The Centered Place Newsletter
June-July 2026
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It's ironic — a cosmic joke, or at least an earthly one. The summer solstice is approaching (Sunday). The days have been growing longer, and the solstice marks the apex: the day with the longest period of daylight of the year. The irony is that right after the summer solstice the days begin to get shorter. The first day of summer is the starting point of a slow turn back toward winter and the longest nights of darkness!
You could respond to that irony with melancholy, in which case you'd be overlooking the several months ahead that will surely bring plenty of light and warmth to enjoy. Or, you could see the irony as a wake-up call, acknowledging that the radiance of summer doesn't last forever. Make hay while the sun shines.
The glass is half full, yes. But, you can enjoy that half instead of bemoaning what you will miss.
After class a couple days ago, as the students got up to leave, I said: "Enjoy your life." As these words came out of my mouth, I initially wanted to swallow them back. The words seemed to convey a sense of finality, like I would not see them again. But they came from a good place in my heart, as a good wish, not a farewell, but rather bidding them to "fare well," to be well and to enjoy being. I really wanted to say "enjoy your day," but why not "enjoy your life"? Life is a wonderful gift, even with the pain and suffering that inevitably comes with living on this plane as a human being. "LIfe does bring some discomfort and pain to every being," writes Swami Nirmalananda in her June teachings article (Time & Timelessness). "A yogi moves through them with equanimity, happy even in the midst of difficulties."
The very first sentence of that article is:
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"Infinite Beingness is being finite by being you."
You were given this finite body so you could experience Infinite Beingness. Enjoy your Infinite Beingness while you still have this body to live in, while you still have this planet to live on, while you still have the light and warmth of the sun to make life possible.
Enjoy your life!
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Coming Up These next Few Days!
Fireworks at QRHS (Warren) Friday Night (June 19)
The annual free fireworks display at Quaboag Regional High School starts around 8:30 or so, preceded by music from the band Wonderland Mafia.
Juneteenth Holiday Friday (June 19)
Commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the Civil War.
A Community Health and Wellness Fair in Hardwick MA, Saturday morning (June 20) 9 am to 1 pm:
This event is hosted by Eagle Hill School, a community event to connect people with local resources that support wholeness and well being. Experience the many ways local towns and surrounding areas support wellness, from yoga and massage to local farms, art, community services and healthcare providers. We'll be the yoga representatives at this fair. That's why there's no class at The Centered Place Saturday morning. At the fair, Phil will give a 30-minute introductory class (10:30 to 11). For more information about the fair, click here.
A Summer Solstice Celebration in West Brookfield, Saturday 5 to 9 pm (June 20)
The West Brookfield Art & Frame shop and the Joy of Beans coffee shop (10 & 12 East Main St) welcome the public to join their 3rd annual outdoor Summer Solstice party. Music will be provided by a local favorite grup, Spooner Well, and Carribbean fare from the Bobo Flames restaurant in Boston. The Joy of Beans will have a variety of coffeee and tea beverages along with a nice selection of pastries. The art gallery will have a fun art project or two for kids and adults a like. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a lovely evening.
Free Concert and Food at First Congregational Church, West Brookfield Saturday 6 to 8 pm
Solstice Sing for Peace and Justice - Songs to Cultivate Community, Compassion and Commitment
The church will host a concert at 7 pm, preceded by a social hour 6 - 7 pm. The concert features the local singing group A Chorus for These Times, directed by Nym Cooke with instrumentalists and guest artist Leslie Sweetnam. There is no admission fee but donations will be accepted to support Abby's House in Worcester, Worcester's largest provider of affordable housing specifically designed to meet the needs of women and children. The church is located at 36 N. Main Street, West Brookfield MA.
Father's Day and Summer Solstice (Sunday June 21)
For a touching testimony of one's love for his father, see the Video of the month below.
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July 4th: Independence Day
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men [and women] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That, whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness..."
Just as the goal of Svaroopa® yoga is to discover, know and honor your Self, your true nature, which is free and independent, so we, as citizens of this nation, once undivided, should rediscover and remind ourselves of how the 13 colonies united as one and bravely declared its independence from the British monarchy.
Likewise, we should rediscover and remind ourselves of the Constitution of the United States, which defines the essence and structure of our government, establishing the checks and balances that ensure no one branch or tyrant can gain too much power.
The preamble to the Constitution begins with the words "We the People," defining the government based on the principle of popular sovereignty, meaning that ultimate authority is given to the governed (the people), and the governed are the source of all political legitimacy.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
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- Announcements & Reminders
- Practice of the Month
- More Illuminating Words in Dark Times
- Success of the QRHS Scholarship Fundraiser
- Ongoing Local Fundraiser
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Ongoing Global Fundraiser
- Class schedule & Fees
- Zoom Information for Online Attendance to Classes
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- Testimonials
- Health Notices
- Birthdays
- In loving memory: Patti White of W. Brookfield
- Offerings from the Ashram
- Wisdom to Live By
- Video of the Month
- Enlighten Up
- Please give us a review!
- Problems Receiving Newsletters?
| | | Announcements and Reminders | |
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No class Saturday June 20: Nancy and I will be representing The Centered Place at the Community Health & Wellness Fair at Eagle Hill School in Hardwick. Phil will give a 1/2 hour introduction to yoga at 10:30 am. There will be door prizes. For more information, click here.
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Saturday June 27 class ON-SITE only (NO ZOOM). Nancy will teach. Phil is participating in the EQLT (East Quabbin Land Trust) Bike Tour to benefit the organization.
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No class Friday July 3 and Saturday July 4: Fourth of July weekend.
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Recommit to your New Year's resolution; or make a new one for the rest of the year, or for the summer, at least
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At the beginning of this year, we asked you to write the following on an index card and submit it:
(1) what you have gained from your yoga practice
and
(2) what you wish to gain from yoga this year.
Here are some responses:
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- (1) Softness and calmness
(2) Conscious presence
- (1) Awareness
(2) Acceptance
- (1) Perspective
(2) Contentment
- (1) Flexibility
(2) Balance
- (1) Peace
(2) Freedom from anger and fear
- (1) Inner peace
(2) Continue to cultivate more calm
- (1) Peace and health
(2) Know God
- (1) Calm
(2) Better balance
- (1) Calming
(2) Continued peace
- (1) Inner peace
(2) Flexibility
- (1) Grounded
(2) Focused
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- (1) Clarity
(2) Stillness
- (1) Inner peace
(2) To keep my mind in a peaceful place
- (1) Inner calm
(2) Resilience
- (1) Patience
(2) Kindness
- (1) Peace
(2) Tranquility
- (1) Reduced anxiety
(2) Relaxation
- (1) Strength of Self, physically and mentally
(2) Focus, love, happiness!
- (1) Feeling serene
(2) Cultivate peacefulness and strength
- (1) Growing calmness
(2) More peaceful and gratitude
- (1) Sense of peace
(2) Believe in myself
| | | More Illuminating Words
in Dark Times | | |
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." ~ William James
“Watch out for each other. Love everyone and forgive everyone, including yourself. Forgive your anger. Forgive your guilt. Your shame. Your sadness. Embrace and open up your love, your joy, your truth, and most especially your heart.”
~ Jim Henson, puppeteer and creator of The Muppets for Sesame Street
"In the midst of darkness, light persists." ~ Gandhi
"Light is to darkness what love is to fear; in the presence of one, the other disappears." ~ Marianne Williamson
“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer… Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.” ~ John Lennon
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Some Good News from goodnewsnetwork.org:
- She rescued a crow stuck in a gutter; Now a murder of crows brings her gifts and follows her with gratitude. Watch video and read full story here: GoodNewsNetwork.
- Nebraska's largest wildfire burned through a thousand square miles of ranch land, destroying every foot of grass on a family's 11,000-acre ranch. With no pasture left and cattle that still needed feeding, the family faced a crisis. No one asked for help; nevertheless, it came anyway. Farmers, ranchers and truck drivers from as faw away as South Caroline brought $80,000 worth of hay, mostly from anonymous donors who simply heard what had happended and decided to act. A cattle disaster relief fund raised over a million dollars going directly to affected cattle owners. People heard that ranchers who had spent their lives building something had watched it burn, and they came through to help. Watch Steve Hartman CBS Evening News report and read the full story.
- Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon biome fell by 23.5% in 2025 compared to the year before, with a nationwide decrease of 21% driven by stronger environmental enforcement and improved satellite monitoring.
- AI is protecting elephants,: Acoustic sensor networks deployed in forest canopies can detect sounds of poachers, chainsaws and illegal vehicles using AI analysis, giving rangers early warning that protects both elephants and the forests they live in.
- A team at the University of Rochester developed a solar-thermal panel that turns ocean water into drinking water. Leftover salt becomes lithium. No waste. No chemical additives. Watch the university video and read the full study.
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Another QRHS Scholarship Fundraiser Success | |
Once again, we (you) all did it! Together we raised $3600. With this, we were able to provide generous scholarships to four seniors. All four have a great desire to make the world a better place. At right, Nancy and I are shown presenting scholarships to the four graduates (standing up front, from left to right: Olive Moulton, William Lopes, Reece Minerand Landon Hogan). All four students excelled academically and contributed to their school and communities as volunteers and class officers. Three of them were top athletes. More about each follows.
| | | | Reece Miner will attend Norwich University in Vermont with a scholarship for the school's soccer program. He was an All Star soccer player. He had the 3rd highest GPA in the senior class and earned First Honors awards. He plans to major in Civil Engineering and hopes to improve the efficency and safety of transportation systems and make them more eco-friendly. He volunteered for the Worcester Food Shelter, church food drives, and Boston Children's Hospital Extra Life program. | | | Olive Moulton is going to UMass Amherst. Her focus will be Natural Sciences and Community Outreach. Her grade point average was 2nd of her class of 71 seniors. She received First Honors every quarter, earned an AP Scholar award, the Worcester County Superintendents Award, All Star Athletic Award and was captain of the school's soccer team. She volunteered for a soup kitchen and helped raise money for Boston Children's Hospital Extra Life program. | | | |
Landon Hogan is going to attend Endicott College with a major in nursing. He wants to improve the lives of patients and their families, and improve our healthcare system, making it more compassionate and supportive. He was elected Volunteer of the Year, National Honors Society and captain of the varsity baseball team. He was a four-year class officer and Vice President of the National Honor Society.
Landon sent a thank you note, including these words: "I sincerely appreciate your generosity and support in my future. And thank you for helping me pursue my dreams!"
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William Lopes will attend Boston College as a Pre-Med student with a major in Biology. He was Valedictorian of his class. He had the highst GPA and took every AP/Honors class he could. For a Biology project, he helped develop a CRISPR-based cancer therapy. He was elected to the National Honor Society. He served his school in numerous ways, from working backstage for theater productions to being Treasurer of the school's Entrepreneurship Club. He implemented an integrated financial system for the school's store.
William sent a thank you note to The Centered Place contributors and Scholarship Committee. In it, he wrote: "This scholarship will directly support my college education, where I plan to study biology and pursue a career in the medical field. Your generosity will ease the financial burden of college and allow me to focus on my academic growth.
"I am excited to work toward making a meaningful impact in other people's lives, just as your support made a difference in mine... Thank you again for your kindness and support."
| | | Thanks to the following who contributed to the fundraiser: | |
- Nancy (Purna) Chang
- Pam Hinckley
- Faye Allen
- Patricia O'Connor
- Bill Pelletier
- Megan McDonough
- Pat Morrison
- Kathy Bassford & Pete
- Marie & Mike Thibeault
- Ram Sudama
- Naomi Shields
- Jean McNulty
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- Lisa Remiszewski
- Terry Hall
- Sharon Johnson
- Suzie Durand
- Cheryl Zelazo
- Kathleen Quinn Wild
- Jackie Korzec
- Susan (Abhya) Gitlitz
- Dee Blanton
- Suzanne Gendreau
- The Centered Place
- Nancy Nowak
| | | Thanks to the Scholarship Committee members: | | Our thanks to Nancy (Purna) Chang and Marie Thibeault for joining us again this year to evaluate scholarship applications and help choose the students to be honored and the amount of money to be offered to each. Each scholarship application consists of roughly 10 pages, including transcripts, letters of reference, and an essay describing what change they would like to make in the world, how they would make that change, what obstacles they might encounter, and what major obstacle they have already overcome in their life and how this will help them succeed in the future. | | |
Sharing Cupboard Food Pantry
We continue collecting donations of money, food and other items for the West Brookfield Sharing Cupboard Food Pantry. Monetary donations are always welcome. They allow the Pantry to shop locally and fill its inventory more quickly as immediate needs arise.
You can drop off your donations of food or money anytime at The Centered Place, or bring them directly to the Pantry the second Thursday of each month from 11am – 1 pm or 5 – 6:30 pm. Or call 508-344-2682 to make appointment.
The Sharing Cupboard entrance is at the back of the First Congregational Church on 36 North Main Street, West Brookfield (across from the Common).
Current needs are: coffee (canned preferred though bagged works for some people), mayo, ketchup, cookies and crackers.
"It's hard to think we have so much and some people have so little."
~ Kathy B., frequent contributor and student of The Centered Place
Checks can be left with us or mailed to:
Sharing Cupboard Food Pantry
P.O. Box 371
West Brookfield, MA 01585
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Volunteers are always needed.
Sharing Cupboard Food Pantry
The First Congregational Church
36 North Main Street West Brookfield 508-344-2682
| | Ongoing Global Fundraiser | | |
Our World Central Kitchen fundraiser is ongoing. WCK has relief efforts in Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti and other emergency areas around the world. So far, we (that's you and us!) have raised well over $1000. Thanks to those of you who have donated and who are donating monthly!
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Mondays
5:30 to 7 pm
Continuing Svaroopa® Yoga
Tuesdays
9:00 to 10:30 am
Continuing Svaroopa® Yoga
6:00 to 8:00 pm
Svaroopa® Yoga+Meditation
Wednesdays
5:00 to 6:30 pm
Continuing Svaroopa® Yoga
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Thursdays (On-site only)
9 to 10:30 am
Continuing Svaroopa® Yoga
Fridays
10:00 to 11:30 am
Experienced Svaroopa® Yoga
Saturdays
10:00 to 11:30 am
Continuing Svaroopa® Yoga
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- All classes are offered onsite and online except Thursday mornings, which are onsite only.
- You can join the Experienced class Friday mornings if you know the basic poses and require little assistance.
- If you are new or need assistance, start with Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday mornings if you can, or sign up for a private introductory session (or even a series of private classes).
| | The following buttons link to PDF files that you can download and print: | | Seniors can have 10% discounts for classes (the retiree rate). Scholarships are available for those in financial need. Gift certificates are also available. Give a loved one a gift that keeps giving! | |
Zoom Information for Online Class Attendance
| To join a class online, click the Join Zoom Class button below a few minutes before a class's start time: | |
Or, copy this link and paste it in your browser:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4132778765?pwd=M0QxMTNKYlhtc1lCb1R4NEdIQnRhZz09
Or, if Zoom prompts you for the meeting ID and passcode, enter the following:
Meeting ID: 413 277 8765
Passcode: YourSelf
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Testimonials from Yoga Students
"I think Svaroopa® yoga and your classes may be the 'missing link" for me. I had gotten away from yoga since the pandemic and have not found a good alternative to Svaroopa® yoga. I will attend your classes much more regularly and am confident that it will help with some health issues that have been bugging me." ~ Phil Sullivan, Boxboro MA [Phil and his wife, Jeanne, regularly attended classes I taught in Westford MA, near where I worked before retiring. So glad you found the missing link, Phil! It's always a pleasure serving you.]
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We have plenty of air circulation and air filters. Warm when it's cold; cool when it's hot.
If you feel ill, have a cough or runny nose, or might have been exposed to someone who has a flu, it's best to stay home. Feel free to join classes via Zoom.
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Scent-Free Studio
Help us accommodate those who are chemically sensitive to fragrances and other scented products. Thank you!
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"There are two great days in a person's life: the day we are born and the day we discover why."
~ William Barclay
We wish the following students and friends a very happy birthday. Those whose names are in bold are students who are currently attending classes. Wish we could embolden the rest of you!
June Birthdays
Lisa Ambruson (2nd), Harri-Ann Porter (7th), Cheryl Roberts (8th), Lynn Lak and Jonathan Miller (9th), Roxann Callender (11th), Nancy Nowak (12th), Susan Procopio, Debra Mitchell (14th), Ellan (Shanti) Catacchio (16th), Norma Beaudry, Karen Kurr (17th), Linda Dorman, Madeline Smola and Michelle McGrath (18th), Susan Rutherford (24th), Susan Wolfman (28th), Suzie Durand (30th).
July Birthdays
Marie Thibeault (1st), Karlene Barbrick (3rd), Anne Grace (4th), Susan Contacos & Linda Matondi (5th), Jessica Swistak, Kay Caruso & Linda Mitchell (8th), Jenn Hodgdon & Susan Cheney (9th), Lisa Remiszewski (11th), Freddie Diamond (16th), Linda LaCroix (18th), Eva Lowe, Jean Lawrence & Karen Nothe-Valley (20th), Naomi Shields (22nd), Phil (Krishna) (23rd), Louise Chase (24th), Stuart Hodder (26th), Christine Holbrook (30th).
The best things about birthdays? You get to celebrate another year of being awesome.
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In Loving Memory:
Patricia White of West Brookfield
September 24, 1940 - May 4, 2026
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We are sad to announce the passing of our dear friend, Patti White. As her obituary states, "To know Patti was to be welcomed, loved and often delightfully entertained." We are grateful for the knowing.
She and her husband of 65 years, Frank, used to come regularly for classes at our studio. When she became disabled by a stroke, Nancy and I went to her home weekly to teach and do whatever we could to help. Even disabled, she continued to be welcoming, loving and entertaining.
Patti was a dedicated elementary school teacher. She taught many years at the Brookfield Elementary School.
"Of all the seasons," writes her son Eric, "Halloween held a special place in her heart. Each year, she and Frank transformed their home into a delightfully spooky spectacle, welcoming neighbors, families and even dogs into her world of playful tricks or treats. Dressed as a witch, she fully embraced the mischief and magic of the night, while Frank stood near the treasure chest of candy."
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the in Patti’s name to the Worcester Animal Rescue League at www.worcesterarl.org/donate.
| | Offerings from Swami Nirmalananda and the Ashram | | |
Numerous free audio recordings are available online. Listen from home or during your travels. Listen from your cell phone (using the new Gurudevi app), or from your PC at https://svaroopa.org/audio-recording.
Many videos of Gurudevi's discourses are available for rent.
You can also purchase numerous audios, such as the Mystical Yogic Breathing CD pictured on the right.
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You can attend Satsangs in which Gurudevi presents discourses on yogic teachings and leads chanting and meditations.
You can also join Swami Nirmalananda online in meditation every morning, by subscription.
New books by Swami Nirmalananda are available.
For more information, see https://svaroopa.org/books
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Evenmindedness
"Yoga is equanimity."
~ Bhagavadgita 2.48
"When you have inner depth, you take things in stride. Events do not create your happpiness or unhappiness. Life does bring some discomfort and pain to every being. A yogi moves through them with equanimity, happy even in the midst of difficulties.
This is because the yogi doesn't depend on externals for their happiness. Their identity is not based on possissions, places or other people. Their inner dimensionality supports them in life's ups and downs. You are cultivating this inner state of boundlessness with every meditation and every pose you do. .. You are becoming more centered, deeper in your own inner infinitude..." [Bold type added]
From Gurudevi's June 2026 teaching article Time & Timelessness.
Click the button below to read and/or print the article.
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"When you realize that each day is not one more day. It's one less. You will start giving more value to the things that truly matter."
- unknown
"When we break away from the busyness and superficial activity of technology-drunk daily life . . . time slows, the world becomes more vivid, and we fall in love with our life, again." ~ Waylon Lewis, founder of Elephant Journal
"I am a lover of what is, not because I’m a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality." —Byron Katie
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The Family Equation
Whenever Dr. William Lynn Weaver needed help solving a problem, he knew he could always count on his father, Ted Weaver, who was a janitor and chauffeur. In high school, Lynn was one of 14 Black students who integrated West High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. During this difficult time, Lynn was also trying to stay on top of his academics. At StoryCorps, Lynn told his daughter, Kimberly, how his dad showed him the way forward. He said, "I'd be a success if my children loved me half as much as I loved my father." [2 minutes plus credits]
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Summer Groaners That (Hopefully) Will Also Make you Laugh
An Alaskan asks another, “How was your summer?”
“Terrible, I was sick that day.”
Why don’t rabbits ever get hot in the summer?
Because they have hare-conditioning!
How do fleas travel in the summer?
By itch hiking.
It’s so hot this summer, the Halloween candy at a local big box store is starting to melt.
What wears a coat in winter and pants in the summer?
A dog!
What do you call a mathematician who spends all summer in the sun?
A tangent.
A businessman went into the office and found an inexperienced handyman painting the walls. The handyman was wearing two heavy parkas on a hot summer day.
Thinking this was a little strange, the businessman asked the handyman why he was wearing the parkas on such a hot day.
The handyman showed him the instructions on the can of paint. They read: “For best results, put on two coats.”
When do you go at red and stop at green?
When you’re eating a watermelon.
Why do castles get attacked in summer?
Knights are shorter then.
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Please Give Us a Review
So many of you have written us to tell us how much you appreciate our studio and services. Could you take a moment to add a comment about The Centered Place on Google and Facebook?
Your reviews help folks become aware of our studio. Plus, reviews help reassure potential students out there that they can trust us.
We thank you!
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Wishing you all the peace, love and strength you need to face each day and make it a better one, for you and for others.
Phil and Nancy 🙏🙂🧡
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