Times have been very busy since summer 2008. In August 2008, I had the honor of co-leading a monthlong 200-Hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher Certification program with the brilliant Priti Robyn Ross (www.LifeAsYoga.com). The following November, I co-led a second monthlong Certification program with my long-time delightful colleague Megha Buttenheim of Let Your Yoga Dance (www.letyouryogadance.com). In both cases it was gratifying to see a diverse group of individuals grow, develop, and find their voices and confidence as Kripalu yoga teachers. Everyone ended the month with the confidence to bring the experience of yoga, so dear to their hearts, to their communities, their friends, and their families.

Currently I do not have a teacher training scheduled, but am working on some new program titles for aspiring and for experienced yoga teachers.

In between each monthlong 200-Hour Certification program, I held my first 2-day weekend Gentle Yoga program. I generally lean towards holding 3- and 5-day programs, however this 2-day program surprised me with its success and impact. The 2-day program offered individuals who would otherwise be unable to access Gentle Yoga a chance to get their feet wet. More experienced individuals mixed well with the group too. Both groups—beginners and more advanced—had just enough time to revitalize their practices during this two-day intensive. The program was such a success that I have scheduled a second two-day retreat for next October 30^th, Halloween weekend.

My wife Joyce and I traveled to Italy again for our second annual Gentle Yoga in Tuscany program, a yoga-vacation combination. We have hosted this program for two years and find that each group brings its own adventures and joys. This once-in-a-life-time sort of experience was had by our charmed and charming group of 12. You can call it a success when everyone is singing Beatles’ songs during the van-ride back to the villa at the end of yet another adventure. We explored an ancient hilltop and trunded through the rolling Tuscan scenery singing song after song. It is those moments we sustainably create again and again in our Gentle Yoga in Tuscany program. We’ve fallen in love with Italy and plan to explore it and create new day-trips each year. If you have suggestions or ideas for our Tuscany program, please email me.

In 2008 I produced two new Gentle Yoga CDs. One is a fourth in the Gentle Yoga Series and thus aptly titled Gentle IV. Gentle IV covers a sequence that has evolved over the last couple of years into the quintessential gentle yoga morning practice. I lead this sequence every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday morning at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

The second CD begins a new series titled Invigoration. This series will be in the gentle style of mindful, methodical yoga with options for all levels. The first of the Invigoration series is called Fanning The Fire for the abdominal pumping practice, Agni Sera Dhauti, which stimulates vitality in the digestive fire, tones the abdominal muscles and massages all the organs in the belly including the heart, lungs, kidneys. It also includes a standing sequence with the Eagle Arms routine that releases tensions from the shoulders, neck and upper back. The Invigoration series has led me in an exciting, new direction. It constitutes what I am calling Intermediate Gentle Yoga and helped bring forth the first Intermediate Gentle Yoga program “Fanning The Fire,” to be offered at Kripalu the weekend of April 10-12, 2009.

Two CDs in one year, a trip to Tuscany, and more marked 2008 as a successful year full of thriving. The year came to a close with our annual New Year’s Joy of Gentle program held at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts. It was a wonderful way to close the year.

In January 2009 I ventured down to the beach resort town of Lewes, Delaware, to offer my first program, Men’s Yoga, at Eddie and Wendy Harrolds’ Center for Whole Self Healing. They are developing a phenomenal program center offering weekend and weeklong programs with a fascinating list of teachers such as Larrisa Carlson, Ken Nelson, Terrel Broussard and Kim Larson. Lewes, Delaware is an easy drive from anywhere in the mid-Atlantic region and is nestled along the eastern seashore.

Our Men’s Yoga program was a success with men from all over the region. The magic of men coming together and dropping their protective armoring continues to inspire me. As such, we’ve scheduled a 3-day Men’s Yoga Immersion for the July 30th weekend to be held at the Whole Self Healing. To find out more information about this program, click here.

I should mention that this weekend I will be launching our first ever email newsletter. The aim of the Gentle Yogi newsletter will be to help keep you up to date on workshops and programs I will be leading in the upcoming months and will offer thoughts on topics relevant to Gentle Yoga Practice like Healthy Living principles, Yoga for Fitness, and the integrative relaxation practice of Yoga Nidra, to name a few, The newsletter will also offer a forum for us to interact more regularly in hopes that I can stay current with your interest and needs as a gentle yogi or yogini. It will be a great opportunity to be in conversation.

In the works are podcasts for my asana sequences which will allow for a video version downloadable to your laptop or iPod. I am hoping to make Gentle Yoga as accessible as possible at home or on the go. Right now our plan is to launch our podcast system this May 2009. Stay tuned for updates on this venture.

If you have any thoughts or questions, please post your comment. Although I am unable to respond to every comment posted, I do read and remember all the responses I receive.

Your great Gentle Series tapes have become very precious at the deepest level of my being. They are helping so greatly on restoring the comfort and vitality of my body – the body that has been pushed by dance since I was 3 years old – the body doing yoga for over 40 years and the body that has been teaching non-stop for over 35 years – the body that came to the conference over-tired, in pain and frustrated emotionally. Your sadhana class on Fri A.M. was a gift! However as the weekend progressed I was feeling my years with such a sense of loss for the joy of moving and stretching – I felt weak, tired, depressed, and old sitting in Meditation and doing Pranayama was equally discouraging.

At home on Monday morning I played your first tape and did my sadhana to your gentle and encouraging voice. It was magical. To date I worked to all 3 tapes ( 1 each A.M.) and I cant tell you how much I appreciate your special gifts of leading and teaching. My body feels renewed and pain-free and my energy has returned to where it has always been. Truly, less is more. I was forced by weakness and inertia to stop and by turning to your tapes I am regaining my body and my spirit.

The honesty and integrity of the practice you inspire is magnificent, and I pray you will continue for many more years.

Renuka Paula Heitzner