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!
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