Down DOGMA

One more board rental spot just opened up for THIS Saturday! I'd snag it quick, weather is going to be nice

Calling All Angels:

Asheville holds a special place in my heart. My first ever backpacking trip, sleeping in the mountains under the stars as well as my 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program were both in Asheville. These experiences and the people that were a part of them were vital for me becoming who I am today. Pic of better days in Asheville in hopes there are more to come for the beloved community there.

My heart breaks, my mind was racing and my dreams blended fond memories of Asheville with the current nightmare so many are living in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Knowing Craig Narada Wise has close connections to the yoga community of Asheville, I reached out and he came back with an idea of how we can actually help. The frozen feeling I was experiencing was lifted and I jumped into action reaching out to our local yoga community and more. Here’s the information we’ve put together with a plan of action that will get your donations and financial contributions directly to the people that need them:

The yoga studios that share this post have agreed to be drop-off sites for donated goods and some are trying to organize donation-based yoga events as well. Please be on the look out for these special offerings for a good cause.

Supplies and donations will be delivered to Narada before he leaves with a U-Haul and some helping hands by Thursday morning 10/10. Financial donations before that time can be sent to paypal.me/CraigWise388 - He will make a trip to Costco with the truck to purchase additional goods. He is plugged into a team who has already taken a couple trucks to Asheville from Atlanta. Donations that come after the evening of Wednesday, 10/09 will be forwarded to the UU Church of Atlanta and go directly to the distribution centers.

List of needed supplies:

-Baby food, toddler food, formula, wipes and diapers, including adult diapers
-Pet Food
-Toiletries like toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products
-First-aid
-Bedding, blankets
-Disinfecting wipes and other cleaning supplies like paper towels, toilet paper, gloves, bleach, brooms, contractor-sized trash bags
-Pull-tab or easy to open non-perishable food and beverages
-5 Gallon Buckets
-Empty Gas Cans
-New in package or with tags Clothes and Underwear
-Coolers, propane, cook-stoves, fans, dehumidifiers, generators
-Flashlights, lanterns and batteries

If you have any questions or want to be involved in a different way please reach out to myself or Craig. Thank you so much.

A Baker’s Dozen

Thirteen years since graduating my first, and highly transformative Yoga Teacher Training experience at The Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. That’s a baker’s dozen years worth of teaching yoga in my beloved community (and abroad). I found myself curious to better understand where this phrase ‘baker’s dozen’ came from, and discovered a good ol’ fashioned lesson of morality. To keep it simple, a greedy baker learned an important lesson that only by being generous can one become truly prosperous. Now, we all likely know wealthy people with questionable moral character as well as those that are beautiful, kind and caring. There is no ONE mold.

So then, what is true prosperity? I don’t have YOUR answer to that, and one year ago I definitely didn’t have mine either. But, I have it now.

A year ago, I was in some dark night of the soul hell-story type stuff. Swallowed up back into anxieties and fears and misalignments and chaos, as is often a necessary step toward self-actualization. You know what I did? I turned inward to myself, my practices and this soft voice in my heart reminding me of who I wanted to be, who I really was underneath all of the confusion. I did less, not more. I stayed committed to myself. I kept uncovering ways to reach *her,* this deeper, more trusting, more compassionate, more present version of me. Damn, I thought; Isn’t. She. Lovely.

This experiential love and trust in myself has been a game-changer, because it’s come from a non-mental, unstrained, embodied place. You know, in the moments of my unfolding and suffering I would have loved to change so much, but is that ever really possible? Can we undo the things that have been done to/for us? Nope. Even if we’d want things to have been different, they can’t be. But, we can shift how we see it and how we move forward. The me that shows up now is more present. I’m stronger, safer, bolder. I’ve chosen to be softened and opened from my battle wounds rather than hardened, bitter and reticent. I wouldn’t change a thing. Discovering my worth, my words, and my love is in direct relationship with the willingness to feel my suffering. I wouldn’t change a thing. And now that I’ve done that on repeat for myself, I’ve found a new ability to be in the muck with others. This presence is where I prosper. Feet in the muck, glorious green abundance all around - with the very real possibility of slipping and being covered and entangled in the swamp and seaweed - a different version of the, can I say it, Goddess? She comes in all forms and I will continue to welcome her. And you.

No mud, no lotus. Thank you yoga, I love you.

Happy Chinese New Year friends!
I created a new workshop to celebrate and align with this year of the Wood Dragon 🐉 woohoo, 2024 let’s go!

I’ve long time loved feng shui, not like my life is perfectly decorated but it’s nice to incorporate awareness of the role of the elements and the flow of energy in our bodies and homes, our sacred temples 🙏

Tonight at Yoga Bar Green we’ll move into movements and shapes to build intelligent awareness and a solid foundation for building a safe shoulder stand and plow practice. Every week we will work with new postures and I feel you’ll surprise yourself. Remember the goal is not the pose! My hope is that you feel empowered regardless if you ‘attain’ said postures or not. What’s the alternative? Leaving feeling disempowered? Not on my watch! 🫶🏼

Saturday afternoon Yin yoga and sound bath if you’re finding you want some stillness amidst the windy weather 🫶🏼

February 10th and March 9th on the schedule too at Yoga Bar Green !

If you’re unfamiliar with yin yoga, it’s all low and slow postures. Long holds, deep stretch type feeling, a lot of room for breathing, mindfulness and finding what feels just right.

In addition to the special events for January I posted yesterday, here is my weekly class schedule. Note that I’m booking out into Springtime with a little bit of flexibility now until March. Holla at ya girl, I’m here for you and have a knack for adaptability and collaboration.

Making plans for a smooth start to 2024? I’ve been making moves too! I feel like such a lucky lady to be so supported by these amazing studios and community of people.

Join me for some of my January special events including a variety of yoga styles, Ayurveda, Somatic Breathwork, Sound Baths, the Inauguration of the Red Tent Community (more on this later), weekly classes, new studio openings and a whole lot of love 🫶🏼.

Whether you’re taking a step back, a step in, a step up or a step down; love yourself where you are and your contentment will propel you to where you need to be. We’re not meant to do it all ourselves, even when we can. This community is here for you.