Grow with the Flow | Pisces Season at ODD

Joy is a Catalyst for Change

Acts of joy are acts of resistance! In times when we must show up for our communities, especially the most vulnerable, it can feel like we're pulled in a million directions and the brief bright spots we find in our day can fill us with guilt or even shame. Just as there is a fine line between self care and overindulgence, there exists an even finer line between altruism – selfless service – and burnout.

This platitude can often lose its meaning due to overuse or misuse, but we find that it can serve as a strong visualization and mantra for these difficult times – you can't pour from an empty cup. This season's mission is to take inspiration from our fishy friends – the Pisceans – to allow ourselves to recognize what we're feeling, feel it without shame or remorse, take time to recharge and fill our cups, then pour positivity into all of our interactions. The community we have is filled with love, light, and compassion, and we're only here to facilitate the deepening of connections between people who are doing their best to care for themselves, their local communities, and that which is greater than us. Together, we're so powerful!

Diving into the Emotional Depths and Swimming Upstream

When news fatigue and proximity to suffering becomes too much, you'll start to feel it. We need rest and recovery to continue to show up for others as our best selves, but we also need distractions and moments of genuine joy that soften the blow and strengthen connections. From soothing and reflective sound baths to fun partnered workshops chasing the tail of the season of love, we've curated events that will help support you and our entire community in whatever way you need.

Go with the Flow and Grow with the Flow (aka Pisces Season Workshops & Community Events)

• 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, Spring Session begins March 13th: Deepen your knowledge of anatomy, asana, and philosophy while cultivating lifelong friendships and strengthening the bonds in the ODD community, whether or not you're interested in a teaching career. The next info session with the program's knowledgeable architect, Cindy Godell, is March 5th at 7pm in Echo Park, and it will be your last chance to join until our fall session.
• This weekend is all about having fun and making connections of all kinds. These unique events are filling up fast, so save your spot in advance!
  • • HEAD OVER HEELS | Partnered Acroyoga Workshop: Saturday, February 22nd at 1:30pm in Echo Park w/ ODD's strength guru, Audrey Guedelekian
    • FLOW AND FLIRT | A Mindful Mixer: Join ODD x Necterine for a fresh take on speed dating that will help you go beyond swiping and awkward conversation to spark genuine connections over a shared love of yoga. Sunday, February 23rd at 3pm in Echo Park w/ Lani Engstrom and Asia Martin
• Also this weekend, if soothing sounds and chakra vibrations are what you need, Dylan has you covered with a monthly sound bath featuring a gong tuned to the frequency of Venus, planet of love and beauty. The perfect way to keep the love flowing from Galentine's and Valentine's season!
  • • SOUND BATH: Sunday, February 23rd at 7:30pm in East Hollywood w/ Dylan Wallace
• Coming up in March, we have more opportunities to connect, build confidence, and find moments of joy and respite:
  • • RUN SALUTATIONS | Yoga For Run Recovery: Whether you're about to run the LA Marathon or just enjoy a good jog, join Lani Engstrom for a workshop that will aid in endurance-run recovery through targeted stretches focusing on your lower half, a guided massage ball roll-out, guidance for future training support through yoga, and more opportunities to connect over the shared love of running and challenging oneself. Saturday, March 8th at 1:30pm in Echo Park.
    • HIKE & HIDE | Community Hike and Gift Card Hunt: Connect with ODDfam in nature at the Griffith Park Trail #1 and snatch up goodies along the way, like gift cards for yoga classes and workshops, as well as gift cards from awesome local partners, like Not Another Pottery Studio and Couplet Coffee! Thursday, March 20 (Spring Equinox) at 10am. Be sure to reserve your free spot now, so we can keep in touch about the meet-up spot, where to find gift cards, and other the other fun details!

Something to Look Forward To (aka ODD Adventures)

• Book an adventure and have something to look forward to: there are still a few spots left for Dylan Wallace's Summer-Solstice-inspired journey through the chakras at an idyllic Tuscan retreat, Step Into the Sun. If your vibes are more tropical than Tuscan, we also have spots available to activate your inner power in a Costa Rican paradise with Cindy Godell and Audrey Guedelekian. Email adventures@onedowndog.com to learn more about the teachers, itinerary, accommodations, payment plans, excursions, and more.

Playlist of the Season

Emotional depths! Daydreams and delulu! Creative distractions! Dance through the revolution!

Dive in to our Pisces Themed Playlist

Asana of the Season

Matsyasana or "Fish Pose" is a bit advanced, but the joy is found in the playing around with this shape in your body and finding new things about yourself in the process. Repeat after us: I am strong. I am fluid and flexible. I am enough. Here's what you'll get from this playful total-body heart opener: 

• Enhances breathing
• Improves posture
• Strengthens neck, abs, thighs, and glutes
• Relieves stress and tension in the shoulders and upper back
• Stimulates endocrine glands and parasympathetic nervous system
• Improves digestion
• Boosts metabolism

Here's a Quick Guide to Getting into Matsyasana:

1. Start in a comfortable seat, like Sukhasana.
2. Lean backwards and slowly, intentionally lower your body to the floor with your elbows and forearms supporting your weight and head tilted back (maybe touching the ground)
3. Grasp your thighs or feet with elbows remaining on the floor.
4. Lift your chest to the sky, creating an arch in your back, ensuring your neck isn't strained.
5. Hold for a few breaths.
6. Release your hands and push them into the ground to lift your head and come back to Sukhasana.

Pranayama of the Season

Just remembering to breathe can be a challenge in itself when we're balancing our emotional needs with the needs of our most vulnerable community members, so we're keeping it simple this seasons with abdominal or belly breathing. Abdominal Breathing (Adham Pranayama) is a pranayama practice that is aimed at teaching students how to breathe from their bellies. The word 'Adham' means low, and the practice aims to encourage air to the lower lobes of the lungs and the abdomen.:

1. Arrive in a comfortable seat.
2. Exhale completely through parted lips.
3. Close the lips and inhale steadily for a count of 4.
4. Hold at the top of the breath for a count of 7.
5. Exhale again through parted lips for a count of 8.
6. Repeat.

Sutra of the Season 

Here in LA, we watched humans show up in beautiful ways to support neighboring humans in a dark time. It's not the first time our city of angels has been challenged, and it certainly won't be the last. Rather than give in to the suffering, we banded together to move through the pain with grace, understanding, and support for one another. We lived the sutras, and it paid off!

For a bonus entry in the Practice Feeling Human February Class Challenge, take to social media or reply to our newsletter and let us know how you're finding joy right now!