Here’s a look at our upcoming retreats- some new and exciting options for 2020!

The root chakra, located at the base of the spine, is responsible for our well-being. The root chakra is the base chakra- the foundation of balance and the chakra we need to ground and balance before working into higher chakras. When our root chakra is balanced we feel secure, grounded, embodied, present, confident, and safe. 

As we ring in a new decade, taking control of your personal finances is a great way to gain confidence and feel more secure, grounded, and in control of your own future.

In America, many of our rituals and ceremonies revolve in some way around capitalism. Wedding showers, weddings, bachelorette parties, birthday parties, holidays, graduations, and baby showers all come with the expectation of gifts, cards, wrapping paper, and a plentiful meal. During my yoga teacher training, our lead teachers challenged the American values around family gatherings and rites of passage. For example, becoming a mother is a serious transformation for a woman. So why do our baby showers revolve around party games and chit chat? Why not allow for more gravity and depth in the situation? We tend to anesthetize things here- to avoid diving into vulnerability.

So, when it came to having a shower for me, I felt confused. How could I honor this rite of passage with my family?

Stress, busy-ness, expectations, family conflict, and chaos during the holidays can make for an unpleasant time during what is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year.” It’s not hard to search our personal memory bank and find unpleasant memories of last-minute gift wrapping or shopping getting in the way of presence with family, or instances where someone didn’t have the reaction to a gift you were hoping for.

I keep turning to themes from the yamas and niyamas. These jewels of wisdom provide me comfort as I try to find peace and contentment amidst sadness and hurt. I thought I’d share with you some of the reminders the yamas and niyamas have brought to me over the past month. I believe these principles help us shed the materialism and chaos of the holidays and return to what is truly important- presence and time with loved ones.

**Journal prompts and questions for reflection in this post.

Insomnia, difficulty sleeping, and sleep deprivation are common problems. Our lives are extremely fast-paced and our senses are subject to constant stimulus. Trouble sleeping is something I hear on a weekly basis from friends, students, and family. This blog provides a simple yoga practice (10 min or less) to implement before bed to improve sleep. Sweet dreams yogis!

Whether new to moon salutations, or a seasoned yoga teacher, we hope this blog will provide some inspiration for your at-home and/or teaching practice. Moon Salutations can be a beautiful and special practice during times of high heat or high energy when soothing is required. Like a sun salutation, each movement is coordinated with your breath. Inhale to extend, exhale to bend. Unlike vigorous sun salutations which are heating and stimulating, moon salutations are cooling and quieting. 

We practice moon salutations to calm the mind and draw awareness inward. 

A recap of our weekend at Wolf Ridge together.