So you want to run Yoga retreats?Awesome!A common goal for many yoga teachers, and also prospective teachers - at least one that people have shared often with me.While they can be super rewarding - travel, paycheck, facilitating that feel-good magic of retreats, witnessing the building of communi

Just in case no one has told you today, YOU are MAGICI used to start all my newsletters with this reminder, and even though it’s fallen away - it’s still one of my most favorite sentences. In fact, it’s one that drapes over my front door - streamer styler - so I must enter and exit through this inc

Question for contemplation:What brought you to yoga?Chances are that it was the physical practice of asanas (loosely translated to postures/poses) - whether in a studio, or gym, or 17 magazines (me!) was your first introduction.Follow up question:What made you stay? OR What brought you back (if

Before I begin - let me go ahead and admit my strong bias on this topic. 🙂I strongly disagree with the “all-levels” distinction for yoga asana classes. First, we would NEVER consider an all-levels math class so why would we pretend that we can conduct a physical-based practice for ALL?!What happen

Or is it an Affirmation?I am enoughI am loveI am worthyAUMLokah Samastah Sukhino BhavantuOm Gam Ganapati NamahaMantra is another example of Yogic practices being assimilated into mainstream popularity, and often striped of cutlure.Bracelets, sticky notes placed on bathroom mirrors, or repea

Quick story: I teach a weekly class in one of the government building in downtown Charlotte for the city/county employees. I go through security - which consists on a metal detector and a quick look through my belongings. Recently, when I walked through a random passerby made comments about not need

Tbh I was going to stop writing about Pada 1 of the Yoga Sutras a few months ago - but the divine timing and richness of these teachings refuses to let me move on - yet.But first, a moment of deeper truth: I have quite a few unhealthy attachments.To people, to titles, to goals, and to outcomes….th

Alternate title:“Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything there is a season)”Also often stuck in my head on repeat :)s/o to The Byrds for this brilliance!Back on track….and AYURVEDA!!Ayur-whatza?!Say it with me:EYE-YUR-VED-ANow 3x fast!HeeheeThat was just for fun!In recent years, Ayurveda has g

Is best summed up with infamous quote “Write drunk, and edit sober.”(often attributed to Ernest Hemingway but a quick google search reveals that inaccuracy - and muddiness in who may have actually said it but maybe influenced by William Faulkner)First, I’m not advocating for us all to go get drunk

Over the last few months I’ve spent time highlighting the first few Yoga Sutras, but I haven’t really talked about what the Yoga Sutras are.Before we go further, let’s back up.And gain some relevance and perspective.First, what is a sutra?Closely related to the word suture - it’s considered a th

Teaching more than 1 yoga class in a day?Keep reading for a tip based in Ayurveda (and other philosophical systems)!The short version?Learn to harness the energies of Sun, Moon and Fire for slight tweaks in your sequence to respect the times of day and their unique energetic needs.Did you know t

I’ve been asking myself WHY a lot lately!from job stuffto life stuffto patternsto choicesto temporary upside down momentsWhy?This year I've also dedicating myself to further studies of both anatomy and philosophy - particularly the Yoga Sutras.Why anatomy?This has been on my education list

The epic battle Heart versus Brain - has been waging long before The Awkward Yeti made it funny and relatable.The cardiocentric approach - that the heart is the ruler of all - comes from Egyptian mythology (3100 B.C.E. - 332 B.C.E.) and was reinforced by the Greek dissections of Aristotle (lived 38

OR mind check - more roaming or settled?One of my education goals this year has been to (re)study the Yoga Sutras.I signed up for a daily challenge and have been taking time to re-read some of my own copies.I find that each time I return to these teachings, I learn something new.Because each tim

Now I’m not super into all the random (and recognized) holidays - but there’s nothing I love more than a new beginning.January 1st, my birthday, Monday, this breath or that breath, just because - whatever excuse to start fresh and begin again.I often giggle because as a yoga teacher I offer “Be he