Dear friends and students, I grew up in a refined suburb of Pittsburgh: Upper St. Clair. I spent Sundays at church followed by the Country Club, surrounded by my sisters, grandparents, and oh-so-many cousins. In many ways, it was an idyllic childhood. But the thing is: I never quite fit in. I was always “too” something. As a child, […]
Category: South Bay
When yoga doesn’t ‘feel good’
We hear the line repeatedly in modern, Western yoga classes, “Let it feel good. Let it feel juicy. Let it feel yummy. Doesn’t this feel blissful?” I’ll start with a simple promise: You’ll never hear me say juicy or yummy in a yoga class. Similarly, you’ll never hear me say “brekkie” when referring to breakfast, […]
Abandon Perfection
My dear friend and neighbor gifted me this rock from her travels to healing places of the country. I knew I wanted to use it in our studio design, and the inspiration struck one day after a long afternoon of physical labor. I would write “Leave your shoes and your ego here,” like so many […]
My first time? Okay, I’ll tell
I am what my husband refers to as an “Appalachian woman;” it’s true, I sold my F-150 pickup truck in order to move to California. After seeing them everywhere, I now drive a Prius. The same thing with my yoga mat. When I first landed in the South Bay, I saw them everywhere, so I […]
Abandon Hope
Last month, I wrote about abandoning perfection. That statement likely came to you like a breath of fresh air. This month, I’m writing about abandoning hope. That statement likely brings up a different reaction. You may feel immediately angry, confused, panicked, or contentious. It’s true, abandon hope is a hard piece of advice to follow. […]
Abandon Perfection for Something Better
My dear friend and neighbor gifted me this rock from her travels to healing places of the country. I knew I wanted to use it in our studio design, and the inspiration struck one day after a long afternoon of physical labor. I would write “Leave your shoes and your ego here,” like so many […]
The 1 Key to Health
Hey, friend! Last month, we talked about getting started and trying something new. Over 150 of you came in to try our studio for the first time in January. Welcome to yoga; it’s the best! Yoga will bolster your circulation, improve your joint health, regulate your blood pressure, build your bone density, increase your flexibility, and […]
Do You Want to Feel Better, or Do You Want to Get Better?
As I child, I went with my mother, 2 sisters, and grandmother to watch Sleepless in Seattle. You know the scene where they finally connect at the top of the Empire State Building? They all cried their eyes out. I sat watching, trying to figure out why people were so moved. I’ll never forget my […]
I’m Afraid of Sharks
I’m very, very afraid of sharks. Each night as I go to sleep, I picture the ocean in my mind’s eye, just about a half mile away from my bedroom door. And each night, I wonder, “How close is a shark to me right now?” Last summer, I started hitting the ocean on a regular basis. […]