September is National Yoga Month

September is National Yoga Month!

In honor of this month, Asala Center is offering great deals for supporting the studios where we teach.  Buy a month pass or session of classes at any of the below studios and receive HALF OFF a Constructive Living session with Lauryn or Diana from Asala Center. To view prices and schedules for these wonderful studios, please see website links.  All three offer yoga in some capacity, but Zanzibar specializes in bellydance lessons.

Normal value:  $50 

September Sale With Purchase of Yoga/Dance from Studio Where We Teach:  $25) 

Studios in alphabetical order: 

Clearspring Yoga  (Chattanooga's longest running yoga studio, located at 109 N. Market St. off Cherokee and Market.  Lauryn teaches Friday 4pm Community Yoga here.  Lauryn and Diana both were certified through Clearspring's 9 month teacher training.)

Yoga East (East Brainerd and Ooltewah's new yoga studio, located by the Food Lion on East Brainerd Rd.   Diana and Lauryn both offer classes here.)

Zanzibar Studio  (Chattanooga's first bellydance studio and boutique, located on corner of Vine St. and Georgia Ave.  Also offers several $5 yoga classes.  Lauryn teaches bellydance on Wednesday nights)

"Nothing Special" Birthday Open House

This silly "cake wreck" photo says "Nothing Special"...sort of. It actually says "HoThing Special," but either the decorator or the the cake requestor wasn't paying attention to detail!



A classic description of Constructive Living instruction is "nothing special"---then why are we offering it?!?!?! Find out at our Open House next Thursday at Another Way in Highland Park.  (1502 Bailey Ave.)

5:30-7:30

Why?
Free
Light refreshments (possibly a cake wreck can be arranged...)
Yoga and Bellydance demo around 6pm
Informal discussion of Constructive Living instruction and what in the world it is!
Door prizes of Asala Center goodies and Constructive Living books


www.asalacenter.com
www.asalacenter.blogspot.com

NEW DEAL:

Buy a 7-week session of classes at Zanzibar Studio or a September month pass at Yoga East and get 1/2 off one Constructive Living session!


What is CL?

"A Sensible Lifestyle for Sensitive People"
A trademarked philosophy based on Japanese therapies
Very familiar wisdom
Mindful, practical life exercises
Perspective-shifting activities

Sandy Bell Benefit Auction on Ebay

The Sandy Bell Benefit was a wild success on July 18, raising considerable funds for Sandy and allowing him to see his daughter Angela.  Mirabai Bellydance was one of several bellydance troupes performing, and there were wonderful music acts and a live auction by Karl Epperson.  We now continue the activities with a Zumbathon on August 13 (7pm at Hamilton Place YMCA, $10) and with an ebay auction.  Please check out all items under "midnight_florist" seller for the next five days!

Asala Center is auctioning off the following gift certificates to benefit Sandy Bell, local "midnight florist," a vet who is receiving chemotherapy:

Private/Semi-Private Tribal Dance Lesson
Private/Semi-Private Yoga/Chair Yoga Lesson
Résumé Assistance/Job Search Skills
Constructive Living instruction

More on Sandy

New link for Sandy's page:  http://tinyurl.com/flowerman

And also: Follow Up from News 12

Follow up on Sandy

Hi all,
Please see previous entry about Sandy the Flower Man!  AND here's an article on the upcoming benefit for Sandy:
http://wdef.com/news/chattanooga_rallies_around_sandy_the_flower_man/07/2010

Sandy Bell, the Flower Man

Naikan exercise on strangers:
Pick a stranger, and notice something they have done for you or given you.  Without possibly even knowing their name, write them a Thank You card, giving specific thanks for something they did. 

Sandy the Flower Man is a bit more than a stranger in my mind, and the more I work on his upcoming benefit at JJ's Bohemia, the more I see him as a celebrity!  However, Sandy is a person I run into around town who is always giving.  At times when I have not had money on me or just didn't think I had enough to share, Sandy has still given me a flower and wished me a lovely evening.  He rides his bike all around town with something in his hand to give you.  Sandy is someone I don't know very well who has given me frequent gifts and blessings.  How has the post office worker helped you today?  Or the check-out girl at Bi-Lo?  What have you received from driver of the car next to you, who so graciously obeyed these helpful traffic laws to keep you safe?

Here is the information about the upcoming Sandy Bell benefit:

Sandy Bell, the local Chattanooga flower man, has been receiving chemotherapy. Please come out to show Mr. Bell our deep gratitude for his smiles and flowers and to help raise funds for the many complicated costs he will incur. Bands and artistis will peform, TBA. Donations so far for silent auction include but are not limited to: Asala Center gift certificates (yoga, dance, Constructive Living, job search skills), Massage Therapy at Clearspring Yoga (massage), Zanzibar Studio gift certificate for bellydance, Dancing for Birth private lesson from Emerald Hips Bellydance, Peachesedelstein.com, Yoga East gift certificate for yoga, The Purple Daisy (food! great bbq), Ignis Glass (beautiful glass art), McCord Photography (gift certificate towards photography session, Green Thumbs Galore (plants), Burns Tobacconist (cigars!), a goodie bag from a pastry place, and a gift certificate for a nail spa.

Please check out the "Cause" page that Zach made at www.causes.com/causes/499791 and let us know if you are interested in donating something for the auction! "Sandy the Flower Man" for Facebook fan pages to receive more updates as well. The response has been overwhelming and now we're trying to centralize the info!

Check out the Pulse this week! Article on Sandy and his daughter!

America Naikan

"Ask not what your country can do for you---ask what you can do for your country"   -John F. Kennedy

If we take President Kennedy's quote seriously, we might be tempted to actually do Naikan exercises on America.  In Constructive Living, we don't normally tackle such large subjects for our Naikan reflection, but in honor of Independence Day, we'll give it a go.  Try it and see what happens...remember, Naikan answers should be concrete and specific, abstract and vague.

1) What have you done for America?
2) What has America done for you?
3) What harm/trouble* have you caused America?

*Edit: this can be small troubles or bothers, such as throwing away a penny ;)

Maxim of the Day

CL maxim of the day:
"Give and give until you wave goodbye."

Happy Birthday To Us!

The Asala Center is one year old this month!  It has been a great year.  We were happy to have hosted a Mother's Day Constructive Living talk at CHIONS at the Unitarian Universalist Church in 2009, which was a great way to kick off our Constructive Living business.  We began seeing students of dance, yoga, and Constructive Living at Aspire Studios on Brainerd Road in June 2009, taking the name "Asala Center."  Lauryn became a certified yoga instructor in June, as well.  

In August, we hosted friends and family for "wine and cheese" and explained a bit about Constructive Living through some brief exercises.  Meanwhile, Lauryn left her job at Signal Centers but arranged to keep her Signal Centers yoga program going through the Asala Center.  Lauryn also continues to offer resume assistance, a skill she honed at Signal Centers through the Young Adult Enrichment Program and American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.  While Lauryn had been studying Modern Dance at Chattanooga State since January, she became immersed in the Chattanooga State Dance Program in August.  Lauryn and Diana both attended multiple lectures through Focus Healthcare on the treatment of eating disorder students in August and September.  Lauryn was happy to be added to the sub list at Northshore Yoga in August and briefly taught a Beginner's Yoga class on Saturday mornings there.  Lauryn was not able to walk in a favorite fundraiser that fall due to the Saturday class, BUT it turned out that Northshore Yoga was donating all proceeds that day to A Walk for Cammy's Cause anyway!  So Lauryn was happy to support one of her favorite fundraisers in a different form.

Asala Center began the first Constructive Living workshop series in September.  Meanwhile, Lauryn began teaching yoga classes at Moon Haven Studio and Madia's Studio. Unfortunately, Aspire Studios was destroyed in a flood in September, interrupting the workshops!  

In October 2009, we moved to Another Way Center in Highland Park and Diana began her yoga teacher certification program.  

In November, Lauryn's dance troupe Mirabai Bellydance hosted the first Annual Fringe Benefit, a fundraiser in the form of a bellydance show.  The first ever Fringe Benefit was a wild success, raising $781 for the Chattanooga Room in the Inn.  Unfortunately, November also brought the closing of Dalton State College's Continuing Education program, which meant that Lauryn's bellydance classes in Georgia have been put on hold.  The Unitarian Universalist Church invited us to speak at their service on the week after Thanksgiving, where we introduced basic Constructive Living principles.  November also brought a giant shift, where Lauryn's neighbor and friend Lacy took ownership of Zanzibar Studio, where Lauryn began her bellydance journey in 2003.  Lauryn continues to enjoy offering weekly classes at Zanzibar and applauds Lacy for her new touches to the studio, such as the offering of donation-based workshops between class sessions.  Lauryn has been happy to try on new teaching styles in these workshops, such as coupling Yin Yoga with Shimmy drills!

In December, Lauryn participated in Mainx24 by donating a free yoga class at Madia's Studio on Main Street.  Also in December, the Asala Center donated a gift certificate to the Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults in the Nutcracker Sweets fundraiser. Lauryn began studying pilates intensively at Pilates in Motion with Lauren Worley Knauth and Ann Law.  Lauryn teamed up with Lori Bilbrey of Moon Haven Studio to offer a temporary "Shiva/Shaki Dance" class at Northshore Yoga.  Meanwhile, Clearspring Yoga offered Lauryn the opportunity to teach a Friday community class, which Lauryn enjoys very much.  Clearspring Yoga was kind enough to host us for New Year's Naikan reflection on New Year's Eve as a part of their yearly event.  It was a calming way to ring in the New Year.

In January 2010, Lauryn was certified in Ansuya's Cabaribalusion Style of Bellydance.  This style covers cabaret, tribal, and fusion styles of bellydance.  The Chattanooga Pulse also interviewed the Asala Center for their Health and Wellness special of the January paper.  In 2010, Asala Center had a presence at the East Lake Health Fair (February) and CSAS Career Fair (March). In February, Asala Center donated a gift certificate to Farmer's Aid, a fundraiser for a Trenton man who was robbed while serving in the army.  Sadly, February was the last month that Madia's Studio was open, where Lauryn had been teaching weekly Yin Yoga classes as well as Yin Flow.

In March, Lauryn was asked to help open Chattanooga's newest yoga studio, Yoga East.  Lauryn donated a free bellydance workshop, courtesy of Zanzibar Studio, on the open house for Yoga East.  Lauryn began teaching Power Yoga and Level 1 Yoga at Yoga East.

Lauryn performed at the Cleveland State Community College International Fair representing the Asala Center as well as Mirabai Bellydance in April.  Lauryn also represented Zanzibar Studio at the Chattanooga State International Fair.  April began Lauryn's innovative Lunchtime Chair Yoga sessions at the Hamilton County Health Department, starting with a kickoff at the Health Department's Staff Health Fair.  Lauryn was incredibly honored to be asked back for a second round of Health Department sessions and looks forward to collaborating with the County more in the future.  At the Health Fair, Lauryn also met Family Chiropractic of Shallowford and began a treatment program with them to help correct her posture and develop customized workouts for herself. 

In May, Asala Center offered a weekend workshop on Constructive Living through Yoga East.  Diana began teaching yoga regularly at Grace Episcopal Church, though she had offered previous classes there before.  Diana also got on the Yoga East schedule to teach Level 1 Yoga.   Asala Center offered Mother's Day Naikan activities through the Pulse and online, and Lauryn represented Zanzibar Studio at the Tennessee Bouldering Authority in a Mother's Day workshop.  In May, Asala Center also appeared in Natural Awakenings with a brief article on Constructive Living.  Lauryn was also happy to have studied with incredible teachers of bellydance in May, and a current listing of those teachers can be found at www.peleblow.blogspot.com

In June 2010, Diana became certified as a yoga teacher through Asheville Yoga Center in Clearspring Yoga's hosting of "Live In Total Yoga" Program.  In June Lauryn also began offering bellydance workout classes at Yoga East, courtesy of Zanzibar Studio.  Lauryn extended her chair yoga classes to Yoga East in June, as well.  In June, Asala Center also donated to the Tennessee Bouldering Authority's "Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up" fundraiser for treating childhood AIDS.  Lauryn also "graduated" from her treatment at Family Chiropractic of Shallowford and is armed with many great new exercises for posture!  Asala Center began offering "Constructive Living Tips" through The Pulse Magazine and offered two sets of Father's Day activities through the Pulse but also online.        


Where are we now?
Lauryn and Diana are in the process of arranging yoga classes at Greg Roy's Tae Kwon Do, where Diana teaches Tae Kwon Do as a Fifth Degree Black Belt.  Lauryn will be teaching creative movement at Grace Episcopal Church's Arts Camp this summer and will also be a guest dance instructor at Barking Legs Theatre through the Dance Fitness program.  Lauryn will also be offering a Bellydance Workout through Chattanooga State's Continuing Education at Barking Legs in the fall.  Try the workout and then sign up for classes at Zanzibar Studio!

Congratulations to Diana and Summer Sale

Congratulations to Diana, who just received her Yoga Teacher Certification from Asheville Yoga Center!!!  Thank you to Clearspring Yoga for hosting the fabulous "Live in Total Yoga" program which has certified both Lauryn and Diana.  With two certified yoga instructors on board, our prices will be going up in the fall, so make sure you take advantage of our Summer Sale! 

Schedule a private or semi-private yoga session with Lauryn or Diana for the very low price of $35 (can be shared with friends).  The offer is good from June 21-June 27, but you can schedule the session at this low price for a time any time through July. 

Constructive Living sessions and private/semi-private dance lessons are available at the same low price if you schedule them this week.  Resume sessions are reduced to $20/hour if scheduled this week.

Happy Father's Day from Asala Center

Father's Day Constructive Living Activities:
1) Write down ten things today to thank your father/father figure for.  These things should be concrete, measurable, detailed things or actions, not vague or abstract.  For instance, you would say "Thank you for bringing me that bowl of Frosted Flakes on the morning of my 16th birthday" not "Thank you for giving me food when I was growing up."

2) After writing down your ten items, follow up with some kind of action.  Perhaps it is writing your father a letter he may or may not receive.  Perhaps you might tell your child a story about something kind your father did.  Your ten items will let you know what needs to be done.

3) Feelings are for feeling---nothing more, nothing less.  Is there something you need to do for your father/father figure that you have avoided doing because you didn't "feel like it?


These activities address both Naikan and Morita sides of Constructive Living.  In Naikan, we take a realistic look at what we have received, rather than focusing on what has caused us trouble.  Through Morita principles, we focus on ACTION rather than FEELINGS.  What have you done today?  Your feelings do not control your actions, as much as we might like to think that they can.

Thoughts or responses?  Write us at Constructive.LivingTN@gmail.com

post-Memorial Day Post

This Memorial Day, Lauryn traveled to Fort Lauderdale for a four day bellydance convention and was blessed to learn from some masters in the art form:  John Compton, Artemis Mourat, Dalia Carella, Ariellah, Anasma, Unmata, Yasmeena Mimi, Tjarda (the Netherlands), Nanda Najla (Brazil), Yuki and Masami (Japan), Kilma Farias (Brazil), Arish Lam (Puerto Rico), Aepril Schaile, and Aradia. 

Lauryn had great plans for writing a Memorial Day blog post honoring the veterans and military of our country, but due to several mishaps in her travels, she returned home later than anticipated and jumped right in to a three day intensive on Modern Dance with Margi Cole of the Dance COLEctive (Chicago).

A week late, here are some Memorial Day reflections with an extra twist.

Do you know a someone in the military or a veteran?  If so, consider doing Naikan on this person:
What has this person given me or my country?
What have I given this person?
What harm could I have caused this person?

Recently, the Asala Center lost a friend---a highly decorated veteran, Larry Wood.  Larry served multiple tours in Iraq and saved the lives of many colleagues, earning him great military honors.  In honor of Larry's life, please take a moment to think not only of those who are abroad serving their country but also those who have returned and are dealing with the aftermath of combat.  Is there anything you can do today to honor those people?  While this blog is late, we should continue to recognize the service of our military beyond the days that we relax in honor of them.

Memorial Day often also brings us the mixed blessing of travel.  After I found myself through plane delays, plane malfunctions, standby seating, and late-night travel, I tried to calm my nerves with Travel Naikan.  I searched to see what the flight attendants were doing for me, even if I was cranky or inconvenienced.  As I started to do these exercises, I found myself incredibly grateful that I was able to put the money down to fly instead of drive, grateful that they had taken the time to check for safety in the plane so we didn't wreck, and grateful that many of the airline workers still managed to be polite amidst some very cranky passengers. 

At the end of the day, I got where I needed to get safely, and that was the most important thing. 

from Another Way news

  "Constructive Living: Training for Daily Life" is a workshop to be held: May 14 (6:30-8:30) & May 15 (1:30-5:30) at Yoga East in East Brainerd. 

Asala Center will guide participants through tools based on Morita and Naikan therapies, geared towards living life in a more present, realistic, and appreciative manner.

To register, please email Constructive.LivingTN@gmail.com

or call Lauryn at (423)653-4478.

More information is available at www.asalacenter.com
Asala Center also offered Mother's Day Naikan activities at their blog, www.asalacenter.blogspot.com and plans to post more activities for Father's Day, so stay tuned.

This month, Asala Center continued to offer Chair Yoga to the Hamilton County Health Department and staff yoga to Signal Centers, Inc. Diana is in the process of completing her yoga teacher certification through the Asheville Yoga Center, and she was able to substitute teach for Lauryn, which was a great gift!

We would also like to thank Yoga East for including our information at their table at the Chattanooga State Health Fair.

Lauryn has been busy offering dance workshops through Zanzibar Studio, which can be found at www.zanzibarstudio.com

Mother's Day Naikan Activities

Naikan is a reflective practice which involves considering a more whole picture of the stories we tell ourselves about our lives.

Sometimes our relationships with our loved ones are complex or even tragic.  Naikan practice is not meant to deny that these are parts of reality.  However, through Naikan, one begins to notice how they have been supported in the world at different times in their lives.  Naikan is not necessarily meant to inspire guilt or gratitude but to cultivate awareness of actions and things we may have missed in the past.

In honor of Mother's Day, try these Naikan activities:

1) Calculate the money spent on you by your mother from age 0 to 21.  Try to be as specific as possible with your estimations.  Instead of calculating a broad cost for the food she bought for you, recall exact meals cooked and bought, to the best possible cent calculation.

2) Pick a birthday from your life and answer the following Naikan questions about that day, using very specific, concrete answers (instead of "laughter" try "My mother baked me a Betty Crocker cake and decorated it with soccer players"):
            What did I receive from my mother?
            What did my mother receive from me?
            What harm did I cause my mother?

3) Pick one of your mother's birthdays and answer the same three questions.

A portion of Naikan reflection involves "reporting out," and you may report your findings by writing constructive.livingtn@gmail.com if you choose to.

Mother's Day and CL Workshop coming up

STAY TUNED...
Mother's Day Naikan Exercises will be posted next week!

Also, don't forget about Early Bird Registration for our Constructive Living Workshop: Training for Ordinary Life, to be held at Yoga East (www.yoga-east.net) on May 14-15.

From the Another Way Newsletter

Constructive Living

In March, the Asala Center participated in the career fair for the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences and talked to young men and women about Constructive Living instruction as well as dance, yoga, and resumes!

In April, Asala Center will be represented at the Cleveland State Community College as a part of the International Festival since Asala's business reflects more than one country's influence (Japanese therapies, Indian yoga, and Middle Eastern dance). Asala Center has also been invited to teach Chair Yoga classes at the Hamilton County Health Department starting in April.

Asala Center will be offering a May weekend workshop at Chattanooga's newest yoga studio, Yoga East (www.yoga-east.net). Yoga East opened on March 1 in East Brainerd. Lauryn from the Asala Center has been teaching morning yoga classes and a Monday evening Power Yoga class. The Constructive Living workshop will be held at Yoga East on May 14 (6:30-8:30pm) and May 15 (1:30-5:30pm).

Workshop Description:
Constructive Living: Training for Daily Life
Yoga East instructor Lauryn and her mother Diana will offer a workshop from their business the Asala Center. The topic will be Constructive Living, a blend of Japanese psychotherapies created for the Western mind. Constructive Living is a practical method for learning to approach life "realistically and mindfully."

The Asala Center offers individual and group Constructive Living instruction, which is a simple educational model designed to help people address any changes they would like to make in their lives.

In this workshop, the basic principles of Constructive Living will be introduced and experienced. The workshop will begin on Friday evening by introducing some basic ideas of "CL," and participants will be expected to complete some brief and simple daily life assignments before reconvening on Saturday afternoon. Saturday's session will include discussion of the assignments and further exploration of the "CL" principles through exercises, lecture, and discussion.

The point of Constructive Living is to bring it in to one's daily life with simple, do-able behaviors, so we encourage and expect participants to behave as they normally would on any weekend while practicing aspects of Morita therapy and Naikan reflection. Items you may want to bring: something comfortable to sit on, paper, and a writing utensil. Light refreshments will be available.

Registration and questions can be addressed by emailing lauryn.peterson@gmail.com or calling 423-653-4478.

For more information on the Asala Center, please visit www.asalacenter.com.

ANNOUNCING: Constructive Livin Workshop at Yoga East

May 14 (6:30-8:30pm) and May 15 (1:30pm-5:30pm)
Yoga East, Chattanooga, TN
Constructive Living:  Training for Daily Life
Yoga East instructor Lauryn and her mother Diana will offer a workshop from their business the Asala Center.  The topic will be Constructive Living, a blend of Japanese psychotherapies created for the Western mind.  Constructive Living is a practical method for learning to approach life "realistically and mindfully."  The Asala Center offers individual and group Constructive Living instruction, which is a simple educational model designed to help people address any changes they would like to make in their lives.  In this workshop, the basic principles of Constructive Living will be introduced and experienced.  The workshop will begin on Friday evening by introducing some basic ideas of "CL," and participants will be expected to complete some brief and simple daily life assignments before reconvening on Saturday afternoon.  Saturday's session will include discussion of the assignments and further exploration of the "CL" principles through exercises, lecture, and discussion.  The point of Constructive Living is to bring it in to one's daily life with simple, do-able behaviors, so we encourage and expect participants to behave as they normally would on any weekend while practicing aspects of Morita therapy and Naikan reflection.  Items you may want to bring: something comfortable to sit on, paper, and a writing utensil.  Light refreshments will be available. 

Registration and questions can be addressed by emailing lauryn.peterson@gmail.com or calling 423-653-4478. 
For more information on the Asala Center, please visit www.asalacenter.com. 

SPRING SALE!

The above picture shows a rice field made into art in Japan...The Great Wave in rice!

Next week, March 8-13, the Asala Center is offering reduced prices on our services.  You can receive this discount for appointments occurring during the week OR appointments made next week to occur at a later date.

We are also giving away a prize to the first Chattanoogan to spot our new ad on www.newschannel9.com...write us if you think you see it!

*Constructive Living sessions: Spring Sale Price: $35/hr
Constructive Living instruction is a system which equips the student to view the world more realistically and practically.  Individual and group sessions available in person, by phone, or by email.  For more information, please see www.asalacenter.com

*Private yoga lessons----  Spring Sale Price: $35/hr
For information on regular classes instead of private instruction, Lauryn currently teaches classes at Clearspring Yoga and Yoga East

*Private tribal fusion dance lessons for women---- Spring Sale Price:  $35/hr
For information on regular classes instead of private instruction, please see www.zanzibarstudio.com, where Lauryn teaches classes 

*Resume writing assistance and job search tips--- Spring Sale Price:  $20/hr

For more information, please write Constructive.LivingTN@gmail.com, call 423-653-4478, or look at www.asalacenter.com
Thank you,
Lauryn and the Asala Center

Article from Another Way Newsletter in January

Constructive Living

Constructive Living is a wonderful tool to get one's new year jump started. Through an individual or group session of Constructive Living instruction, one can access practical, simple tools to use in daily life to meet new goals, stop unwanted habits, pay attention to the world around you, and appreciate the gifts one is being given throughout the day.

Constructive Living instruction generally requires a one-hour meeting in person, a phone appointment, or an email appointment. Our current trial rate is $40/hour.

Appointments can be made on a regular basis, but one can access tools for daily living within just one or two appointments.

Constructive Living instruction is an educational model with therapeutic benefits. Students receive homework for daily living, and the real learning takes place outside of the office.

If this approach sounds like it would benefit you, please call to set up an appointment at (423)653-4478

or write us at Constructive.LivingTN@gmail.com.

We are also available for specialized groups by arrangement.

---

In the holiday season, The Asala Center was invited to speak to several organizations on Constructive Living:

• Thanksgiving weekend
  Diana and Lauryn gave the sermon at the Unitarian Universalist church, presenting "A Constructive Perspective on Giving Thanks." This was an opportunity to follow up from the presentation given in May at the same location to a different group (CHIONS).
• On December 30th
  Lauryn offered a donation-based yoga and dance workshop at Zanzibar Studio. In honor of New Year's Eve approaching, she incorporated Naikan reflection into yin yoga.
• On New Years Eve
  Asala Center participated in Clearspring Yoga's annual open house. Each year, Clearspring Yoga offers a free, reflective space for meditation, kirtan chanting, and walking a labyrinth. This year, Diana and Lauryn offered New Year's Naikan exercises as an optional reflection.

Asala Center is featured in Chattanooga's Pulse Magazine this month. Look for us in the Health and Wellness issue, printed on January 20th.

This holiday season, Lauryn's husband Jared gave the Asala Center a website! Jared bartered his electrical services (Bill Higgins Electric) to their friend Brett Nolan (www.awenmediadesign.com), who in turn designed a very nice (while incomplete) website at www.asalacenter.com.

Asala Center invites you to check out our blog www.asalacenter.blogspot.com

while the new website design is still under construction.

Asala Center will be announcing dates for upcoming workshops and events in the near future, so stay tuned online through our website, blog, Myspace, Facebook, or Twitter accounts!
If you would like to receive email updates, please email us at Constructive.LivingTN@gmail.com

Donating to Farmer's Aid

Asala Center is donating a gift certificate to Farmer's Aid, a benefit occurring on Feb. 5.   See info below.