{"id":1171,"date":"2015-02-23T03:30:47","date_gmt":"2015-02-23T03:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/writeherewritenow\/?p=1171"},"modified":"2015-02-23T19:09:39","modified_gmt":"2015-02-23T19:09:39","slug":"ananda-yoga-and-the-power-of-possibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/writeherewritenow\/2015\/02\/23\/ananda-yoga-and-the-power-of-possibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Ananda Yoga and the Power of Possibility"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ananda1\"<\/a> \u201cNothing on earth can hold me. I am free. I am free. . . .\u201d Lifting her arms above her head in a graceful sun salutation, Kathy felt a deep sense of peace. She had come to Ananda Yoga in the small mountain town of Scotts Valley while facing some major challenges in her life, hoping to find a way to deal with the stress. But she discovered a whole lot more<\/p>\n

The small yoga studio was filled with kindred spirits, other people facing major challenges\u2014job loss, illness, divorce. But instead of surrendering to despair, they were a spiritual community, filled with the joy of friendship (\u201cAnanda\u201d means \u201cjoy\u201d), supporting each other in seeking the light.<\/p>\n

In October, 2013, the group gathered at a beach retreat in Santa Cruz. As they walked on the sand, sunlight sparkling on the waves, someone said, \u201cWe need a bigger center.\u201d\"ananda<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThen let\u2019s make it happen,\u201d said Kathy. Using her business expertise, she began writing down their thoughts as together they created a vision: a center for yoga, meditation, spiritual talks, and books\u2014a healing space for the community around them. They didn\u2019t have the money to finance this, but made up a business plan and a budget. Inspired by their vision, they began looking around. They found a blue building in town, a former restaurant called \u201cThe Heavenly Caf\u00e9.\u201d Excited, they approached the owner, but he would only lease the space to another restaurant. They looked some more, but other sites were too expensive.<\/p>\n

Two months later, they inherited a piece of real estate from a former member of the community. The house was dilapidated, in need of major repairs. They decided to sell it to finance their center. But after a few potential offers, the house stood for months, unwanted and unsold. In July, Kathy drove over to the house, took a series of photographs, focusing on its best features, then lovingly released it to someone who would care for it enough to fix it up.<\/p>\n

\"ananda1a\"<\/a>A short time later, the house sold. The next day, Kathy and her friends found a site for rent at a price they could afford. After months of loving remodeling it became a space filled with light, glowing hardwood floors, oriental rugs, meditation cushions, and inspirational art. Ananda Yoga opened on February 14th<\/sup>, 2015, Valentine\u2019s Day–the realization of their dreams and a gift of heart to their community.<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s your turn.<\/p>\n