an amazing day.

Beach yoga starts this Sunday, and I have a lot of amazing classes planned for this weekend - so I hope to see you!! 

Zen Den OC Epicness!

  

So....the turnout to The Zen Den's new studio in Ocean City has been amazing!!!!! The new spot on 922 Asbury Avenue is perfect! The entrance is down the alley way which makes it cute, quaint and best of all - quiet! I had nine amazing friends come out to class on Friday, and I had a dozen students this morning (most of which were people that I didn't know...yeeewww for new friends!). Tomorrow I teach at 9:30am and I'm already looking forward to it! Thank You, Thank You to everyone who came out to my classes this weekend: Jennifer, Lara, Michelle, Leslie, Susan, Martha, Katy, Jill, Marybeth, Rochelle, Chris, Shelby, Collette, Katie, Toula, Lori, Lisa, Christine, Garrett, MaryEllen, and Kelly. It's going to be a great summer!

This has been my motto since I was a kid...and it's paid off  :)

Come and check out a class at the *NEW* Ocean City Zen Den @ 922 Asbury Ave!

Ocean City.

So as you all know, I'll be teaching a fair bit in Ocean City. My beach yoga classes are in their 4th year, and it will be my first year teaching at the Zen Dens new location, as well as being one of the four instructors at this years Yoga on the Pier. When I went to Ari's SWEAT class yesterday, one of the women, whom has taken a few of my classes, approached me for some chitchat. I told her that I was super excited to be starting classes in OC, and she responded with a "Well, good luck. Just so you know, that town is very religious..."  Her words sat with me all through class. It took me a while to figure out what exactly she was saying. And then I realized that she was kind of warning me to "tone it down"...leave out the "shitballs" and "motherfuckers". It made me anxious at first, thinking of how I'd have to tone down who I am...censor and whatnot. The thoughts stayed with me as I taught my own Yin class at the Zen Den after Aris. And the more it sat with me, the more that I realized that I will always be the 'shitballs' and 'motherfucker' yoga teacher, because quite frankly that's who I AM. Two of my regular students, who never-miss-a-class, are two of the most religious people that I have ever met. And they have told me that my classes have helped them to feel a closer connection to God...more close than they have ever felt before. So in order for me to teach an authentic yoga class, that is true to me and true to the yoga that I live - then censoring and toning it down just doesn't make sense. Sure, there are some square, conservative people out there who might not like my class - but that's the beauty of having an array of yoga instructors. It's like the perfect pair of jeans -- you have to try a bunch on before you find a pair that makes you look amazing, feel amazing, and you want to wear every.single.day.  What works for one person spiritually, physically and emotionally won't work for another. So, I'm sure I'll offend a person or two in Ocean City - and they are more than welcome not to return to my class (though I surely Hope that I don't offend anyone! It's not my aim). But I know for a fact that my authentic, from-the-heart approach to teaching will connect with a few, and that is a beautiful thing. So, if you don't like F*bombs then maybe my class isn't for you, and that's okay. Until then, namaste motherfuckers...I love you all! 

I am one of the 4 instructors at this years summer Yoga on the Pier. You DO NOT want to miss this amazing event!!!

Summer Schedules

Yesterday was my last class at Surfside Fitness in Avalon. I was fired after class, which I pretty much saw coming. I've had a million different jobs: nannying, yoga, music, surf lessons, waitressing, cleaning, massage, catering...and this is my first time ever being 'terminated'. Considering the terms, I gotta say that I'm okay with it - but I will say that I am going to miss my AVALON COMMUNITY very very much. Fortunately Arianne Green, my boss at the Zen Den, is amazing, supportive, appreciative and generous. She has opened a studio in Ocean City (9th + Asbury) and has given me my pick of classes. I'll be teaching there on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings {the schedule begins on Memorial Day Weekend}. Also, this will be my 4th year teaching yoga on the beach @ 41st street. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays I'll be doing a 7-8am all levels flow for $10 donation {beginning in June - sunday June 3rd}.  I will only be teaching two YIN classes this summer and they will both be on Wednesday night. Wednesdays 5:30pm - 6:45pm I'll be teaching a yin flow at the Zen Den in Margate and later at 7:45pm I'll be teaching a yin class at Living Well CrossFit Center.

I am really looking forward to the summer ahead -- it is going to be a good one: filled with music, beach, fishing, yoga and friends. Thank you to the outstanding community in Avalon who came out all Fall, Winter, and Spring to support me and to join in on the beauty of yoga. My apologies that I won't be in town this summer- but I'll see you in Ocean City and then come Fall 2012 I'll be back in Avalon!!

Namaste!!