EVERY Body's Yogini

02/17/2021

I don't post for 2 months & now 3 times in one day....

Today, I explored a little on my mat.... I took some notes. I looked at a few yoga pages.

No, I didn't get savasana or any quiet meditation time. I didn't even get my heart rate up a whole lot.

But I did the one thing I wanted to make sure that I did today: I made time to do a little yoga at home. It may only be a small victory, but it is a victory.

02/17/2021

Another truth? Without in person classes, my teaching feels stagnant. I’m working to change that now. There’s a lot I can learn online. I need to embrace it.

02/17/2021

So, I typically try to only post positive things here. Motivational. Inspirational. But, I also think that one of my strengths as a teacher is the fact that I am always very real and very genuine with my students... So this is me being real. And I may try to start being "real" here a little more often....

Something that I will often bring up while teaching a yoga class is self-acceptance, self-love. Honestly, I've really been struggling with that lately. It's hard to be teaching a virtual class and seeing myself on the screen right now. I really just look SO fat... And I hate it. It makes me hate myself. And as I say those words to my students about loving themselves, it's not truly sinking in to ME.

2020 was HARD on my body. I try to not use scales in my house because of my past eating disorder & my issues with food. My brain can get a little obsessive about things. So I don't look at my weight, typically, except when at the dr. But I know I've gained weight. I'd guess I gained 20 in 2020.... Honestly, not sure if it's 20, but it feels like a lot. Additionally, up until the last year or so, I always looked pretty young for my age. There's been a rapid decline where I now definitely look my age, maybe even older than my age.... Youthful Jill is no longer who I see in the mirror. Those Zoom classes really make me notice all of this way more than I want to.

So it's hard.

And getting back into a routine to do something about the weight gain has been hard! I was FINALLY finding that in the fall... I had started attending a couple yoga classes as a student. Then, the latest frustrating mandate from the city started requiring face coverings at yoga studios and gyms. My favorite class was no longer an unperson option. I tried to make up for it and started going to a hot yoga class once or twice a week. I did that up until the week or so before Christmas. I haven't been back since then.

And as time continues on in this messed up sort of way, yoga studios have closed. In person classes are very limited. And it's just SO hard to, once again, get motivated!

The thing is: I LOVE TO GO TO YOGA!!!! (as a student). And the fact that the world is interfering with that, with what "that" normally looks like to me, is very, very frustrating.

So last night, I was thinking to myself about how I need to look at things differently... I need to find a new routine. The way things were a year ago are simply not an option right now... So I'm going to try to start fitting in a little more yoga on my own, it's not as much fun. And when I'm at home, I don't really get to enjoy anything like savasana, but I can at least get the physical benefits of it.

In the meanwhile, I will continue with that struggle to see myself on the screen with my extra pounds, my wrinkles.

12/28/2020

so I'm dealing with a wrist thing.... a different wrist thing than the wrist thing from 2 years ago. once again, I am reminded of one of the greatest things about yoga is the ability to modify your practice, yet still practice, when you are dealing with an injury. today, I taught a vinyasa practice which tends to include lots of downward facing dogs (my very favorite pose) and planks.... I told my students ahead of time that I'd be skipping those, and no, I wasn't happy about it. It changed the way I could personally flow through the practice, but I still worked, I still practiced, I still got my heart rate up, I still got lots of the benefits of the class. Yes, I hated not doing my downward facing dog poses.... And that's a challenge for me right now, but I found a way to make it work. As a teacher, I learn from each and every injury, ache, illness, etc. that I have. Honestly, I think it improves my teaching when I have to stop and think for myself how to modify my own practice. I cannot WAIT to be able to do downward facing dog again. In the meanwhile, I'll do what I can. Tomorrow, back in full swing teaching... 3 classes tomorrow, 2 gentle, 1 a slow-flow. I'd love to see you on the mat (or through your computer screen). Have a great week everyone!

12/06/2020

This song just makes me feel good...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ism8dBjxKvc

Music video by India.Arie performing I Am Light.

11/30/2020

Hi friends, I’m teaching an extra class this week at KC Yoga Kula. Tomorrow evening, 630pm, slow flow. It’s available in person or virtually. Let me know if you have any questions! I’d love to see you there.

11/21/2020

I think we can all relate to 2020 not being kind to us.... Personally, 2020 has contributed to my weight gain. Oh, I'm not going to blame it ALL on 2020, but 2020 has NOT helped with the situation.... It has been a rough year. Period. So as I near the end of the year, I have to think about WHAT can I do to make myself better? For me, the answer always tends to be yoga. More yoga. Yoga, yoga, yoga. It's been a challenge to get to a studio or gym lately, to find a class that I like that fits my schedule. So I've recently decided I need to branch out a bit, be a little more open to new experiences. This week, that has meant attending 2 different HOT yoga classes at one my favorite places. and I'm NOT a big fan of being hot. Ask my husband about our constant battle with the thermostat! I will say that these hot yoga classes are a little different than what I'm used to. And I'm not going to say that hot yoga is my favorite. But... when all was said and done, at the end of it, my body felt pretty good. I think it is important to try new things, occasionally.... It is super easy to get set in our routines, in our ways. I'll even say this within class, as a teacher. Sometimes I offer something as simple as child's pose, but with the request to make it different... change your arms.... if you prefer your knees wide, try them close together. Occasionally, you will surprise yourself and find something new to enjoy. so as I go forward into next week, I plan to attend hot yoga again. What can you do different next week that's good for you?

11/08/2020

10/31/2020

Yoga is about so much, including community.... And just in case you didn't realize it, your yoga teachers care about you! When we don't see you for an extended period of time, we wonder about you. Those who are like me even worry about you! Case in point: I have a class that I teach to some retired folks. Due to all the Covid CRAZY, we've been virtual since March. One of our regulars disappeared in late march for a few weeks, I wondered about him. I thought, perhaps, that he just found he wasn't a fan of virtual yoga (it's not for everyone). His return 3 weeks later was with the news that both he and his wife had been positive for COVID. Thankfully, they both had a full recovery. The same man had been MIA the last 3 or so classes, again, he's a very regular attendee, so his absence is noticed!! I reached out to him today because I was worried! Turns out that his wife had surgery and he's been helping her with some medical stuff. Thankfully they are both fine. But I was worried about them, even the wife whom I've never met! So I just wanted to let you know that we think of you, we wonder about you, we worry about you. You are LOVED!

10/17/2020

Ya know, I wasn't thinking yogi thoughts when I wrote this, but as I read it over, I realized it was VERY yogi...

And now I realize it didn't share what I originally wrote at all... Sigh. I'm going to post what I wrote in the comments.

10/01/2020

Life is slightly less busy right now, but still busy. I guess it is just different. I'm not working quite as much, so there is a little more free time. So I am making an effort to make the most of this time and go to more yoga classes as a student.

That's the thing about being a teacher. I absolutely LOVE teaching yoga, but I hardly ever take the time to practice on my own. So right now, while I'm teaching fewer classes, I need to make that time for myself.

This week, I'd call it a success! Tuesday evening, I went to an awesome class Hagoyah with Katie; Wednesday evening, KC Yoga Kula a great class with Sydney; and today, I went to a fabulous gentle yoga class, again at KC Yoga Kula with Amber.

As a busy mom, it is not always easy to take time for yourself. Honestly, sometimes you feel a bit guilty about it. The truth is, though, the better you take care of you, the better you can take care of your family.

09/20/2020

How many of you suffer from anxiety? Anxiety is what first led me to my yoga practice. I started having the occasional panic attack when I was pregnant with my 14 year old son. I remember it clearly. I thought I was having a heart attack. After his birth, I would just have them occasionally. It wasn't an all the time thing.

After the death of my oldest son, nearly 8 years ago, the anxiety attacks became much more frequent. It became almost debilitating at times.

I still remember the day I had a panic attack at the gym. A kind employee could tell something was wrong and sat with me to see what I needed. I told her I just needed to sit with her and talk. She suggested I try yoga with Amy, an amazing teacher. I had contemplated yoga many times over the years. So I figured, Why Not.

Thankfully, I loved my very first class and immediately made it a part of my routine.

The anxiety attacks happen much less often now. Most of the time, if I feel the onset of one, I can work my way through it with some deep breathing. Not every time, but most of the time.

I think unless you have suffered from anxiety, you just can't understand how scary it can be, how unnerving it can be, how debilitating it can be.

I saw this photo today & I thought to myself that I should tuck this advice away for a rainy (i.e. panicky) day...

09/14/2020

What does your yoga practice look like these days? I know the craziness of 2020 had changed the way many of us practice. It's nice to have options, isn't it? If you are ready to get back to a studio, there are lots of in person options once again. And, if you are liking the virtual classes, those are now probably a permanent part of the yoga landscape. And since I'm actually thinking slightly ahead of time this week, :-) I teach a virtual hatha flow tomorrow through KC Yoga Kula in the morning via Zoom. The really awesome thing is that if the 9:15am time doesn't work for you, you can sign up and do it at a later time! You can find details about this (and all of our classes) on the website www.kcyogakula.com And, of course, you can always send me a message if you have questions.

We teach various styles of yoga, workshops, and trainings in a welcoming atmosphere encouraging community.

09/07/2020

How do you deal with loneliness? Do you focus more on yourself? Do you go out and do something about it? I think it is hard to put yourself out there and find your people, your tribe. And what if you don't find a tribe? Do you just learn to be happy with yourself?
I feel at a crossroads lately. Life has changed. I have changed. But I'm not always sure what direction to go.
Honestly, I believe part of my discontent, my disconnect, is that I am rarely doing yoga lately, other than when I teach. When I'm on my mat, it does give me an opportunity to get a little more focused on what's happening with myself. And I haven't been doing that enough at all lately!!!
What I do know is that I need to be happy just with myself.
but I'm not going to lie.... I'd like to have some closer friendships. I'd love to have a tribe

09/04/2020

So I just wrote out this long meaningful post & it disappeared. Sigh. I guess I'll be brief and just say that if you'd like to join me for an in-person yoga class, I'll be teaching Saturday morning at 9am at KC Yoga Kula . If you prefer virtual, check out our website for lots of offerings. www.kcyogakula.com

We teach various styles of yoga, workshops, and trainings in a welcoming atmosphere encouraging community.

09/01/2020

I remember when I very first started my yoga practice, one of my favorite classes was a power yoga class on Friday nights at 5:30pm. Prior to starting my practice, my normal routine for Friday nights was to open a bottle of wine, then cook some pasta, then sit and watch some Netflix with the family while enjoying the wine and the pasta. Initially, I wasn't sure I could stick with that 5:30pm routine of yoga. Then I realized (because I did fall in love with yoga pretty quickly) that I could do yoga first, then go home and still do the rest of the stuff. I could enjoy my yoga, then my wine, my pasta, my Netflix, my family. It took a slight change of my mindset to realize that. I ended up keeping that routine for a LONG time! Covid hit. Kids' schedules often dictate what I can and can't do. So right now, I am NOT on a Friday night yoga routine. But I hope to start that again soon.

What can you do to fit yoga into your routine these days?