A2FS Yoga is back!

Hey y'all, please join us for A2FS Yoga! All sessions are beginner friendly.  We recommend bringing a yoga mat and wearing comfortable clothing!

Meet our new instructors:

Gina

Rodger

The sessions:

Saturday, November 2nd, 10am - 11am with Rodger

Wednesday, November 6th, 10am - 11am with Gina (Intro)
Wednesday, November 6th, 11:30 - 12:30 with Gina (Vinyasa)

at the Ann Arbor Civic Theater
322 W. Ann St. AA 48104

The sessions will start on their scheduled time, so please arrive 10-15 minutes early to give yourself time to get ready. 

Hope to see you there! Bring a friend!

Ann Arbor Sharing Summit

Hey Ann Arbor Free Skool,

        It's been a bit, last we saw you all was DIY fest in June. 

We hope everyone is having a great summer!

Spread the word about this Sharing Summit! Hope to see you there!

July 24th Yoga CANCELLED

Meet us next week. July 31st. same time.  Same place.  Same amazing Lindsy instructing!!!!!

OUTDOOR YOGA with Lindsay

Has changed to

  Every WEDNESDAY

 6:30pm in West Park near the Bandshell.  Please join us

 

SPRING DIY FEST! It's happening! SUNDAY!

More Free Yoga

MORE FREE YOGA with Lindsay Devine
Every Tuesday beginning April 23rd
6:30-7:30pm

We will meet in West park NEAR THE CLAMSHELL!

Vinyasa means 'flowing movement'. Come learn and practice traditional yoga postures, weaving them into flowing sequences. This class is for all levels.

Spring DIY Fest!!!

 

The focus of this year's A2FS Spring DIY Fest is to kick off a great summer of A2 Free Skool skillshares and events. This Saturday we will have a bunch of skillshares focused on DIY agriculture, healthy foods, and more! On top of all that there will be a great variety of deliciousness available at Mark’s Carts. Our goal is to make a positive impact here in Ann Arbor by cultivating a community of folks who help educate one another and have a damn good time doing it.

Due to the rescheduling, workshops and bands may change:

Workshops:
Massage Skillshare
Kombucha Brewing
DIY Garden Tools
Seed Starting
Eating Healthy & Losing Weight
Macrame Skillshare
DIY Dress from a T-Shirt
Spring Foraging
Hula Hoop Building
Juggling for Beginners


Bands:
Bryan Tucker
Vagrant Symphony
Dan Florida
Charles Slick
Unicorn


Don't forget to bring some donations for the Free Store! Clothing, books... anything and everything is accepted. 

Also... bonfires, bubbles and a secret performance at dusk!

Event schedule and more info coming soon.... Stay tuned!



Spring DIY Fest is coming soon!

The A2FS Spring DIY Fest will be Saturday, April 13th

starting at 4PM at Mark’s Carts and Bill’s Beer Garden



The focus of our spring DIY Fest is FOOD and there will be a great variety of deliciousness from Mark’s Carts. Our goal is to educate Ann Arbor on local food and agriculture, in as many ways as we can.


Want to help out?!

We are still seeking teachers! As we mentioned, our focus is on food, so any food demonstrations, food sampling, nutrition information, recipe cards, or garden designs would be great! We are also open to any non-food-related workshops, skillshares or art demonstrations.

We are also still seeking more entertainment, from bands for the Beer Garden, acoustic musical performers for around the Carts, live painters, dance instructors, circus performers or whatever your talent may be!

Please let us know if you are interested in contributing ASAP with an email to a2freeskool@gmail.com Our deadline for the DIY Fest schedule is Tuesday, April 2nd at midnight.

Local Politics Support Group

The local politics support group meets every second and fourth Thursday, at 214 Charles St, Ann Arbor, at 7pm.  Delicious vegetarian+vegan food will be provided and you may bring some as well.

Our speaker for Thursday, March 28 is Lawrence Kestenbaum, county clerk/regiser of deeds.

The format of the evening will be thus:
We will go around and introduce ourselves.  Then, if we have researched any topics in local politics, we will bring them up at this time and discuss them.  Our guest speaker will have a chance to weigh in on these topics, answer questions, and also bring up topics of their own.

March Teachers

Who are THESE people?

SPANISH: Carolyn Lusch   As a child, Carolyn's parents used Spanish to communicate in front of her about sensitive topics such as finances and ice cream, and she believes that this is where her preoccupation with the language began. She studied it throughout high school and in the University of Michigan's Residential College, falling in love with Roberto Bolaño and cool words such as ferrocarril (railroad). A few months in Madrid compelled her to use the word coche instead of carro, and her time at a Spanish immersion preschool forever imprinted the phrase en la boca no (don't eat it!) in her mind. When not occupied in her job (and other passion) advocating for better public transit, she likes to teach other folks how to speak this super useful language.

---

HOLISTIC WELLNESS: Ken Poucket
    - Senior Wellness Director - Creating Balance to Be Fit
    - Holistic Wellness Practitioner for 10 years
    - Logged over 20,000 one on one training hours
   
    - American Public University
              - Bachelor of Science - Exercise Science
              - Minor in Religion
    - National Academy of Sports Medicine
              - Certified Personal Trainer
              - Performance Enhancement Specialist
              - Corrective Exercise Specialist
   
   
    -NOW Foods Sponsored Athlete - UltraMarathon Running
    -Team Vega Sponsored Athlete - UltraMarathon Running
    -Team Merrell Alpha Pack Elite Team Member - UltraMarathon Running
    -Featured in Beverly International "No Nonsense Newsletter" Vol. 17, Issue 3
   
    -Author of 5 Information Manual/E-Books
              -"Food is Good" Cooking Manual
              -"Real Food...?" Seminar Manual
              -Grocery Learning Experience Manual
              -Vitality Seminar Series Informational Guidebook
              -Creating Balance Vitamin and Mineral Reference Guide
    -Creator of over 20 seminar presentations on all aspects of holistic health/wellness

---

WILD EDIBLES:

 Nathan Czuba

Nathan has been foraging for more than 10 years and once lived on nothing but foraged food for a month.

---

NON-PHARMACEUTICAL CONTRACEPTION: Christina Guldi

Christina is an aspiring neighborhood witch who believes in community healing which includes the support of local plants and people. She encourages folks to question the intentions of our current medical system(among other things) and enjoys exploring our ancient wisdom. Tubing down the Huron River in the summer months is a weekly adventure and you may see her dancing in her car to Tori Amos songs around town.  She has been studying and practicing non-pharmaceutical contraception on and off (yes, she's has her dry times) for over 10 years.  

---

Earth Democracy Book Klub LINDSEA MARCINIEC

Lindsea is a cat-loving, earth-loving ecofeminist who is interested in new philosophical/ethical background and approaches to creating a better democracy. She loves to dance, and loves bluegrass and folk music especially. She currently works at the University of Michigan as a research technician and academically speaking, got her Master's degree in community psychology and social change. As a result, she is very interesting in community based research and development of sense of community. She currently facilitates the "Earth democracy" book club at the Ann Arbor Free Skool and is enjoying it greatly!

---

                            Ashtanga & Vinyasa Yoga
    Karla Johanna                                Carla Samson

Lindsay Devine: Free Vinyasa Yoga at West Park

has been teaching yoga in Ann Arbor for the past 8 years. She lives on the West side of town with her partner, daughter, and 2 cats.

March out for some Yoga

Ann Arbor Free Skool Yoga this March

led by our favorite Certified Yoga Instructors: Carla and Karla 

• 1 pm - 2 pm on Friday, March 8th(C)
• 11 am - 12 pm on Tuesday, March 19th(K)
• 1 pm - 2 pm on Friday, March 22nd(C)
• 11 am - 12 pm on Tuesday, March 26th(K)
• 1 pm - 2 pm on Friday, March 29th(C)

A2FS Yoga will be held at the Ann Arbor Civic Theater
322 W. Ann (it's the PURPLE building hiding behind the Ross-Beakes Collison Shop)

Please arrive early and remember to bring:

1. a Yoga mat
2. a bottle of Water
3. as many Friends as you can carry

As always, our skillshares/workshops/events are completely FREE... 

                 ...but we would like share with you that A2FS will be paying $10 per session to use this studio. So, if you are feeling generous and you want A2FS Yoga to continue, please show your support by bringing a donation of a few dollars.

Collecting & Cooking Wild Edibles

with Nathan and Christina

Nathan will guide you through Miller Park to identify and gather Spring edibles, while Christina interrupts him with medicinal & folklore tidbits. After our Harvest, we will create a satisfying and well rounded meal from what we have gathered.

Sunday April 21st at 12pm to 4pm-ish: 
Meet at Miller Park at the Arborview Street Entrance.

Please bring a bag(s) to gather plants, a hand shovel (if you have one,) proper attire, or any other fun things such as your favorite knife and a ripe appetite!  

Please RSVP with Christina at YesSheSaidAA@gmail.com 

Ficktion Book Klub: The Alchemist

We are back in ACTION! 

This time around we are reading the classic

  The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Beginning Thursday March 14th, we will be meeting every Thursday in the basement of 

Cafe Ambrosia.

              7pm

 If you are interested in joining us, please do!  We ask that you get a copy of the book and read to page 35 before the first meeting so we can discuss up to that point.  It's always a pleasure to meld minds with other Free Skoolers and great literature - come see what we mean.  

From Good Reads: "Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids.  But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transformation power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts."

Linux Class

There will be a two-part class on Linux, at the "All Hands Active" hackerspace on Monday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 19 from 8-10pm.

Part I, on Monday, March 18: This class is intended for people who have heard that Linux is a thing, and aren't quite sure what that thing is, or have the idea that Linux is something they want to use and aren't quite sure how to go about it.

In Part I, we will explain what Linux is and why you might want to use it. Also, bring your laptop and join the "let's all install linux on our laptops" party.

Part II, on Tuesday, March 19: This is a class for people who have installed Linux on their computers (perhaps due to their attendance of the Linux Part I class on the previous day) and want to become better at using Linux for day-to-day productivity tasks. Figure out what open-source programs you can use to replace the closed-source software you were using.

Announcing: Body Positivity Writing Workshop

Lia Perjovschi, Body Mind Map, 2006

Bodies are weird and complicated and beautiful and they are the sites of pleasure, pain, gender, sexuality, JOY, shame, and celebration. The Body Positivity Writing Workshop will explore these complex relationships with our bodies through writing and discussion.  

Never written about your body? It can be EXCITING and THOUGHT PROVOKING and HEALING. Consider these prompts:

• When are you most aware of your body?
• What part of your body do you specifically check out in the mirror?
• When did you know your gender identity?
• What did your parents tell you about your body growing up? 

Film Dubadub Dub

 Participatory Movie Going
Empowered audience participation, improvising musicians & voice acting over a silent film!

Join us for an evening, free of charge, comprised of:

• A brief improvisational workshop (acting and very brief music improvisation)

• Screening of a classic silent film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"
• Live improvised acting and musicians (potentially you among them!)
• Community dialog on mindful media consumption and paradigms for co-creativity

While framed (and planned) as a fun experience, we hope attendees shall discover tangible themes of democracy and community in exploring opportunities for empowerment and participation.

We encourage attendees to bring their imagination, musical instruments (including some noisemakers), vocal cords, hands and feet, an open mind, creative spirit, and a healthy dollop of fun and/or silliness.

When:
7pm - 10pm on Saturday, February 23rd.

Location:
The Glass Room https://www.facebook.com/TheGlassRoomA2
617 E Liberty St #4
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

What's happening?!?!
It's basically a full-length version of the improv voice acting game "film dub" (i.e.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnkq-T0aW18 ), but with musical instruments, and audience participation set to a classic silent film followed by contemplative community discussion at the end of the night. If you enjoy the bizarre nature of a Tim Burton film (i.e. Beetlejuice, Nightmare Before Christmas), the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari should resonate well.

However, as a live group of empowered performers and audience members, we have the choice to shape the nature of the film’s narrative. In recognizing this, we can explore broader worldviews and paradigmatic implications that shape audience experiences in media, entertainment, and equitable governance. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is among the first horror films ever to grace the silver screen, but how will we choose to live our experience? As a Comedy? Tragedy? Horror? Drama? 

Using this gathering as an opportunity for transformative change, what other things shall we do as a community that we wouldn't be able to do as individuals?

Let's find out together!

 

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/549145855104225/?ref=2

Local Politics Support Group

This is a support group for those seeking to understand the politics going on in this city, county, and region. This is not an activist group, so it is okay if we don't all agree on things. It's more like a book club for reading the newspaper. Staying informed will help us to be better citizens of our democratic society.

We will be meeting on second and fourth Thursdays, at 7pm.

The format of the group is like this:

A potluck is served at a member's home. A facilitator is chosen. A guest speaker may be invited. Someone who is a news-maker: A politician, a leader of some kind.

Guest speakers so far:
Thursday, March 14 - Yousef Rabhi, Washtenaw county commissioner
Thursday, March 28 - Lawrence Kestenbaum, Washtenaw county clerk and register of deeds, and maintainer of http://politicalgraveyard.com

The guest speaker will give a talk. There will be a question period, during which the speaker is asked neutral questions of fact. Once there are no more questions, free discussion period begins, during which people are free to speak their minds, and give opinions to the guest and to each other. This might give the guest speaker an idea of how the community feels on these topics.

Next, the news discussion. Each member pitches a topic for discussion. Possibly something from an article they've read on local politics, or something based on original research. Once all the pitches are made, each person casts a secret ballot of two votes. The most popular two topics will be discussed (this is in the interest of time; if time runs short, we will at least have discussed the most popular topics).

For each topic, the person who proposed it gives a little presentation. Perhaps a summary of the article they read, or a summary of their original research. Then, a question period and a discussion period.

Discussion must be kept civil and constructive, especially in the event of a disagreement. Remember, this is not an action group, so it is not necessary that we come to decisions as a group. 

(also, see the facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/254618858006512/)

Callin' all you Crazy Yoga Cats...

Ann Arbor Free Skool Yoga is back!

led by our favorite Certified Yoga Instructors: Carla and Karla 



• Noon - 1 pm on Wednesday, February 20th (K)
• 1 pm - 2 pm on Friday, February 22nd (C)
• 11 am - Noon on Wednesday, February 27th (K)
• 1 pm - 2 pm on Friday, March 1st (C)

A2FS Yoga will be held at the Ann Arbor Civic Theater
322 W. Ann (it's the PURPLE building hiding behind the Ross-Beakes Collison Shop)

Please arrive early and remember to bring:

1. a Yoga mat
2. a bottle of Water
3. as many Friends as you can carry

As always, our skillshares/workshops/events are completely FREE... 

                 ...but we would like share with you that A2FS will be paying $10 per session to use this studio. So, if you are feeling generous and you want A2FS Yoga to continue, please show your support by bringing a donation of a few dollars.

New A2FS Book Klub is starting up!

Want to make your own Cheese?

Welcome to Lactomancy 101!

Welcome to Lactomancy 101!  Watch as cheese aficionado and amateur lactomancer Holly Richardson makes fresh, delicious mozzarella cheese in about 30 minutes right before your eyes - and you get to taste the results!  Discover how you can make cheeses such as mozzarella, paneer, ricotta, and queso blanco right in your own kitchen using simple, inexpensive, and easy to source ingredients.  Resource materials will be provided, but please bring a writing instrument to jot down a few notes.

Where: 208 W.Liberty Ann Arbor MI

When: this Saturday, Feb 16th, 2pm- 4pm 

Science and Logic Discussion Group

If you have an interest in science and the natural world, then the
Science and Logic Discussion Group is for you! We will discuss topics
in the popular media ranging from biology to physics, with a special
emphasis on critical thinking and advocacy. Kelly will provide articles for
discussion, or feel free to bring your own!

Stop by and join the discussion this Thursday, Feb 7th over a cup of coffee at Cafe
Ambrosia in downtown Ann Arbor from 7-8 pm.

This month's discussion topic will be on the medicalization of
obesity: portrayals of illness in primary literature and their
resonance in academic and popular culture.

Hope to see you there!



Ann Arbor ReSkilling Festival this SUNDAY!

Check out what our friends from

Transition Ann Arbor and Rudolf Steiner High School

are up to this Sunday:

 

 

" The Ann Arbor ReSkilling Festival aims to help people learn skills for resilient, low-energy living—from canning to meditation to quilting and starting a garden. The concept of reskilling is about preparing for our low-energy future by acquiring new skills related to what we eat, wear, use and live in. As Transition Towns founder Rob Hopkins points out, “We no longer have many of the basic skills our grandparents took for granted.” Reskilling means providing for ourselves and our communities by growing, preserving, creating, building, and teaching.

 

Ann Arbor has hosted 5 day-long ReSkilling Festivals since 2009 — with our largest attendance at 225 people. The festivals are free and open to the public, and each one is pretty different! Localizers around the country have contacted us about our success with this event (notice that our event is one of the top google hits when you type in “reskilling”!)

 

The Rudolf Steiner High School (2230 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor 48105) graciously offers their building and grounds for the festival, and just visiting this high school building nestled in the woods is an experience in itself. During the festival, sessions happen all day long at the school — in classrooms, stone circles, the woods, and old homes on the property. The commons are vibrant all day with food and conversation. "

Here are a few of the classes and workshops of the Festival:

Winter Botany........................................................

............Cordage from Wild Plants...........................

............................Meditation....................................

..............................................Homemade Nut Milks

.................................Bike Repair.............................

.....................Rain Gardens.....................................

Firemaking without matches...................................

.....................................................and many more!!!

 AWWWWWWWWESOME! Right?

 

Visit http://a2reskilling.com/ for all the AA ReSkilling Festival details!

 

We hope to see you there!

with love,

              A2FS

 

DO EPIC SHIT

no excuses.

Ann Arbor Free Skool classes are back! 

What will you learn this month?

Want to help?
We have so many opportunities for you to get involved RIGHT MEOW!

do good for you and the world around you!!!

VIVA FREE SKOOL!

Knitting & Crochet Circle

Hey everyone come join a circle of friends for knitting and crochet circle. Tuesday Jan 29, 2013 @ Arbor Brewing Company 

Come learn new techniques for you experienced Knitting and Crocheters.  Or come amerce yourself in a new skill!   (p.s its half off growler day)

Qi Gong, Shiatsu Massage, and economics >This Week!

 this week! 

A series at the Baker Coop

(917 S Forest, Ann Arbor

with certified massage therapist, alternative economic activist organizer and journalist  

Mira Luna
 

QI GONG   tuesday,  jan 22 

10-10:45 am

wild goose qi gong is an ancient healing art practice from china that helps moves stagnant energy and blood and relaxes the mind and muscles through gentle flowing movements. wear comfortable clothes if possible.

Shiatsu Massage  thurs jan 24 

8-10pm

learn ancient Asian massage techniques that use rhythmic pressure on acupressure points and stretching of energy meridians to help the body relax and heal itself with certified massage therapist and asian bodyworker mira luna.

alternative economic discussion fri jan 25 

8-10 pm

lets talk radical economic change. learn what people are doing across the country to rebuild their economies locally from the grassroots up through relationship and community building and brainstorm new and current projects for ann arbor 

  email mira at mira (at) shareable.net 

 call 415-410-4622 if you are late

Make your own Macrame

Please RSVP on 

SeCrET YoGa.... Shhhhhhh

                                                                              

Calling out to all our Ninja Yogis

                                                            

when:This Friday@ 8pm

where: meeting by the big ants across from Ambrosia 

why: to get our yoga on 

who: local yogis and ninjas 

So here is  how its working. The  A2 Free Skool has their Yoga class back.  It's   in a  secret location . This Friday we will meet under the big ants across from Ambrosia coffee  (off Maynard st ) before  8pm . Promptly at 8pm a  Free Skool  organizer will meet you, to guide you to the underground studio .  Be there on time ! There will only be one trip 

(Limited space available )                into the secret area and one trip out.

                                                <<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>

Non Pharmaceutical Contraception Series

   Non-Pharmaceutical Contraception: 

A guided discussion over five meetings.

 Christina presents a safe and non-judgemental place and interactive study group for those interested in understanding their own menstrual cycles and how to incorporate natural methods accompanied with herbs to create a comprehensive contracetive plan that works for your lifestyle and personal beliefs                                                                               

 18 & over only please

EVERY OTHER MONDAY FROM 7pm-9ish

Feb 11/Feb 25/Mar 11/Mar 25/APR 8

Questions or RSVP: YesSheSaidAA@gmail.com

 Session One: What do you want to get out of this group? and an in-depth look at the menstrual cycle, the pros and con's of having a natural cycle, and the pro's and con's to pharmaceutical birth control.
 
Session Two: FERTILITY AWARENESS & BEYOND: Creating your own chart. Understanding and recognizing the common signs of fertility and how to begin to understand your own that may be unique to you! 
 
Session Three: Discussion of a wide variety of  non-pharma options to use along with your fertility awareness methods. 
 
Session Four: Review of information and questions. When can I begin to trust myself to know the signs?  Open discussion
 
Session Five: Where do I go from here? Am I ready to use this as a form of birth control? What are my options if I do become pregnant?  And of course...anything else that comes up.    
 

OPEN TO ALL. WOMEN AND MEN and everyone in between.  (it may be a little boring or much for folks who don't identify as women) You do not need to be sexually active or you may be perfectly happy with your current form of contraception and have no plans to discontinue it,  but want to understand your body on a deeper level.  We accept and welcome all opinions and insight.  

+++++A microscope will be available for your use at each session...and I will show you how to use it if you like!++++