news briefs

NamaStay Sobruary Challenge

NamaStay Sober is holding their 4th annual Sobruary (Sober February) Challenge. Whether someone is already in recovery, sobercurious or just looking to swap a misused habit for something healthy like meditation or yoga, NamaStay has resources that can help. Whatever wellness journey you are on in life and wherever you find yourself on that journey, NamaStay invites you to participate in the Sobruary Challenge alongside their community this year.

NamaStay Sober is a nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Nico Longo after the loss of a friend to opioid addiction. Based in Massachusetts with community chapters in other states, their mission is to aid those in recovery by reconnecting their bodies and minds through affordable yoga, fitness, meditation and wellness focused community events.

“It is difficult to put into words how grateful I am for @namastaysober. In its infancy, NamaStay provided solace in a time when I was grieving the loss of a dear friend to addiction. Over time, it developed into a place where I felt safe to share about my own struggles with an eating disorder. Eventually, it led me to discover a community of like-minded individuals that support one another through healthier outlets, such as yoga and meditation, so that we all may live a life of more freedom, self-expression and peace.” says Longo “In essence, that is what this year’s Sobruary Challenge is all about - supporting each other in discovering what we put in the space that sobriety creates.”

For more information on NamaStay Sober, their Sobruary Challenge with expanded virtual programming, visit NamaStaySober.com or contact info@namastaysober.com.

The more important an activity is to your soul’s evolution, the more resistance you will feel to it—the fear you will feel.

~Steven Pressfield

DrLMSteinberg.com • BiologicalDentistsOfNJ.com

Eco Serein: Small Steps to Big Change

Like most people who end up doing big things, Diana Spinka and Sanja Zugic, founders of Eco Serein, started out small. They began changing the world by changing their own habits—going vegan, giving up plastics and single-use items, and reusing rather than buying new.

Then in 2019, they organized their first two beach cleanups and had a moment of realization, Spinka says.

“We saw a beautiful seagull unable to walk because his legs were tangled in a piece of rope,” she recalls. “And we thought, We don’t have to be superheroes to make this world a better place. Small steps are enough for a start. Since then we’ve collected more than 4,000 pounds of trash and organized big cleanups in Europe and the USA, as well as spent a few hours every week cleaning local beaches and parks by ourselves.”

They founded Eco Serein to provide people with alternatives to plastics. “Our goal is to decrease the use of plastic and to show people that we can limit the amount of it on a regular basis,” Spinka says.

Their latest green product is a bamboo toothbrush with a travel case, to replace the 3.5 billion plastic toothbrushes sold each year worldwide.

“These end up in landfills, polluting our air, land and waters,” Spinka says. “Using a bamboo toothbrush reduces your carbon footprint, making the earth a better place.”

For more information, visit EcoSerein.com.

Mama Strength Created by Erin Livingston will present a Mama Online Workout Class, Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. through April 24.

“This online class is for all my mamas or soon-tobe-mamas,” Livingston says. “We will focus on stretches, breathing exercises and strengthening that will cater to your body. All levels are welcome.”

Props needed are a chair, eight-to-ten-pound weights, a mat and a ball or pillow. A Zoom link will be emailed at the time of booking. Use the link to sign in at the start of class.

Mama Strength Created by Erin Livingston serves Hudson County for in-person training, in-home and outdoors.

Cost: $15. To register or for more information, visit MamaStrength.com.

‘(R)evolutionary Love’ Class Promotes Healing

Meditation and yoga teacher LaurieG will lead a livestream class, (R) evolutionary Love: Self-Compassion and Care in Challenging Times, from 2 to 4 p.m. on February 14.

“This deeply nourishing, insightful and healing practice was created to support you in showing up more wholeheartedly in the space of your relations—beginning with yourself, spirit and center,” she says. “It’s been a rough go of it for many of us. In the past year we have endured heartbreak, loss, grief and countless falling offs, and we are longing for connection—just getting through the day can feel like a lot. Can we do so loving ourselves through it? Love for ourselves is foundational.”

The class will include breathwork, contemplation, mantra, meditation, slow-flowing movement and Yoga Nidra.

One of LaurieG’s first teachers, Erich Schiffmann, suggests that at the heart of practice is opening ourselves so we may simply be “the space through which love flows.”

“We will listen inwardly for a deeper understanding of the ways in which we have abandoned ourselves and otherwise inhibited the flow of love—and call the whole of ourselves home to relax like a wave, back into the ocean of the boundless love available to us,” LaurieG says. “You will emerge feeling the love, deeply relaxed and inspired, with your cup filled to pour from.”

Cost: $25. For more information, call 201-683-4002 or visit UrbanSoulsYoga.com. We need to support our local restaurants now more than ever, and Jersey City Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to do it. More than 100 restaurants will be offering lunch or dinner options as part of the event, which runs from January 26 through February 9.

Among the participating businesses are Hard Grove, the Ashford, Six26 Lounge & Rooftop, Porta, Wurstbar, Latham House, Emma’s, Ani Ramen, Freetown Road Project, Paulie’s Brickhouse, the Rooftop at Exchange Place, 902 Brewing, Amiya Restaurant, Just Beclaws, Luna Restaurant and Bar, Barge Inn, Subia’s Vegan Cafe, Grace O’Malleys, Hudson Hound Jersey City, Amelia’s Bistro and CrepeNBake.

This city-wide event is sponsored by the Jersey City Restaurant Association in partnership with Jersey City Special Improvement Districts.

Cost: $100 to participate. For more information, visit Jersey City Restaurant Week on Facebook.

Library Offers ‘Writing for Wellness’

The Hoboken Library is offering Writing for Wellness, an online weekly support group that fosters expression, every Wednesday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. through March 31. The group is open to adults and young adults.

Led by a social work professional, writing sessions will cover positive coping skills, self-care journaling, reflection activities and more. All sessions will be held live on Zoom.

For more information and to register, visit HobokenLibrary.org/literacy.

Busy Bee Offers Couples Cooking Class

Busy Bee Organics, in Jersey City, is serving up a threecourse evening in for two from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on February 14. The class includes all ingredients and recipes, as well as a candle and flowers, for a special Valentine’s night staying in.

Couples will be preparing an appetizer, entrée and dessert at home. The kit will be delivered the Monday prior to the scheduled class. Cost: $185. To register or for more information, visit BusyBeeOrganics.com/Product/Cooking-Classes/.