Hot damn.

Since taking the leap after Thanksgiving, I am busier than I have ever been before.  Opportunities keep coming at me in the yoga world and within the Yoga Six community, and I am in mega YES! mode.  I am busier than I have ever been, having just wrapped a 12.5 hour day filled with four classes, evaluations, meetings, and more, and I am freaking exuberant   I LOVE this new life.  I am exhausted... but oh so happy.

But now I'm going to pour myself into bed.

Mix Up Your Music

I've written before about the power music has to change and enhance your practice.  Last night I experienced another great musical yoga experience at Black Sheep Yoga.  Patrick Garrison, one of the owners and one hell of a teacher, did a special Friday night class called, "Get the Led Out."  It was close to a two hour practice done to all classic Led Zepplin songs.

A.  Freaking.  Blast.

That's the only way to describe it.

The mood was playful but invigorating.  The practice was fun but totally challenging.  It was just a great way to spend a Friday night.  And practicing yoga to some awesome classic rock songs, most of which I knew but a few that were unfamiliar, really took me out of the complacent easy going flow I often find my self.  Each new song that came on either caused a "Oh hell yeah!" response of a "Oh?  What is this??" question.  Either which way, win win.  I sweat a ton, had the most zoned out, blissed filled savasana, and feel like a million bucks today.

Think I'm going to lead a special music night at the Sheep.  I'm thinking a night of all Queen songs.  I picture doing very funny things to one of my all time favorite songs, Fat Bottomed Girls.  Stay tuned.

2013 Yoga Resolutions Planning Time

As it's December 1st, and 2013 is officially around the corner, I want to throw something out there.  This is a great time to compile your yoga related goals and resolutions for the upcoming year.  Maybe it's to start yoga for the first time.  Maybe it's to take 20, 50, 100 classes over the course of the year.  Maybe it's to reach a new milestone in a particular pose, a la my cow face arms connecting back in May, or just simply having your fingers touch the ground in a forward fold.  Maybe it's to take a seminar with a teacher you've always wanted to experience live.  Maybe it's a yoga goal that takes place off the mat.  Whatever your goal is, declare it!  Put it out there.  Tell me. I'll be working on my own list this month and post it before the year's end.  I'm on such a yoga high right now I have a lot of great ideas bouncing around my head.

Happy brainstorming!

Taking the leap!

Yesterday, after close to eight years working on the same real estate team, I turned in my keys and company credit cards, and walked out the door.  Two weeks earlier I gave my wonderful bosses notice that, as much as I enjoyed and appreciated their support and employment for a better part of a decade, my heart was not there.  I had been offered a role of assistant manager at the Yoga Six in Carlsbad, and it was just too exciting of an opportunity to pass up.

I will continue on teaching in Carlsbad, Solana Beach, and even my beloved Black Sheep Yoga in Oceanside.  The only class I had to cut was my Sunday beginner's class.  But the class is in the incredibly capable hands of Abby Vernon, so I know it will continue to thrive.

Now, my non-teaching working hours can be spent in the industry and community that I ADORE... that truly makes my heart swell with joy.  I get to be surrounded by the most incredible people -- not only the staff and teachers and management, but also the truly awesome clients the Yoga Six Forum draws in.  I get to develop programs to get more people in the door, help them fall in love with the studio when they are there, and make it the best yoga space in all of Carlsbad.

And, not to be undersold, I GET TO WEAR YOGA CLOTHES ALL THE TIME!  Woo hoo!  Shoes?  No sir!  Well, okay, sometimes I'll wear shoes and pants with buttons and zippers and stuff.  But for the most part, I will be clad in the most comfortable, cute clothing any activity gets to wear.

I am overflowing with excitement with this.  There are no nerves with this big transition, as I thought there might be.  I feel like I am diving off a cliff, chest out, totally prepared for whatever I find down below.

Bring it on, world.

New Yoga Six Schedule and Classes

This past Monday, Yoga Six (formerly Haute Yoga) kicked off the new schedule.  My personal schedule at the Carlsbad and Solana Beach studios have shifted somewhat, so check out the changes here.

The new classes include the new and improved set sequences, which are great and so far very well received.  For those who are die-hard devotees to the original sequence, fear not... the Hot 60 Classic will remain on the schedule as a tribute to the original Haute Hot 60A.

Another big change is what used to be Yoga 101 beginner's yoga is now called Fundamentals   It's a set sequence beginner's flow, and it's great.  It covers a lot of the basics, is accessible to all levels of flexibility, and will give newbies the feel of a yoga class.  I'll be teaching that Thursday evening in Carlsbad and the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month in Solana Beach.

The other big change that I am so excited about is the addition of Deep Stretch classes.  This is a class where  you're not coming to yoga for your workout... you're coming to stretch.  To compliment your other work outs.  Because most of us here do other forms of working out -- running, swimming, weights, biking... whatever.  It's an active community.  It's so nice to have an hour where the goal isn't to sweat, burn mega calories, and get ripped.  It's to stretch.  To loosen and release the muscles that work hard for us all day, every day.

I taught my first Deep Stretch on Monday night at Yoga Six Solana Beach, and based on the crowds that showed up for it, people are as excited about this new style of class as I am.  It was packed.  The class was a hit.  Think everyone just really enjoyed the opportunity to slow down, breath into the stretch, and recover a bit.

Have you tried the new classes yet?  Any thoughts, good or bad?

Yoga Six!

A few days ago, I wrote about some upcoming change.  And I said that, while sometimes unnerving and scary, change is ultimately a good thing.  It takes us new places, teaches us, and sends us down the path we're meant to be on.

I'm excited to announce I can now share the change that I was alluding to.  Haute Yoga, the wonderful, amazing studio that gave me my first yoga job, the place that has built this incredible community in the San Diego yoga community, the place filled with incredibly talented teachers, has sold.  In the coming days and weeks, our students will see the transition to the new name and 'brand', Yoga Six.  There are two other Yoga Six locations, down in Pt. Loma, and a sister studio out in St. Louis.  Carlsbad and Solana Beach Haute will be the third and fourth additions.  The incredible Katie Brauer will be the Director of Yoga, guiding all of us teachers to be the best we can be.

The owners have ties to Olivera and Dino Flacco, the founders of Haute.  They are eager to move it forward into the best space it can be.  That includes servicing our clients the best way possible, and providing a space for teachers to grow and develop.

Having had this knowledge for a couple of weeks, I'll be honest that I've gone through the gamut of emotions on this.  Denial.  (What?  No.  Can't be.)  Anger.  (What do you mean, no more Haute?!?!) Bargaining.  (Maybe the sale won't really go through and everything will stay the same!)  Sadness.  (The community will be lost!)  Unease.  (Will I still have a job?)  I'm happy to report I've now moved towards excitement and anticipation about the future.  Eager for the possibilities that are unveiling.  Seeing the opportunities that will present themselves to not only the teachers, but the other staff and clients as well.

So if you read this and it makes you nervous or sad, uneasy or agitated... fear not.  Hold on to one of the principle teachings of yoga which is that of non-attachment.  It wasn't the Haute name that made the community great.  It wasn't the particular set sequences.  It was the people.  The energy.  All of those things can develop and mature in this new setting.

Change is good.  Bring it on.

Change is good.

Change is coming.  Sure, change can be a scary thing.  Schedules disrupt, relationships shift, expectations differ.  But ultimately change is good.  It gets us where we need to go.

With that little teaser, I will say I will be back in a day or two with a big, exciting announcement about one of the spaces in which I teach.

Love and light.

Best affirmation I'm on the right path...

Remember my lovely family of four that attends my 101 Yoga class on Sunday?  Well I've been missing them terribly as they've been away all summer, traveling to Tunisia.  Such an incredible and exotic upbringing for those beautiful little girls!

I've corresponded once or twice with the mom while they've been gone, but this past Wednesday took the cake for a happy maker.  When I went to Haute in Solana Beach to sub a 7am class, there was this postcard waiting for me.

Best.  Day.  Ever.

Two more classes added! (And one removed)

Hi all... I'm happy to report I've added two more classes at Haute -- Starting September 11th, I'll be leading the Tuesday and Thursday Wake Up Yoga sessions at Haute in Carlsbad.  Both start at 7am and run an hour.  It's a great vinyasa class that will change from week to week, with fun music to boot.

Because of the addition in classes that have the bonus of being a bit closer to my home in Oceanside, I am giving up my Friday morning, 6am class.  The five am alarm was a bit jarring each week.  Saying that, I will miss my lovely regulars who were there at the pre-crack of dawn with me every week!  But Stephanie Powell is taking over, so be prepared to have your butts kicked in the best possible way.

The Power of Music

This past Monday night I lead my classes at Haute Yoga with a change from the typical yoga music playlist.  After a request from a student last week, I built a playlist of classical music.  Not an "om namah shivaya" was uttered.  Instead we moved and strengthened and breathed to the sounds of pianos, violins and cellos.  The music was rich and powerful, and it was amazing at how much it changed the vibe of the two classes, as well as my Tuesday and Friday night Black Sheep classes.  I wanted to get a feel how a cross section of students responded to the change.  I have to say it was overwhelmingly positive.

Each pose felt long and luxiourious.  The transitions between poses felt like an opportunity to move with a fluid sort of grace that wasn't there before.  It felt elegant, powerful, and refined.  Definitely something I'll incorporate into more of my classes... especially those later-in-the-evening classes where it's less about getting all charged up and energized and more about finding that sweet transition down to relaxation.

I owe a big debt of gratitude to this site for giving me a jumping off place for building my own playlist.