In honor of World Poetry Day, I present a special event in partnership with PAMA and Andrea Josic, the City of Mississauga’s Poet Laureate. This unique experience is to highlight the power of two great human expressions: yoga and poetry.

Poetry speaks to our shared humanity. Poetry is arranged in words, and yoga is arranged in movements.

In the same way that poetry improves literacy, yoga improves our capacity to move. Both creative expressions enrich human evolution and interconnection.

Just as poetry celebrates linguistic diversity, so yoga honors our individual abilities and confidence.

Description of the session:

1. Our opening to welcome you! Andrea shares a live reading of her own poems.

2. With the set tone, we continue with a presence meditation.

3. For approximately 45 minutes, a gentle yoga flow follows with intentional poetic linguistic cues and calming music. Ending this segment with savasana or restful pose and a gentle moving out of it.

4. Afterwards, we pause to grab a cup of tea to prepare us for our poetry circle. You are encouraged to bring your favorite short poem or your own. Everyone has a moment to read and share. Consider bringing out various options and choosing the one that resonates with you now. You can optionally select this time to write from your own reflections. Both reading poetry and sipping a hot drink are rituals of presence. Your tea slows you with heat, aroma, and the act of holding.

5. Andrea offers a second reading of one of her poems based on gratitude.

6. Closing with loving-kindness meditation.

7. An open space for comments, questions, and answers.

Please bring your yoga mat and one block or any prop, if needed.

Come and enjoy the experience of yoga + poetry + tea!