30 Day Yoga Challenge Kicks-Off February 1st

erinbakersmith — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:47:33 +0000

Creating a habit can be challenging and showing up on your mat everyday ready to practice is a big commitment of time and energy. Join us at The Yoga Mat for the first annual 30-day Yoga Challenge February 1st – March 1st. Create a solid daily practice with your Yoga Mat …peers, encouraging each other to show up to class each day creating space for your new and amazing habit!

// DETAILS //
The 30 day challenge begins February 1st and ends March 1st.

You can take any class on the schedule as long as we see you in the studio that day it counts. Check out the schedule here.

Please let us know you’re in the challenge by emailing ontheyogamat@gmail.com.

To keep the “habit” going:
Auto-Renew Monthly Membership= $80

or pay for the 30 Day Challenge for 1 Month = $95

Everyone enrolled in the challenge is entered to win 1 free month of yoga after completing the 30 days. Winner will be announced March 1st.

Daily encouragement emails will be sent to you – please let us know if you would prefer to not be on the email list.

We’ll be crossing days off on a calendar at the studio followed by a group happy hour outing on March 1st to celebrate your accomplishments! Hope you can make it!

January Student of the Month: Sami Jo Lien

erinbakersmith — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:52:21 +0000

Please help me congratulate our first 2012 Student of the Month, Sami Jo Lien! I chose Sami because she is unbelievably dedicated to her practice, so much so that when she recently had to travel she emailed asking for yoga sequences she could work on while away. Not only is she dedicated but she’s encouraging and supportive to other students around her. Her bubbly and great sense of humor on and off the mat make her a pleasure to see every time she walks in the studio. Make sure to say “hi” and “congrats” next time you see her. She’s typically upfront, smiling and working on her killer headstand.

- Erin (Teacher @ The Yoga Mat)

” I used to practice yoga 2-4 times a week in college, and somehow lost touch over the years. I reconnected in 2011 around September and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m a serious long-distance walker and usually cover 6-9 miles five or six days a week, which means I often have a sore lower back and hips. Adding in yoga 3-4 times per week has eased muscle tension immensely by stretching and strengthening my core, legs and back. Additionally, my family has always joked that we all have weeny arms, and now I am doing poses I would have never thought possible. Yoga makes me feel like superwoman.

Along with physical benefits, comes what is most important to me – inner balance. The last six months has been really stressful and getting into the studio has made me so much stronger – outside and in. Regular practice has helped me avoid a lot of emotional ups and downs so I can stay happy, healthy and focused on the big picture. I’ve always thought if you don’t take care of yourself first, you can’t pay it forward to anyone else in your life. Erin and the community at ‘The Mat’ really support and encourage this – and for something that offers such a serious benefit – I always have a blast in class (I’m probably the girl you hear laughing way too loudly up front).”

- Sami Jo Lien

Want to become our next student of the month?

To be in the running we have to see you in class 10+ times the month before. You receive your photo and yoga quote on our blog and Facebook pages, $5 off the next yoga package of your choice and your yoga practice will improve by showing up on your mat so many times!

New Year’s Day Detox and Restorative Flow Workshop Benefiting the Dumb Friends League

erinbakersmith — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:56:32 +0000

New Year’s Day – Sunday, January 1st

1 – 2:30pm @ The Yoga Mat (3060 Larimer St.)

Suggested donation $15 (all profits go to the Dumb Friends League)
Learn more about the Dumb Friends League by clicking here

Join Andrea Frazer on New Year’s Day for a 90-minute Detox & Restorative Flow Workshop benefiting the Dumb Friends League.

Pay what you can and help provide humane care to lost and abandoned animals in our area.

2011 Holiday Schedule

erinbakersmith — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:37:14 +0000

// Thursday, December 22nd //
4 – 5pm with Erin Martinez
5:30 – 6:30pm with Sarah Weight
7 – 8pm with Caity Ryan Barton

// Friday, December 23rd //
STUDIO CLOSED

// Saturday, December 24th (Christmas Eve) //
STUDIO CLOSED

// Sunday, December 25th (Christmas Day) //
STUDIO CLOSED

// Monday, December 26th //
7 – 8pm with Kristen Goettsch

// Tuesday, December 27th //
4 – 5pm with Becca Riopelle
5:30 – 6:30pm with Becca Riopelle
7 – 8pm with Blythe Thomas

// Wednesday, December 28th //
7 – 8pm with Erin Martinez
12 – 1pm with Kristen Goettsch
5:30 – 6:30pm with Caity Ryan Barton
7 – 8pm with Kristen Goettsch

// Thursday, December 29th //
4 – 5pm with Becca Riopelle
5:30 – 6:30pm with Sarah Weight
7 – 8pm with Blythe Thomas

// Friday, December 30th //
7 – 8am with Erin Bakersmith
12 – 1pm with Erin Bakersmith
5:30 – 6:30pm with Erin Bakersmith

// Saturday, December 31st (New Year’s Eve) //
STUDIO CLOSED

// Sunday, January 1st (New Year’s Day) //
STUDIO CLOSED

// Monday, January 2nd //
REGULAR SCHEDULE CONTINUES

To register for classes, please click here

December Student of the Month: Doug MacLean

erinbakersmith — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:41:52 +0000

Congratulations Doug MacLean on making December’s Student of the Month. I chose Doug because of his infectious positive attitude and his attention to detail. After coming very regularly for 2 months Doug recently began private lessons to focus on very detailed alignment. His practice continues to grow and The Yoga Mat looks forward to seeing his progress.

” I’ve been bragging about this yoga student of the month thing to my friends for the past two weeks. I feel like such a dork but it’s a big deal to be noticed in this way. I’ve only been practicing yoga for two months and I have gone from a total foreigner to making the statement that I was born to do yoga. Yoga is a perfect balance of exercise and relaxation. I play a lot of volleyball and yoga has improved my game in several ways, I feel faster, jump higher, and get injured less. Overall I am more relaxed and I feel yoga is fuel for a positive attitude. Erin has told me that I am one of the most positive people because I always say how awesome my day is when I come into class. I think I just feel energized when I get in that studio. Did I mention I lost 30lbs in two months while doing yoga so of course that’s another plus. If you want to be student of the month too, good luck, because I plan on doing this every month!!! Woot!”

- Doug MacLean

Want to become our next student of the month?

Thanksgiving Schedule

erinbakersmith — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:27:26 +0000

All regular classes are on except the studio will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 24th) and no early morning 7am class on Friday Nov. 25th. Gobble gobble and sign up for classes here!

Monthly Members // $20 Off Massage from Elixir Mind Body Massage

erinbakersmith — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:36:09 +0000

Hey there Yoga Mat People! Need another reason to become a Monthly Member with us?!

Now when you sign up for the Auto-Renew Monthly Membership ($80) at The Yoga Mat you receive $20 off a 60-minute massage from Elixir Mind Body Massage (1518 Wazee St.) Between all the yoga and massage, you’ll be feeling great in no time! See you on the mat!

A Manifesto

erinbakersmith — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:35:04 +0000

Years ago I got a degree in Graphic Design and now I own a yoga studio. Random, yes, but I’m finally realizing the parallels of my old days behind a computer designing and my yoga practice. Check out this design manifesto I found and see if you can find some inspiration for your mat.

My favorites:

Forget about good.
Good is a known quantity. Good is what we all agree on. Growth is not necessarily good. Growth is an exploration of unlit recesses that may or may not yield to our research. As long as you stick to good you’ll never have real growth.

Process is more important than outcome.
When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we’ve already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we’re going, but we will know we want to be there.

Go deep.
The deeper you go the more likely you will discover something of value.

Drift.
Allow yourself to wander aimlessly. Explore adjacencies. Lack judgment. Postpone criticism.

Repeat.
Repeat yourself.  If you like it, do it again. If you don’t like it, do it again.

Keep moving.
The market and its operations have a tendency to reinforce success. Resist it. Allow failure and migration to be part of your practice.

Slow down. Desynchronize from standard time frames and surprising opportunities may present themselves.

Don’t be cool.   Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Free yourself from limits of this sort.

Ask stupid questions.   Growth is fueled by desire and innocence. Assess the answer, not the question. Imagine learning throughout your life at the rate of an infant.

November Student of the Month: Courtney Brass

erinbakersmith — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:34:52 +0000

“Yoga has brought balance and relaxation into my hectic lifestyle and I’m so excited to be the student of the month! I began my practice six years ago as a way to stay active and instantly fell in love with the physical and spiritual challenges. After an arthritis diagnosis four years ago, I knew it was even more important to keep up with my practice. Yoga delivers the perfect low impact exercise to keep my joints flexible and my pain at a minimum. The meditative aspect has done wonders to keep up my motivation and to help me keep moving. The Yoga Mat has been the perfect fit for my yoga needs, providing variety and education in every class!”

— Courtney Brass

For more info on the benefits of yoga for arthritis please click here

Want to become our next student of the month?

Playtime // A Family Yoga Workshop with Sarah Weight

erinbakersmith — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:03:17 +0000

Saturday, December, 10th // 2 – 3pm

@ The Yoga Mat Studio (3060 Larimer St., Denver, CO)

Parents and walking toddlers through elementary age kids all welcome.

Quality time with your favorite kiddos. Play-based yoga for kids is not your typical adult ohm-ing yoga class. Come see what the new Denver fun is all about! Rowdiness, laughter, bravery, and lightheartedness invited. Walk like animals, fly like rocket ships, be fierce like a warrior, and we will turn your world upside down- literally. Priceless opportunity for the young-at-heart to teach their young-uns to love their bodies and see the courage in their hearts.

$10 per adult / $5 per child — Register by emailing ontheyogamat@gmail.com