Baxter Bell Yoga

Spring 2025 Newsletter

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In this Issue:
• Spring Check In
• New Blog on Yoga and Back Pain
• What Is The Spring Quarter of Yoga for Healthy Aging? Is it for You?
• Last Chance for Scholarships to Feathered Pipe Ranch
• Free Online Conference on Neuroscience and Yoga!
• Upcoming Saturday Workshops on Power & Stability with Yoga: Hips, Spine, Upper Body!
• Still Space in my Yoga and Hiking Adventure in the Dolomites, Late September
• One Month Free Access to an Archive Yoga for Back Health and Conditioning Class!

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Do you hear people using this phrase to describe what’s happening these days in the US and its ripple effect around the world? Kind of an understatement, right! More like unprecedented times, or unpredictable times, or uncertain times, or downright scary times! Even with some glimmers of hope around good people pushing back against so many negative changes, it is still stressful on a daily basis to be confronted with all the angst out there.

 

I continue to work at staying grounded in 3 main ways most days of the week. First, I look to nature, and Spring is such a clear reminder of renewal, rebirth and possibility after the long, cold, barren days of winter. Simply acknowledging the gifts of nature on my daily neighborhood walks, especially all the new blossoming trees and bushes and flowers, is an immediate balm to my spirit. It reminds me to experience gratitude right now for all that is here right now in nature.

 

Second, I set aside at least 30 minutes a day for my creative pursuit, practicing my violin. This entails new learning, refreshing older repertoire, and prepping for open mics and upcoming performances. More importantly, it frees my everyday mind and immerses it in sound and vibration that connects me back to beauty and heartfelt emotion.

 

Finally, my daily meditation practice and yoga asana practices help me tend to my body and mind, reconnect with what I value most, and keep me ready to meet all the challenges of the day. My hope for you all is that you, too, are taking time to nurture those activities and practices that support you through these incredibly challenging times.

Namaste,

Baxter

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New Blog Post:
The Worst Habits for Your Back & The Best Treatment

A recent NYTs article entitled “The Worst Habits for Your Back” highlighted several habits that can act as triggers for new back pain or flare old back pain for many people. The article also noted that a recent review study pointed out that many treatments for back pain that people try out are ineffective, save a very few.

As someone who has been interested in how to support healing in those with both acute and chronic back pain- for more than 35 years, first in my capacity as a family doctor in the 80s and 90s, and more recently as a yoga instructor, yoga therapist and medical acupuncturist- this topic is of great interest to me!

 

I can’t tell you how many people have come to see me for relief of back pain who triggered it by getting something out of the trunk of their car, bending, twisting and lifting the item out. Ouch!

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Take a moment to check out this one-minute video to learn What it is, Who it’s for, and How to register.

 

Our Spring Quarter starts this Wednesday, April 16th, but if you miss the starting date, you can still join us after the fact, as we record all live sessions and you have access to them even after the last sessions in June!

 

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Last Chance to Grab a Scholarship to our July Retreat at the Feathered Pipe Ranch!

The board of the Feathered Pipe Ranch feels that it is imperative to bring people together at the ranch this summer, not only to support your personal well-being, but for the benefit of our communities and the world. In that spirit, they are offering more scholarships for our July 5-12, 2025 retreat Yoga for the Seasons and the Senses: A Yoga and Ayurveda Summer Retreat.

 

The new application window will start April 16th, so apply that day!!!

 

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I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be teaching at the Neuroscience & Yoga Conference, happening April 23-27, 2025—and I'd love for you to join me!

This FREE five-day event is designed to bridge the gap between neuroscience and yoga, transcend misinformation, and share the actual science of how yoga affects the brain so you can improve how you practice, teach, and advocate for yoga.

I’ll be presenting on Friday, April 25th, 1-2:15pm PST on Evidence Informed Yoga for Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes. This will be an experiential yoga practice followed by Q&A.

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I’m super excited about this ongoing series of workshops on cultivating power and stability in the body via yoga. April’s event is all about the Hips! May leads us to the Spine, and June we will explore the Upper Body.

 

You can join in person or on Zoom live, or get the recording for 30 days if you can’t join me live. (You get the recordings even if you can join live of course.)

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Melina and I are so excited to be leading this adventure trip to Northern Italy, Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2025. The trip is a go, but we really want you to join us, too! And our timing couldn’t be better, as the trip price is locked in despite the DC craziness, and with the Winter Olympics in the Dolomites in 2026 and prices likely to skyrocket, this is the time to go!!!

 

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I appreciate you all so much, and know that you can always use an unexpected gift now and then!

 

So, I am making one of Yoga for Back Health and Conditioning recorded classes available for you to do at your convenience and as a thank you for subscribing and reading my newsletter. It will be available for about one month.

 

The link below will take you to this one hour class.

 

Please be mindful to only do the poses offered that seem appropriate for your body at this time! And this is for you, please don’t share the link with others. Thanks!

 

I offer these special LIVE STREAMING sessions twice a week on Zoom.
You can only sign up for them here! It is pretty simple to do:
More info and registration HERE

Also you can join my studio classes, live streaming or hybrid:

 

MOUNTAIN YOGA
Mondays & Wednesdays 11:30am-12:45pm PDT - Hybrid (in person & online)
Fridays 9:00-10:15am PDT - Zoom only
Visit the Mountain Yoga website for info and registration.
New Student Special: 2 weeks of unlimited classes for $49!

Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm PDT - Yoga for Healthy Aging - Zoom only
Visit the Nest Yoga website for info and registration.
For folks who have never taken classes at Nest Yoga before, use coupon code BAXTER2020 when purchasing your first set of classes and receive a 10% discount.