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Fall Update Part 2


Oct 14, 2025

It’s been just two weeks since our move to the Munson Library for our 8 AM yoga classes. This time around it feels even warmer and more welcoming than usual. Maybe it’s the space we need far from the wider world, the invitation to spend an hour away from phones, email, social media, and the news of the day.


Ahhh… Thank you, Yoga! What a gift!


I’ve been trying to avoid making announcements at the end of practice. It’s my way of preserving the peace and allowing us to soak in the benefits of yoga for a few more quiet minutes.


That said, there’s a lot happening - many opportunities to move our bodies with mindful awareness and to attend to our health and well-being, both individually and in community. This makes our twice-monthly newsletter and website an even more important source of information.


This isn’t to say there will never be announcements at the end of class, but I encourage you to check the website regularly and share the wealth of information available. Everyone is welcome, and all events are offered freely, with donations gratefully accepted for instructors and event leaders.


Read on for what will become a periodic column from Karen Sumaryono and a host of upcoming events, including a live music and dance event this Friday with The Packing Shed, and our last two outdoor Zumba classes with Tiffany (this week on Wednesday and next).


(We are looking for an indoor site to keep Zumba going through the winter. If you know of available space, please be in touch! Email lacastronovo@gmail.com)


Bonus: Read all the way to end to learn how you can get one of 12 Baby Fig Trees!

Be sure to visit the website for more great programming!

With heartfelt gratitude,

Linda (for the Everyday Wellbeing Board of Directors)



Where the Mind Goes, Qi Goes

“Yi Dao, Qi Dao” is a foundational concept in Chinese practices of Qigong and Tai Chi and applies to all mind-body practices. Where the mind goes, energy follows. It points to the power of our intentions in our practice and in our lives.


This phrase is also a warning of sorts. What is the mind dwelling upon? When we allow the mind to wander on automatic pilot, adopting and replaying old patterns, we might start believing things that don’t align with our intentions and values. Becoming aware of what the mind is doing is an important step in directing our healing and our lives.


When we engage with mind-body practices such as yoga, tai chi, and qigong, we align movements with breath, open energy pathways (nadis or meridians), and refresh the life force energy (prana or qi) throughout the body. When we add the powerful intention of the mind, a mysterious and subtle transformation occurs over time.


In the Chinese paradigm, all physical pain is the result of stagnant or deficient energy. It’s the body’s way of communicating with us. It’s not necessarily saying, take a pill to lessen the pain, however. More likely the body is asking for rest, hydration, movement, or massage. We can get curious about what’s going on and send our intention to get the stuck energy moving, to breathe into the pain, and visualize a healing golden light enveloping the pain with a relaxed mindful vibration of acceptance and relief.


As we go deeper into mind-body practices, we create intentions not only for the health and ease of our body, but to direct our mood and actions. I read a wonderful mantra in a Tara Brach book recently. “I appreciate everything, and there’s not one single thing to complain about.” By repeating this mantra morning, noon, and night inside our head, even saying out loud from time to time, we slowly transform our world. We draw our attention to all that’s going well, the abundance of our life. We don’t give complaints airtime in our mind. We learn to accept what is. Our energy goes to noticing more and more to appreciate, and as we do, more and more of it appears. Yi Dao, Qi Dao.


The power of mind-body practice in circulating fresh qi throughout the system energizes the whole body as it calms the nervous system. Then with the consciousness of using our mind to set our intentions, we shift our energy field and our perception of reality, which in turn affects the choices we make and the life we lead.


Health is wealth; peace of mind is happiness; Qigong shows the way.


Karen Sumaryono is a retired international educator and teacher trainer based in Belchertown. An avid world traveler and writer, Karen completed the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training certificate from Trimurti Yoga in Dharamsala, India, in 2018, and the Level 2 Certification in Qigong and Tai Chi Easy from the Integral Institute of Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC.org) in 2023. She teaches a free weekly qigong class at the Munson Library on Saturday mornings at 9:15 AM.

Evening Zumba-Flow w/ Tiffany

Wednesdays, October 15 and 22, 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Groff Park, 83 Mill Lane, Amherst


Dance with The Packing Shed

Friday, October 17th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Munson Library, 1046 South East Street, Amherst

The Packing Shed plays fun, funky R&B from the 70s through today. Come dance to your favorite songs by Amy Winehouse, Dusty Springfield, Stevie Wonder, Etta James, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Oh He Dead, Lizzo and more.


Qigong with Natalie Imbier

Saturdays, October 18, 25, November 1, and 8 at 9:15 AM

Munson Library, 1046 South East Street, Amherst

While Karen Sumaryono is traveling, Natalie will be teaching on Saturday mornings.


Hike Rattlesnake Gutter

Saturday, October 25th, 11:00 AM (Rain date: Sunday 1:00 PM)

Rattlesnake Gutter Conservation Area (off Montague Road)

Rattlesnake Gutter is a spectacular glacial ravine that probably formed when either glacial meltwater or a temporary glacial lake exploited a fracture in the crust that had constrained the flow of water.


This will be more of a moderate hike than a nature walk with some gradual uphill climbs. Plan to cover approximately 2-3 miles in about about 2 hours up through the ravine and then into woods on various loops.


We are quickly running out of room in this newsletter so expect another one soon with more information about classes and workshops coming in November. In the meantime, click the links below for more information.


How Everyday Wellbeing Works

There is no charge for any of our offerings. All of our teachers and providers donate their services, time, and expertise and receive only the money deposited into the donation box (or sent to their personal Venmo). Teachers gratefully accept this expression of appreciation, AND donations are never expected.

It is important and central to the mission of Everyday Wellbeing that all events are free and open to all. Everyone is welcome regardless of their ability to donate.


If you have the means, a donation to Everyday Wellbeing moves us toward a vision of community-supported wellness that makes vibrant health accessible to all by offering a wider variety of free, donation-based classes, workshops, and events.


We acknowledge your donations by email. If you don’t receive a heartfelt thank you and a receipt (for tax purposes), please check your junk folder for an email from info@everydaywellbeing.org. Thank you!


Make a Recurring Donation of Any Amount…Get a Gift!


Although you won’t need it until next season…you can receive a waterproof base mat (upcycled from donated feed bags) when you make a recurring donation of any amount. Also available (while supplies last) are 12 baby fig trees. They are about to go dormant for the winter and will need to be moderately protected until the spring, but they came from a tree that gave us over 1000 figs this season! Click the link below to make a recurring donation. Then, come pick up your tree! Thank you!

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