I just received the following email that makes it easy for you to comment on the DC Council’s proposed tax on yoga classes. If you believe yoga should not be taxed, please take action as moved:
Dear Elizabeth,
We just learned that the DC Council may impose a 6-8% sales tax on yoga classes and gym memberships. This Friday, May 7th (tomorrow!), they’ll consider the new tax. And, they’ll vote to approve or reject it soon thereafter.
Before this vote happens, please tell the DC Council: “Don’t tax yoga!”
Washington, DC is no stranger to the challenges of modern life that yoga is so well-designed to address: stress, stress-related illness, depression, anxiety, and the secondary impacts of these ills that make it harder for people to simply “get along”. Why put yoga — a potent antidote to these problems — further out of reach for District residents?
Some advocates of the new tax argue — mistakenly — that people who practice yoga and attend gyms are wealthy enough to afford the additional tax burden. The truth is that most yogis and gym members are middle income-ers who’ve simply made it a priority to invest in their health and well-being.
The DC Council should reward their behavior, and encourage more people to take responsibility similarly for their own well-being. Doing so will have direct upsides on the DC coffers. Why? Because when people are healthier, more balanced, grounded, and happy they’re also more productive, more self-reliant, and better able to function in our interdependent society.
If you agree, please tell the DC Council now: “Don’t tax yoga!”
We respect the DC government’s need to increase revenues in a time of economic recession. We just feel that taxing yoga and other health and wellness services is one of the worst ways to do it. Services that support people’s health and well-being are not luxuries. They are essential – just as much in the District of Columbia as anywhere, if not moreso.
Please make sure the DC Council gets that message. Tell them: “Don’t tax yoga!”
Many thanks,
Ian
—
Ian Mishalove
Co-Owner & Director of Flow
Flow Yoga Center
Is it obvious that one of the ways I ground myself is to eat mindfully?
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I hope this email finds you well. I’ve been enjoying the decorative lights outside and candles inside as we move towards the Winter Solstice. Even with the excitement of the holidays, it is a great time to turn inward, to pause and refresh our remembrance and recognition of the light inside us all.
Many thanks to all of you who came to the Thanksgiving Oxfam class (in spirit as well as in person). Thanks to the generosity of Willow Street and all of you, we raised almost a $1,000 for Oxfam. All of you who come to regular classes help support the Wednesday night practice being 100% for charity. All fall, in recognition of one of the biggest issues of our day, the charities selected have been health-care focused, and I’ll continue that for December. If you have any suggestions for cause of the month for 2010, don’t hesitate to share with me.
Workshops:
December Serenity Saturday: Give yourself or a friend or loved one a holiday gift of sweet relaxation at the next Serenity Saturday, which is December 19th, 3pm-5pm, at Capitol Hill Yoga. Do a little local shopping or dining at Eastern Market and then join us for the delight of a deep restorative practice. To register, please visit www.capitolhillyoga.com. $5 discount if you register more than seven days in advance.
New Year’s Day Workshop: Flow into grace with an all-levels asana practice, followed by yoga nidra from 2-4 pm on New Year’s Day. Suitable for the well-rested and late-night revelers alike. Go to www.capitolhillyoga.com to register.
Classes:
Needing a little extra yoga or to get back into the swing: come drop in at William Penn House on Tuesdays at 6:15 for all-levels or at Willow Street on Saturdays (level 2 at 8:30am and gentle/therapeutics at 12 noon).
Holiday Schedule:
Willow Street is on break from December 21st through the end of the year. I’ll be teaching through December 19th and then teaching free classes as part of free class week on January 9th. Yes, there will be class at the William Penn House on Tuesday, December 22nd, but alas no class on December 29th.
As always, please visit the website at www.rosegardenyoga.com to get more information on classes and upcoming workshops and to enjoy the blog.
Peace and light,
Elizabeth
Uma, the goddess, top of the tattvas.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
