Live. Love. Yoga.

February 19-25: Schedule and Workshops

2012-02-19T18:35:00.000-08:00

The month of February may very well the most challenging month of all. Recovering from the holidays (physically, emotionally and financially) and trying to stick to New Years Resolutions- all while trying to stay upbeat through the last of the Winter months with rain and darkness and lack of sunlight... Luckily our yoga practice can help us find a path through all of this. Just showing up for our practice is often the hardest part, once the mat is rolled and you arrive all you have to do is move and breath- no 'to do' lists to contemplate, no errands to run, just moving and breathing. You will feel better when you are done-

This Week's Teaching Schedule:

Monday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow

Monday 9:30am, Yoga Shala North, Vinyasa Level 2

Monday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa

Monday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Tuesday 9:30am, Yoga Shala Buckman, Vinyasa Level 2

Tuesday 12pm, Yoga Shala Buckman, All Level Vinyasa

Wednesday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow

Wednesady 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa

Wednesday 7:15pm, Exhale Yoga, Yoga Basics

Thursday 9:30am, Yoga Shala Buckman, Vinyasa Level 2

Thursday 12pm, Yoga Shala Buckman, All Level Vinyasa

Thursday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Friday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow

Friday 9:15am, Exhale Yoga, Hatha Blend

Friday 5:30pm, Yoga Shala SE, All Level Vinyasa

Upcoming Workshops:

Bloom Into Spring Workshops!

Celebrate the return of Spring with an afternoon of uplifting yoga. These 2 hour workshops will focus on heart opening backbends and twists to 'spring clean' our bodies, mind and souls. We will explore asana, meditation, chanting and pranayama to welcome in this beautiful time of year.

3 dates so far- more to come- stay tuned for details:
Sunday, April 8th at Exhale Yoga, NE Portland, 1-3pm
Saturday, April 14th at Heart Fire Yoga, St Johns, 2-4pm
Saturday, April 21st at Discover Yoga, Redmond, WA, 1-3pm

Feb 13-19: Happy V-Day

2012-02-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

Aww, Valentine's Day- love it or hate it- there it is- pink and red hearts in every window and cards and balloons spouting love every time you walk down the street. Having been anti V-day for most of my life I have to say it become a bit of a neutral holiday for me- I could take it or leave it but I do always like to take a little extra time to enjoy the heart opening effects of my yoga practice the week surrounding it. The practice of yoga in itself is a heart opening practice, building compassion for ourselves and the world around us, and there are certain poses that can help us nurture that side of us even more- backbends such as Urdhva Dhanurasana and Ustrasana give us the chance to open our hearts to the world while sitting quietly in meditation gives us the chance be still with our own hearts. When you come to your mat this week take the time to listen to what your heart is telling you and give yourself credit for where you are and how far you have come. You are exactly where you need to be.

If you have not yet checked out the Yoga Shala Buckman do yourself a favor- it is a beautiful space!

Alter at the Buckman Shala

This Week's Teaching Schedule:

Monday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow

Monday 9:30am, Yoga Shala North, Vinyasa Level 2

Monday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa

Monday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Tuesday 9:30am, Yoga Shala Buckman, Vinyasa Level 2

Tuesday 12pm, Yoga Shala Buckman, All Level Vinyasa

Wednesday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow

Wednesady 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa

Wednesday 7:15pm, Exhale Yoga, Yoga Basics

Thursday 9:30am, Yoga Shala Buckman, Vinyasa Level 2

Thursday 12pm, Yoga Shala Buckman, All Level Vinyasa

Thursday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Friday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow

Friday 9:15am, Exhale Yoga, Hatha Blend

Friday 5:30pm, Yoga Shala SE, All Level Vinyasa

February 6-12: This week's schedule and more

2012-02-05T09:12:00.000-08:00

A couple exciting anouncements this week-

The new Yoga Shala space in the beautiful Buckman neighborhood opens on Monday! I will be there Tuesdays and Thursdays and there are lots of amazing other teachers there all week long! The studio is in the old Yoga Bhoga space on SE 14th and Morrison.

Seattle folks- mark your calendars- I will be teaching another workshop at Discover Yoga on April 21st to welcome in Spring. Email me for details.

Just in the last week or so I have really started to feel the lack of light that comes with a Pacific Northwest Winter. My coffee consumption has just about doubled and I still am ready to crawl into bed around 9pm most nights. Its this time of year that a challenging and active practice can really keep me going. I had some time to practice on my own this week and found myself coming back to the Ashtanga Standing Series (and part of the Primary when I had time)- the energizing Ujjayi breath and intensity of the standing poses helps me feel grounded and ups my energy at the same time. I've practiced a lot of high speed vinyasa classes over the years and I tend to get a bit too amped up after some of them- Ashtanga helps me find the energy I need without stressing out my nervous system.

I return to the breath a lot when I am teaching, it is a great tool to keep the mind focused and aware to check to be sure we aren't overworking or underworking- Ujjayi breathing- translating to Victorious Breath is the breath that I usually practice to and teach- Tim Miller- Yoga Teacher Extroadinaire has this to say about it, I really love it:

"When done properly, Ujjayi (translated as "victorious") breathing should be both energizing and relaxing. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali suggests that the breath should be both dirga (long) and suksma (smooth). The sound of Ujjayi is created by gently constricting the opening of the throat to create some resistance to the passage of air. Gently pulling the breath in on inhalation and gently pushing the breath out on exhalation against this resistance creates a well-modulated and soothing sound—something like the sound of ocean waves rolling in and out.
It is important to remember that the key to Ujjayi breathing is relaxation; the action of Ujjayi naturally lengthens the breath. Some small effort is required to produce a pleasing sound, but too much effort creates a grasping quality and a grating sound. Generally, it is the inhalation that presents the greater challenge. So begin by practicing on the exhalation where there is a natural letting go process.
To practice the inhalation, focus on creating a soothing and pleasing sound that is unhurried and unforced. I suggest working on your Ujjayi breathing in a seated, relaxed cross-legged position. Imagine sipping the breath in through a straw. If the suction is too strong the straw collapses and great force is required to suck anything through it. Once Ujjayi breathing is mastered in a seated position, the challenge is to maintain the same quality of breathing throughout your asana practice.
Throughout your practice, try to maintain the length and smoothness of the breath as much as possible. Once you find a baseline Ujjayi breath in a pose that is not too strenuous (Downward Facing Dog for example), endeavor to maintain that quality of breath throughout the practice. Some asanas require great effort, and you may begin to strain in your breath. If you are straining in your breath, you may be pushing yourself too hard in your practice. Use that feedback as a guide throughout your practice—if you start to strain, it may be time to back out of a pose and rest."

Tim Miller has been a student of Ashtanga Yoga for over twenty years and was the first American certified to teach by Pattabhi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India. Tim has a thorough knowledge of this ancient system, which he imparts in a dynamic, yet compassionate and playful manner. For information about his workshops and retreats in the United States and abroad visit his Web site, www.ashtangayogacenter.com.

Public Teaching Schedule:

Monday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Monday 9:30am, Yoga Shala North, Vinyasa Level 2
Monday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Monday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Tuesday 9:30am, Yoga Shala Buckman, Vinyasa Level 2 *NEW!
Tuesday 12pm, Yoga Shala Buckman, All Level Vinyasa *NEW!

Wednesday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Wednesady 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Wednesday 7:15pm, Exhale Yoga, Yoga Basics

Thursday 9:30am, Yoga Shala Buckman, Vinyasa Level 2 *NEW!
Thursday 12pm, Yoga Shala Buckman, All Level Vinyasa *NEW!
Thursday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Friday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Friday 9:15am, Exhale Yoga, Hatha Blend
Friday 5:30pm, Yoga Shala SE, All Level Vinyasa

January 30- February 5: Yoga, a Recipe for Life

2012-01-29T16:07:00.000-08:00

I love to cook- I realize many of you reading this already know that but sometimes I just need to type it out loud. In these dark days it feels so good to turn on the oven and put together something that makes people smile. With S working out of town for the next month or so I've been trying to keep him well stocked with baked goods- last week was cookies, this week was scones with lemons I picked on my trip to Los Angeles. There is something so simply satisfying about following a recipe and enjoying the results.

The same thing could be said of a yoga practice- the Yoga Sutras say:

Abhyasa vairagyabhyam tat nirodhah

which translated means that if we practice, and are committed to our practice, we will receive the benefits that yoga has to offer. In fact the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are basically a recipe book for how to live our lives through the tenants of Yoga, if you have never picked up a copy it is worth a read. If you have questions you can always ask me in class. So whatever you are doing today- set aside some time, even 10 minutes, to commit to your practice. You will be happy you did.

Public Teaching Schedule:

Monday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Monday 9:30am, Yoga Shala North, Vinyasa Level 2
Monday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Monday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Wednesday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Wednesady 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Wednesday 7:15pm, Exhale Yoga, Yoga Basics

Thursday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Friday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Friday 9:15am, Exhale Yoga, Hatha Blend
Friday 12pm, Yoga Shala SE, All Level Vinyasa (subbing)
Friday 5:30pm, Yoga Shala SE, All Level Vinyasa

Saturday 5pm, Yoga Shala SE, All Level Vinyasa (subbing)

January 23-29: Feeling Inspired

2012-01-22T19:38:00.000-08:00

There are times when it is important to slow our practice down and simply enjoy the silence. It has been a wintery week here in Portland, snow, rain, lots of slush- everything and everyone has had a chance to move at a leisurely pace with no pressure to hurry since there is really nowhere to go. This can be a challenging time of year to get to class but it always pays off and gives me the energy to get through my day, even when I would rather lie on the couch and watch movies... this is a great time of year to move slow- hold poses a bit longer longer and to take a long savasana to give our bodies and minds the rest they need.

After spending a week in the dark and the rain I was super excited to head to southern California for a visit and some sunshine! I was able to get in a yoga class while I was there with Annie Carpenter- a teacher I have always enjoyed practicing with. Her sequencing is challenging yet accessible and she approaches everything with enthusiasm and love. It was such a treat to have some time on the mat with her. I have lots of great ideas to take into the next few weeks of classes here in Portland- Annie is so inspiring with her words and playful approach to practice.

As for LA itself- this was first trip backing since moving- it was great to see old friends and visit all the old places that we used to spend so much time. I wouldn't trade my time there for anything- but it does not feel like home anymore- LA will always be there to visit but I am happy to say that I am Pacific Northwest Gal through and through.

Public Teaching Schedule:

Monday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Monday 9:30am, Yoga Shala North, Vinyasa Level 2
Monday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Monday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Wednesday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Wednesady 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Wednesday 7:15pm, Exhale Yoga, Yoga Basics

Thursday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Friday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Friday 9:15am, Exhale Yoga, Hatha Blend
Friday 5:30pm, Yoga Shala SE, All Level Vinyasa

January 15-22: Scheduling a Balance

2012-01-15T08:53:00.000-08:00

Headed back to sunny California for a visit and some practice time!

Wow!! Thanks to everyone who made it to the Detox and Recharge workshop in Redmond at Discover Yoga this weekend-we had a great time and I hope to do it again soon!

Since moving to Portland in October, I've been trying to find a schedule for taking classes that I can stick to. I've taken from lots of great teachers and have found some nearby studios that are easy for me to get to but I have yet to find a weekly schedule that I've wanted to commit to. After 6 years in Santa Monica I had the teachers and times worked out so that I could get to my five classes a week and not feel stressed by my schedule. I have begun to realize this last week or so that there are pros to both situations. It is fun to take from new people and explore new studios and not be quite sure what kind of practice I will be getting when I roll out my mat at the studio. It has also challenged me to get serious about my home practice again. The five studio classes a week I went to in California were wonderful but I did not have any sort of home practice, I just didn't feel like I needed it. I am still working towards a balance, finding a class and teacher that I can commit to most every week, it is nice to have some routine but has also been refreshing and inspiring to shake things up a bit.

Speaking of Santa Monica- I am headed there next weekend (hence not teaching my Friday evening class) for a visit and to practice with one of my favorite teachers- Annie Carpenter- Annie's approach is strong and stabilizing- her classes are a beautiful balance of challenge and grace and it has been over 2 years since I have had a chance to be in her class, I am very much looking forward to it.

Public Teaching Schedule:

Monday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Monday 9:30am, Yoga Shala North, Vinyasa Level 2
Monday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Monday 6pm, Yoga Shaka SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Wednesday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Wednesady 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Wednesday 7:15pm, Exhale Yoga, Yoga Basics

Thursday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa Level 2

Friday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Friday 9:15am, Exhale Yoga, Hatha Blend
~~Friday 5:30pm, Yoga Shala SE, All Level Vinyasa~~ Amanda Subs

January 9-15: Settling into 2012

2012-01-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve on the Bay Bridge

January is nearly halfway over- the holiday season is behind us and life is (slowly perhaps) making its way back to a calmer place. As you begin to settle into your new year consider looking at your routine- are there things that need to change? Is something no longer serving you that you can let go of? Is there something that would feel right to add. The beginning of the year is such a natural time to transition- make resolutions and examine our lives. Give yourself the luxury of this time to discover what you need from your life and your practice.

On that same note- I see it every year- pace yourself! The best advice I ever received from one of my teachers was to practice today in a way that allows you to practice again tomorrow. If you stress yourself out or push yourself too hard from the get go it is easy to burn out. Start slow- there is no rush!! Your practice is meant to untie your knots- not create new ones so don't stress or be too hard on yourself. Just think baby steps, a little bit every day.

For those of you in the Seattle area- I am teaching a workshop in Redmond on Saturday at 1pm! A 2 hour practice designed to help us detox and get motivated for the new year. Only $35! Join me! See schedule below for details and link to registration.

This week's schedule:

Monday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Monday 9:30am, Yoga Shala North, Vinyasa 2
Monday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Monday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa 2

Tuesday 12:15pm, The Yoga Space, Vinyasa (subbing)

Wednesday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Wednesday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Wednesday 7:15pm, Exhale, Yoga Basics

Thursday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa 2

Friday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Friday 9:15am, Exhale, Hatha Blend
Friday 5:30pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa 2

Saturday
1pm, Redmond, WA

Discover Yoga- Detox and Recharge Workshop, $35 (click here for details and registration)

The new Winter Schedule is off to a great start- come into a class anytime! Buckman Shala classes will be at 9:30 (not 10 as listed below) and noon and begin January 28th!

January 2-8: The New Year is Here

2011-12-29T15:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

This week's schedule:
Monday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Monday 9:30am, Yoga Shala North, Vinyasa 2 (New Class!)
Monday 12pm, Sellwood Yoga, Hatha (subbing)
Monday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Monday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa 2 (New Class!)
Wednesday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Wednesday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Wednesday 7:15pm, Exhale, Yoga Basics
Thursday 6pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa 2 (New Class!)
Friday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Friday 9:15am, Exhale, Hatha Blend
Friday 5:30pm, Yoga Shala SE, Vinyasa 2 (New Class!)

December 26-Jan 1: Happy New Year!

2011-12-27T12:41:00.000-08:00

This Week's Schedule:
Tuesday 1:30pm, Sellwood Yoga, Gentle
Wednesday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow
Wednesday 4pm, Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa
Wednesday 7:15pm, Exhale Yoga, Yoga Basics
Thursday 9:30am, People's Yoga North East, Vinyasa
Thursday 4:45pm, Sellwood Yoga, Hatha
Friday 6:30am, People's Yoga North, Morning Flow

December 19-25: Happy Holidays

2011-12-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to you all- may your days be filled with light and love. Normal classes will resume on December 27th with a whole new schedule beginning the first week in January. Stay tuned here for details.

xoxo
Kaitlyn

This Week's Schedule:

Monday
6:30am People Yoga North, Morning flow
9am PrAna Store, Yoga 4 Everyone (last class!)
12pm Sellwood Yoga Hatha
4pm Yoga Shala North, All Level Vinyasa

Tues- Sunday
no classes, see studio websites for up to date schedules and changes. Happy Holidays!

December 12-18: Finding Time to Practice

2011-12-09T12:32:00.001-08:00

Multnomah Falls

Next week is Christmas and the beginning of Hannukah, for many people this can be one of the most stressful times of year. Staying commited to your practice can help keep you calm and centered. There are days for everyone (myself included) that it feels like there is literally no time to practice but it as at these times that we can gain the most benefit from our practice. AND- the more we are able to stay commited to our practice in challenging times the easier it becomes to stick with it into the future. By building tapas (heat or discipline) in our practice we create a good samskaras (habits) and it will be easier to come back the mat next time.

This Week's Schedule:

Monday
6:30am, People's Yoga N, Morning Flow
12pm, Sellwood Yoga, Hatha Yoga
4pm, Yoga Shala N, All Level Vinyasa

Tuesday
-

Wednesday
6:30am, People's Yoga N, Morning Flow
9:30am, Yoga Shala N, Level 2 Vinyasa
4pm, Yoga Shala N, All Level Vinyasa

Thursday
4:45pm, Sellwood Yoga, Hatha

Friday
6:30am, People's Yoga N, Morning Flow
10am, Exhale Yoga, Hatha Blend

Saturday
-

Sunday
10:30am, People's Yoga N, Vinyasa Flow

December 5-11: Enjoy the Quiet

2011-11-29T10:20:00.001-08:00

In these few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas I love cozying up in our apartment, making Christmas gifts, reading, knitting and enjoying some quality quiet time. Outside the air is cooling (even more), squirrels (of which there are millions in Portland) are gathering nuts in preparation for Winter, everything is getting quieter. Meanwhile our lives seem to always be busy around the holidays, it feels so counter intuitive. So I invite you in these next few weeks to take things easy when you can. Enjoy a quiet night at home, take a bath, whatever it is that gives you a chance to relax and recharge your batteries.

This Week's Schedule

Monday
6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
9am, prAna (NW), All Level Vinyasa
4pm, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Level Vinyasa

Tuesday
1:30pm, Sellwood Yoga, Gentle (subbing)

Wednesday
6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
9:30am, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Level Vinyasa (subbing)
4pm, The Yoga Shala (NE) All Level Vinyasa

Thursday
4:45pm, Sellwood Yoga, All Levels (subbing)

Friday
6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
10am, Exhale (NE), Hatha Blend

November 28 to December 4

2011-11-20T16:01:00.001-08:00

Welcome back from the Thanksgiving holiday! I hope your days were filled with light and joy (and food). The time after Thanksgiving or any other holiday always feels so quiet. A perfect time to explore those things in life that are really important. In yoga classes across the nation this week there will be talk of detoxing and working off that holiday meal but detox can go a bit deeper if you let it. Detoxing can be a mental and spiritual release as well. All the twisting and turning we practice on our mat is not just to clear toxins out of our physical body, it is a literal wringing out of the body and the breath that gives us the chance to let go of everything we don't need in our lives. The thing I love most about the holidays is coming together with family, it reminds me that the people in my life, not the things, are what is really important.

Holiday Special- Buy a session for a friend, get 1 for yourself!
Private yoga sessions are a great gift for those who are interested in yoga but not interested in practicing in a studio setting, or for seasoned practitioners who would like to take their practice to the next level. Through December 15th, if you purchase a private session for someone else you can have a private session for yourself for free! Sessions are $60 and generally run between an hour and an hour and a half and are good for groups of up to 5 people if you wanted to start a yoga group in someone's home.

Classes this Week:

Monday 6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
Monday 9am, prAna (NW), All Level Vinyasa
Monday 4pm, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Level Vinyasa
Monday 7:15pm, The Yoga Shala (NE), Vinyasa 1 + 2 (subbing)
Wednesday 6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
Wednesday 9:30am, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Level Vinyasa (subbing)
Wednesday 4pm, The Yoga Shala (NE) All Level Vinyasa
Wednesday 7pm, The Yoga Shala (SE), Yoga Basics (subbing)
Thursday 6pm, The Yoga Shala (NE) All Level Vinyasa (subbing)
Friday 6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
Friday 10am, Exhale (NE), Hatha Blend
Saturday 10am, The Yoga Shala (NE) All Levels Vinyasa (subbing)

November 21-27: Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-14T12:52:00.001-08:00

First off- I am so excited and proud for all of you that made it to the 6:30am classes this week- what a great turnout! It has been a tremendous way to start the day. Thank you, all of you. I also want to thank the prAna store for providing free yoga to the community (donations are accepted but optional), what a great program! I had a great time teaching there this week and will be there each Monday at 9am at the new store on 23rd and Irving.

This week is Thanksgiving- my schedule is pretty much the same as always and we will still have regularly scheduled classes on Friday to help recover from Turkey (or Tofurky) and pumpkin pie. I'm also subbing a few extra classes this week, see below for details.

Holiday Special
Speaking of holidays, I have decided to offer some special pricing on private sessions for those of you who would like to share the gift of yoga with those you love. Private yoga sessions are a great gift for those who are interested in yoga but not interested in practicing in a studio setting, or for seasoned practitioners who would like to take their practice to the next level. Through December 15th, if you purchase a private session for someone else you can have a private session for yourself for free! Sessions are $60 and generally run between an hour and an hour and a half and are good for groups of up to 5 people if you wanted to start a yoga group in someone's home.

Classes this week-

Monday 6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
Monday 9am, prAna (NW), All Level Vinyasa
Monday 4pm, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Level Vinyasa
Tuesday 12:15pm, The Yoga Space (SE), All Levels (subbing)
Tuesday 7:15pm, Exhale (NE), Restoratives (subbing)
Wednesday 6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
Wednesday 4pm, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Level Vinyasa
Wednesday 7:15pm, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Levels (subbing)
Friday 6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
Friday 10am, Exhale (NE), Hatha Blend

November 14-20: More New Classes!

2011-11-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

Morning Sunshine

Hey all you early risers- this is the week! 6:30am classes at People's Yoga in St John's on Monday, Wednesday AND Friday. Let your practice brighten and warm your day as we move into Winter. On that same note, the Thursday morning 7am class is going away- so if you have been coming to that class please make a note of the change. Also starting this week I will be teaching Monday mornings at the brand new PrAna store that just opened in North West.

And for those of you who enjoy planning ahead, I've added a list of the dates/ times and places I am subbing under my schedule. If anything changes, I will post it here.

I've returned to my old tattered copy of the Yoga Sutras this week: Book 2, Sutra 46: Sthira Sukham Asanam. This translates to "Asana is a steady comfortable posture." So if we are practicing a pose and experience pain or discomfort, are we really practicing asana? The physical practice of yoga helps us to release tension and discomfort in the body so we can comfortable when going about our days or sitting to meditate for extended periods of time. Next time you are on your mat- where is the strength that is required to keep the integrity of the pose and where can you release and soften?

Have a beautiful week everyone!

-
This Week's Schedule:

Monday 6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow *New Class!
Monday 9am, prAna (NW), All Level Vinyasa *New Class!
Monday 4pm, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Level Vinyasa
Wednesday 6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow *New Class!
Wednesday 4pm, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Level Vinyasa
Friday 6:30am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow *New Class!
Friday 10am, Exhale (NE), Hatha Blend

November 7-13: Donation class and lots of Subbing AND a Restorative Practice to Re-boot Your Week

2011-11-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

Teaching Schedule:

Monday 4pm, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Level Vinyasa *New Class!
Wednesday 4pm, The Yoga Shala (NE), All Level Vinyasa *New Class!
Thursday 7am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
Friday 10am, Exhale (NE), Hatha Blend
Friday 5:30pm, Yoga Shala (SE), All Level Vinyasa (subbing)
Sunday 4pm, Yoga Shala (SE), All Level Vinyasa- Donation class- pay what you can!

Cold weather is here, time for hot drinks and yoga to warm the soul

I wanted to draw a bit of attention to my schedule this week- on Sunday I will be teaching a donation class at the South East Yoga Shala (32nd and Division). Pay what you can and enjoy some yoga! This class is open to everyone and promises to be a good time. I also have a couple new regular classes starting on Monday afternoon at 4pm at the Yoga Shala on Williams, also all level Vinyasa classes- hope to see some of you North Easters there :)

Now that November is here I find myself thinking quite a bit about gratitude and giving thanks. I want to first off thank all the students, studio owners and fellow teachers I've met since moving to Portland. You have all been so welcoming and open- I can't imagine a better way to move to a new city. Around this time of year I usually like to examine my practice and give thanks for all it has brought to my life. My practice has been with me so long I really don't know what I would be like without it and yet it still continues to inspire me on a daily basis.

It is always so interesting to look at how my practice has changed over the years. When I left LA I felt determined to find another Mysore style class and stay with Ashtanga practice, through my time traveling I could feel my practice shifting, being active all day long I no longer felt the need for such a heating, rigorous practice. Where I used to need the movement and the breath to get out of my head now I find that I don't necessarily need all of that for my practice to be complete. There are times when I have been out biking and teaching all day that a simple restorative practice with some meditation and pranayama are all I really need. I have had a great time sampling from all the awesome teachers and allowing my practice to become something that feeds me. It is great to know that all of these practices are out there and will be there when I need them, I just am enjoying having the option to chose right now.

A little extra for this week- I've been bringing a lot of restorative yoga into my practice lately and want to pass on some of the goodness to you- here is a little mini practice for when you feel you need to hit the reset button. If you need more detailed information on these poses email me or comment below and I would be happy to provide.

1) Supported Savasana with a blanket folded under the head and a rolled blanket or bolster under the knees. Stay here about 5 minutes just watching the breath as is slowly moves in and out.

2) Passive twist on your back- hug the knees into the chest and then let them release to one side, arms extended to the sides and letting the head release opposite the legs. Take about 10 long breathes on each side.

3) Legs up the Wall (Vipariti Karani). Lie down by a wall and take the legs up the wall- you can stay here up to 10 minutes if you are comfortable. To come up gently draw the knees into the chest, roll to one side and come up to seated. Take a few moments here in stillness before going about your day.

October 31 to November 6

2011-10-31T14:23:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Thursday 7am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow
Friday 10am, Exhale Yoga (NE), Hatha Blend *NEW CLASS!*
Saturday 9:30am, The People's Yoga (N), All Level Hatha Flow (subbing)
Saturday 4pm, Sellwood Yoga (SE), level 1/2 (subbing)
Sunday 9am, Sellwood Yoga (SE), Yoga Basics (subbing)
Sunday 4pm, Sellwood Yoga (SE), Restoratives (subbing)

Hey Everyone! Lots of classes this week, things are starting to move ahead pretty quickly and I am enjoying every moment of the ride. If you haven't made it to a class yet please come, we have been having a great time and it I would be honored to share it with you all.

We've been in Portland for just under a month now and I can feel things shifting and settling in. There is a bit more rhythm to my days and I am beginning to understand how to get around (the east side of the rive anyway). It feels so good to have a place to call home- a place where I can rest in easyness and enjoy the stillness as the days get quieter and shorter. We've been pretty blessed here lately with a few days of beautiful sunshine- Portland has amazing parks and we've been trying to get to a new one every chance we get. While I feel like I am still getting my footing and sorting things out I have a sense that I am exactly where I need to be.

October 24-30: The Beginner's Mind

2011-10-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule

Monday 7:30pm, The Yoga Space (SE), Vinyasa
Thursday 7am, The People's Yoga (N), Morning Flow

For all you SE folks, I am teaching Monday (that is tonight) at the Yoga Space at 28th and Stark. This is my first class at this studio and I would LOVE to have you there. We will move a bit, sweat a bit and have plenty of time to calm down and rest before you head home.

Very exciting news for all you early risers out there- starting on Nov. 2nd (next Wednesday) I will be teaching in St. John's at 6:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 7am on Thursdays- that is 4 days a week! Practicing in the morning helps wake you up for the entire day, it is such a great feeling to get to lunchtime and realize you have already done your practice, no need to squeeze it into your already busy afternoon. So come and join me! It will be great fun.

For you not so early risers I will also be starting a class at Exhale (16th and Alberta) at 10am on Fridays. Space is limited so please arrive early. I know there were a few people that didn't get into class class last Sunday- please try again!!

As I've begun building my new schedule here I've been trying to take time to explore all the different neighborhoods and fun places in Portland. We've had a bit of sun so I've been mostly exploring on foot and bike, which is the best way to see this town, I miss so much looking out the window of a car. I've been having a great time getting to know this new city. When I first started teaching yoga I talked to a lot of teachers about 'beginner's mind' and how great it was to be open and willing to take in new information and try new things. As we become more seasoned practitioners it can be easy to just fall into what we know and close ourselves off to different ideas and poses (I know I have been guilty of this) and it is at these times I try to take myself back to a time where all of this was new. Life here in Portland seems to keep reminding me to relax and explore and see what is possible. Every moment here holds the possibility of becoming something wonderful, and I am trying to bring that to my mat with me everyday.

October 17-23: Getting Started

2011-10-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Thursday 7am, The People's Yoga North, Morning Flow

Fall is here! Apples and pears from a friend's orchard, thanks!

Thanks to everyone who made it to classes this week- we had a great time at the Morning Flow class at People's and the weekend classes at Sellwood Yoga and Exhale were a great time. In the next few months I will be teaching and subbing at a lot of different studios, you can always check my website for details or sign up to get weekly emails which include my schedule for the week ahead. Of course, you can always email me with any questions.

I have had a great time over the last week practicing with different teachers in Portland. There are a lot of strong and talented teachers here and they all have something wonderful to offer. Thank you so much to all I have met already, I am looking forward to continuing to expand my practice- it feels so good to be back in a studio every day again!

A month back I took an Ayurveda workhsop in Seattle with Tami Hafzalla. Since then I have been integrating a few of the things I learned there to make it through winter time and maintain a sense of balance. I wanted to share 2 techniques that have made a huge difference in my days:

So Hum (I am that) meditation: I've incorporated this simple mantra into my morning meditations, just 5 minutes or so each morning, in my head, I think 'So' on the inhale and 'Hum' on the exhale, the sounds match the breath and makes it easy to stay focused. On the mornings that it is hard for me to settle in and sit still this seems to calm me and help me find my center.

Abhyanga Massage with Raw Sesame Oil: Each morning before my shower I rub sesame oil (raw, not toasted, the smell is very mild) on my arms and legs, paying special attention to my fingers and toes since they tend to have poor circulation and get chilly. I wait 5-10 minutes after that and then take a nice warm shower. My skin feels soft and moisturized all day long and I seem to stay warmer throughout the day. Sesame oil has a warming quality to it and supports circulation. I am not a big fan of lotions, they always seem to have a strong scent and I have to reapply them throughout the day, the oil is once a day and adds a bit of luxury to my shower. I suggest you try it out.

Hope to see you all on he mat soon!

October 10-16: First Week in Portland

2011-10-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Thursday 7am, Morning Flow Yoga at People's Yoga North
Friday 5:30pm, Vinyasa Flow at Studio Blue (NW)
Saturday 4pm, Vinyasa 1/2 at Sellwood Yoga (SE)
Sunday 2pm, All Level Flow at Exhale Portland (NE)

As of today I am a full time resident of Portland. I am meeting with some yoga studios this week about teaching and getting involved in the local yoga community. Everyone I've met here has been so welcoming and kind- I think I will feel right at home here before too much time has passed. If you have time, please come in for a class and say hello! It would mean so much to see a few familiar faces.

Nederland, CO on a beautiful Fall day

October 2-8: Goodbye Seattle, I'll be back soon!

2011-10-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Monday 7pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Yoga Basics (last class)

Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels (last class)

Tuesday 5:45pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow (last class)

Well Seattle (and surrounding areas), it has been really fun. Not nearly long enough, but really fun. I hope to be back often, taking workshops, teaching workshops, etc. Who knows what the future will bring? I have no idea and I've stopped trying to guess. I am looking forward to the next piece of the puzzle- building a life in Portland in a cute apartment with our cat and a fireplace and city of super fun people.

Before we head to Portland however, we are headed to Boulder to visit family and enjoy the cool crisp mountain air and get some practice time in at the Yoga Workshop (Richard Freeman's studio). I'm looking forward to unwinding for a few days after all the moving crazyness so I can arrive in Portland ready to set up classes and start teaching.

In my last few weeks of teaching in Seattle I've been exploring where my inspiration as a teacher comes from. I keep hearing the voices of my former teachers in my head, remembering what it was the resonated with me as I began teaching and deepening my practice. I've practiced with lots of different people in Seattle but it is my teachers from LA, that I spent so many hours practicing and talking with that I keep returning to. It seems so simple but somehow it is my motivation for this week- I can only teach from what I know- and I can only be present and open and truthful in my teaching when I teach from excites me about the practice of yoga. There are a million ways to teach, we each have our own voice and our own passions to share. If we are not true to those things I don't think we can be effective as teachers.

Sept 26- Oct 2: Wrapping things up, Thank you

2011-09-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Monday 7pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Yoga Basics
Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels
Tuesday 5:45pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Wednesday 7:30pm, Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1/3 (last class)
Thurday 7:45am, Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1/2 (last class)
Friday 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal (last class)
Friday 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels (last class)
Friday 4:30pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Vinyasa (last class)

Things are beginning to wrap up this week. For most of my classes this will be the final class. As we head off to new places and new adventures I want to thank all of you for making my time here so lovely.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to the Northface Store downtown last night, we had a great time. It was such a treat to meet some new faces and share a practice with you all on perfect autumn evening.

For those of you in Portland- mark your calendars for October 16th at 2pm. I will be teaching a FREE yoga class at Exhale Yoga in NE. This will be my first class in Portland and I would love to see some friendly faces there.

Sept 19-25: Free Class at North Face Store

2011-09-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

This Week! Sunday at the North Face Store in Downtown Seattle! Don't miss it!

Teaching Schedule:

Monday 4:30pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Vinyasa *subbing*
Monday 7pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Yoga Basics
~~Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels~~ canceled this week
Tuesday 5:45pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Wednesday 7:30pm, Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1/3
Thurday 7:45am, Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1/2
Friday 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal
Friday 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels
Friday 4:30pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Vinyasa
Saturday 10am, Bala Yoga,Level 1 *subbing

My time teaching in Seattle is slowly nearing an end, only 3 weeks left... although I have only been teaching in Seattle a short time I feel like I have learned so much. There are some amazing teachers here in Seattle and I will be back up often to practice with many of them. If you haven't made it out to a class yet please come, the more smiling faces the better.

September 12-18: Schedule and Announcement

2011-09-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Monday 7pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Yoga Basics
Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels
Tuesday 5:45pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Wednesday 7:30pm, Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1/3
Thurday 7:45am, Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1/2
Friday 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal
Friday 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels
Friday 4:30pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Vinyasa

The ballots are in, a decision has been made- my husband and I are moving to Portland in October! We are very excited for this new move and to have a place to call home. For the past year we have been traveling and staying with family. From Los Angeles to Fiji, New Zealand, Bali, Europe, Iceland, New York, Chicago and Seattle. We had thought that staying in Seattle would be the right thing for us but the universe had other plans and we are grateful for them. Portland is a great city full of friendly people, loads of restaurants and yoga on every corner. I am sure I will find new studios to call home and new teachers to practice with.

With my time left in Seattle I will be teaching and practicing in as many places as I can- I just signed up for Tami Hafzalla's Yoga and Ayurveda workshop at Samadhi on September 24th. If you have been looking for a workshop to help you transition into Fall this could be the one! Tami teaches these workhsops 4 times a year (1 for each season). You can check out Tami's info at
www.bhakti-flow.com. Ayurveda is a sister science to yoga, it offers teachings on diet, lifestyle and how to practice depending on what you need- it is profound and beautiful, I highly recommend checking it out.

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, September 25th at 6pm! I will be teaching a FREE class at the downtown North Face store to help launch their new yoga clothing line. It is going to be super fun.

September 5-11: Schedule and Changing Seasons

2011-09-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

No Class Monday (Holiday)
Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels
Wednesday 5pm, Google Seattle, All Levels *subbing*
Wednesday 7:30pm, Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1/3
Thurday 7:45am, Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1/2
Friday 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal
Friday 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels
Friday 4:30pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Vinyasa

Happy Labor Day! I hope you all took full advantage of the 3 day weekend. For me it was a weekend of friends and Bumbershooting, a true Seattle experience- so many great bands in the middle of a beautiful city. With the labor day weekend comes the beginning of the end of Summer, everything begins to slow down and turn inwards- the days slowly get shorter, the fruits and veggies of Summer begin to dwindle, a quiet crispness begins to coat the air we breath, giving us a chance to pause and appreciate how warm it was just weeks ago. Just like nature, our bodies go through a yearly cycle, Summer is a time to laugh, to be outside, to be social and to get out into our communities. With the beginning of Fall we have the chance to reflect, to perhaps spend more time with close friends and family sipping coffee and allowing our days to get a bit quieter.
More big changes are coming- nothing stays the same forever. People change, move, what perhaps you thought was a done deal proves not to be so. There are lots of changes brewing in the next month or so here, stay tuned for more info. One thing that can remain constant is our commitment to practice, keep breathing and remember to take things one step at a time (now if I can only follow my own advice).

-2011 Bumbershoot, photo by ST

August 29- September 4

2011-08-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Monday 7pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Back to Basics
Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels
Tuesday 12pm, Bala Yoga, Vinyasa Flow *subbing
Tuesday 5:45pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Wednesday 7:30pm, Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1/3 *NEW CLASS!!
Thurday 7:45am, Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1/2 *NEW CLASS!!
Friday 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal
Friday 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels
Friday 4:30pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Vinyasa

Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself- Chinese Proverb

August 22-28: Schedule, Free Event and Letting go of Fear

2011-08-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Monday 7pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Back to Basics
Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels
Tuesday 12pm, Bala Yoga, Vinyasa Flow *subbing
Tuesday 5:45pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Friday 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal
Friday 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels
Friday 4:30pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Vinyasa

Mark Your Calendars- There will be a FREE yoga event hosted by yours truly on September 25th at 6pm at the North Face store in Downtown Seattle. An hour of yoga, goodie bags, snacks and more! Hope to see you all there!

I've been thinking a lot the past few weeks about letting go of fear. Whether it is fear of a pose or fear of the unknown, the future, what steps to take next or whatever it may be. Fear can be a useful tool in some ways, it can serve as a reminder to take a step back and examine our options or to slow down and perhaps not try that fancy pose that perhaps we don't feel ready for. On the other hand, at some point fear becomes something that can hold us back from what we are ready for, a step we know we need to take. There comes a time in every situation where we simply have to try, the more we let fear build the harder it is to let go of. In the words of Stephen Schwartz (from the musical Wicked) "Its time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap!"

A cave on Whaririki Beach, New Zealand

August 15-21: Schedule, Workshop and National Yoga Month!

2011-08-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Monday 7pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Back to Basics
Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels
Tuesday 12pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow *subbing
Tuesday 5:45pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Friday 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal
Friday 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels
Friday 4:30pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Vinyasa

Next Weekend! Saturday August 20th at Bala Yoga in Juanita at 12:30pm- An Introduction to Arm Balances Workshop- this workshop is appropriate for all levels of student, we will work on the foundations behind building or expanding on an arm balance practice. It is going to be a great time, come check it out! Sorry Everyone, this one is cancelled- I'll be teaching another one in December, sign up now at Bala Yoga!

AND- in other news, September is National Yoga Month! Click here for more information and search for participating studios near you, you could get a week of free yoga at many studios in the Seattle area so if you've been waiting for opportunity to check out a new space or start doing yoga this is it.

August 8-14: Schedule and Great Opportunity for Teachers!

2011-08-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels
Tuesday 9:30am, Yogalife Queen Anne, Level 1/2 *subbing
Thursday 9:30am, Yogalife Queen Anne, Levele 1/2 *subbing
Friday 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal Yoga
Friday 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels
*there is no class at Pro Sport Bellevue week! Classes will resume August 15th*

YogaWorks 300 hour Teacher Training is coming to Seattle! I went through this program and can't say enough great things about it- feel free to message me with questions or check out the info session (see flier).

300 Hr Teacher Training - Professional Program

· 13 Weekends of Comprehensive Curriculum

· 6-month mentorship

· In-depth Philosophy
· Observe and assist in live classes

· Refine the craftmanship of teaching
· In-depth Pranayama and Meditation

A brief example of how we teach... We approach asana through the multiple lenses of the physical, emotional and energetic components that become alive in the postures.

For example, in the study of backbends you will learn how to move the spine in the most anatomically safe and balanced manner. And you'll also learn to emphasize the different energetic and/or spiritual aspects of the poses by sensing and cuing more subtle actions.

You'll learn how to modify for injuries and health conditions but also how to hold a safe space for both the elation and vulnerability that yoga can bring. You'll learn creative and effective ways to use backbends in a sequence, with a range of adjustments to offer your students.

And, you'll have the opportunity to receive feedback on your own teaching and try out new tools and approaches in a safe, supportive environment. In other words, you'll walk away with a thorough and integrated knowledge of the whole of yoga, and the skills to put that knowledge to use in your own classes.

more details

Info Session & Class:

Sat, Aug 27th
12-2pmrsvp to reserve space
info@yogatree.com

Catherine Munro will teach a FREE Inversion class during our Info Session.

All the graduates of our 200hr trainings, receive this free fab T-shirt, see your fellow alumni and turn upside down with Catherine!

Schedule

click here

Payment Plan

click here

August 1-7

2011-07-31T17:36:00.000-07:00

This Week's Schedule:
Monday 9:30am, Discover Yoga, All Levels *subbing
Monday 12pm, Bala Yoga, All Levels *subbing
Monday 7pm, Pro Sports Club Bellevue, Back to Basics !New Class!
Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels
Tuesday 12pm, Pro Sports Club Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow *subbing
Tuesday 5:45pm, Pro Sports Club Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Wednesday 5pm, Google Seattle, All Levels *subbing
Wednesday 6:30pm, Juanita Yoga (RSVP for details)
Thursday 7:30pm, Bala Yoga, Yoga Basics *subbing
Friday 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal Yoga
Friday 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels

This Summer is passing by in a whirlwind, I can't believe it is August already. It is so easy to let time slip away without stopping to notice the beauty of what's around us. A regular yoga practice gives us the chance to pause and find joy in the moments that make up our days. If you feel your days are out of control or slipping away see if you can find a time, even 5 minutes to rest in Savasana and notice how taking some time to become mindful and still can change your whole perspective on life. When we are in the middle of everything it can feel impossible to find this time but that is when it is most important. Trust me, your friends and family will thank you for it. We are living in a crazy world and a moment of quiet peacefulness is priceless.

-there will be NO YOGA CLASSES at Pro Sports Club Bellevue from Aug 5 to 14th-

July 25-31: Just a Schedule

2011-07-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

This Week's Schedule:

Monday 10am, Yogalife Queen Anne, Level 1/2 *subbing
Tuesday 8am, Google Seattle, All Levels
Tuesday 5:45pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Thursday 10am, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow *subbing
Thursday 12pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow *subbing
Friday 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal
Friday 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels
Friday 4:30pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Vinyasa Flow
Sunday 6:30pm, Yoga Tree Fremont, Restoratives

Just a schedule this week, I'm subbing a lot, come say hi!

July 18-24: Schedule, etc...

2011-07-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:

Tuesday: Pro Sports Bellevue, 5:45pm, Vinyasa Flow
Thursday: Pro Sports Bellevue, 10am, Vinyasa Flow*subbing
Thursday: Bala Yoga Juanita, 7:30pm, Yoga Basics *subbing
Friday: Discover Yoga Redmond, 10:30am, Prenatal Yoga
Friday: Discover Yoga Redmond, 12:15pm, All Levels
Friday: Pro Sports Bellevue, 4:30pm, Happy Hour Vinyasa Flow
Sunday: Yoga Tree Fremont, 6:30pm, Restorative Community Class
*I will not be teaching at Google on Tuesday morning this week, Susan will be subbing for me. I'll be back next week.

I don't have a lot to share this week but I did come across (thanks for sharing Charles) a video with the teachers I studied with in Bali on teaching and practicing that I wanted to share. They are so lovely, I didn't get to practice with them long but I would love to get back and spend more time with both of them some day.

Click here for video

July 11-17: Schedule and What's Happening

2011-07-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

This Week's Schedule

Mondy: 6:30pm, Juanita, All Levels (RSVP for details)
Tuesday: 8am, Google Fremont, All Levels
Tuesday: 5:45pm, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Thursday: 10am, Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Friday: 10:30am, Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal
Friday: 12:15pm, Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels
I will not be teaching my regular Friday night or Sunday class this week- I will be back next week

I made it back into the Mysore room today. Just as expected, my practice was waiting for me with arms open, knowing I would return someday. This class was in the U-district, in a small room, probably 10 people, I felt like the new kid in school and my practice was a bit rocky but and clumsy but it was there none the less. Thank you Sarah Plumer for an awesome class this morning.

I have been practicing without a teacher since last October. I've attended classes here and there but never stayed in 1 place long enough to have a consistent practice with the same teacher. My first few months here in Seattle have felt a bit hectic as I've tried to get everything together but I am finally at a place where I feel ready to let a new teacher into my life. I miss adjustments and knowing my teacher by name and the community that comes with being a part of a group. As I begin to teach more and more in Seattle and meet new students and teachers I hope to immerse myself in yoga, both taking classes and teaching and any way else I can get involved. The community of yogis in Seattle is so open and warm and I just can't get enough of it.

Have a great week everyone! I am not teaching Friday or Sunday evening this week but I'll be back to my regular schedule next week.

July 4-10:Happy 4th!

2011-07-03T16:37:00.000-07:00

Schedule

Monday: No class, Happy 4th of July!
Tuesday: Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa flow, 5:45pm
Wednesday: Bala Yoga Juanita, All Levels, 9:30am
Friday: Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal, 10:30am
Friday: Discover Yoga Redmond, All Levels, 12:15pm
Friday: Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Flow, 4:30pm
Sunday: Yoga Tree Fremont, Restorative Community Class, 6:30pm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Swimming One Day in August- Mary Oliver

It is time now, I said,

for the deepening and quieting of the spirit

among the flux of happenings.

Something had pestered me so much

I thought my heart would break.

I mean, the mechanical part.

I went down in the afternoon

to the sea

which held me, until I grew easy.

About tomorrow, who knows anything.

Except that it will be time, again.

for the deepening and quieting of the spirit.

My Mom shared that poem with me a week or so ago and it has been lingering with me ever since. Our practice is a time on our mats that we can 'deepen and quiet the spirit' but there are so many other chances in life to just get still and quiet and become present in the moment. The salt water is one of these places for me, it seems to wash away all thoughts other than what is happening right now. Perhaps that is why I have fallen so deeply in love with Scuba diving over the past year or so- I get a chance to be in the ocean for an extended period of time, not just watching the waves but actually existing in them. It is a feeling unlike any other.

I came across this blog post while I was writing this morning, it seems the water is a popular theme today, if you have the time give it a read, it isn't very long and I really like the way he writes.

Happy 4th of July of everyone, have a lovely holiday!

June 27- July 3: What's Happening

2011-06-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

-This Week's Schedule-
Monday: 7am Yoga Tree Fremont, Level 1-2
Tuesday: 8am Google Fremont, all levels
Tuesday: 5:45pm Pro Sports Bellevue, Vinyasa Flow
Friday: 10:30am Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal Yoga
Friday: 12:15pm Discover Yoga Redmond, all levels
Friday: 4:30pm Pro Sports Bellevue, Happy Hour Vinyasa Flow
Sunday: 6:30pm Yoga Tree Fremont, Restorative Community Class

There have been lots of changes in the last week and it got me thinking- how can our yoga practice keep us sane when the world feels like it has been turned upside down? Through all the moving and travel we've been through in the last year I see my practice as a time to remind myself that whatever happens, we are still who we are, and that never changes. Friends leave, people move, houses change, our jobs change but who we are deep inside will always be the same. My yoga practice helps bring me closer to my true, unchanging self and by sticking to my practice each and every day I can maintain a sense of well being and calmness throughout all the changes that life can bring.

June 20-26: New Classes on the Eastside!

2011-06-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

This Week's Classes

Tuesday: 8am Google Fremont, all levels
Tuesday: 5:45pm Pro Sports Bellevue, all level flow *NEW CLASS!*
Thursday: 12pm Bala Yoga Juanita, Lunchtime Flow (subbing)
Friday: 10:30am Discover Yoga Redmond, Prenatal Yoga *NEW CLASS!*
Friday: 12:15pm Discover Yoga Redmond, all levels *NEW CLASS!*
Friday: 4:30pm Pro Sports Bellevue, all level flow *NEW CLASS!*

I have 4 (!!!!!) new classes starting this week on the eastside of the city so if you are in the area (Bellevue or Redmond) come and say hello. Most classes are appropriate for all levels but just message me if you have any questions.

I want to say thank you for everyone at the Mexico wedding who made it to class the morning of the ceremony. It was such a treat to practice yoga and have some time to get grounded before the festivities commenced. To Raina and Jimmy- may your marriage be filled with light and love. Lots of hugs and kisses to you both!

June 13-19: What's Happening and Cool Link

2011-06-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

Tuesday: 8am Google Fremont

No Wednesday class in Juanita this week, classes will resume next week (June 22)

A (very) short teaching schedule week this week as I'm headed to Mexico for the wedding of a good friend. Next week I'll be back to a regular schedule with some new classes beginning so stay tuned.

Click Here to Watch Full Video!

The image above is from an Acro Yoga video I discovered this week (thanks Julie)- it looks like so much fun! I can't wait to get out there and take a class or 2! Seems there is Acro Yoga all over the city of Seattle. If you have a moment watch the whole video do it, it is so graceful and beautiful!

I'm feeling myself being pulled in lots of different directions right now. This city has so many different kinds of yoga to offer from Yin to Vinyasa to Yoga Nidra, Acro Yoga and some great Iyengar and Ashtanga teachers- its been really hard for me to stick to just 1 style. While my roots will always be in the Mysore room, it is where I started my practice oh so many years ago and where I always seem to be drawn back to- I think it is healthy (and important) to know about and experience different styles and different teachers. I want to thank each and every teacher I've had the pleasure of working with. I learn so much not only about my practice but about teaching each time I walk into someone's asana room.

June 6 to June 12: Lots of Classes!

2011-06-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

This Week's Schedule:
Monday 6am, Lotus Yoga Columbia City, Hatha Flow 2/3
Monday 7:30pm, Bala Yoga Juanita, Yoga Basics
Tuesday 8am, Google Fremont, all level flow
Tuesday 7:30pm, Yoga Tree Fremont, all levels
Juanita Class is canceled this week- will resume June 22
Friday, 4:30pm, Yogalife Queen Anne, Gentle
Sunday, 6:30pm, Yoga Tree Fremont, Restorative Community Class

I'm posting a bit early this week since I have some great Monday classes I want all of you to know about- Monday at 6am in Columbia City and 7:30pm in Juanita so wherever you are there is a class on your side of town-

Busy Busy Busy! I have classes all over town this week so please come check (at least) 1 of them out! By the way, the best way to get my weekly schedule since it changes so much is to sign up to 'follow by email' on the right side of this page. My schedule is going to be pretty all over the place through the Summer.

There is nothing like a few days of camping in the woods to recharge my batteries. Once I get out of cell phone range I feel everything that stresses me out in day to day life begin to melt away. Its a lot like stepping on my yoga mat, it is time I've set aside to just be. Last weekend we went on hikes, walked by the river, took photos of wildflowers and woke up with the sun. I could have stayed another week, I love how much nature there is at my fingertips here in the Pacific Northwest.

May 30-June 5

2011-05-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:
Wednesday (day change this week): Juanita, 6:30pm, all levels, RSVP for info
Saturday: 8:30am, Lotus Yoga, 2/3 Flow
Sunday: Yoga Tree Fremont, 6:30pm, Restoratives Community Class

"Just do your practice, all is coming." -Pattabhi Jois

Practicing yoga is like practicing for life. When you are on your mat there are days that will feel great, you will feel present and open and your breath will be smooth and connected. Then there are the other days... your mind is distracted and it is hard to get the body and breath to sync up, those days may be frustrating and may make you want to give up. Both types of days you are practicing yoga- as hard as it may be to get to the mat on those hard days, it is just as important to do it. Let your practice be what it is. The same goes for teaching, sometimes I feel great after teaching and there are days where things did not AT ALL go as I had hoped. I am working on learning to let go of those experiences and listen to what they have to teach me. Like Pattabhi Jois says- just do your practice, all is coming.

As the month of June goes on I will be starting up a bunch of new classes, be sure to sign up to get them by email so you can stay up to date! I have classes starting in on both the East and West side so you now have no excuse not to come and try it out.

What's Happening: May 23-29

2011-05-23T09:24:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:
Tuesday: 6:30pm, Juanita, all levels, RSVP for more info, $15
Wednesday: 10am, Yoga Tree Fremont, all levels
Claudette will be subbing on Sunday at Yoga Tree at 6:30 for Restoratives, I'll be back next week

** to receive weekly schedule updates via email just sign up to 'follow by mail' on the side of this site!

I've been working in our veggie garden a lot this week, something about working in the dirt just makes me so happy. Now that everything is starting to sprout I'm dreaming about all the feasts we will be able to enjoy as a result of our time out there and it got me thinking about tapas. No, not the spanish small plate kind, the sanksrit word for tapas which translates to heat or discipline. Each time I get on my mat I put myself in challenging, sometimes uncomfortable positions to build tapas in order to clear my mind and find some stillness, that in turn leads me to keep focused on my life and what I want it to be, it makes me happy. When I go out into the garden and weed and plant and make sure everything has enough water (which hasn't been a challenge this spring) I am building tapas, taking time out of my day to nurture the garden which in turn will grow and bring happiness to all it feeds. I never stop being amazed by how a yoga practice can bleed off the mat and into our every day lives, sometimes in ways we don't even realize.

I want to thank the lovely ladies over at GJ who I had the pleasure of working with the last few weeks. I had such a great time with all of you and I hope to see your smiling faces again soon. Each office setting I teach at has something new to offer, we had a great time working with what was around us and creating a class that allowed everyone to move a bit and use the office setting, chairs, desks, etc to help deepen and find new ways to practice. It is my sincere hope that some of the poses we practiced together will become part of the daily routine.

This week I started subbing at Yogalife Queen Anne, I'll be there a few times in June, it is a beautiful studio, full of light and warmth, if you are in the area come check it out! I'll post my classes as they are scheduled.

Have a great memorial day weekend everyone, I am off for a few days of camping in the woods and will not be teaching Restoratives on Sunday evening, the amazing Claudette will be subbing for me (thank you Claudette).

May 16-22: What's Happening

2011-05-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:
Tuesday: 6:30pm, Juanita, all levels, RSVP for more info, $15
Wednesday: 12:45pm, Office Yoga Workshop, Bellevue (LAST ONE!)
Friday: 4:30pm Yogalife Queen Anne, Gentle
Sunday: 6:30pm, Yoga Tree, Fremont, Restoratives

THIS SUNDAY!!! I am thrilled to announce that I will be teaching a weekly restoratives class at the Yoga Tree in Fremont. Restoratives are a quiet and peaceful way to transition from your weekend back into your week. They calm the nervous system and offer deep, deep, relaxation. Plus they feel great!

"Through restorative poses you come into harmony with your body's natural rhythms. Living by these rhythms is the key to good health."

-Judith Lasater

A HUGE thanks to everyone who made it the Yoga Tree and to Yogalife for class, what a treat to see you all! I hope to begin subbing more at these studios soon and at other studios and I look forward to seeing all of you on the mat again soon.

I've just finished a book that took me about 8 months to get through. It is called "A Year to Live" and was written by Stephen Levine. There are guided meditations and essays, all with an eye on living this year as if were your last. The book is meant to be a guide to exploration, to find ways to let go of those things in our lives that are causing us suffering and to let go of them NOW, not 50 years from now. One word of caution: this book might cause you to sell everything you own and go traveling for 6 months!

May 9-15: What's up this week

2011-05-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:
Tuesday, May 10: Yoga in Juanita, 6:45pm
Wednesday, May 11: Office Yoga Workshop in Bellevue
Thursday, May 12: Yoga Tree Fremont, level 1/2 7:45am
Thursday, May 12: YogaLife Greenlake, level 2, 5:30pm

"If thoughts arise, remain present in that state;

if no thoughts arise, remain present in that state;

there is no difference in the presence of either state."

-Garab Dorje, Buddhist Master

Happy Monday Everyone! After an amazing weekend of sun in Seattle this week is off to a great start. I'm teaching in Greenlake on Thursday, if you are around PLEASE come! It is my first class with the YogaLife studio and I am very much looking forward to it.

I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be present this week. It is so easy to remain present when things are easy and going great. When things get confusing or challenging it can be more of a challenge to stay with it and not just check out. Staying with the challenge can be the most rewarding part of being present though, that is where there is room to change, to really watch how we react to things and realize that we have a choice. We can stay with this thought or feeling, no matter how strange or uncomfortable it may seem and perhaps find a bit of light in it or at least find a way that we can learn from it. I like the quote highlighted above because it reminds me that just being present is the work, some days will be easy and some days it will be hard but either you are doing the work and that is where the transformation comes from.

May your week be filled with light and love.

Schedule and Ramblings, May 6-13th

2011-05-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

Teaching Schedule:
Tuesday, Juanita Class, 6:45pm, email me to RSVP and get directions
Wednesday, Office Yoga Workshop, Bellevue

This past week I've dug out all the books I read during my teacher trainings, I'm determined to actually read them all, start to finish. This will take me awhile. During my teacher trainings I read them but I didn't have time to savor them and now that I have the time and am looking for new sources of inspiration and ideas to explore as I begin to teach new classes so I am diving in. My first book on this journey is Georg Feuerstein's "The Deeper Dimension of Yoga" and is a collection of essays that he has written over the years on everything yoga related. For anyone who is looking to deepen their understanding of the philosophy and history of yoga this is a great book.

Being that we still have snow in the mountains up here I've been able to get on my board a few times this season. I'm always amazed how much my yoga practice translates to how I board down the mountain. From synching to the breath (vinyasa) to being aware and present of the beauty of the mountain at every moment. It is a very zen experience for me every time I'm up there.

The first of 3 Office Yoga Workshops in Bellevue went great! Thanks to everyone who made it, I will be back next week for another session and am looking forward to it. Over the next few weeks I am meeting with lots of Seattle studios and hopefully will begin subbing classes and getting some more regular classes going, I'll be sure to keep you all posted, I always love to see some friendly and familiar faces in the room!

That's it for this week! Peace and light to you all! Relish the springtime- there is lots of room for transformation this time of year, embrace it and enjoy the ride!

Its raining in Seattle this week, thought some flowers might brighten the mood!

Thoughts and Happenings

2011-04-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

This Week's Schedule:
NO TUESDAY JUANITA CLASS THIS WEEK- CLASSES WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK
Wednesday, May 4th, Office Yoga Workshop in Bellevue
Sunday, May 8th is Mother's Day (just a friendly reminder)

I am changing gears a bit here as I put together my new schedule and get Seattle classes up and running. I'll be posting here each Friday with the schedule for the week and any other info I'd like to share with you all. You can sign up on the right side of this site to get these posts by email if you'd like.

I've been listening to the "Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society" podcast nearly every day lately. Noah Levine (author of Dharmapunx) began Against the Stream in LA a few years back and I've been interested in the work they do. I was involved a bit when I lived in LA and now that I am here in Seattle I find it comforting to have them to listen to via computer. Here is a link to a guided meditation I really enjoyed: http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-stream/id313540278

I've been lucky enough to practice at lots of Seattle studio and meet lots of Seattle yogis in the past few weeks, if you are in the area and looking for good classes be sure to check out YogaTree in Fremont, Lotus Yoga in Columbia City and Sutra Yoga in Wallingford. They all have different styles to offer and they are all wonderful.

Peace and Light,
Kaitlyn

Classes in Juanita!

2011-04-26T14:16:00.001-07:00

Beginning this week- Tuesday evenings I will be hosting yoga classes at the house from 6:45-7:45. Classes are $15 for a drop in and 60 minutes long. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. These classes are appropriate for all levels, feel free to email me with any questions. With the weather getting warmer hopefully class will move outside in the next month and there will be more space available. Email me at yogakm@gmail.com by Tuesday at 3pm to reserve a space. There is still room for 1 more person this week so send me an email right away.

Classes in Seattle are in the works, stay tuned.

Peace and light to you all

Yoga with a view

New Classes and Workshops in the Seattle Area!

2011-04-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

We have officially landed in Seattle and things are quickly falling into place. In the next few weeks I plan to slowly begin teaching classes and setting up workshops. I have some office yoga workshops in place (email me if you'd like more information to set one up, there are still some days available) and Kirkland classes will be starting soon, with Seattle classes soon after. Keep checking back for more information as I'll continue to update it here.

It feels great to be back in the Pacific Northwest- clean air, sunshine (today anyway), and people I love. I really couldn't ask for anything more.

Goodbye for now, I'll be posting more updates soon.

Spring Newsletter

2011-03-16T07:04:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends and Yogis!! Spring is nearly here- flowers are starting to bloom and the days are getting a bit brighter. Spring being a time of new beginnings in nature it is also a great time to bring something new to your practice or start a practice if it is something that's been on your list of things to do. So take some time with your new found daylight and find a new class or roll out your mat- maybe even outside once it gets warm enough- and discover something new!

What's Going On Now...I left New Zealand a few weeks ago and had a week's stop in Bali where I had the honor of practicing at the Yoga Research Institute of Bali in Ubud with Heather and Prem. It was a beautiful way to get back into a class setting and meet some other teachers from around the world. I even got to reconnect to with a teacher I knew back in Los Angeles, the amazing Sarah Ezrin- if you are in Santa Monica check out her classes, she is a beautiful teacher.

After Bali we took some time to travel through Europe before heading to Iceland and then back to the United States for a few weeks of family time on the east coast. Soon we will be back in Seattle and classes will be starting up almost immediately!

What's Coming up Soon...In about a month I will be back in Seattle and setting up studio classes as well as some office and private sessions. There will more "Yoga and Wine Afternoons" and workshops galore! Please stay tuned for more details and email me with any enquiries. I have some space left for private sessions but get your name in now to reserve room!

Special Announcements and Upcoming Events...

Yoga and Wine in the Afternoon is back! An official email invitation will be sent shortly with a time and place, it will be sometime near the end of May.
I am still taking reservations for private sessions beginning on our return, email me privately for more information.
My website over at www.yogakm.com is always expanding, subscribe to the blog and keep an eye on it for more upcoming classes and information.

The last six months have been a time of transformation for both my teaching and my practice, I look forward to sharing new ideas and stories with each and every one of you!

Peace and Light,
Kaitlyn

Yoga Anywhere- Even at the Airport!

2011-03-06T00:36:00.000-08:00

With all the traveling we've been doing lately it's been a bit of a challenge to keep my practice going on a daily basis. But I've learned to practice wherever and whenever I can. Even at the Singapore airport with ten minutes to spare before boarding the next airplane!

Peace and Light to you all- new dates and classes will soon be announced stateside so please stay tuned! I have lots of ideas and inspiration from all the traveling and teaching that I've been doing in the past six months.

Thank You, Te Anau

2011-01-30T13:09:00.000-08:00

To everyone who made it to the Detox Workshop in Te Anau, thank you! It was a wonderful morning with a view of the mountains and crisp, clear air. Perfect for building some inner heat and working through some challenging poses and twists. It was such a joy to teach you all and I will savor our time of chatting after the class was over.

A special thanks to Kerri-Anne and Te Anau Yoga for putting this together, your warm and hospitality will always be remembered.

Peace and Light to you all,

Kaitlyn

Posting at Yogic Life

2011-01-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

I am still writing an (almost) weekly blog post over at www.yogiclife.com, I have not been posting them on this site but you can view them all by clicking here. It has been such a treat to have the chance to write about travel and yoga and how well they fit together. Like everything in life- yoga can make it better.

Namaste

Thank You Wellington

2011-01-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

A double rainbow over the city of Wellington

I want to take a moment to say thank you to the city of Wellington and all the amazing people in it I have met and connected to through teaching and practicing yoga. I have been so fortunate to be able to teach, practice and just talk about yoga with so many studio owners and other teachers in town, as well as had some lovely students and it has been an experience I will remember forever. Teaching here has been inspirational, not only in the way I teach but what I want my life to look like as a teacher and a lifelong student of yoga. No doubt I will be back to reconnect and learn more but until that day you are all in my heart.

Namaste,
Kaitlyn

Yoga in Raglan, New Zealand

2011-01-04T17:10:00.000-08:00

We had a great weekend celebrating New Years and visiting friends in Raglan. We had a little time to stop and observe the view and I had to get in a few poses, just couldn't help myself!

Happy New Year to you all- may your year be filled with love and light.

For those of you in Wellington I am teaching at Happy Bodies one more time before heading to the south island for a month or two. Class is only $10, the studio is at Gordon Place in Newtown- come check it out!

xoxo
Kaitlyn

Winter Newsletter

2010-12-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

Winter Newsletter

Hello Friends and Yogis!

Thinking of you all this holiday season. It is Summertime here and everyone is lighting up the BBQ and planning outdoor Christmas celebrations. I'm still not quite used to the change in seasons but it is lovely. As you move into the hustle and bustle of the holidays be sure to take a little time for yourself, even just pausing for a few deep breaths throughout the day can help keep the mind calm and the body relaxed. Although this can be the hardest time of year to keep a practice going it can also be the most rewarding. Remember to take care of yourself to gain the energy needed to get through all the lovely holiday parties and gatherings.

Things are quite different than they were when you received the Fall Newsletter. I am currently living and teaching yoga in Wellington New Zealand and will be here at least until the middle of January but not really sure yet where I'll be headed next. I've been traveling with my husband since the end of October, spent a week in Fiji, followed by about a month of travelling around Auckland and the northern part of New Zealand before settling down here for a little while. Our next step will be heading to the South Island of New Zealand before moving on, possibly to somewhere in Asia and Europe before heading back to the states and landing in Seattle.

If feels like such a long time ago but I want to thank everyone who make it to the "Yoga and Wine" afternoon workshop. It was a great success and will become a monthly event once our travels are over. An invitational email will be sent once the next one is scheduled, probably sometime in the Spring.

Announcements/ Upcoming Events

I am currently taking on private clients and small groups to begin once I get back to Seattle. For info and pricing send me an email, classes will be starting sometime in the Spring.

While I am away and traveling I am keeping a regular blog over at yogiclife.com head on over to check out where I've been practicing and maintaining a regular yoga practice while on the road.

Before we left for New Zealand I was featured on the Yoga Lunchbox website, thanks to that site I have lots of teaching leads here in New Zealand, click here for the article

I'm keeping a travel blog in addition to my regular website while I'm away- click here for a link to see what we've been up to.

Happy Bodies, Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand

2010-12-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

The view of Wellington from the top of Mt Victoria

This morning I had my 2nd class at Happy Bodies, our local yoga studio where I'll be teaching a few times a week while we are staying in Wellington. It is a small studio, community oriented with lovely people. The asana room is full of sun all day long and the vibe is laid back and worry free. Teaching workshops and single classes is wonderful and fun but it is so nice to get to see the same students each week- to be able to offer something new each time.

While there is a good deal of Ashtanga and Iyengar in Wellington it seems that Vinyasa is not extremely popular yet. I've seen a few few classes here and there but nothing like Los Angeles, where it is seems to be everywhere you look. Its been really lovely to offer a new approach to yoga to the people who have come to the studio.

I've been in touch with a few other studios around town and hope to add to my schedule a bit but right now enjoying having the time to practice and explore this beautiful city.

First New Zealand Class at Breathe Studio in Havelock North, Hawke's Bay

2010-11-26T14:34:00.001-08:00

Last night was a wonderful night. I had my first opportunity to teach yoga to about 8 wonderful, amazing, warmhearted students at the only yoga studio in Havelock North, Breathe Studio. Until this point I've been teaching a little bit to people we've stayed with and Schuyler while we've been on the road but this was my first opportunity to teach in a classroom setting. It felt like returning home. The last few days I've been missing the family, friends and students I left behind when we began this adventure, having this chance to teach gave me a sense of being home.

The studio owners, Doris and Urs, were warm and kind and supportive. I will never forget their generosity, allowing me to come into their space and share some of what I know. We had some time to chat before class began and it was nice to back in the presence of teachers, I feel like I learned so much just from our brief encounter.

Peace and Light to you all- you are in my heart.

Namaste,
Kaitlyn

Yoga on the Beach, New Zealand

2010-11-16T18:03:00.000-08:00

Pipiroa Bay, Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Practicing In Auckland

2010-11-13T23:57:00.001-08:00

Latest yogiclife.com post

Practicing in Fiji

2010-11-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

Practicing in Fiji

Building Community Through Yoga

2010-10-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Today I was fortunate enough to meet (in person, we've emailed back and forth a bit) the fabulous Kara-Leah from The Yoga Lunchbox. Our paths crossed while she is in LA from New Zealand and I am headed to New Zealand from LA.

Meeting new friends through yoga, teaching or practicing, is always such an amazing experience. The language of yoga seems to transcend the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time. I have found that regardless of what kinds of yoga people practice or religious or political beliefs, people in the yoga community are open hearted and kind and conversation comes easily.

Through her website (linked above) she is bringing together a community of yogis through New Zealand and beyond. While yoga is personal path for each person it also reminds us that we are part of the world and we are all in this world together, a worldwide community of people. I want to thank her for that, she is an inspiration.

Learning to Practice Alone

2010-10-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

Learning to Practice Alone

A Lovely Afternoon of Yoga and Wine

2010-10-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

I want to personally thank each and every person who made to the first (hopefully of many) Yoga and Wine Afternoon in Kirkland. Today was a bit of a test run so thank you all for being my guinea pigs!!

The sun was filtering through the windows into our practice room and we had an hour of yoga, followed by some yummy snacks and delicious wine from the Yakima Valley. Once we return from our travels I hope that this can become a monthly event. It was a beautiful thing to bring people together for the purpose of yoga and socializing.

Sangha, a sanksrit word referring to community, is such an important piece of a yoga practice. For the last few weeks I've been mostly practicing on my own and while I think it is very important to maintain a home practice, something almost magical happens when yoga is done in a community setting. The connections formed between people become pure and true and for a moment we can all live in the present and enjoy the company of friends.

Heading Out

2010-10-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Heading Out

This week's guest post from over at Yogic Life.

Good Poses After a Long Travel Day

2010-10-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, last week my husband and I drove up to Seattle with everything we own and our cat. After 3 long days on the road it was time for some serious yoga to help relieve all the tension that had built up from sitting still in a car for about 20 hours. This little mini sequence helped to get the energy flowing again:

Lie on your back with your knees bent, hands on belly to get centered and slow down your breathing.
Hug your knees into your chest (appanasana) to lengthen and release tension in the lower back.
Take a simple twist from here, arms out to either side, both knees to one side, head to the other. Releases the shoulders and upper back as well as the outer hips which can get tight after sitting in a car.
Come up to hands and knees and take at least 5 rounds of cat's breath to loosen the shoulders and thoracic spine area.
Press back into Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) to stretch the hamstrings, open the shoulders and release the neck.
Shift forward to plank pose and lower to the floor, take at least 1 round of cobra and an upward dog if it is part of your practice to open the heart.
Come onto your back and take a few rounds of bridge pose to release the hip flexors and lengthen the front of the body.
Open the hips with thread the needle on your back.
One more simple twist just like the one you took at the beginning.
Rest for at least 5 minutes in Savasana or take the legs of the wall for Vipariti Karani.

Enjoy!

Peace and Light,
Kaitlyn

Guest Blogger at YogicLife.com

2010-10-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

While we are on the road I'll be writing a weekly post on yoga and travel over at yogiclife.com, click on the image to read more.

I am back in Los Angeles this week and teaching a little bit- see the sidebar for details or email me to set something up.

Namaste!
Kaitlyn

Travel Blog Link

2010-10-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

With the moving and the travel coming up lately I have decided to start a travel blog. The link is http://www.yogakm-livelovetravel.blogspot.com/. Feel free to check it out, comment, keep in touch.

Peace and Light to you all,
Kaitlyn

Honored to be a Part of the Yoga Lunchbox! New Zealand's Online Yoga Magazine

2010-10-03T14:20:00.000-07:00

While I am traveling through New Zealand I will be teaching a few studios and writing as much as I can. The Yoga Lunchbox has been a wonderful online resource and I have been fortunate enough to be featured on their site. Thank you to Kara Leah, I feel to blessed that our paths have crossed!

click here for link

Join Me For a Very Special Afternoon

2010-09-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

*click this image for an animated version of the invitation

New Blogs

2010-09-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

In addition to my regular thoughts and yoga info here, I will also be writing a travel and yoga blog over at YogicLife. This blog will be more about my personal practice and maintaining a practice on the road away from my regular teachers- exploring new studios and approaches to yoga. You can find a link to the site here, a link to my profile here, and a link the blogs here. The first post is set to go up next week as my husband and I begin our journey out of Los Angeles and I will post a direct link to the blog once I have it.

Lessons Learned and New Beginnings

2010-09-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

As September comes to an end and my time in LA after five years begins to wrap up I can't help but take some time to reflect on my time here and what it has meant to me and what I have learned. I arrived in Los Angeles with my boyfriend (now husband), my cat and all our belongings shoved into a Toyota Corolla after spending 8 months in lovely Boulder, CO. I had a vague idea of what I thought I wanted to do with my life but no definite plans. 5 years later I find myself in a job I love with close friends in a city that has had put me through the ringer and made me stronger in so many ways.

I've learned what is really important to me- my family, good friends, good food, yoga and taking time to enjoy the simple things in life. After many years of exploring many styles of yoga, I've learned that Ashtanga helps me be a better person on and off my yoga mat, thank you Sonya for that. I will never forget the deep connections I've made here with all the wonderful people that make up this city.

And so, Los Angeles, I want to thank you for helping to make me the person I am and leading me towards the person I want to be.

Yoga Works 200 Hour Teacher Training

Avalon, Catalina Island, CA- Scuba Certification

Disneyland, CA

Yoga Works 300 Hour Professional Program

Lavender Fields of Los Olivos, CA

Big Sur, CA

Fall Newsletter

2010-09-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

Fall Newsletter

Hello Friends and Yogis!

Fall is in the air and with it comes changes of all kinds. As many of you know this will be my final month teaching in Los Angeles before moving on to new adventures, please come to a class and say goodbye before I leave, you will all be missed.

As the seasons change so do our practices. Take some time in the next few weeks to notice how your practice feels different than it did in the Summer months. Fall is great time to get grounded and centered, a natural time to turn inward and listen- standing poses and forward folds can help facilitate that. Give the body a little extra time in each pose to build heat and space, in the Summer time our bodies are naturally a little more open and flexible, as the weather cools it may take more time to build the internal heat. Take a little extra time in seated meditation this time of year, the mind naturally begins to draw inward and while meditation is never 'easy' it can feel a bit more natural to sit and enjoy the quiet.

For those of you in Seattle, I will be teaching throughout the month of October, dates and times will be posted on my website and I will be hosting a "Yoga and Wine" afternoon on October 23th (see below). An invitation will be sent out in the next few weeks.

Announcements/ Upcoming Events

Thursday September 30th will be my last day of teaching group classes in Los Angeles
I will not be teaching any studio classes the month of October but am available for private and small group classes in LA and Seattle, email me for more details
Yoga and Wine afternoon- Saturday October 23rd in Kirkland, WA. Yoga from 1-2:30, wine and snacks afterwards $15 suggested donation, more info coming soon
For teaching and events in New Zealand please keep checking here or or head to my Facebook page
Beginning in October this blog will change gears a little bit to incorporate travel news and other information that I find fun along the way as I move towards building a new teaching schedule in Seattle

*first baking day of fall- one of my favorite cold weather activities*

Learning to Play the Harmonium

2010-09-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had my first harmonium lesson... I am totally hooked. I was fortunate enough to borrow one to take home and play with on my own for the evening and I sat down with my eyes closed and sang and played for probably an hour. The sound is so calming and beautiful to listen to it seemed to put me in an instant trance.

Backing up a bit- a harmonium is an Indian instrument typically used for Kirtan (call and response chanting). It has a keyboard and a bellows (kind of like an accordian) and when you play the keys and pump the bellows you get a lovely sound.

For a lovely example of Kirtan and the sound of harmonium check out Jai Uttal or Krishna Das.

Special Announcement

2010-08-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Yogis,

September will be last month practicing and teaching with you here in Los Angeles. It has been an honor and a privilege and a joy to know you all, please keep in touch through facebook or email me through this website with updates on your practice and your life. You will all be missed.

October I will traveling back and forth between Los Angeles and Seattle and available to teach privates or small groups in both places, email me if you want to schedule something or have questions.

Beginning in October I will be traveling through Fiji, New Zealand Europe and will continue to post yoga related information from wherever I am. I plan on teaching throughout New Zealand and will also keep you up to date on that information, if you know anyone there I should talk to about teaching please let me know. Once I get back to the states I will post my Seattle teaching schedule.

If you are in Seattle please feel free to contact me now about setting up private and small group classes as those spaces will fill up quickly.

To my teacher friends- if you know teachers or studios in Seattle please feel free to give them my information as I will be looking to start teaching as soon as we return from our travels.

Om Shanti. Namaste.
Kaitlyn

Teaching Schedule

2010-07-19T14:24:00.001-07:00

August

Monday 8/16:
Sony 7:15pm, all level flow

Tuesday 8/17:
YMCA 7:15am, all level flow

Wednesday 8/18:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YMCA 7pm, all level flow

Thursday 8/19:
-

Friday 8/20:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
Goda 6:30pm, beginning level

Saturday 8/21:
-

Sunday 8/22:
-

Monday 8/23:
Sony 7:15pm, all level flow

Tuesday 8/24:
Howard subs at YMCA, 7:15am, all level flow
8:45am, Loyola Marymount University, pLunge workshop

Wednesday 8/25:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 4pm, level 1/2

Thursday 8/26:
-

Friday 8/27:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 4pm, level 1/2
Goda 6:30pm, beginning level

Saturday 8/28:
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 8:30am, level 1

Sunday 8/29:
-

Monday 8/30:
Sony 7:15pm, all level flow

Tuesday 8/31:
YMCA 7:15am, all level flow

Teaching Schedule

2010-06-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

JULY

Friday 7/16:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 4pm, level 1/2
Goda 6:30pm, beginning level

Saturday 7/17:
-

Sunday 7/18:
-

Monday 7/19:
Sony 7:15pm, all level flow

Tuesday 7/20:
YMCA 7:15am, all level flow

Wednesday 7/21:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 4pm, level 1/2

Thursday 7/22:
-

Friday 7/23:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 4pm, level 1/2
Goda 6:30pm, beginning level

Saturday 7/24:
-

Sunday 7/25:
-

Monday 7/26:
Sony 7:15pm, all level flow

Tuesday 7/27:
YMCA 7:15am, all level flow

Wednesday 7/28:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 4pm, level 1/2

Thursday 7/29:
-

Friday 7/30:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 4pm, level 1/2
Goda 6:30pm, beginning level

Saturday 7/31:
-

August

Sunday 8/1:
-

Monday 8/2:
Sony 7:15pm, all level flow

Tuesday 8/3:
YMCA 7:15am, all level flow

Wednesday 8/4:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2

Thursday 8/5:
-

Friday 8/6:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
Goda 6:30pm, beginning level

Saturday 8/7:
-

Sunday 8/8:
Goda 11am, beginning level

Monday 8/9:
Sony 7:15pm, all level flow

Tuesday 8/10:
YMCA 7:15am, all level flow

Wednesday 8/11:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2

Thursday 8/12:
-

Friday 8/13:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2

Saturday 8/14:
-

Sunday 8/15:
-

Monday 8/16:
Sony 7:15pm, all level flow

Tuesday 8/17:
YMCA 7:15am, all level flow

Wednesday 8/18:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YMCA 7pm, all level flow

Thursday 8/19:
-

Friday 8/20:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
Goda 6:30pm, beginning level

Saturday 8/21:
-

Sunday 8/22:
-

Monday 8/23:
Sony 7:15pm, all level flow

Tuesday 8/24:
YMCA 7:15am, all level flow

Wednesday 8/25:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 4pm, level 1/2

Thursday 8/26:
-

Friday 8/27:
Raksa 7am, level 1/2
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 4pm, level 1/2
Goda 6:30pm, beginning level

Saturday 8/28:
YogaWorks Center for Yoga 8:30am, level 1

Sunday 8/29:
-

Monday 8/30:
Sony 7:15pm, all level flow

Tuesday 8/31:
YMCA 7:15am, all level flow

Schedule for Week of June 20th through 27th

2010-06-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday
-

Monday
7:15pm, Sony Athletic Club, all level flow

Tuesday
7:15am, Westchester YMCA, all level flow
5:30pm, Goda Yoga, beginner/prenatal

Wednesday
7am, Raksa, level 1/2

Thursday
-

Friday
7am, Raksa, level 1/2
6:30pm, Goda Yoga, Beginning

Saturday
-

Sunday
10:30am, YMCA, all level flow (Last class! Please come, I would love to see you all)

When Practice Is a Challenge

2010-06-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

There are many great articles and websites about how great yoga makes you feel and all the wonderful health benefits of having a yoga practice but there are few articles on how to handle your practice when it becomes challenging to stay motivated and how to stick with it when perhaps you 'just don't feel like it.' There will be days, weeks, maybe even months you might feel like you are stuck in a 'yoga rut' or you feel yourself hitting the same wall over and over. This is a totally natural feeling everyone comes up against it sooner or later.

These are the times when all it is time to listen to what your practice has taught you. It is easy to keep practicing when it feels great and is easy, but when life gets tough sometimes we don't want to face what is really bothering us. When you are really practicing your yoga you will come up against these things and you have the opporunity to (little by little) work through them.

When challenges arise in my practice there are certain things I like to keep in mind:

1) It will pass, like everything else in life this feeling is not permanent.
2) Listen to what is happening, if you ignore and avoid it will continue to come back and haunt you. You may learn some amazing things about yourself.
3) Your time on your mat is the perfect time to explore, if you need to cry, then cry, if you need to laugh then laugh- sometimes you just have to let it out.
4) In the words of Guruji: "Just do your practice, all is coming." I really can't sum it up any better than that.

2010-06-14T08:45:00.003-07:00

Please note I will not be teaching regularly scheduled classes this Sunday at the YMCA, Ninon will sub for me and I will return the following week.

Buying a Yoga Mat: A Guide to Finding the Right Mat For You

2010-06-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

A link to my latest article over at Suite101.com, I've had lots of questions about buying mats lately so here is the down-low.

Have a great weekend!

1st Published Article at suite101.com

2010-06-09T17:54:00.000-07:00

Click here for the link.

I am officially published at suite101.com! My first article is a simple sequence to do at home to help you focus and get grounded. Keep an eye out for more articles coming your way!

Published!

2010-06-09T11:24:00.001-07:00

These two articles were published over at associated content, you might recognize them from here but check them out and follow all my future articles at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/822000/kaitlyn_mcconnell.html

Changing and Challenging Times

2010-06-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Some days it feels like everything is changing at the speed of light. It is hard to get grounded, to feel like you have any control over what is happening. It is days like this that it is more important than ever to get to your mat, roll it out and practice. Notice the pace of your breath, let it slow down. Notice if your tongue is stuck to the roof of your mouth or jaw is clenched, consciously release it. Move your body, do some sun salutations and standing poses, focus on your feet being connected to your mat. As you begin to flow and move with your breath you might notice the tension or sense of urgency that was with you is starting to clear. Just stay with your breathing and continue your practice. Take a few extra minutes in meditation or in Savanasa so your nervous system gets a chance to relax.

Change happens, it isn't necessarily good or bad, it just is. It is how you respond to it that makes it seem good or bad, not the change itself. Change can be on opportunity to learn something new about yourself, the people around you and how you respond to the world. Take a moment to soften, soften your gaze, your attention, the muscles in your body. When you soften it is easier to see the big picture, to know where to go next.

If you do not have a regular meditation practice start one now. Start small, 1 minute, then build up to 5, then build from there. Try it every day for a week, your life probably won't change dramatically right away but you may start notice small shifts in how you respond to stress or challenges, how your approach your day. Most of all, when changes occur you will be more able to move with them, rather than against them.

2010-06-08T11:41:00.001-07:00

Thursday night, June 10th at 7pm I'll be subbing at the YMCA (Westchester), class is in the Annex building. If you are not a member I can get you in as my guest, just send me an email.

Peace and Light,
Kaitlyn

Pose of the month: Arm Balances

2010-06-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

A few days late I realize but here anyway, ladies and gents, I present to you a month of arm balances! Your mission (should you choose to accept it): jump into the great unknown of balancing on your hands. Scary? A little. Fun? Most definitely, and to top it all off- you will probably realize you are stronger than you thought you were.

I love arm balances, especially in the Summer time, a great time to play and see what is possible, to try new things. They ask that you be strong, focused and graceful at the same time. They ask you to trust yourself a little bit, to push your limits. The only way to learn them is to try, to fall, to try again.

Throughout the month we'll be working on lots of different arm balances but there are a few themes that run through all of them that we will highlight here:
1) In order to find lift, you need to get grounded. I always use the basketball analogy here: In order to bounce the ball you have to push it down, the harder you push, the higher the ball bounces.
2) Keep breathing!! It is easy to hold the breath as you move into new and challenging things but it works against you making balance more difficult and causing strain.
3) Use your core. Think of all your movements coming from the center of you, it is different than hardening the belly, it is an awareness, an energetic lifting of the belly button in and up (slight Udyana Bandha and if you want more info on the Bandhas let me know).
4) Trust, you are stronger that you think, just try it. If you fall you fall, it happens to everyone (I toppled over in class just the other day, it happens)
5) Have fun!!! Yoga helps us untie our knots, not create new ones! This is a learning process for all of us, see what is possible today.

2010-06-02T10:32:00.001-07:00

Subbing tonight at Westchester YMCA (in the Annex), all level flow class. If you aren't a member email me about coming as my guest, it would be great to see you. Class is from 7-8:15pm.

Peace,
Kaitlyn

A cute little story

2010-05-26T14:51:00.000-07:00

One of my dear friends and students sent me this story today, it made me smile:

The girlfriend of a teacher at one of my schools is taking a yoga teacher training program this summer, and one of her 2nd grade students asked her, "You're going to be a yogurt teacher?!"

Yoga and Scuba: a perfect pair

2010-05-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Came across this page today while doing some research on trying something new, working towards getting certified for Scuba Diving this Summer. As with Yoga, the breathing is key, this article sums it up nicely: http://www.scubadiving.com/training/2006/10/use-less-air-through-yoga

Goings on and a book recommendation

2010-05-20T11:33:00.000-07:00

If you are in the area come on over to YogaWorks Westwood at 6pm for a level 1/2 class. I am subbing for the lovely Kim Fisch and it promises to be a good time. They have some great new student specials if you haven't been to YogaWorks before. The studio is just south of Wilshire Blvd on Westwood.

Recently I've been flipping through an old copy of "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. It doesn't really matter if you consider yourself an artist or not, this book is a great guide to help you find what you really want in life. It is a manual for peeling away the layers of the junk that gets layered into our lives and limits our ability to be who we really are. I have found it enlightening on many levels and highly recommend you pick it up.

Fun with Photography

2010-05-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

My amazingly talented friend Lisa took these shots last week, I thought they were fun. Not really sure how I want to use them yet, a new website perhaps? Any ideas? Happy Monday everybody.

Workshops this weekend

2010-05-05T12:13:00.000-07:00

These looked interesting to me- I'll be out of town this weekend but check them out and report back!

FREE intro to Ayurveda at Raksa! Info here

INTRO TO YOGA at Goda Yoga, $35 Info here

Max Strom at Yoga Works, Info here

Ogden: The Innappropriate Yoga Guy

2010-05-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken years ago- to be honest I had totally forgotten about them but here they are:

I am the one in purple. They are for the yoga journal video series Ogden: The Inappropriate Yoga Guy- its pretty funny, check it out if you get a chance.

Pose of the month: Dhanurasana

2010-05-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe we are already on our way to summer but here we are. Let's take advantage of the openness that the heat brings and do another month of backbends! This month's pose is Dhanurasana (bow pose). This pose stretches the entire front of the body and strengthens the back at the same time. It is an invigorating pose that will leave you feeling energized and alive.

*photo from www.yogajournal.com

To get into this pose:
Lie on your belly, bend your knees and hold your ankles (you can also wrap a strap around your ankles if your feet are far away).

Kick your ankles into your hands to lift your chest and thighs away from the floor. Keep your thighs hip distance apart. Move your tailbone towards the backs of your knees to keep the lower back long. Move the shoulder heads back and press your shoulder blades into your chest to open the front of the body. Keep the back of your neck long and soften your gaze.

Hold for 5 long, slow, steady breaths.

It will be more challenging to breath here- direct your breathe into the back of your torso.

To release:
Exhale to lower yourself back down, release your legs and lie on your belly.

Repeat 1 or 2 more times and then roll onto your back and take a nice easy twist followed by hugging your knees into your chest to let go.

IMPORTANT POINTS:
Keep the muscles of the lower back soft, if you feel pain in your lower back come out of the pose a bit.
Keep breathing even when it gets challenging.
Keep the back of your neck long so there is no crunching.
Keep the thighs parallel and hip distance apart, just like you would in bridge pose.

Today is a full moon and subbing this week

2010-04-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

If you are practicing today take it easy, take a little extra time to get grounded.

In other news I am subbing a bunch of classes this week:
Thursday morning at 8am- Sony Athletic club, all level flow
Thursday evening at 7pm- Westchester YMCA, all level flow
Friday afternoon at 4pm- Larchmont Center for Yoga, level 1/2
Saturday morning at 8:30am- Larchmont Center for Yoga, level 1

*I have one free pass left to Center for Yoga- email me and its yours :)

Hope to see you all soon!

Canceled! No intro to Raksa on May 15th

2010-04-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone- sorry to say the free "Intro to Raksa" workshop on May 15th has been canceled.

Thinking back, what my teachers have taught me

2010-04-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

Its hard to believe I've been living and teaching yoga in Los Angeles for 5 years. Over that time I've done 2 teacher trainings and too many workshops and classes to count and I've learned so many things from everyone in the yoga community I've come into contact with. While it is impossible to thank each person individually there are some lessons I've learned (sometimes the hard way) that have really stuck with me and I wanted to take a moment to write them down. I think they apply to teaching yoga and to anything else that you love in life:

1) Trust the process. Nothing happens immediately- give things time to work out.
2) How you teach is just as important (and sometimes more so) than what you teach.
3) If you teach from your heart you can't go wrong.
4) We all have things that come easily to us and things we have work for, just keep practicing.
5) We are all in this together and can teach each other, this is a community.
6) Sometimes just knowing someone's name or giving them an extra little adjustment can make someone's day.
7) Not everything will be perfect, teaching is like your yoga practice, always changing.
8) If you are just teaching and not practicing you are cheating yourself and your students.
9) Never stop learning.
10) Try new teachers/ styles/ studios, you never know what kind of cool stuff you'll pick up.
11) MOST OF ALL: Let your love of what you do shine through. Share what you are excited about.

In case you missed it...

2010-04-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

The free intro to yoga/ tai chi and guided meditation at Raksa was so amazing we are doing it again next month! May 15th from 12-2- no need to register, just show up. Meet some great people and treat yourself to a day of relaxation and renewal. I'll send out a flier once I have it but more info can be found at www.raksasala.com.

Happy Earth Day!

xoxo
Kaitlyn

Loving this today

2010-04-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

Yoga is not merely touching your toes, or standing on your head, or folding yourself into a pretzel. It's about how you do what you do, and how you live your daily life on a moment-to-moment basis. -Erich Schiffman

Erich Schiffman is a wonderful teacher and has lots of great stuff to say about the practice of yoga, if you want more info I recommend picking up a copy of his book called 'Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness.'

This Saturday (that's in 2 days!)

2010-04-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

Come check out the new Raksa studio in Culver City- free yoga, tai chi and a few other 30 minute 'mini classes'. When you are done you can get some delicious food from the cafe. Call to register or just show up.

What: Intro to Raksa
Where: 10846 Washington Blvd
When: 12-2 (yoga mini session with yours truly starts at noon)
Call: 310 559 7200 to register

What a wonderful way to wake up...

2010-04-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

This was the view just off our porch this morning- inspiration at its finest.

Peace and Light,
Kaitlyn

Cool Workshops This Weekend

2010-04-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

Here are some links to some fun workshops happening around town this weekend:

At YogaWorks Montana and introduction to Ashtanga taught by my teacher, Sonya Cottle. If you've ever wanted to give Ashtanga a shot but the Mysore room seems intimidating then this is the place to start:

Contact Information: Jessica Sokolove (310) 664-6470 x125

Description
Ashtanga Yoga, as taught in the tradition of K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, South India, is a refined highly evolved method of yoga practice. Postures are linked one to the next with a series of movements derived from the sun salutation. These movements are initiated, propelled and woven together by smooth, deep breathing. Heat is rapidly produced from the inside out, cleansing and clearing the way for a deeper experience of yoga. Consistent, regular practice will lead to rapid progress, developing flexibility, strength, stamina, and balance. The fluid nature of this practice creates a calm and focused mind, leaving you with a feeling of deep purification, completion, and peace.

This course is ideal for the student interested in the Ashtanga method and for Ashtanga students interested in refining and further developing their practice. Students should have a basic understanding of sun salutations and standing poses.

Sonya Cottle began practicing yoga in 1999 and discovered Ashtanga yoga with Chuck Miller and Maty Ezraty in 2000. Since then, she has become a dedicated practitioner of the ancient method, linking breath with movement. Through her daily asana practice Sonya has learned to focus her mind as well as tap into an inner strength and peace that no other type of yoga has given her. She believes the practice is the ultimate tool for observation and feels privileged to be able to share her love of Ashtanga with others. In October of 2006 she took her first trip to Mysore, India to study with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and is very much looking forward to returning again soon.
Schedule Information
April 11, 2010
Sunday 2-5pm
Pricing Information
$45 by 4/4; $55 after
Workshop Policy
Full payment is required to reserve a space in workshops. Refunds are given for cancellations made 48 hours or more prior to workshop start date. Store credit will be given for cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to workshop start date. No credits or refunds will be given after workshop begins. YogaWorks is not responsible for any and all costs incurred for travel arrangements or accommodations related to this event.

At Goda Yoga in Culver City there is an intro to yoga workshop:

INTRODUCTION TO YOGA — ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
Saturday: April 10 :: 1:00 - 3:00 p

This one-day workshop is recommended to all seeking to experience yoga for the first time, as well as those looking to revitalize a previous interest. Basic postures, simplified yoga philosophy, breathing techniques, and fundamental meditation skills will be addressed.

:: :: :: ::

$35 Registration Recommended! Workshop fee includes one free class of your choice from our regular schedule.

And at Raksa (also in Culver City) there is Reiki level 1 workshop:

And if you are planning ahead, NEXT weekend at Raksa there is an 'Intro to Raksa' workshop, a 2 hour session of mini 1/2 hour classes so you can sample the variety they have to offer. I will be teaching a yoga session April 17th. Hope to see you there.

Spring is here! Time for Backends!

2010-04-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

This time of year is so great for new beginnings, time to clear out the clutter you don't need in your life and the tightness/ stiffness you don't need in your body. Back-bends are the great energizers of the asana world- they give the lungs more room to breathe more deeply and open the heart (literally stretching the front of your body) to new and exciting things.

I have to admit, there were many years that I avoided big back-bends at all costs, they hurt my lower back and just didn't feel good- luckily I found a great teacher that LOVED to teach back-bends (thanks James) and since then my eyes have been opened to how transformational these poses can be.

So, our pose for the month is Urdhva Dhanurasa (upward facing bow pose). There are lots of ways to lead up to this pose which we will explore in class this month (and if you can't make it to class you can always email me with questions) but here is a rundown of the important alignment for this amazing pose:

- First off, this pose (or any other back-bend for that matter) should never make your lower back hurt, if you feel pain you stop. This is a big pose and it is important to build up to it over time.

-Another big thing to remember is this pose is not just about bending your spine- it asks the shoulders to be open and strong at the same time and the legs need to be strong as well.

-Before you do this pose take time warmup with some Sun Salutions and standing poses. I would take a few bridge poses on your back as well before moving towards this.

-Start on your back and place your hands flat shoulder width apart with your fingers facing your shoulders.

-Come into this pose nice and slow, come on the crown of your head first and pause. From here draw the elbows in until the upper arms arms are parallel. Move your thoracic spine and shoulderblades in towards your chest, direct your tailbone towards the backs of your knees and then keep the elbows firming in as you begin to press evenly into the hands and feet to come into the full pose.

-Once you are up there check in, press the feet evenly (especially the inner foot) and release your inner thighs towards the floor so your lower back has more space. Lengthen from your navel to your sternum and keep the hands firmly rooted. Line up your ears with your upper arms, the front and back of your neck equally long so there is no crunching.

-Coming out carefully is just as important as moving into the pose carefully. Tuck your chin and again firm the elbows as you lower. Repeat 3 times if you can.

-Hug your knees into your chest and take a twist to release this pose.