Yoga and Movement with Maude

09/19/2025

My last pop-up floating sound bath of the year is this Friday, September 19! I won’t be doing this again until spring/summer of next year so grab a friend (or 2) and float the stressss of your week away! This can be your last summer hurrah before the season turns. ☀️🎃

5 spots left.

Sign up here - https://calendly.com/yogaatwork/pop-up-floating-sound-bath

09/11/2025

The world feels heavy these days for reasons I don’t have to explain.

What to do?

Don’t overthink it.

🧡Take quiet pauses during the day.

🧡Find something that makes you smile.

🧡Call that friend who makes you laugh.

🧡Watch a heartwarming show.

🧡Do something nice and kind for someone.

🧡Hum. Sing. Breathe. Move. Just release.

🧡Listen to music.

🧡Believe in your humanity.

🧡 Pray for peace. Act on it.

Virtual hugs to all of us as we navigate through the strangest of times.

And… never forget. #911

09/08/2025

We Yoga teachers often say it: breath is king.
That’s why I made a promise to myself years ago - to keep learning, revisiting, and re-educating myself about the breath as science evolves.

The discoveries being made about our own breathing are nothing short of fascinating, reminding us just how powerful and transformative this simple act can be.

Though a little overdue, I’m thrilled to share that I have finally completed (yet :)) another certification in this field. I’ll be bringing these fresh insights, alongside everything I have studied and practiced over the years, into my Foundations of Functional Breathing workshop on Saturday, September 13.

Just 4 spots left!
👉Register here - https://matthewsfun.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=2733&mode=roster

09/05/2025

Some questions I am getting for my Foundations of Functional Breathing workshop:

1️⃣ I do not practice Yoga. Is that a requirement for the workshop?

Not at all. This is for anyone who breathes. No prior Yoga experience required.

2️⃣ I have a deviated septum. Will your workshop even benefit me?

Yes! Functional breathing is about working with the body you have. I will show techniques that can be adapted to your own needs and limitations.

3️⃣ Will this just be sitting and breathing the whole time?

Nope! We will combine science + practice. You’ll learn why the breath works the way it does, and how to apply practical tools you can use daily. We will also assess breath patterns that may be hurting you without you realizing it.

4️⃣ What if I already know how to breathe?

Most of us don’t realize how often we’re breathing in ways that actually stress the body. This workshop helps you retrain your system to embrace functional breathing.

5️⃣ I sometimes get anxious with breathwork. Will this be safe?

Yes. I am very well aware that not everyone is comfortable focusing on the breath (part of being trauma-informed). While everything is optional, I will guide you step by step, with gentle and safe techniques. You will always be in control of your pace.

6️⃣ Is this all about Pranayama?

No. While I will cover Pranayama techniques, this is not a workshop for Yogis. This workshop is for everyone who wants to, quite honestly, change their life by changing the way they breathe

📅 Saturday, Sept 13, 10:30 am - 12:15 pm
📍 Matthews Community Center, Room 102
Come learn the skill that influences every area of your health and well-being: your breath.

Sign up here - https://matthewsfun.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=2733&mode=roster

08/29/2025

Nope — this is not me suppressing my freedom of speech.

It’s me wearing different kinds of mouth tape to sleep. 👀

Why? Because how we breathe — especially while we sleep — can completely change our energy, focus, and resilience. And for last 4 years, I have really REALLY taken my sleep hygiene very seriously and I started really paying close attention to the breath.

And that’s just the start.

🫁Why do Yoga instructors tell you to “send your ribs back” — and what does that have to do with your breath?

🫁Do men and women actually breathe the same?

🫁 Is it really a good thing if the person next to you can hear your breath?

🫁 What does mouth breathing do to your sleep — and how can you retrain yourself?

In my Foundations of Functional Breathing workshop on Saturday, September 13 at 10:30 AM (Matthews Community Center, Room 102),

And of course, we’ll get hands-on with breath practices you can actually feel working in minutes, if not seconds.

This isn’t about “just breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide.”

It’s about understanding the physiology and the biochemistry behind our breathing mechanisms so you can use your breath as your most powerful tool for sleep, focus, and stress.

👉 Save the date: Saturday, Sept 13 | 10:30 AM to 12:15 pm | Matthews Community Center, Room 102

Sign up here: https://matthewsfun.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=2733&mode=roster

I will be giving away these mouth tapes to attendees. �
Come curious.
Leave empowered.
Breathe differently. 💨

08/17/2025

Did you know that the urge to breathe isn’t triggered by a lack of oxygen… but by rising levels of carbon dioxide?

Most people think breathing well means pulling in as much oxygen as possible. The truth is, oxygen only gets delivered effectively to your brain and body when it’s balanced with carbon dioxide.

CO₂ isn’t just a “waste gas.” And it isn’t the enemy. it is actually the key that helps oxygen unlock and reach your cells. Without it, oxygen just floats around in your bloodstream, unused.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about breathing. We’ve been taught to fear CO₂, when in reality, it’s a crucial player in how calm, clear, and energized we feel.

That’s why shallow, fast breathing leaves us anxious and jittery—because we’re actually off-balance. And it’s why slow, steady, functional breathing can reset your nervous system within minutes.

I’ve seen this science come to life in my own experiences and how my breathing, quite LITERALLY, saved my life.

That’s what this workshop is about: learning how to use the breath not just for relaxation, but as the most powerful influencer of your nervous system. You will walk away with tools you can use at work, in traffic, before a difficult conversation, or anytime you need to shift from stress to steadiness.

And I promise you, this won’t be like any other breath work workshop you’ve been to!

📅 Saturday, Sept 13 | 10:30 am – 12:15 pm

First part: Lecture with practical snippets
Second part: Gentle movement practice applying what we’ve learned
�📍 Matthews Community Center, Room 102�💲 $35

Sign up here —> https://matthewsfun.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=2733&mode=roster

It is never too late to reclaim the most basic, most overlooked skill you already carry with you—so that when life presses in, you have a way through.

08/03/2025

As summer winds down, there are still plenty of ways to move, breathe, and practice with me in the Matthew’s community center area. Here’s what’s coming up:

WORKSHOP – Foundations of Functional Breathing
📅 Saturday, September 13 | 10:30 AM – 12:15 PM
📍 Room 102, Matthews Community Center
Many people only pay attention to their breath during a Yoga class, then forget about it the moment they leave. Others feel uneasy focusing on their breath at all (I’ve seen it over the years).

This workshop is designed to appreciate the magnificent orchestration that Is our breathing. We will explore the physiology and biochemistry of breathing and how it directly affects your movement, focus, and energy—on and off the mat.

🎟 $35 | Register here
https://matthewsfun.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=2733&mode=roster

PUBLIC CLASSES – August Themes
Join me for the final stretch of the Summer Yoga Series in Matthews:

Mondays at 6:30 PM – Slow Evening Yoga Flow
📍 Room 102, Matthews Community Center
👉 Register here
https://matthewsfun.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=2590&mode=roster

Thursdays at 6 PM – Dynamic Evening Deep Stretch
📍 McDowell Arts Center
👉 Register here
https://matthewsfun.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=2592&mode=roster

I invite you to breathe, move, and close out summer mindfully with me. Hope you are all staying cool and hydrated!

07/15/2025

My nervous system went in dysfunction mode.

My heart rate was up for no reason.
I felt faint.
Fatigue hit me and it never had and never did in my entire life.
I could not read words well which made reading emails a challenge.

I felt like an alien in my own body.

What saved my life?
Yoga, movement, mindfulness, and vagal toning.

Yes, vagal toning saved my life.

As my doctor said, "This is why you became a high functioning Dysautonomia patient."

At 2:30 pm tomorrow, Wednesday, July 16, Marianna Cuomo Maier, NBC-HWC of Grata Wellness and I will be facilitating our second installment of "Regulate and Radiate: A Summer Nervous System Reset."

Last month, we focused on the heart system through HeartMath(R) and a Heart Chakra meditation.

This month, we are doing a surface dive on the brain, specifically around the vagus nerve.

When you know how to befriend your nervous system to work with you, healing happens and your essence unfolds in ways you do not realize.

Please join us for half an hour of knowledge and wisdom that can help you for the rest of your life.
Join us here - https://calendly.com/.../regulate-and-radiate-online-event
and you get the recording and virtual care kits of all 3 sessions.

Hope to see you there!

07/09/2025

Please join us for the rest of the series! Knowledge about Vagal toning is one thing, but getting guidance is another. Let us guide you.

Regulate and Radiate: A Summer Nervous System Reset

Join here - https://calendly.com/yogaatwork/regulate-and-radiate-online-event

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁?

I do it all the time—while cooking, driving, or even in between Zoom meetings.

It’s not just a random habit.

It’s one of the simplest, science-backed ways to calm the nervous system.

Here’s a tidbit most people don’t know:

🎵Humming increases nasal nitric oxide production by up to 20%, supporting better oxygenation, mental clarity, and nervous system regulation.

🎵It also gently tones the vagus nerve—your body’s built-in brake pedal for stress.

If you want more tools like this, come to the 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦: 𝘈 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘵 series.

The next session is 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟲, and we’ll dive into the science and practice of vagal toning.

As a grounding close, Marianna Cuomo Maier of Grata Wellness NBC-HWC will guide us through a journaling process that ties everything together—calming, centering, and beautifully reflective.

$25 gives you access to:

✔️ The July 16 live session
✔️ June session recording
✔️ Final session on August 20
✔️ All the virtual care kits

📲 Reserve your spot here:

https://calendly.com/yogaatwork/regulate-and-radiate-online-event

Do you hum, sway, or self-soothe in unexpected ways throughout the day?

What’s your nervous system’s go-to signal that says “let’s settle down”?

06/19/2025

Let’s be honest, even in the supposedly “woo woo lovey dovey hippie” wellness space, there is still no equity, and bodies are not treated equally.

On Juneteenth and beyond, I recommit to providing a facilitation and teaching space where people are seen, accepted, and heard.

Let’s be honest: not all bodies are treated equally in wellness spaces.

Not all bodies feel free, accepted, and seen.

This , let us remember that freedom isn’t just political—it’s somatic, emotional, and generational.

In my wellness business and facilitation, I honor Juneteenth by:

🖤 Acknowledging that rest is resistance

❤️ Holding space for nervous system safety for every body, not just the most privileged

💚 Asking deeper questions about equity in how I teach, cue, program, and partner

Wellness isn’t neutral.

If we want it to be truly inclusive, we must actively consider the lived experiences people bring into the room, especially those shaped by generational trauma, systemic inequities, and cultural erasure.

The Yoga teaching world is still very white washed, and cultural misappropriation is still very palpable.

Wellness, especially with today’s political flavor, favors those who can afford $$$$ products and experiences.

On Juneteenth and beyond, I recommit to creating containers that are not only restorative but also just.

Let’s not just offer wellness. Let’s practice it consciously, compassionately, and collectively.

How does your work invite others to feel free, safe, and seen?