Ashtanga with Erica

10/29/2025

SERIOUS POST ALERT: Flatulation during yoga classes

It's time we talk about the elephant in the room. I'm talking about passing gas, farts, t***s, and good ol' bottom burps.
If this has happened TO you, NEXT to you, or you've HELD BACK with all your bandha strength, keep reading.
One of the great benefits of practicing yoga asana is how it can improve our digestion. Twisting, inverting, side bending, compressing the belly in forward bends and even back bending can all help move food and trapped air through our intestines. That's what it's supposed to do. It's a natural outcome of moving our bodies in these ways. Unfortunately, it often happens in a class when we are least expecting it. But don't fret, it's happened to most of us at one time or another.

If it happens to you often, your body is trying to tell you something!
Take note of the posture you are in when it happens, and even the few poses that came previously. This sequence may be the master key for you to practice when you are in the comfort of your own home. At home you are free to flatulate as loudly or as long as necessary!
Or, do these poses before you leave for class so you can 'relieve' yourself of any unwanted attention during class.

And if it happens next to you, try to be kind, keep on breathing, but maybe opt to breathe through your mouth for a few minutes while the air clears :)

***s

10/27/2025

So proud of my girl Shonda Moralis, LCSW ! She's knowledgeable and approachable. Definitely 2 things you want in a counselor. And If you want even more info on menopause, plus an amazing vacation with a group of like-minded women, join us for our first MenoPAUSE Revolution Retreat March 2026 in the Azores. More info on my Retreats page.

Menopause is finally part of the conversation. But sometimes more information can also mean more misinformation. So how do you know what and who to trust in the process?

10/27/2025

Back in 2001, I completed a teacher training with Manju Jois, assisted by Dee Silvers, at YogaSport in Ardmore, PA. 24 years later, my daughter Quinn and I traveled to Vermont to practice with Manjus daughter Sathu. Sathu is carrying on the Ashtanga tradition with the same warm, therapeutic attitude as her father. She will be in Scranton this week at Heartspace yoga for Mysore classes. Head up there for practice if you have a chance. Practicing with a teacher that comes through the direct bloodline lineage is rare. It's up to all of us to learn, practice, and pass it on. Do your part, for yourself and everyone you love.
My teacher and mentor Kathy McNames is the reason I teach the way I do. She's been my inspiration from the start and continues to embody the philosophy of Ashtanga in the best way possible: sharing love, sharing practice, sharing space.

10/22/2025

Look at it this way: Yoga practice is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.

Ask yourself not how you can give your all in today’s practice, but what you can do today to make sure you are still as passionate about your practice tomorrow, and the next day, and the next…

When you practice daily, as you do on a retreat, you start to realize the changes aren’t all physical. Having a community to practice with and support you is vital. So remember the immortal words of my teacher David Williams, “The person that enjoys their practice the most today is the one who will return to their mat tomorrow”.
With one another to lean on we can create an environment where we celebrate our differences, not dwell on our disparities.

Join us in Costa Rica November 2026 to turn inward, find your perfect way to practice and discover the gifts getting on your mat daily gives you.

> >> DON'T FORGET: Register by October 31st for $300 OFF!

10/10/2025

Why you should throw caution to the wind and join a Mysore class with me...

Rather than relying on general verbal cues from an instructor, this empowering practice is guided by the students own breath rhythm. By listening to your own breath and following the rhythm set by you, not your instructor, you find your own inner teacher.

I will support you in the art of self observation, guide you with gentle hands on assists and individual verbal cues that encourage self reflection, confidence and acceptance rather than remaining reliant on a teacher.

I will help you figure out the best way to flow through the practice with ease and grace.

I will help you find your natural alignment so your bandhas turn on automatically instead of having to place too much mental effort on maintaining them.

This is YOUR practice. LOVE it. Care for it. Make it a habit.

10/09/2025

Thank you ladies! We had an amazing response for our MenoPAUSE Revolution Retreat and we are already HALF WAY FULL 😃

Due to the incredible response, our retreat team encouraged us to extend the 500 Euro discount for 2 more weeks.
Many people are coming with a friend and have booked rooms together, but we do have a few shared rooms available if you are registering by yourself.

We will travel as a group, so you won't be traveling alone. Our amazing team will send out all the flight info, FAQ and an Early Arrival Guide to make travel simple.

And your hosts: Shonda, Kristin and myself, are planning some informative and empowering programming for you (check out the pic of our practice space!). Santa Barbara Eco Resort will cook us some nutritious food, including produce sourced from their farm, pastures, and immense sea (see pic!). On two of the days we will explore the beautiful countryside (see pic!), take a dip in some hot springs and visit the local town center. There is a variety of room types, although they are going fast, I've included a few photos so you can see the gorgeous resort!

Any questions? Contact Erica: leave a comment or email me at contact@emmausyoga.com!

10/08/2025

BEGINNER WORKSHOP THIS SATURDAY | Oct. 11 | 11am-Noon

If you are interested in starting an Ashtanga Yoga practice but don't feel comfortable joining a led or Mysore style class, this workshop is for YOU!

Learn Ashtanga Ujjayi breathing - Sun Salutations - How to prepare for any standing posture - The best way for you to practice seated forward bends - How to begin and end your practice no matter how long you have to practice that day.

Use the linkin bio or head over to the Classes page to register!

10/04/2025

Hey Ladies!
There's only 2 more days to save 500 Euro on our first MenoPAUSE Revolution Retreat in the Azores archipelago, just off the coast of Portugal this coming March!
If this is the first that you've heard of it, I will be hosting along with my friends Shonda Moralis and Kristin Friel.

A little about us:
Shonda - Psychotherapist, Mindfulness educator, author
Kristin - OB GYN, certified menopause practitioner
and ME! - Yoga and breathwork instruction
Each of us have over 25 years of experience in our chosen field!

Daily programming with your hosts, will inform and prepare you to return home with a plan to live more fully.
Group discussions, lively dinners, and down time will bond you with your retreat-mates in such a deep way, that some may become lifelong friends.

We will be staying at the Santa Barbara Eco Beach Resort. On one side, just steps away, you overlook the gorgeous black sand beach of Santa Barbara. One the other, the unique, almost magical, green pastures and mountain hues that contrast with the azure blue ocean.
The ideal backdrop for a calming resort retreat.
5 nights/6 days, 2 hiking excursions and airport transfers are included.

Register by Oct 6 to get a 500 Euro discount. See my Retreats page and follow the links to register.
Questions? Drop them in the comments or email me!

09/23/2025

This retreat is for all levels, no yoga experience necessary!
My goal is to begin our days together with breathing exercises and a gentle practice of poses that will calm your nervous system and serve as the basis for your home practice.
Shonda will guide you in the best practices to deal with the menopause process from an empowering emotional, mindset, and habit standpoint.
Kristin will add to this, plus back it up with the science behind exactly what is happening in your body so you can approach it with wisdom and evidence based facts.
Together, we hope this week provides you with some perspective and the tools you need so you can support yourself, friends, and family members through this time of change.

Interested? Email me for a VIP Promo code (500 Euro discount) through Oct 6!

09/22/2025

Basics Session starts TOMORROW night at 6:30pm | Sweetwood | Macungie

This session is not just for beginners!
Returning to Ashtanga after a hiatus?
Dealing with an injury?
Want to focus on the meditative aspects of the practice?

Register on the Classes page of my site or join me Saturday for Mysore style Ashtanga.