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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

Reiki Meditation & Asana Practice w/ Tiffany Ketchmark

Midwest Yoga Tales