Keeping the Light

"Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness"-chinese proverb.

Aah, it's that time of the year again where we "Fall Back", gain an hour of sleep but lose an hour of sunlight towards days end. For those who might not be early birds, it can be a bit daunting.
We should remember that "When you possess light within you, you see it externally". The following are articles found that can help us with these seasonal changes as well as remind us we can and should take the time to restore and rebalance.


Excerpts from the Huffinton Post and Yoga Journal:


At 2 a.m. Sunday morning, we finally recaptured that lost hour of sleep from last March as we marked the end of daylight saving time. And for the 47 million Americans who are sleep deprived, that extra hour is a chance to literally make up for lost time."This is one of those weekends we should really relish," said HuffPost blogger Russell Rosenberg, Ph.D., CEO of the Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine and chairman of the board of the National Sleep Foundation. "The fact that Americans are so sleep deprived, it's a nice reprieve from the busy lifestyles that we all lead."a New England Journal of Medicine report found that heart attack rates decrease the Monday after the end of daylight saving time, Harvard Health Blog reports, while a Canadian study found a decrease in car accidents after the fall change, though Harvard Health Blog does point out that another study found an increase in accidents after both changes.Yet while the transition may be an easy one, for many falling back also signifies a shift into winter and the changing light patterns that come with it. And perhaps that's the real health story behind the end of daylight saving time, stretching into winter long after that regained hour is forgotten.
For early birds and school children, the shift will mean it's light instead of dark outside in the mornings, which is good news for our internal biological clocks. When light stimulates a certain part of the brain first thing in the morning, it can make us more vigilant throughout the day and boost moods in the long run, Decker explained. "Now that the sun is rising a little earlier, we really want to think about getting up, going outside," he said. "Getting that bright light in the morning is absolutely key to health and performance and everything that goes with it."
But getting sunlight earlier in the day also means it may already be dark by the time people are leaving work. "There's always a psychological impact of it getting dark so early -- feeling that the days are shorter, and that winter is coming," Rosenberg explained.
And over time, that increase in darkness can lead to feeling blue and even experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder. According to the NIH, symptoms of SAD typically start in late autumn and winter and include increased appetite, increased daytime sleepiness, decreased energy in the afternoon, loss of interest in work, unhappiness and lethargy.


For years, winter brought serious mood changes for Natalie Engler. She craved carbohydrates, struggled with lethargy, and hated to get out of bed in the morning. The feelings lasted through April, when her mood brightened and her energy returned.
Engler developed a practice to combat her winter depression. It included pranayama (breathwork) and meditation; vinyasa yoga; and at least 20 minutes a day of restorative yoga, which she describes as the single most powerful part of the practice.
"Restorative yoga may look passive from the outside, but it's very active internally on both subtle and dramatic levels," says Forbes, who is the founder and director of the Center for Integrative Yoga Therapeutics in Boston. "Our nervous systems are designed to respond to minute fluctuations in our environments. Restorative yoga, combined with breathwork, is a potent tool to recalibrate the nervous system."
Restorative yoga and breathwork form the heart of the therapeutic yoga practice Forbes developed for emotional balance. Restore & Rebalance
Bo Forbes says the breathwork in these restorative postures makes all the difference in their effect on the nervous system. If you're feeling anxious and restless in your mind and body, as is typical of SAD during the fall and early spring, exhale for twice the count of your inhalation as you practice these poses. (If you're still feeling agitated after that, take a supported Childs Pose.) If you're feeling lethargic in your mind and body, make your exhalations and inhalations of equal length. Hold each pose for 5 to 20 minutes.

What Is New here at ATM

• International teacher Shiva Rea will be here this Thursday!
• Our new catalog for Jan- April 2012 will go to the printer next week...expect it on your doorstep Dec 4!
• Sunday is the last day for this 40 day group. They were an amazing group and Kendall made us all a wonderful apple crisp for our last class.
• 11/11/11 an auspicious date.. a time opening and great time for intention. Mary Partyka is bring a tree for us to put our intentions on. The Reiki folks will have a ceremony at the Reiki Gathering that night. Jessica might be offering an early morning sadana...stay tuned.
• Yoga Ball is also happening 11 11 11 click here for more info.

Happy Halloween!

To me this is such a fun and exuberant holiday! It also fills me with delight to know that not only do the people in this country like to honor this holiday, but the WHOLE WORLD. It invites a sense of union, community and (in a ironic way) peace. Most everyone knows that things can get a little wild and crazy, but there's a communal understanding that it is because of this day, this tradition, that everything really is OK and we can let go.

Maybe we can apply this is our lives for everyday living. Not by exactly dressing in costumes and invoking a sense of fear on people, but to let ourselves go in simple and subtle ways.

If you like Halloween because you can really get into making some sweet home-made costumes, consider taking some time to really acknowledge this creativity in you and apply it to daily situations. You'll never be bored or down on yourself if you have a project to work on!
If you like Halloween because you get to indulge in some candy, give yourself than once a year and DO NOT feel guilty about it. Plus there are many organic, and healthier holiday treats you can make;)
If you like Halloween because you invite the sense of fear into your life, try some more challenges! Whether it be on or off the mat, build yourself up to overcome any type of fear you might have and start checking off that bucket list.

All in all, Halloween is a special time for different reasons, and when you discover your own think of how you can keep this joy and communal spirit going through good and bad!
now where's that candy....

Last week we looked to the trees for some inspiration,
this week lets look what may be IN the trees for some more...

Flexibility
(characterized by a ready capability to adapt to new, different, or changing requirements.)

Take the katydid here, an example of how evolution (or something greater) helped design a species to easily blend in with its surroundings. Flexibility is an important characteristic to our lives as well. Once we have become fully rooted in who we are, we also should find a balance to be flexible in our relationship with others. Let us remember to be open minded, experience new and old as well as finding a peaceful way to adapt to the ever changing world. We want to be fully awakened to accept opportunites that might come our way, or keep our health and state of mind when times may get tough. Like bamboo or branches that sway in the wind, they are strong and yet flexible.
With relation to yoga - mental flexibility and inner spaciousness are the core work of yoga, equipping you to engage fully with others and to understand your place in the world. A flexible body is a joyous by-product of that process.

The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers. -Brian Greene

Finding Balance

Lets look to the leaves this week for some inspiration shall we?

Right now it seems as though in certain areas of the state the fall foliage is at it's peak of greatness (color, quality and warmth) and yet other areas have begun their journey into winter.

How can these transitions guide us through life? Here is my take on some autumn delights.

When the leaves are at their best it encourages me to also let myself shine. Maybe I can finally finish that project I have been chipping away at or have even better putting off. Maybe I can dive deeper into my practice, whether yoga or meditation, to really tap into my own natural state to see how far I can go or observe how far I've come. Maybe I'm already there, happy and content with my present being and just want to share that with as many as I can. Walk around with that glowing look, share my colorful self with others and inspire them to find their "peak".

A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home. ~Author Unknown

When the leaves start to descend, they encourage me to slow down.

Maybe I will let go of certain judgements or worries that have plagued my mind. Maybe I should release myself from fear and confinment...it's time to explore new options, surroundings, challenges and ideas. A leaf falling could mean a sense of freedom rather than a sadness. Maybe it will remind me to return to the earth-through an environmental approach. Maybe I should consider how much trash I really throw out, or what I could do to reduce my environmental footprint. Maybe a leaf falling just means I need to become more grounded, maybe it simply means I need to relax..and stop asking myself all these questions.

Either way you look at it, I hope you can find some inspiration in it. The only thing constant is change...If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit

And if your not an outdoorsy person....maybe yoga will help:)

Meet Seychelle Hoffer, our featured student spotlight!
Seychelle is a wonderful and kind yogini that represents All That Matters well.

When did you start yoga and what attracted you to the practice:
I started about 7 years ago and was happy with the increased strength and flexibility that I noticed. I found that yoga complimented my other physical activities, and over the years yoga also benefited my mental focus and connection to my spirituality.
What is your favorite style of yoga: Vinyasa, although I enjoy an occasional Bapriste Power Class.
What other activities do you enjoy: I love being active in any way, especially outdoors! I like gardening, hiking with my dogs, reading, writing, and cooking vegetarian food.
What is the last great book you read/recommend: Even Cowgirls get the Blues by Tom Robbins.
Favorite sound: The ocean, especially in the early morning when the beach is still empty and quiet.
Least favorite sound: Monday morning alarm clock...
Favorite meal: Tofu/Veggie pad thai from Seven Moons:)
What keeps you doing yoga: How great I feel after every class! No matter how stressed or tired I am heading into class, I always feel energized and rejuvenated by the time we hit savasana. Yoga is healing for both my body and mind, and the physical strength and flexibility are nice side effects.
Advice to beginners: Try a variety of different classes to find which is the best fit for you. Approach yoga with an open mind and be prepared to feel frustrated at times. It’s not a competition, and if you stick with it, you’ll find the benefits will be amazing!
What do you like best about All That Matters: I love the sense of community, I have met some amazing people here—both teachers and students. I feel as though I can leave stress at the door, fully relax and devote some time to nurture my mind, body and spirit.
Any other words of wisdom: Yoga has taken me places I never would have thought possible, both directly and indirectly—I can’t imagine not having it in my life.

The Importance of Awareness

I was out hiking in the woods yesterday trying to take in the fresh air and the overall fall feeling, when I noticed the cutest little purple mushroom growing out of the ground. Instead of just glancing at the mushroom and continuing on my way, I actually took a minute or two to really observe the fungi as well as my surroundings. I became fully aware of my surroundings, the mushrooms presence as well as my own. It was so small and myself so large. It thrives on light and moisture. We also need sun and water. But the special thing about seeing this mushroom (and fully appreciating its presence and how it helped me heighten my senses and feel more aware) was that the further along I walked on my hike the more and more mushrooms I spotted. It was as if the universe was rewarding me with a feast for the eyes because I put it out there that I was interested and amazed with the mushroom.

So in an effort not to ramble on too much, I hope to bring some kind of reference or conclusion to this story. And to sum it up here is a quote by Richard Miller:

"When we move in the world of senses, yet keep our senses in harmony, free from attachment to attraction or aversion, we rest in the wisdom heart of our True nature...the true equanimity of Being.." - from YOGA NIDRA.

May we take this story and apply to our own lives, whether through times of stress or peace. Being present, aware, awake, and mindful removes the "blinders" and can open your mind and heart to extraordinary experiences and opportunities; maybe with room for improvement.

If you would like to fully immerse yourself in how to really connect to your senses without going for a hike in nature, then check out our upcoming series of classes Inegrative Rest - Yoga Nidra with Kendall Sheldon. Kendall can bring you into a relaxed state and calls this class the ultimate stress buster as well as a quiet time to seek inward. Richard Miller's book is also available in our store~

Getting ready for Fall Fashion!

Even though it might be a whopping 84degrees outside today, and even though we believe that beauty radiates from the inside out, we can still take some time to prepare for the weather to come as well and have fun doing it!
What better way to welcome fall than with a new scarf or shawl! For big, for small, they compliment all!
ok ok enough with the rhymes, but scarves sure do excite us here at All That Matters. We currently have put up a wall of them in our store, ranging from different colors, fabrics, prints and sizes. One of our new favorite companies - Contemporary Craft (pictured above)- specializes in block printing techniques right from the village of Bagh in India.

And don't forget about our large supply of prAna clothing! The new fall colors are beautiful, ranging from deep cranberry to olive greens. Sure to keep you comfy and cozy during the months to come.

And maybe your home needs a bit of color as well. Consider bringing the warmth of these scents to your home with Anjolie Ayurveda soaps. Beautifully wrapped and designed, these soaps are all natural - filled with organic Himalayan Herbs and Oils. Great for gifts, accents to your bathroom and even better for your skin!

Winds of Change/ Breathing Exercise

Can you feel it in the air? The chillness... the winds of change have arrived. And yes they may just be the winds of autumn, but what will you make of it? Will you bundle up and retreat? Or will you adventure and fly a kite? Maybe a little of both. You will find that either option will be right for YOU. Listen to your body, balance your mind, and seek within to find your answer.

"When you don't go within, you go without.."- Yogi Bhajan.

And speaking of winds, according to the Chinese Five Element Theory, autumn is linked to the lungs. We take in something new with each inhale and eliminate what is not serving us as we exhale. Consider taking time within your day to really BREATHE. Dirgha (also known as three part breath) can compliment these transitioning days nicely. Start by focusing the breath in your abdominal region and stomach. Feel it inflate and deflate with every breath. Next the breath will move up into your lungs, where they will expand and contract with every breath. Finally the breath reaches up under the collar bone and into the throat for a sense of opening. Now combine all three elements with just the inhale. The inhale will start in the belly, then rise into the lungs and finally peak under the collar bone. Your exhale will bring a sense of release and detoxification.

For more on breathing, try Chris Belanger's class: Introduction to Yogic Breathing on Oct 1, here at

All That Matters!

congrats and love!

Congratulations to one of our health service practitioners Tara on her recent nuptials! In honor of her and the love she will be sharing with her new husband, we would like to share with you a passage from a book we sell in our store called -Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss:

We are not born fluent in love, but spend our life learning about it. Its energy is pure power. We are attracted to love as we are intimidated by it. We are motivated by love, controlled by it, inspired by it, healed by it, and destroyed by it. Love is the fuel of our physical and spiritual bodies. Our own hearts are designed to express beauty, compassion, forgiveness and love - it is against our spiritual nature to act otherwise....

Back to School

It's that wonderful time of the year again when the big yellow buses come around, there is a slight chill in the air and the leaves begin to rustle and fall to the earth. September doesn't have to mean an end of all things summer, instead it could be a beginning - "The secret to a great life is to have more beginnings than endings" -David Weinbaum

 Even though most of us might not be physically attending a place of education, it doesn't mean we explore something new or even freshen up on what we love. Consider coming in for yoga, a health service or browsing our store. Try a new class, workshop or simply take some time to slow down.

Here are a few suggestions for helping you take that first leap!

Immerse yourself in a prana flow class with Coral Brown!

Try - Chakra Namaskar. A class that will combine balance, rhythm and allow you steep in specific movements that correlate to each chakra. Sept 18.

Try our 40 Days to Personal Revolution program!

This program has had great success and over 600 people can attest to the positive changes they've experience. Beginners welcome! Sept 21

Want to go further with your yoga practice?  the new yoga class with Jessie -

Deepening Your Practice - Mondays at 5:45 or Thursdays at 9am.

Need a new read? Check out the book REVIVE by Frank Lipman. This book will help to teach you how to stop feeling spent and start living again! It includes recipes, exercises and "Daily Beats" to nourish your body and mind. Available in our store!

We hope to see you around the studio! Namaste~

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Meet Ernie Santoro our featured student spotlight!
Ernie is a active and cheerful yogi that represents All That Matters well!

When did you start yoga and what attracted you to the practice: My wife began about 6 years ago and I noticed an
improvement in her strength, flexibility and balance; as well as an enhanced sense of inner peace. Hence, I wanted to experience those same benefits.
What is your favorite style of yoga:  Yoga/Pilates, it combines the best of both worlds. Yoga-breathing, relaxation.
Pilates– strengthening.

What other activities do you enjoy:  I also enjoy Tai Chi,
gardening, biking, special times with family and friends.
Favorite sound:  Baby’s laughter and songbirds signing!
Least favorite sound:  Blaring car horns.
Favorite meal:  Freshly picked home-grown veggies over wheat pasta!
What keeps you doing yoga:  I keep doing yoga because I enjoy the daily benefit of enhanced physical vitality and balance to both the body and the mind. Being “on the mat” provides a peace of mind beyond anything I’ve experienced.
Advice to beginners: Approach the practice with an open mind and heart and one will begin to experience greater flexibility, strength, and peace of mind. Remember that everyone’s abilities are different, and it’s not a competition! As one of my favorite teachers said: “The postures all around the room should look different” What do you like most about All That Matters: The new parking lot:) ATM has a great atmosphere to practice yoga and to enjoy the benefits of working with a fantastic group of teachers and staff that are fully focused on teaching the yogic lifestyle.
Any other words of wisdom? New parking lot is small...so get there early!:) We are all on this journey together and we know it is the journey and not the destination that counts. Let yoga lighten your load as you travel on this journey.

Ever wonder which yoga mat is really right for you? Can't decide between prAna or Jade? Let us help you out! Watch the video to discover the basic differences between them all, and as always, please don't hesitate to stop in the store where we would be happy to assist you in choosing your perfect mat:)

Congratulations to Kerri Handrigan for her winning bid on a session with our Health Coach Katie McDonald!

Katie bid on this package at the Farm Fresh event, it was a huge success and we thank all for their support!:)

With our upcoming Meditation Weekend with Dr. Dwyer and Michael Mamas coming up (Aug 19-20) we wanted to share some insight on how good meditation really is for you!

Your Brain on Yoga: New Studies in Neuroscience Show Meditation Positively Changes Your Brain
This is your brain. This is your brain on yoga! Meditation to be exact. New, real, comprehensive studies are being done to prove that meditation does indeed actually transform the circuits of the brain to increase functionality, focus, empathy and happiness. How fabulous! Changes have been seen in the limbic system or the brain’s emotional command center controlling the endocrine and autonomic nervous system, the prefrontal cortex in charge of focus, thoughts and actions, and left-sided anterior region responsible for generating positive emotions. You know, just minor parts of the brain necessary for your overall energetic existence and prosperity.

But maybe you already knew this? Having your uh duh! moment? We can cut these scientists a break, as it’s only just until recently when technology and things like MRI machines could actually scientifically prove what many were just experiencing, see?

It’s a growing field called contemplative neuroscience – the brain science of meditation – and it’s gaining more credibility and perhaps even better, more funding for research. The National Institutes of Health, has upped its grants in complementary and alternative medicine ($300 million in 2007 to an estimated $541 million in 2011) , and has helped establish new contemplative science research centers at Stanford University, Emory University, and the University of Wisconsin, the soon-to-be new home of the world’s first brain imaging lab with adjacent meditation room.

How does meditation work on the noggin?
“We all know that if you engage in certain kinds of exercise on a regular basis you can strengthen certain muscle groups in predictable ways,” [Richard] Davidson says in his office at the University of Wisconsin, where his research team has hosted scores of Buddhist monks and other meditators for brain scans.

“Strengthening neural systems is not fundamentally different,” he says. “It’s basically replacing certain habits of mind with other habits.”

And you’ll never guess who’s been a big proponent of the growing research. Why, the Dalai Lama of course! And he’s actually arranged for Tibetan monks to travel to American universities for brain scans, while also participating in speaking gigs at annual meetings of the Society for Neuroscience, the world’s largest gathering of brain scientists.

Although many of the previous studies had focused on compassion meditation or “lovingkindness”, for scientific purposes, the meditation exercises have been stripped of Buddhist roots.

“This is not a project about religion,” says Davidson. “Meditation is mental activity that could be understood in secular terms.”

So if you were worried about the compassion demons invading your brain and stealing your soul during meditation, you can rest assured that only happens after a sinful round of sun salutes and a few minutes of playing dead.

~Discover the beauty of Satya Jewelry~ Available in our store.

We would love to share this article with you on this cooler Monday Morning.

A Kick In The Butt: When You Don’t Feel Like Practicing
by Claudia Altucher
A few days ago I was not ‘feeling it’: The practice.
You know what I mean: Too early. Don’t want to. Let me do what the body wants. Bukowski out of all people came to the rescue, and it was his poem (interspersed here) that got me through primary series:

If you’re going to try, go all the way.
Otherwise, don’t even start.
It could mean not eating for three or four days.
It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision.
It could mean mockery–isolation. Isolation is the gift.



It is Wednesday morning and I find myself in a fascinating literary spot in New York City. I am surrounded by cartoons of the New Yorker all over the hallway. In the wall paper. The lobby presents me with pictures of incredible writers among the potted palm trees. Long chandeliers make me think of Mark Twain. Who wants to get on the mat?

All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it.



Too Early
That:‘too early’, is, of course, just a marketing line. A chosen deliminator in our thinking that now defines what we think we are. Until we notice it and go pass it, there is always: Afternoon practice.

And, you’ll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds.

Don’t Want To:
We can compromise. Give up the practice if you must, but not the ritual.

Pull up your hair, get in the sweating clothes and stand on the front of the mat. Take that first ujjayi breath, balance the weight over the four corners of the feet, engage the bandhas and start that first sun salutation. Go to where you can. Never give up the ritual. See what happens.

And it will be better than anything else you can imagine.

Want To Do What My Body Wants:
Paul Dallaghan’s philosophy is so powerful I have made it my own: “if it ain’t broken and you don’t have a fever, then get on the mat”. The point is that it is a daily practice for a reason. It works only if sustained for a long time and we have to get real. If it ain’t broken and you don’t have a fever, then get on the mat.

If you’re going to try, go all the way.
There is no other feeling like that.

In Conclusion:
1) Try afternoon if morning does not work
2) Never give up the ritual: get on the mat and do what you can
3) If it ain’t broken and no fever, do it!

You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire.
You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is.

I find intriguing that Bukowski uses the same concept as Patanjali for the end-goal. You will be “alone with the gods”. Patanjali could not have said it better himself.

Meet Brenda Ahlgren our featured student of the month!
Brenda is a talented and dedicated yogi that represents All That Matters well


When did you start yoga and what attracted you to the practice: I was attracted to yoga because a friend invited me and thought it would help me relax. I took a couple of Coral’s classes and I became hooked!
What is your favorite style of yoga:  I like Coral’s and Jessie’s vinyasa classes, and the work out I get, as well as the calmness that comes over me. When life is stressful it helps me concentrate on myself. What other activities do you enjoy:  Walking, kayaking and needlepoint.Favorite sound:  A babbling brook, with some singing birds…. Least favorite sound:  Cars..horns..traffic..
Favorite meal:  Pizza! I know it’s not the healthiest but I am Italian:)
Great Movie or book to recommend?: Amish Grace. By Donald Kraybill, Steven Nolt & David Weaver. It is a great book about forgiveness and it’s truly amazing, hopeful and a book to be embraced.What keeps you doing yoga:   I keep doing yoga because it keeps me grounded. It strengthens, tones and relaxes my body and mind.Advice to beginners: Don’t give up on the first day! It might seem difficult to follow along but give it time and it will become second nature.What do you like most about All That Matters: the friendly instructors AND students..it is a very relaxing environment:)

Interested in learning more about Satya Jewelry? Click this link to the discover it's beauty! We are proud to carry Satya Jewelry in our store..

http://allthatmatters.com/viewVideo.cfm?id=205

Join us for LADIES NIGHT!
This Thursday: July 7th. From 5-9pmMain St. in Wakefield is offerring great store specials, serving refreshments and alive with music and fun!

Come on in to our store where ALL jewelry will be BUY ONE GET ONE FREE, as well as a vita coco sampling event AND a raffle for a free pair of OKA-B sandals~
Hope to see you here! Happy Summer.