Village Yoga

03/15/2026

Monday, March 16th @ 9a Kala Shakti (Jack) is subbing Slow Flow. Don’t miss it!

"Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah, Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu, Maa Kashchit Duhkha Bhagbhavet, Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

Meaning: May all be happy, may all be free from illness, may all see what is auspicious, and may no one suffer."

Sending love to you all. 🫶🏽

✨ Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah: Chant and Meaning Explained ✨ In this video, we explore the profound Vedic mantra "Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah", a universal prayer for happiness, peace, and well-being. This ancient Sanskrit chant is a call for harmony and compassion, reminding us of the interconnectednes...

03/09/2026

As International Women’s Day comes to a close, my gratitude for the women of Village Yoga is endless.

Especially the founding practitioners — the women who gathered with me long before there were doors to walk through. You trusted the process from the very beginning, and together we planted the seeds of a community that would grow far beyond any one class or teacher.

To the core group of women who have been part of this circle for so many years — thank you. I have watched you support one another through everything: joy, grief, health, illness, growth, and change. You have loved and supported me while also doing the brave and often quiet work of your own lives. I love you all every day, without limitation.

I know that change in a teacher can feel tender and sometimes hard. That’s natural. But the practice has never belonged to one person. The real magic has always been the willingness to keep showing up — for yourselves and for one another.

Nicole and the rest of the teachers stepping in care deeply about this space. Please offer them the same grace you once offered me when we were all finding our way.

No matter what, keep showing up. Even on the days you’re unsure. Even when the style feels different. There is always something good that comes from the practice — especially on the days you least expect it.

To the women who built this community, and to the ones who will carry it forward together — I’m endlessly grateful.
🤍 Emily

03/08/2026

Hope you had some time to enjoy the sun and a little bit of warmth today. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning for Slow Flow at 9-10am. It’s time to start thawing out from winter!

03/07/2026

Balance isn’t luck.

It’s trained.

You don’t keep your footing by chance.

You keep it by practice.

Strong hips.

Stable ankles.

A steady core.

That’s what prevents falls. That’s what preserves independence.

Stand on one leg today.

Hold it for 20 seconds.

Switch sides.

Simple work. Powerful protection.

-Jack Lalane

03/05/2026

Get to know Jun, she’ll be subbing for Nicole, Jack & Zachariah. I couldn’t be happier to make this post!

Jun Zhao is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with over a decade of experience guiding students in mindful movement and body awareness. She trained in both China and the United States, completing yoga teacher training in 2015 with a focus on Pilates and Ashtanga, and has continued to expand her approach with complementary studies in Victoria’s Secret Body Sculpture and a 50-hour Hands-On Stretching course.
Jun’s teaching blends strength, mobility, and alignment, offering students a thoughtful practice that cultivates flexibility, resilience, and a deeper connection to the body.

03/04/2026

02/22/2026

Meet Nicole Reid

At my very first yoga class, I was hooked. The encouragement to explore breath, movement, and feeling created a deep and immediate connection. After 20 years of practice, I became an RYT200 through Intentional Yoga in Michigan.

Every practice is an opportunity to look deeper, make a small change, create a new opening. My teachings are on the yin side – slow, steady, aligning breath with movement, encouraging awareness, and finding the edge of comfort. I’ve deepened this knowledge under the direction of both Bernie Clark and Josh Summer in their yin trainings.

The ancient wisdom of Ayurveda has influenced the way I practice and teach. Ayurveda gives me a path to explore what’s happening in nature and weave it into what’s happening inside. I practice these teachings and have explored ways to share them through the RYT300 Ayurveda Yoga Teacher training at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health.

Nicole is teaching @ Mondays 9a-10a. Come check out her classes. 🤍

02/22/2026

The Teachers:

Meet Zachariah Brown.

Originally from Saginaw, Zachariah completed his 200-hour training at Intentional Yoga under Devon Crahan, Emily Hughes, and Nicole Reid, and continues his studies at Sambodh Center for Human Excellence with Swami Bodhananda.

Having studied both classical and creative approaches to asana, his teaching bridges strong foundations with thoughtful exploration. Classes are strong and spacious, always breath-led and designed to cultivate clarity, resilience, and presence.

Morning practice is his true passion. He believes the way we begin the day shapes everything that follows, and he designs his morning classes to cultivate grounded awareness, steady vitality, and a centered tone that carries well beyond the mat.

02/22/2026

The Teachers:

Meet Jack Brown.

Jack trained at Kimberly’s Yoga and More in partnership with The Synergy Center, spaces rooted in service and devoted to expanding access to yoga and teacher trainings for populations less served, especially within Black and Brown communities. The foundation of his training was not only technical but communal, grounded in equity, love, and real relationship. Years ago, Kimberly Lee Brown (Jack’s mom) and Emily trained side by side and became fast friends when Jack was just twelve. Life has a beautiful way of returning us to one another, and now we witness him stepping forward.

You may find him serving as Energy Exchange & teaching workshops at Intentional Yoga, sharing space with Kalamazoo Backyard Yogis, or teaching regularly at Sambodh Center for Human Excellence. Yet beyond where he teaches is how he walks through life. A student first. A seeker. A seer. One devoted to study, the quiet art of witnessing and service.

Jack carries a contemplative depth, meditative and musical, humble and kind. There is strength in him that does not need to prove itself, and a tenderness that softens the room. He brings lightness and levity into what can feel like a heavy world, guided by a heart rooted in curiosity and compassion.

Watching him grow into the man and yogi he is becoming has been one of the great joys of my life. To have him lean in during my absence brings me so much joy, and I am honored to pass the torch to him.

Welcome him with open hearts. Teaching yoga is a practice in itself. Like all true practice, it flowers through patience, presence, and love. I know you will love him.
Kala Shakti

02/22/2026

The Teachers:

Meet Nicole Reid

At my very first yoga class, I was hooked. The encouragement to explore breath, movement, and feeling created a deep and immediate connection. After 20 years of practice, I became an RYT200 through Intentional Yoga in Michigan.

Every practice is an opportunity to look deeper, make a small change, create a new opening. My teachings are on the yin side – slow, steady, aligning breath with movement, encouraging awareness, and finding the edge of comfort. I’ve deepened this knowledge under the direction of both Bernie Clark and Josh Summer in their yin trainings.

The ancient wisdom of Ayurveda has influenced the way I practice and teach. Ayurveda gives me a path to explore what’s happening in nature and weave it into what’s happening inside. I practice these teachings and have explored ways to share them through the RYT300 Ayurveda Yoga Teacher training at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health.

02/21/2026

📣Beginning February 23rd, the Monday Slow Flow & Friday Strong & Steady Yoga classes have a new time! 9a-10a. ⏰