SUNNY DAYS, NEW WAYS 😎
by Wendy Yang Clark
Exhaling the wild energy of early summer at our Summer Solstice Celebration
June has been a BUSY month. Almost everyone I speak to has been overwhelemd lately with graduations, end-of-year ceremonies, birthdays, Little League, gymnastic ribbon days, weddings, etcetera, etcetera, ETCETERA. We've had a whirlwind of events this month here at The Pearl, and each one has filled our hearts with joy and gratitude. That being said, I’m very much looking forward to slowing down in July, taking some breaths, and settling into summer. I hope to finally get into some of those projects that have been laying in wait for weeks/months/years in these lazy days of summer, and find more time away from the computer and on the mat.
Here’s what we’ve been up to:
Celebrating Summer Solstice and International Day of Yoga was absolutely magical! The studio was buzzing with energy as we welcomed the longest day of the year with three special yoga sessions led by Emma (Flow), Amy (Sculpt), and Dee (Restorative), embracing the light and warmth of the season. It was fantastic to see practitioners come together, celebrating the harmony of mind, body, and spirit. We then moved outside for the Grand Opening of our side yard (which you are now welcome to hang out in before/after/between classes!), crafting pretty flowers crowns and noshing on incredible food by Anne Booth Catering. The skies opened up and completely drenched us, the sun then reappearing a little while after.
Priscilla in her flower crown 🌸
What made this event even more special was that it was dedicated it to supporting The Birthing Place, a fantastic Bronx organization dedicated to providing holistic and supportive birthing services to our community. Having one of the founders, Myla Flores, present to share with us the journey and goals of The Birthing Place was really cool.
Dee leads the crowd in a moon salutation before the main event
Working with some of the awesome people I met through the 1010 Wins Small Business Challenge, The Pearl was asked to participate in the Bronx Fireworks Extravaganza, sponsored by the borough President’s Office at Orchard Beach. Before the fireworks dazzled us all, Dee led a short yoga session at the beach. Dee and I also had the pleasure of doing a quick interview with BronxNet before the event, sharing our excitement and the activities at the studio.
Finally got the opportunity to throw Rob on a Reformer!
Earlier that Day, Rob Walsh of 1010 Wins and Jilleen of The Bronx Times stopped by the studio to try out our Reformers, and Rob & I did a short radio promo for 1010 Wins. It’s such a thrill spreading the word about our community and the joy of movement.
In our ongoing effort to make movement accessible to more people, I’m SO excited to share that Ana Maria has partnered with Shape Up NYC and the NYC Parks Dept to teach her free bilingual Community Class at Orchard Beach every Sunday at 6pm, starting this Sunday, July 7th. Ana Maria’s warm and inclusive approach ensures that both English and Spanish-speaking participants can fully enjoy the practice. These classes are a wonderful opportunity to unwind and connect with nature at no cost.
Emma at the BronxNet studios
Last but not least, Emma recently did a full sit-down interview with BronxNet to talk about everything The Pearl has to offer. Emma’s passion for yoga and community engagement shone through as she discussed our mission, the variety of classes we offer, and the special events that make us unique. It was a fantastic opportunity to share the heart and soul of The Pearl with a broader audience, inviting more people to join our growing community. Emma’s segment on BronxNet will air next Tuesday.
Now… on to that stocking I’ve been meaning to make for my four-year-old’s first Christmas!