I recently connected with two wonderful yogis in Texas named Lisa Ware

Lisa Ware of One Yoga USA

and Jennifer Buergermeister of One Yoga USA.  A little history on these two women.   As Jenn tells it, “We met on the phone organizing Free Day of Yoga for Texas in 2009.  Our energies were synergies from the get go! In 2010, I visited Lisa in Dallas to present her an idea to collaborate and organize the most amazing training module ever – OneYogaUSA (OYUSA). Then I flew to the East coast to present the idea to Yoga Alliance and we got it approved. We gathered alliances in 2011. And in 2012 we decided to roll with OYUSA as a modular training program that develops a deeper study into yoga and its branches as “curators of yoga” at the 1000 hour level; and make a conference using our trainers and collaborating schools and studios.”

The One Yoga USA SEVA project grew from their vision to unite all 52 states in the USA to raise consciousness and good vibrations.  Lisa and Jenn

Jenn Buergermeister of One Yoga USA

wanted to offer an online resource for like-minded practitioners to share their planned SEVA projects so they created space on their website just for that.  The idea is that local yogis can organize an event and place it on the One Yoga USA website where it will be grouped by location.  Then, practitioners can find a SEVA event near them to attend.

This seemed like a wonderful opportunity to get creative about service to community and others.  My friend, Maggie White, and I felt super inspired by this concept and have begun organizing our own event in Chattanooga, TN.  We have partnered with a local organization called Outdoor Chattanooga to do some clean up of public lands and parks in our area that are in need.  Our plan is to put the call out to our local yoga community via One Yoga USA and our own networks to get volunteers to show up for a day of cleaning up these areas.  After the clean-up, we will celebrate with some outdoor yoga play including a mat class, a slack line yoga class and maybe some acro yoga!  Maggie and I hope to make this a recurring event that will beautify our city and also encourage people to get outdoors and play.

Nearby, in Atlanta, GA, one of my other friends, Isabelle Casey, is cooking up a SEVA project focused on clean water and conservation.  The details of that event are just coming together but those yogis too plan a post-work yoga class to commemorate the day.  Since the focus is water, they are coordinating a Stand Up Paddleboard yoga class with boards provided by a local dealer.  The Atlanta yogis want to help their community and bring awareness to the importance of clean water.

So, are you feeling inspired?  Is there a need in your community that could be met by a group of unified yogis?  Cleaning graffiti, maintaining a park, feeding those in need, distributing water to the homeless on hot days, volunteering for a pet adoption fair?  Whatever the cause, it does feel good to get out into the world and do the work that is needed.  And of course, to mark the day with a group yoga practice afterwards!

I recently saw this quote on a FB post and thought it summed it up nicely, “I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that, then I realized I am somebody.”

You can share your event on the One Yoga USA page and they will help get the word out.  They hope to see at least 52 projects on the site, one for each state.  But, I’ll bet they end up with way more than that!  We can’t wait to see the ways yogis across the country come together to meet the needs of their communities.

Namaste Y’all,

Jess

Let me explain.  I have this amazing friend and fellow yoga teacher who writes the sweetest, most insightful status updates that fill me (and many others) with inspiration.  I’ve been after him for some time to allow me to compile these nuggets of love and wisdom into a weekly post on the blog.  After some other FB peeps chimed in to support my case, he conceded.  ”J”, as he shall be called, is one of those people that everyone loves.  EVERYONE.  Really, you won’t find a soul who could speak badly of him.  He strides through our fair city offering smiles, hugs and genuine interest in those around him.  He’s done a lot of work on himself and continues to share the lessons he’s learning via these little posts on FaceBook.  I find myself visiting his page often to see what new morsel of love he’s put out into the world.  So, start checking in here once a week to see what “J” has to say.  Enjoy y’all!

May 4th:

Bry’s mom just recently bought a new smart TV. She was having major difficulty connecting it to the internet. Let’s face it, if you’re not computer savvy it can all be very confusing. I watched her press almost every button on the remote as she hoped to find something that would detail how she would go about solving her dilemma. Finally she noticed a button labeled ‘source’. When she pressed this button, everything opened up and she was able to connect the TV to the internet. This made me think—isn’t it interesting she had to go to the source to get to her answer. This reminds me of how I am at times. I sometimes look all around and try to get my answers from everywhere except the source—my heart. Have an amazing weekend~ x00x

April 30th:

Letting go ~ Being bold ~ Unfolding

LETTING GO = Letting go doesn’t have a closing quality to it. It has a wide opening quality. In order to truly let go, I have to open myself to the fullness of my experience — the stabbing pain and the dull ache, the joy filling my heart and remembrance.

BEING BOLD = I think letting go requires boldness on a grand scale — at least for me and my desire to cling to things, with my nails dug fiercely in. (I’m certain I just heard Bry say ‘Amen!’) I used to think that boldness required pushing myself off my edge. But now I see that the true boldness is in finding, and staying with, my edge. Not staying back from it and not hurdling over it. Because if I really stay with it, it’s a subtle and evolving point. It can sound like stagnation to stay with your edge, but if you’re deeply staying with it, it’s always changing…both in Yoga and in life.

UNFOLDING = When I let go and move forward, there’s nothing left to do except let things unfold. The unfolding happens as I continue to stay with letting go and being bold…neither of them are one stop shops. I return to them over and over again, moment by moment and day by day.

And then I look ahead and see that more of the path is making itself visible – places I never even knew existed before. But ones I’m really glad to see.

Have an amazing week~

April 27th:

in my classes & privates over the past week, i’ve been talking a lot about the distinction of ‘focusing on the details’ and ‘noticing the details’—-two very different things. focusing on the details means that we arrange and align to how we think things should be. this makes us think we’re creating this experience. noticing the details means that we pause and notice what is…without trying—We see the beauty in things for how they are instead of magnifying what is or dreaming about what we would like it to be. ridiculously simple and profound yet challenging to do—because typically we’re so focused on how things appear, we don’t notice the beautiful details of being completely present. Here’s to a wonderful weekend of noticing the details that make up life. Relationships, Home, Health, Family, Pets…notice. x00x

You can follow our social media yogi on Facebook!

1. As we mentioned way back in our Holiday Gift Guide, giving back to the greater good is always a compassionate idea.  Show your mom she raised you right by helping out those in need in her honor.

*These charities have been listed with Charity Watch as Grade A or higher, meaning that:

“Groups included on the Top-Rated list generally spend 75% or more of their budgets on programs, spend $25 or less to raise $100 in public support, do not hold excessive assets in reserve, and receive “open-book” status for disclosure of basic financial information and documents to CharityWatch.”

Exalted Warrior Foundation

Heifer International

CARE

Animal Welfare Institute

Coalition for the Homeless

International Peace Institute

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America

Doctors Without Borders

Oxfam America

Human Rights First

The Hunger Project

2. Don’t let Mom slip and bruise a bhanda during her fave hot yoga class.  A durable, absorbent and soft towel from NamaSTAY yoga towels can keep her comfy and safe.  Read a review of this towel here.

3. Via Prive is a recently launched yoga clothing company that values women.  They employ underprivileged and endangered women in the Dominican Republic to manufacture their goods in a fair wage and safe working environment.  Via Prive also has a Buy One, Give One program that ensures your purchase will result in a donation of clothing to children in need. Win Win.  We recommend this top:

4. Our roots are in Chattanooga, TN and a dear friend and local yoga instructor has recently launched her own line of clothing.  Her pants are a great fit, fabric and color.  Jenn Busch has an eye for style and with over a decade of teaching under her stretchy waist band, she also knows how to make a functional and gorgeous pant.  We took her newest AHIMSA designs to NYC for the Yoga Journal Conference where Michele Lauren fell in love with them.  So much so that she sported them in this new video filmed in the park.  Check it out:

Michele Lauren Yoga

5. Shentrition has long been a favorite of ours.  This supplement is a ”potent, comprehensive formula of adaptogenic herbs & superfoods. Made with 39 power-packed ingredients…the 40th is love!”  We swear by this one, delicious and makes you feel like a million bucks.

6. Moses Love is a yogi that lives his yoga on and off the mat.  His Green Bus Project is “making a difference, one soul at a time.”  To fund his philanthropic endeavors, Moses has designed a coveted collection of tanks, pants and other pieces under the moniker, I LOVE YOGA.   This is one choice piece from the line:

7. While at the YJC in New York, we had the good fortune to be booth neighbors with Loopasana.  If your mom likes ingenuity, then this intelligently designed yoga strap/mat carrier will impress her.

8. Has Mom got all the gear she needs?  Maybe you can give her something she simply wants.  Asha Patel’s jewelry is beloved by many.  This three lotus petal wrap bracelet is our pick!

9. Not into giving material goods?  How about sharing a yoga experience with your momma by attending a festival together?  We have a fondness for Rasa-Lila Festival in Florida but there are many great events out there.

10. Is your mother a yoga teacher?  You can always gift a subscription to YogaStage!  We are in the midst of a very big upgrade to our site and services.  All our soon-to-be revealed features are designed to help teachers make the most of their careers.

Hope you and your sweet Momma have a wonderful day filled with love (and yoga!)

Namaste Y’all,

Jess

We hope to offer skilled and hard-working yoga teachers more opportunities to lead classes, build their student base and get the word out about what they have to offer the world.  Seeing yoga grow has always been and continues to be one of our main goals at Namaste Y’all and YogaStage.  Thanks to YogaDork for noticing our efforts and to you, all of our readers, for your continued support as we spread the good word about this amazing practice and the lovely people who teach it.

These are some of the remarks I’ve heard on my travels while attempting to introduce the concept of yoga for children. The truth is, in my experience, they DO sit still and even take part in Savasana (corpse pose)! But we’ll get to that later!

Let me start from the beginning and clear up some common misconceptions about yoga for the little ones.

Number one, it is completely, 100% NOTHING like adult yoga! It’s even less like some of the more meditative and restorative forms, although it does impart those qualities through the practice, in much the same way as “learning through play” occurs.

Yoga adventures take children on a journey through the world of yoga but in a way they can relate to, understand and become part of. No fancy Sanskrit names to learn here, unless they want to of course!

For example, a trip to an imaginary farm can unfold to discover Cow, Cat, Downward Dog and even Chicken Poses! Another journey, perhaps to an imaginary jungle or rainforest, could present Lion’s Breath, Cobra, Tree or Bear Poses. Not forgetting the limitless ways to “travel” to these wonderful destinations, on a bus (Chair Pose), in an Airplane (Warrior 3) or by Boat (poses).

Throughout each class, a colorful thread of props, music, puppets and books is woven. The children’s own voices as they mimic animal sounds, sing songs and use rhymes, adds a color, vibrancy and volume definitely not found in adult yoga! The only limits are their own imaginations!

With all this in mind, the benefits for a child discovering yoga can be bountiful. As I mentioned, children’s creativity and imaginations are encouraged and stimulated by these yoga adventures. This is achieved in a completely non-competitive and non-threatening environment allowing children to completely express themselves and truly “bloom”! Along with developing improved strength, balance, poise and flexibility, comes pride in attaining all these qualities, therefore boosting self esteem and confidence. When targeted to key joints and muscles, yoga benefits children’s skills in other athletic fields as well.

Finally, yoga for children has no religious connotations whatsoever and will not set them off on an undesired spiritual path. A healthy awareness of their own minds and bodies, in all their glory, is what they will joyfully gain!

As for the subject of Savasana, the resting pose that is traditionally practiced at the end of a yoga session, this can be one of the most beneficial poses of all, for children of all ages.

In our increasingly over- scheduled and busy lives, we sometimes forget to take time out for ourselves and even more so, overlook the fact that children, despite their seemingly boundless energy, need time to “just be” and rest. Savasana allows them to do just that, to recharge and relax even for a few short moments. Of course children’s Savasana is made more enticing with cozy blankets, cute, scented animal eye pillows and guided imagery which they can relate to. For example, they are asked to relax and imagine floating on a fluffy, white cloud, glide under a beautifully colored rainbow or sink into a soft, green bed of grass. I have found that of all of the poses my yoginis and I have explored in class, this is by far the most requested. “When are going to have rest time?” is often stated by my youngest students before we even begin our yoga class! I wonder what the children are trying to tell us……..

By Claire Mooney, NNEB and certified Next Generation Yoga for Kids Instructor.

Rasa Lila was held at Camp Brorein in Odessa just a few short miles from Tampa city limits.  Although the drive from Tampa was brief, the setting felt remote and peaceful.  Rasa-Lila is a jam-packed event taking place mostly on Saturday with a celebratory class and live music the Friday night before to kick things off.  Attendees can camp out Friday night and there are shower and bathroom facilities on site.  There is a large communal gathering space for large classes like the one taught by Moses Love of I Love Yoga on Friday evening.  Eluv was also on hand with her beautiful crystal singing bowls to guide the yogis into an oneness meditation.

The following morning began early (at 7am) as the vendors began setting up their tents in the village area.  Nathan and his staff are buzzing about the grounds, answering questions, directing traffic and helping everyone stay organized and calm as they placed tables, hung clothing, laid out mala beads and set about creating a colorful and varied outdoor marketplace.  By 9 o’clock, the scent of healthy breakfast fare begins wafting down from the food vendors set up across the field.

The camp grounds are wooded and shady with open spaces sprinkled throughout that are used as outdoor yoga practice spaces.  The instructors and accompanying live musicians each have their own sound systems but are spaced far enough apart as to not compete for your attention. The morning begins with brilliant sunshine and a few white clouds dotting the sky.  Every style of yoga you can imagine is represented and there are business seminars taking place in an outdoor chapel area with rows of seating.  The topics are directed at studio owners as well as teachers and I am slated to do a presentation for teachers on how to take their teaching on the road while they travel from one studio to the next.

Sharing my booth duties for the weekend are the lovely Katelyn Thureson and Jenny Miller of YogaBlu Studio and Beerasana blog.  They arrive Friday night to take Moses’ class and camp out so they can help me set up Saturday morning.  We get the YogaStage/Namaste Y’all brochures and tees set up as well as some promo material for an upcoming retreat Katelyn and Jenny are leading to Costa Rica this summer.  We take turns manning the booth and venturing out to take a class or peruse the marketplace.  Jenny, in particular, is looking forward to a yoga nidra class during which she is determined to actually relax but not fall asleep.  As she heads off for that one, Katelyn leaves to take a Vinyasa flow in the nearby field.  I’m making final notes on my seminar and chatting with visitors to the booth.

The sky is notably darkening and there is a dampness in the air. Just to be on the safe side, I pull up my Weather Channel app and see an immense, dark green blob moving our way off the gulf.  At almost the same second I check the map, the sky opens up and unleashes torrential rain.  Jenny’s nidra class is indoors but Katelyn comes running back from the field, barely getting under the tent in time.  The other vendors are doing the same thing we are, pulling as much merchandise and material inward to avoid the sideways rain and zipping up their walls if they are lucky enough to have them.  My seminar is getting rained out so Katelyn lets me give her the spiel as we pass the time trying to stay dry.  The rain lasts about an hour and as it begins to relent, Jenny strolls back up, looking like someone who has just awoken from a nap.  Apparently her best intentions to stay conscious during yoga nidra were thwarted by the sleepy sounds of rain hitting the roof, maybe next time…

Then, as suddenly as they appeared, the storm clouds are gone and the sun emerges.  Having missed my scheduled seminar, I end up doing a one on one consult with a lovely young teacher who is trying to launch a blog and website to promote her offerings.  We chat for 45 minutes and she takes many notes.  When I get back to the booth, the sunshine has started to dry out the grounds and the scheduled classes resume.  I grab my mat and head to a hypno meditation class.

We do 30 minutes of gentle stretching and pranayama before finding our Savasana pose for 30 minutes of guided hypnotherapy meditation.  As I recline on the soft ground, my vision is lifted up toward the tree branches spreading over us, sunlight glinting through the open spaces.  It is a perfect spot to let go.  I hear the instructor leading us out of meditation with bells.  I’m not sure how much time has passed or if I slept, I don’t think I slept…  In any case, I feel very peaceful, clear and restored.  I practically float back to the marketplace and resume meeting and greeting the yogis.

The opportunity to talk to many yoga teachers as well as teachers in training is wonderful.  I explain to them what our website, www.yogastage.com, does and how it came to exist.  I get some great feedback on what teachers need and find useful and make mental notes on how to improve our service and message.  Foot traffic starts to slow in the late afternoon so I take the opportunity to do a little shopping.  Across from me is a hand made jewelry booth full of mala bracelets and necklaces.  The artisan tells me she used to be in real estate and made the jewelry because she enjoyed the process.  It was primarily for herself or gifts for friends.  The idea of doing it full time just evolved as people kept asking her to make more of it.  Eventually she left real estate entirely and now does what she loves.  She said it has brought her profound peace and removed the stress that her old job brought into her life.  I find a pretty little jasper bracelet with a silver charm.  At $18 it’s a great deal and I’ve worn it every day since.

A few booths down is a very pretty and outgoing woman who calls me over as though she has been waiting to say hello.  She is selling her homemade Florida salt scrubs.  She takes one of my hands and massages the salt mixture into it.  She is telling me all about the oils they use as she rinses my hand in warm water.  My skin feels supersoft and smells delicious (coconut).  I buy a small jar to take home.  As of today, I’ve used it all up but I know they have a website so I’ll reorder soon.  I try to stop at every booth, meeting studio owners, musicians, purveyors of clothes, beauty supplies and more.  The Whole Foods guy is handing out snacks.  I eat a delicious late lunch from the Indian food vendor.  There are stand up paddle board classes and demos on the lake.  I take one more power flow class before heading back to pack up our booth.

Katelyn is in a class so Jenny and I break it all down together.  The best part of the weekend was definitely getting to know these two lovely people.  They are both smart, funny, and totally dedicated to teaching and taking yoga classes.  I walk with Jenny to the final singing bowls session led by Eluv.  I cannot stay for the entire thing as I have a 2 hour drive back to my family’s home in Winter Park followed by a 9 hour drive on Sunday back to Chattanooga, TN.  I hug Jenny good bye and begin the trek toward home, feeling the weekend was well worth it.

Rasa-Lila Fest is coming to Orlando October 6, 2012.  YogaStage and Namaste Y’all have been conducting a Yoga Teacher Search for Rasa Lila Fest online and voting ends Monday April 30, 2011.  You can check out the finalists and vote here.  The winner will get to lead a class on the main stage and receive hotel accommodations.  They will be in good company as Dice Iida-Klein and Briohny Kate Smyth are also on board to lead classes at the festival.  The full line up of teachers and musicians/presenters will be on the Rasa-Lila website soon so stay tuned.

I highly recommend checking out this festival.  Ticket prices for Orlando are not up yet but they are usually very reasonably priced and you get a ton of yoga offerings for a low price.  The marketplace vendors are all very high quality as Nathan sincerely discriminates in choosing who to feature at the festival.  Rasa-Lila is well organized and since they allow camping, it is one of the most affordable and accessible yoga festivals around.  You can become involved in their online community long before the festival day arrives by registering on their website.  So, make plans to find your yoga groove outdoors this summer in Orlando.  Grab some friends and make it a road trip.

Namaste Y’all!

Jess

Claire has been teaching yoga to kids for many years at several area studios including North Shore Yoga, Sports Barn Yoga Studios, YMCA Yoga Program and Yoga East.  She is also a fixture in several area schools as well as offering private lessons around the city.  Her innovative lesson plans and natural rapport with children has garnered a loyal and large following of happy parents and teachers.  On Saturday, April 14 from 2-4:30p, you can join her at Yoga East Studio in Chattanooga, TN to learn the tricks of the trade.  Claire has divided the workshop into modules that focus on different age groups as well as dedicating time to showing grown-ups how to manage a class room setting and keep the kids interested but well-behaved.  She will set up mock distractions so you know exactly how to maintain the children’s interest and teach to their developmental level.  Claire also has tons of tips and tricks for helping to calm children and enabling them to focus.  The benefits of a kid’s yoga practice will translate off the mat into their schoolwork and home life.  Participants will leave the class with outlines of lesson plans and loads of resources for books, music and games to use in their kid’s yoga classes.  Bring a pen to take additional notes.

I sat down with Claire for a short Q&A in anticipation of this upcoming workshop:

Q. What is the funniest thing that has ever occurred in one of your kids yoga classes?
A. That has to be to hear the children pronouncing Namaste, at the end our classes! It’s absolutely adorable to hear their interpretations of what we say means, “You’re Special and I’m Special”. My all time favorite though, was a beautiful little yogi who insisted on shouting, “Namasteaks!” with such conviction and heart, it couldn’t help but make you smile!
Q. When did you realize you wanted to work with children as a career?

A. I’d always loved being around children, from when I was a child, being the big sister, to babysitting for my parent’s friend’s children.

At the end of high school, a family member told me about a specialized degree ( N.N.E.B) available in my home city of Bristol, England. It involved a concentrated 2 yr, 9-5 study of child development and psycology, weaving time spent in  pratical placements (elementary schools, private families, play therapy hospital units etc. ) in with theoretical study.

This qualification literally opened a whole new world for me. Armed with it, I was hired as a nanny for a wonderful family in New York where I also met my husband and continued to work in the early childhood education field as a pre-school teacher, pre-school director and currently as a Children’s Yoga Instructor.

Q. There are a lot of parents (and even teachers) out there that feel burnt out and simply overwhelmed by their kids. What advice can you give them to bring more peace into the home and classroom?

A. First of all to realize this is absolutely normal and happens to EVERYONE, whether they care to admit it or not! There is enormous pressure on parents to live up to certain expectations most of which we set for ourselves.

A breath of fresh air can be breathed into all our routines when for one morning or afternoon ( or ideally a whole day!), we forget that routine!

Head out for a small hike with the family, enjoy each others company, have a picnic in the back yard, play a board game, talk about your day over tea and cookies, make dinner together from buying the ingredients to assigning each person a role in the creation of the meal. None of these activities need cost any money but will result in memories shared, a giggle or two and a much needed break from the pressure we all feel to get everything done!

As a teacher, this pressure can also be felt very tangibly on some days. If possible, during everyday classroom time, set aside 5 minutes or so for a group “Savasana”. It can be a welcome “downtime” for both students and teachers alike.

Most children these days, feel the pressure and stress of having days that are so over scheduled that there’s no room to breathe sometimes. Rushing from school to practice then home for more school work.

A small Savasana, with relaxing music, perhaps a comfy pillow, maybe a foot rub, could be just the mental break needed to recharge our batteries, clear and focus our minds and bring a little more peace into our sometimes stress filled lives.

Pre-registration is HIGHLY recommended so visit the Yoga East website HERE to save your spot!  Class cost is $35 and includes all materials and hand-outs.  2:00p-4:30p.

Editor’s Note:  Claire Mooney (the subject of this post) was my daughter’s first yoga teacher and is one of my dear friends so I will admit to being completely biased about her general awesomeness.  My little girl adores Claire and I credit her with being the reason I was even able to pick back up my studio practice after becoming a mom.  The opportunity to return to my yoga classes was made possible by the fact that Claire taught a kids yoga class in the room next door to the one where I was practicing.  I was able to truly be present on my mat and delve back into my own yoga journey secure in the knowledge that my dearest kiddo was in good hands next door.  Therefore, sweet reader, know that the following piece was written to convey information but it is also full of adoration, love and respect for Claire.

Loganville, GA, April 5, 2012 — This month, local resident and yogini, Megan Kearney celebrates the launch of her new business MOBI yogi, a mobile yoga class that comes to residences, schools and businesses, even lakes.

MOBI yogi travels to any location teaching yoga to anyone, any level and any age. MOBI yogi offers classes for prenatal, babies, children, seniors, cancer survivors, and of course, adults. MOBI yogi offers private classes on a standup paddleboard at local lakes.

Not only traveling to students, the MOBI yogi teamed up with local martial arts studios to offer set classes for $12 per person ($10 for passes). MOBI yogi can be found at B&B Tae Kwon Do on Main Street Loganville, a couple times a week and at Chi Kwang Do Academy in Lilburn two Saturdays a month. Free community classes (donations welcome) are also held at residences in Loganville and Buford weekly but space is limited

“I think people are either too intimated to step foot in a studio or their schedules don’t sync with a studio’s,” says Kearney. “I come when their schedule suits them and into their comfort zone [their home, church or office] and teach to them privately or a small group of their friends.”

Kearney hopes to work with local businesses to help de-stress the work place with daytime yoga, even offering classes to firefighters in another local county. As a mother to three children under the age of seven, Kearney also hopes to bring yoga practice to local schools and preschools this Fall. Her “Yoga for Survivors” Class will no doubt find a home at local hospitals and support groups.

“There really isn’t a segment of the population out there, who can’t benefit from yoga. So I am really open to going and teaching wherever!” quips Kearney, who suggests that even local non-profits might even benefit from her classes.

“I am hoping that organizations who need benefits for their membership will see the value in hiring me to privately teach their members,” adds Kearney. “What a great way to bring a member to your location and show them you care about their wellness, without breaking the budget. You are giving your membership so many tangible benefits.”

Most of all, the former Maryland-resident hopes that standup paddling yoga takes off. “When you combine the calmness and the flow of the water, time comes to a stand still,” she muses. “Being in nature and finding balance within yourself and on the board, is a pretty awesome experience.” She warns with a chuckle, that there is the occasional fall, “so you wear a bathing suit and you bring a sense of humor. And leave intensity on the shoreline.”

Kearney, who has been teaching yoga since 2010, is expected to receive her 200 hour Yoga Alliance teaching certificate in May from the Savannah Yoga Center. She holds a degree in sports management from the University of Maryland and has been a USAT Level I triathlon coach, swim coach, personal trainer and group fitness instructor. Her real passion has been yoga.

“I saw first hand the healing benefits of yoga,” says Kearney. “The Type-A athlete in me had over-muscled everything and sacrificed flexibility.”

A cervical spine injury sidelined Kearney in 2008, putting her training and her businesses at the time, a Stroller Strides franchise and a women’s multisport team aptly named Go Mama Go, on hold.

“Life came to a halt,” admits Kearney “but I learned how to slow down and heal. Yoga helped me deal with the stress and helped me rebuild my body and mind. Everyone should experience the benefits of a yoga practice.”

For more information, visit www.themobiyogi.com

My mom’s an Anusara yoga teacher and got me into yoga when she realized her 16 year old daughter couldn’t touch her toes (or even get close!); and now, some years later, I have the pleasure of introducing her to my Asheville Anusara yoga teacher Joe Taft. We spent a lovely weekend in March at Asheville Yoga Center with Joe Taft and friends in a Step Into the Current of Graceworkshop. Mountains, good food, good yoga and live kirtan by Sangita Devi -

Sangita Devi

a perfect environment for promoting happiness. We reviewed the basics of Anusara alignment with the intention of stepping into the pervasive bilateral flow of expanding (organic)energy contained by a supportive (muscular energy) structure. Bringing me back to my initial comment- Bi-Fo.

Back inner, front outer- this refers to the muscular energy flow in the legs during asana. The back leg tends to need more inner spiral than outer spiral, increasing the space in the low back and rooting the femur bone into the hips. The front leg typically needs more outer spiral, drawing the hip crease back to even out the hips while simultaneously dropping the buttocks down the thigh and keeping the knee from collapsing towards the big toe. Whew- worth the pneumonic. It was Joe’s dedication to my long term health that solidified my awareness of proper alignment.

“Yoga in alignment can cure you; yoga out of alignment can ruin you.”

Joe made the point that has been reverberating around the yoga community even since the NY Times article How Yoga Can Wreak Your Body posed the possibility that yoga might not be “good” for you- doing everything every which way isn’t good for you. In the longer workshop setting, Joe was able to address proper alignment in every pose, finding complimentary ones to emphasize healthy muscular and organic energy flows. Demonstrations and seated conversations enabled total understanding of these concepts, rather than a foggy, I-think-this-is-right feeling. A little bit of partner work, group kirtan, and a few adjustments later, and I left Sunday afternoon with a brightness that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Joe Taft will be coming to Chattanooga April 15^th to ClearSpring Yoga studio for a workshop entitled Whole Body Smiles. Join him to learn more about Anusara principles, basic alignment and the joy of yoga philosophy. More details at clearspringyoga.com and joetaftyoga.com

Sangita Devi play every Tuesday at Nourish and Flourish from 730 to 900. Drop on by for a donation based kirtan session and meet these compassionate musicians. More details at sangitadevi.com