Check out these wonderful photos taken by Ashley Mead at Sangha Yoga Shala's new studio space! 

I recently got featured on Sangha Yoga Shala's Teacher Spotlight! I'm pretty excited about it, taking another step forward as a yogi and yoga teacher. I've attached the short Q&A below, check out the original article there: Sangha Yoga Shala
MEET HARPER
Harper is a one of a kind lovely soul! She brings a warm energy to all of her classes at Sangha be it sweaty vinyasa or pre/post natal .
What is your favorite style of yoga to teach and practice? 
My education and teaching background is in Vinyasa Yoga.  While I do enjoy taking Vinyasa classes, I love any class with a good flow.  For me a good flow starts with a suitable warm-up, moving on to more strenuous poses, then good lengthy amount of stretching, and finally cooling down before Savasana.  I believe an adequate amount of time in Savasana is so important, it allows us to integrate all of the movement and connect with our body, mind, spirit, and brain.  When I plan my classes, I focus on the flow and arch of the class to give the students the most well rounded experience.  I also believe bringing in different aspects of yoga such as meditation and pranayama (breathwork) is so significant to the experience and students’ yoga education.
What do you love about teaching at Sangha Yoga Shala?
I love teaching at Sangha Yoga Shala because of the community feel to the studio.  Sangha Yoga Shala is not a studio where people come in, take classes, and not interact with each other.  I enjoy talking and connecting with students about what is going on in their lives, it allows me to provide a better service and understanding.  I love seeing students build friendships through their interactions in the studio.  I feel accomplished as a teacher when I see students week after week build progress in yoga class and in different aspects of their lives.
What are your favorite ways to nourish your Mind and Body?
Apart from a daily practice, one of the ways for me to nourish my Mind and Body is through really listening to what my body needs.  Your body is giving you clues as to what your mind and body needs to be at the most optimized operating state.  If your body is telling you to slow down, it’s not helpful to force external influences just to keep going.  Long term damage can accumulate  through continuous ignorance and abuse.  To keep our bodies healthy and provide longevity, we must be aware of what our mind and body is reflecting.  Another thing I do to nourish my Mind and Body is through small practices.  I do this while walking to the train or making breakfast in the morning, really anytime.  Small practices can be saying or writing down ten things of gratitude, text/email/call a friend you haven’t talk with in a while, letting a loved one know how much you love and appreciate them, etc.  These practices are what keeps me grounded and humble as I go through my every day life.
If anyone visited NYC, where would you take them?
When anyone visits NYC I take them to all of the great places for food, especially Chinese food.  As a first generation immigrant from Taiwan, I’ve always searched for good solid Chinese or Taiwanese food anywhere I’ve ever lived.  So far I’ve been really pleased with the selection in New York.  Dim Sum is always my favorite go to selection to bring people to, it’s a traditional pastime and everyone is able to try everything.  And of course, I always encourage them to take a class I’m teaching or any class at my studio.
Green Juice or Green Smoothie?   Coffee or Tea ?
I prefer green juice to green smoothie, however, I only have a blender at the moment.  Keeping my fingers crossed for a juicer on Christmas!  I love drinking tea, especially Earl Gray.  There are so many health benefits to drinking tea, however, somedays there is just nothing better than a good ol’ cup of joe in the morning.

Hello lovely people of New York!  I'm now offering sliding scale private yoga sessions for the upcoming New Year.  I would like to offer my services specifically for pregnancy and postpartum support.  We will schedule an initial session for me to get to know you and your needs, this will also give you a sample of the various techniques and practices we do during a session.  Each session includes pranayama (breath work), meditation, asana (movement), relaxation (such as Thai Yoga, Yoga Nidra etc.) and various other Integrated Movement Therapy specific practices.  The initial session is 75 minutes, each subsequent sessions are 60 minutes.  Contact for sliding scale fees, please include two dates and times that works for your schedule.  Email: [email protected]

PRIVATE YOGA SESSIONS FOR PREGNANCY

• Prepares the body for the physical labor through movement.  Build muscle strength while stretching out the discomforts of pregnancy. Improve blood circulation for mom and baby to increase overall health.  
• Prenatal yoga is like preparing for a marathon, practice breathing techniques helpful during labor to support the natural birthing process.  
• Emotional support for the ups and downs of pregnancy.  Yoga is all about uncovering the inner-self, applying various techniques such as meditation and self-efficacy activities to discover personal strength and emotional stability.
• Information sharing - Helpful information about different birthing options, healthy recipes, holistic health and care, etc.

PRIVATE YOGA SESSIONS FOR POSTPARTUM HEALTH

• Regain physical strength and restore the body, mind, and spirit post labor.  Custom designed to help women postpartum, focusing on the areas needed depending on the birth process.  
• Emotional support for mothers of all backgrounds and experience.  Evaluate emotional and mental needs for mothers through meditation, self-exploration activities, and movement.  Learn ways to implement techniques for emotional and mental wellness when various situations arise.  Movement and various yoga techniques applied are intended to support and create a safe environment for mothers suffering from postpartum challenges to improve emotional and mental stability.  
• Implementing relaxation techniques such as passive movement, restorative yoga, assisted Thai yoga, yoga nidra, etc.  This is especially important for mothers to take time for herself as part of self-care and personal wellness.
•  Mom and baby bonding with through breath work, movement/yoga asana, etc.  Activities can create sense of comfort and social development skills for the baby while mothers engage with their babies actively.  This option is offered for mothers that would like to incorporate their babies in with their sessions, not necessary for every mother or every session.

The Samarya Center in Seattle, Washington is a 501(c)3 community supported non-profit studio!  I've been training with Molly Lannon Kenny and the Samarya Center for the past year and half to receive my certification for Integrated Movement Therapy.   I can say from the bottom of my heart that this training and therapy modality has changed my life and my perspective.  It has improved my personal well being and in turn impacting the people around me.  Utilizing the philosophies of IMT, I am constantly practicing self-awareness and compassion.  The Samarya Center as a physical space has become a valuable place for people of all diverse backgrounds to practice in a safe environment.  A place where they feel competent, comfortable, and valued. Molly Lannon Kenny, my teacher, along with the rest of the staff are transparent in their love and passion for their students and students' well being.  The Samarya Center has become a community I can rely on and find support everywhere I've lived and will live.  As the Samarya Community grows in NYC, I hope to see the founding Samarya Center in Seattle survive, grow, and prosper.  

I just returned from Washington state after spending a week finishing my IMT Advanced training with Molly Lannon Kenny.  I am one step closer to finishing my IMT program to become a certified Integrated Movement Therapist and accredited Yoga Therapist! I'm very excited about this venture.  While I was away, I received several very exciting news in regarding to my yoga and yoga therapy world.  

FIRST: I start teaching Baby and Me Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, and Yoga Playgroup at The Cobra Club in Bushwick starting next week (Wednesdays)! Check out my DROP-IN GROUP CLASSES CALENDAR.

SECOND: A couple of my mentors and IMT therapists are holding a Basics training for IMT, I'd like to share this info with you in case you are interested in furthering your yoga education and/or want to know what IMT is and what that means in the yoga therapy world.  Some info on the teachers for this workshop: Jaime is a clinical social worker, she received her Masters from Columbia University in social work and applies her IMT training through her work with sex traffic victims in NYC.  Bess is a yoga therapist at a NYC hospital advocating for patients while working adjunctly with PTs, OTs, and SLPs, she is also a birth doula.  
Integrated Movement Therapy® is the holistic therapy approach developed at The Samarya Center by Master’s degreed therapists who are also certified yoga teachers. It is an approach for people of all ages, from infancy to adulthood, using yoga’s philosophical, physical and spiritual framework in conjunction with conventional neurophysiological perspectives to address the unique challenges of people with special needs.  - Samarya Center, Seattle, WA (samaryacenter.org)
IMT BASICS!  Saturday, December 13, 2014!  10am-5pm
Location: 141 west 28th street, suite 300 buzzer 33 between 6/7 Ave. NY, NY 10001
Cost: $125 ($90 early registration if paid before November 22, 2014)
For More Information and to Register, please email us. (samaryanyc.gmail.com)
This seven-hour course introduces participants to the foundations of IMT, including:

• An overview of the evolution of IMT, including its roots in both yoga and traditional clinical fields
• The underlying philosophies of IMT, a holistic therapy approach that uses the physical, philosophical, and spiritual framework of yoga, along with conventional neurophysiological perspectives, to address a wide variety of challenges- from depression to Autism Spectrum Disorders. 
• The ingredients for an optimal learning environment
  
• A basic understanding of how neural pathways are built 
• The six core principles of IMT and how these provide a framework for working with anyone

IMT Basics is the foundation to learning about Integrated Movement Therapy®. It is appropriate for anyone who wants to learn about how to use yoga for healing, including therapists of all kinds, teachers, parents, and yoga teachers. IMT Basics is a pre-requisite for all IMT Level 1 Trainings.  You can click here to learn more about the Samarya Center and IMT trainings. 

THIRD: The Samarya Center in Seattle, WA, the mothership of Integrated Movement Therapy and trainings is having a fundraiser!  The Samarya Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit studio dedicated to help and support the ongoing education in holistic health and yoga philosophy.  The Samarya Center is so incredibly important to yoga and yoga therapy education through their work of meeting students where they are financially and challenged.  They are setting high standards for education in therapy training program and yoga teacher training for organizations such as International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) and Yoga Alliance. 
Since we've opened our new space on May 5th, 2014, The Samarya Center for Humankind (ness) has provided four clients with free ongoing therapy, seven clients with ongoing therapy at one quarter market rate, four Yoga Teacher Training scholarships, eight free community events, two new totally free volunteer based classes in the community for people who would not otherwise have access to yoga, free weekly yoga in the park all summer long with one free pass to our center for every student who attended, five monthly newsletters, six free satsangs,  two free 12 Step Yoga meetings, hundreds of classes and dozens of workshops for those walking through our doors (we never turn anyone away for lack of funds) and countless hours of community based service in the name of lovingkindness.  And in Molly's spare time, she has started the podcast series again, a bi-monthly conversation about yoga and everyday life where Molly shares her encyclopedic knowledge of all things yoga, spiritual and therapeutic with listeners all over the world. Absolutely free.  - Samarya Center, Seattle, WA (samaryacenter.org)

A couple of weeks ago I started teaching at Hosh Yoga, a non-profit yoga studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  The environment of the studio had a sense of warmth that reminded me of Lotus Seed, the yoga studio in Portland where I received my 200 hour Teacher Training Certification.  As you enter the studio, you first encounter an open practice room where the sound of your voice echoes through the room.  Moving on the the reception and equipment storage area, you see evidence of care and contributions to the space from various teachers, students, and members.  You can experience the genuine sincerity and arrangement that only comes from a non-profit studio.  As I experience the space and variety of classes offered by my colleagues, I know the true value comes from the inner passion and strength of the teachers.  While blocks, bolsters, and blankets are available, classes are minimalistic, therefore requires focus and attention from the students.  The schedule is filled with classes of different levels and styles based on the teacher's discipline and personality, all classes are donations based ($10 suggested).  All teachers are on a volunteer status and does not gain financially from the classes, all class donations are contributed to the studio for outreach programs and studio maintenance.  I am able to offer a Vinyasa style Flow 1 class on Tuesdays at NOON.

Hosh Yoga is also affiliated with Hosh Kids, an organization that provides school-day and after-school programs while maintaining a studio presence that offers drop in yoga classes for kids.  For more information to bring Hosh Kids to your school or bring your kids to yoga, check out their website:  

Hosh Kids was inspired by the Hosh Yoga Youth Project started by Becca Broughton at PS 196 in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Today Hosh Kids offers school-day and after school programs in:
Over 20 programs across NYC
Over 400 classes per month
Over 1000 children per week
Classes in yoga, dance, music, and more.
Yoga works for children!

• Develops physical awareness, strength and flexibility through the practice of dynamic sequences
• Mental concentration through quick-paced counting exercises and attention to details of postures
• Verbal/listening acuity through learning Sanskrit that has contains unusual sounds to Western ears
• Ability to translate abstract experience to concrete paper; each class, students recap their experience by drawing and labeling stick figures doing the sequences
• Respect and awareness for themselves and their peers through exercises that challenge them to work well together

I attended a charity fundraiser event last night via an invitation of a friend who works for the organization, First Candle.  I was nervous and excited about the event since it was my first "New York City Gala", what I experience at the event was absolutely amazing and healing.  Hearing stories from parents who have lost their child to SIDS/SUID or experienced stillbirth was heartbreaking.  It was extremely moving to seeing an organization work so hard with hospitals, researchers, independent companies, and other supporting organizations to spread awareness and education to people about prevention and child safety.  On top of it all, I was able to talk with a grief counselor that has been with the organization for 13 years about her own experience with SIDS.  The support provided by First Candle for grief counseling is available nationwide through a 24/7 hotline for parents.  Below is information about First Candle and fact sheets about SIDS/SUID and Stillbirths (information provided via First Candle).  

ABOUT FIRST CANDLE
First Candle is a leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to safe pregnancies and the survival of babies through the first years of life. Current priorities are to eliminate Stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID) with programs of research, education and advocacy. [First Candle] also provide compassionate grief support to all those affected by the death of a baby through a dedicated crisis hotline at 800.221.7437.

ABOUT THE GALA
Can you imagine a world where a new mom or dad doesn’t have to fear the unexpected death of their little one? Can you imagine a world where every parent and caregiver knows the best practices that doctors and researchers recommend for pregnant moms and babies under 1 year? At First Candle, that is the world we strive for.
From military bases to inner-city daycares, First Candle creates campaigns that target groups with the greatest SIDS and stillbirth risk factors. These campaigns rely on our corporate partners and together we keep one central goal in mind: educating families with the latest research for safe pregnancies and healthy babies.
We are profoundly appreciative of all of our corporate partners and loyal donors who are passionate about making sure that every baby can celebrate his or her first birthday.

FIRST CANDLE SIDS/SUID FACT SHEET:

• SIDS is the sudden, unexpected death of an apparently healthy baby under one year of age that remains unexplained after the performance of a complete postmortem investigation, including an autopsy, examination of the scene of death and review of the medical history.
• As a result of the national Back to Sleep campaign launched in 1994 as a joint effort between First Candle, the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, SIDS rates have declined by more than 50 percent.
• Despite this success, SIDS is still the leading cause of death for babies one month to one year of age, claiming more than 2,200 lives each year.
• While SIDS occurs in all socio-economic, racial and ethnic groups, African American and Native American babies are 2-3 times more likely to die of SIDS than Caucasian babies.
• Most SIDS deaths occur when a baby is between 2 and 4 months old; 90 percent of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
• Most babies that die of SIDS appear to be healthy prior to death.
• 60 percent of SIDS victims are male; 40 percent are female.
• Despite awareness campaigns promoting the back sleep position and other safe sleep practices, there continues to be more than 4,500 SUID every year. Experts feel that as many as 80 – 90 percent of these deaths are the result of unsafe sleep practices such as bed sharing, use of soft bedding and stomach sleep position.
• Other causes of SUID include: inherited metabolic disorders, genetic cardiac disorders, infection, and intentional suffocation.

At this time there is no known way to prevent all sudden infant deaths, but there are lifesaving steps parents and caregivers can take to help protect their baby from SIDS and SUID, including suffocation and other sleep-related deaths.

• Babies should always be placed to sleep on their backs. Side and tummy sleep positions are not safe.
• Do not fall asleep with a baby in an adult bed or on a sofa. Bring them in bed to breastfeed and bond, but when it’s time to fall asleep, place them alongside your bed in a separate, safe sleep space.
• Do not smoke while you are pregnant and do not expose babies to second-hand smoke after they are born. New research also warns of the dangers of third-hand smoke, the chemicals left behind on clothing, in homes and in cars.
• For sleep, use a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress that fits snugly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet. Portable cribs and play yard style cribs are also a good choice. Place your baby’s separate, safe sleep space alongside where you sleep for at least the first six months.
• Do not place babies to sleep on soft surfaces such as adult beds, waterbeds, sofas, chairs, quilts, and sheepskins.
• Do not use loose blankets in a baby’s crib.  Layer clothing or use a wearable blanket or other sleeper clothing to keep baby warm AND safe during sleep.
• Remove all soft bedding and other soft items from the sleep area, including pillows, blankets, quilts, bumper pads and stuffed animals and toys, before placing the baby to sleep.
• Take care not to overheat babies with too much clothing or too warm of room. Keep temperature at what would be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
• Use a pacifier at naptime and nighttime for the first year.
• Educate everyone you know who cares for babies about these important safety tips!

FIRST CANDLE STILLBIRTH FACT SHEET:
Stillbirth is the death of an unborn baby that has been in the mother’s womb for more than 20 weeks. More than 25,000 babies are stillborn in the United States each year.

• Almost 50 percent of these deaths occur at or near full term and often seem to be otherwise healthy babies. The majority of stillbirths (85%) occur before delivery with 15% occurring during labor and delivery.
• It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of all stillbirth deaths remain unexplained. Researchers feel that this is more likely due to a failure to investigate the deaths, rather than a medical mystery.
• Stillbirth deaths cut across all socio-economic classes, races, religions and maternal age groups. No woman is immune.
• Some of the more common diagnosable causes for stillbirth are: placental abruption and other placental problems, cord accidents, birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities, uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia and infections.
• The risk factors for stillbirth include: advanced maternal age, prior stillbirth, obesity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and previous fetal or neonatal death.
• After a stillbirth, few hospitals offer an autopsy, placental exam or clinical testing to the parents to determine the cause of death. Ensuring that these procedures are performed on every stillborn baby is critical if we are to develop preventive strategies for future babies.
• Mothers who suffer a stillbirth do not receive recognition in 25 out of 50 states. There is no certificate of birth – making these births “invisible.”

While studies into potential prevention strategies for stillbirth are ongoing, following are some helpful strategies for pregnant women to follow to help reduce the risk of stillbirth:

• Perform a kick count every day beginning with week 28, earlier for high-risk pregnancies. To learn how, visit www.firstcandle.org/kickscount.
• Do not smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs (unless prescribed by your doctor.)
• Report any vaginal bleeding, leakage or sharp pain.
• If you are post-term, discuss options with your doctor. Pregnancies longer than 42 weeks may be at increased risk for stillbirth.
• Do not hesitate to request a second or third opinion anytime during your pregnancy if needed to put your mind at ease.

This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace your doctor’s advice.