I call my yoga Butterfly Heart Yoga because the change you make in your Self by deciding to make Yoga part of your life is transformational.  Many of us spend years in a ‘cocoon’ of self loathing (Me included).  Yoga is a spiritual practice that creates change from the inside out.  Yoga is NOT a form of religion.  All types of people from all religious backgrounds, or even those without religion can grow personally from engaging in a Yoga practice. 

When you take a Yoga class anything is possible.  All teachers and styles are different, but they all lead to Chit Ananda (Sanskrit for Knowledge & Bliss).  My class is completely based on Anusara Yoga, Created by John Friend.  I am a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, and working toward being certified with Anusara Yoga.  All of my teaching is alignment based yoga, focusing on helping my students create a connection with both their own bodies and the community around them.  All classes are customized to the level of students attending, whether absolute beginners or advanced practitioners.

Each class has a theme or intention. An intention is the reason you are on the mat.  Everyone who comes to Yoga has a reason.  It could be to say you tried it once or it could be because you really want to change something and haven’t been able to figure out how on your own, or just to get your body moving. Any reason is a good reason!  The great gifts of Yoga are the lessons you take with you.  When you connect to your intention as you do your asanas (yoga poses) you ingrain your muscles and every cell of your body with those thoughts. So you are not only getting stronger, but healthier.

Yoga asanas (poses) are just one ‘limb’ of Yoga.  There are eight equal limbs that, like a wagon wheel, all lead to the same center point.  There is no one ‘better’ way to reach the center.  Another limb that we will work to strengthen is Pranayama (breathing).  You may think that you do just fine, but most people only use a small part of their lungs and breathe shallow breathes.  Taking a complete breathe feeds your body, your muscles, and helps you feel better.

  YES, there is stretching and feelings arise in the body may be uncomfortable.  No matter what type of exercise you engage in you are going to experience moments of discomfort because you are making changes.  Just like a stubborn child, you body is going to resist and try to tell you no.  Good News! Your body is retrainable!   It doesn’t matter what age you are or what you believe to be your limits.  This life only provides one body per customer; no refunds or exchanges.  Let me help you learn to love yours!

The Heart of the matter is enjoyment.  To really enjoy anything you have to open your heart to the experience.  I believe that humor and taking things with ease is how to create an open heart.  My classes take the Yoga seriously, but with lightness that reminds you that we are all human and no one is perfect or better than another.

We don’t generally use mirrors in Yoga.  Why?  The reason is to get the students to create their unique version of every pose from the inside out.  Don’t worry that you don’t know if you are doing it right!  All poses are beautiful if you are doing your best, and EVERYONE can improve, whether you are brand new or been doing something for your entire life, practice makes more practice.  As your teacher I will be there to guide you (even with physical touch, when appropriate) and listen to what you are feeling and help you make things more ease-full and open.  You aren’t in this alone!