Articles that you should check out...

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Anjaneyasana (Crescent Lunge)

Just a few recent yoga and health style articles that I've read lately & want to share. 

- Alright dudes (and chicks too)... I'm sick of BS excuses to not do yoga... those are in this article as well.  Read up, educate yourself on what you might think yoga is all about, and what benefits are actually in it for you.  It's more than you think. - The Badass Guide to Yoga for Men - Be Yogi

- Yoga is the union between mind and body, and here are some simple techniques where mind is over matter, and can improve aspects of any of your training. - 4 Mind-Body Tricks That Instantly Make You Stronger

- People constantly ask me how I can manage my nomadic living... and the answer is a lot of planning and hard work.  However, I came across this great article by Kiersten Rich, giving you the scoop on how world travel can be done without being rich.  Each item on this list, I related too or learned something new to help my travels. Totally appreciate that Rich took the time to put together for all of us! - I Left My Corporate Finance Job to Travel the World, What I've Learned

- Some of you out there looking for advice on Healthy Neck & Shoulders, check out this article by Matt Giordano.  He's a rad yoga instructor that I was able to take a workshop with at Wanderlust in Vermont last year. This article is a bit long, but really lays out some knowledge on the body for you. - TheYogiMatt

Kids Yoga THANK YOU NOTES... Adorable & Hilarious.

What an amazing day that I had at my old elementary school, when I taught yoga for kids age 5-9.  Many of the children sent me Thank You notes shortly after, and I can't help but share.  Hopefully it puts a smile on your face, and touches your heart like it did mine.  The fact that so many of them could get into yoga makes me want to do it more.  Lots of love kiddos!

Reiki Meditation & Asana Practice w/ Tiffany Ketchmark

This past weekend I was able to attend a Reiki Meditation on Saturday, and asana with Reiki Meditation on Sunday guided by yoga instructor Tiffany Ketchmark.  The Breathing Tree invited Tiffany to be a guest teacher, and what a treat it was. 

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Yoga & Reiki Instructor Tiffany Ketchmark

Reiki is a healing technique based on the principle of channeling energy by means of body scanning and light touch. These techniques are able to activate natural healing processes and restore physical and emotional well-being.  This was not my first experience with Reiki, and with each energy healer there is an authentic approach and efficiency to their work.  Tiffany's presence and soothing character was refreshing throughout the two workshop style classes that she held.  Plus, the asana practice was meditative and really opened up the heart.  Wonderful. If you missed out on this opportunity, no worries, she will be returning to The Breathing Tree in June!

Midwest Yoga Tales

Well I've been back in the Illinois for a month now, and I'm busy as a bee. My main purpose for my travels to Central Illinois; my sister is tying the knot, and I want to be a part of it. When you live the life I live, you tend to miss out on a lot of the family birthdays, parties, happenings, and I wasn't about to miss all of my sister's events leading up to her big day.  And of course, while I'm here I'm going to be teaching yoga classes around the area.

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The bride to be, my sister Kiley, and me headed to her Bachelorette Party in St. Louis on a sunny Midwest day.

I'm so excited to be back at The Breathing Tree in Canton, IL for a guest teaching appearance. Fellow yoga instructor and childhood friend Nathan Taylor has opened this amazing space in the quaint square in my hometown, and I'm excited to be able to teach as many classes as he will let me. See my schedule here.

Along with my drop-in classes at The Breathing Tree, I also was able to do a speciality Yoga & the Voice class at Heading OM in Peoria, IL.  Thank you to the amazing students that were in attendance.  Yoga & The Voice is a speciality class based around the Vishuddha Chakra that I have working on and have taught several times.  Focusing on our point of purification and creativity, this class has been a wonderful chance for me to strengthen my own voice and join with others in harnessing this powerful energy.

I will be at Heading OM again on the evening of Monday, May 23rd to lead a guided Chakra Meditation.  I have been working with the chakras quite a bit in the last couple of years, and am excited to incorporate this into my speciality class repertoire.  After all, when you teach, you are able to better learn.  As a teacher of yoga, your job of learning and being the student never ends.

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Also, while I've been in the Midwest, I was able to make a quick trip and venture to NYC with my friends and fellow yoga instructors, Mali Shields and Kat Wood, for a workshop with renowned yoga instructor Jason Crandell. I must admit that I haven't known much of Jason until my friend introduced him to me a year ago. The 3 day workshop was geared towards yoga instructors and coming back to your personal practice, which as an instructor you can easily lose touch with your personal practice as you are wrapped up in teaching.  Each day we were treated to a 3 hour asana practice, that I must admit kicked my butt, but I was grateful for it.  My personal practice easily goes off kilter when I'm traveling all the time to teach, and spending more time focusing on what I'm going to teach, how to make my classes more challenging and interesting, rather than coming back to the mat and focusing on myself.  Along with the personal practice, Jason has motivated me to get back to my blog, and adding content to my pages, as well as getting back to my steady e-mailing of my students, which seems to have fallen off a bit in the last year.  Needless to say... I think you'll be hearing more from me in the coming year.

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Jason Crandell demonstrating an adjustment on revolve triangle pose, during his 3 day retreat in NYC.

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Yogis & bad ass handstanders Kat Wood & Mali Shields really lit a fire under my bad ash to get my handstand going. :)

Drawing inspiration from my marvelous friend Kat Wood and Jason's course, I've decided to start conquering the handstand.  Yes, I practice the handstand and at some points can nail it, but it's not a consistent asana that I have in my practice.  I want it to be, and having a goal like this is a good motivation to have in general.  My friend Kat (follow her on Instagram) is near completing 365 days of handstands... She amazes me and I am inspired to do it myself.  So prepare yourself for a year of me trying to master being upside down.  So it begins... see my video below... 

Having some technical difficulties getting my video up... until I get it on my site, see it on Instagram!

Bad Ash ad made by Shoots Productions in Maui!

Recently I hosted the Down the Hatch Lahaina Local Showcase in Maui, Hawaii.  It was definitely one of my favorite events to spearhead & host, because working in fashion, so to speak, is something that I have never done before.  However, I was able to direct this entire event and then host it.  It was such an amazing evening in Lahaina with everyone dressed to the nines, and tons of beautiful women and men strutting the catwalk for some really amazing local vendors in Maui. As a vendor of the showcase (which I was), we were all given a promotional ad by the very talented Vini Pimenta of Shoots Productions in Maui. Above is my ad.  I have to admit, the first time I saw it I was a little embarrassed because it seemed very "me, me, me"... but then I realized... I am my brand, and that is me, and I shouldn't be embarrassed to sell myself.  Thank you to Vini for telling me that too. ;) All around I walked away from the showcase with a lot of new experience, new friends & colleagues, and this sick video.  Thanks again Vini, you da best brah!