We are sharing a list of ideas to make a long-term commitment to being part of the change. It is not enough to not be racist. We are committed to being part of the anti-racist movement.

In this blog, Amanda and Bryana share a conversation about negativity, the term “toxic positivity”, and seeking balance.

Amanda shares some of her experiences from the past 10 months of pregnancy.

“I am waiting-acknowledging who I have been, mourning what is ending, and knowing that some pieces of me will always exist.”

Bryana, Joella, and Stacy reflect on the Wildly Aligned Yoga Retreat held in Hackensack, MN.

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

Information on a new retreat with Boreal Bliss. For the first time ever, we’re heading to a luxury resort! Private rooms overlooking Gull Lake, an incredible yoga room, catered meals served on a deck near the lake, sandy beaches, four pools, a full spa, paddleboarding, tennis, basketball, lawn bowling, a pontoon party, specialty workshops, and more! If you’re looking for a way to get away with a partner, this retreat will be a great option!

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!