“As we move towards the bright season of light, remember that it is oh so nourishing and necessary to draw back into ourselves for healing…”

Oh man…if I had a penny for every time someone mentioned they wanted to work their neck or shoulders in yoga class, I could feed the world! It’s no wonder this request is so popular though, given this recent study from the July/August issue of the Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy stating that up to 75% of adults experience neck pain as a musculoskeletal disorder. Reasons stated range from ergonomics to trauma to insomnia. In addition, shoulder and rotator cuff problems are stated to be in 25% of adults over 50 yrs old and 30% of cadavers have torn rotator cuffs.Read More

Om Shri Lakshmi Namaha!

Greetings yogis and yoginis! I will be offering the second installment of “Advance your Practice” on April 20^th. As this is Earth day, we will be focusing on the Goddess of Abundance, Lakshmi. According to Natalie Rousseau, the Hindu deity Lakshmi “invites us to fully embody our earthly existence and to enrich our lives with gratitude and pleasure, generosity and abundance.”

Many students have inquired about this workshop, so I wanted to give a brief description of the what and the why. The idea behind this workshop is to offer a longer practice so that you can really immerse yourself in your practice, allowing extra time for: pranayama or breath work both at the beginning and at the end of practice, an extended savasana or rest pose, and meditation. Our practice of the month centers around the Lotus pose. The practice will offer variations and/or alternatives to this pose for those of us with sensitive knees and tight hips.

You can register here for this workshop, or in person the next time you are in the studio. I hope you can join me for an exploration of our earthly sensations as we bloom into spring!

One of the ways that we embody our core values is by offering a Karma Yoga program. As part of our mentorship program, mentees teach a donation class during their tenure. This allows us to offer a sliding-scale class for those who would like to practice with us at the studio, but might not otherwise be able to financially. In turn, with the donations we collect from these classes, we use that money to fund our teachers going out into our larger community to offer free yoga classes in partnership with non-profits or other organizations in our community. The intention is to create access for people interested in yoga that may have socioeconomic, geographic, or other barriers to attending a class at the studio, with the practice of yoga in support of the outside group’s goals and mission.Read More

A few weeks ago in Elizabeth’s Tantra Yoga workshop, students were guided to practice chanting using a mala. We see them all the time associated with the yoga practice, but it’s not often that we are offered the chance to use them in a supported way such as a workshop. Naturally, one of the questions that came up was what exactly is a mala and how do we use it?Read More

Whether you love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is upon us. While the day may have long-ago been co-opted by greeting card companies, chocolatiers, and florists (Big Valentine…?), it can still be a great reminder to check in with our own hearts and practice self-love.

Anahata chakra

In the chakra system, the heart chakra-or anahata chakra- is the fourth chakra and is located right near your heart in the center of your chest. Represented by the color green, it is also associated with the element of air and scents of jasmine, lavender, and rose. Read More

Oh, the beloved TFL.

No, there are no bad words in this acronym. It means Tensor Fasciae Latae, and this beauty is where your Iliotibial Band (IT) band grows from. The Iliotibial Band is considered DEEP fascia, meaning that it ties into the deeper layer of fascia all over your body all. Interestingly enough, your earlobe is also deep fascia. Feel your ear lobe, now feel the outside of your thigh, where your IT band is. Press somewhat firmly on your IT band and you will surely feel sensation! Press firmly on your ear, and you may think you could even take a little more pressure. This has to do with the simple mechanics of loading.Read More

Coming up in March, Michal is leading a very special workshop, where you can really go deep into the Chakra system and its applications for your life. Hear more from Michal about what you might gain from joining us for this full day immersion. And if you’re ready to take the leap, come on and register! (early bird pricing in effect through Feb. 24)Read More

For many of us, the New Year is a great time to take a step back and reassess some of our habits, goals, and priorities on our lives. While it’s just a date on the calendar, having a set time to be mindful about our choices and to step outside of ourselves a bit can be a really powerful exercise.

While the old idea of making a New Years “resolution” is definitely still out there, more and more people are eschewing making a resolution in favor of setting an intention. And for good reason, too. Studies show only about 8% of resolutions are kept each year. Making a proclamation about something you will or will not do can be a tough row to hoe, ever for those with strong follow through. Setting an intention, however, allows for more gentleness with yourself and a broader application of what your goals really are. While there are many ways to go about intention setting, one of the most powerful can be choosing a word for your year.Read More

The holiday season can be a time of joy, happiness, peace, and togetherness…but along with this, it can also be a time of full schedules, short patience, and heightened tensions. Here are 3 ways yoga can help you stay grounded through this most wonderful (and hectic!) time of year.Read More