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Reiki Meditation & Asana Practice w/ Tiffany Ketchmark

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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!

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Midwest Yoga Tales

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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!

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Bad Ash ad made by Shoots Productions in Maui!

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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!

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Hosting the Lahaina Local Showcase presented by Down the Hatch

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It's exciting to be spearheading and hosting this community event for Down the Hatch in Maui! The Lahaina Local Showcase will be featuring a fashion showcase for local businesses in the community, as well as offering opportunity for young professional to network in a fun and creative setting.  Food will be provided by Down the Hatch & I plan on being the hostess with the mostess. :) Thrilled to be a part of this group of inspiring people!  See all the details below.

Down the Hatch

Presents

Lahaina Local Showcase

Benefiting the Lahaina Art Association, Art Education Program

THURSDAY, APRIL 7th 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Featuring,

Better Together Photography

Goin Left

The Henna Gallery

Sea Shore Couture & Manakai Swimwear

Chloe Beach Boutique Beauty & Dry Bar

Cake Fanatics

Shoots Productions

Bad Ash Voice

6:30 – 7:30p – Cocktail & Networking Hour/Silent Auction

7:45p – Local Fashion Showcase Begins

8:45p – Silent Auction Ends

9:30p Doors Open to the Public

10:00p INDUSTRY NIGHT – Live DJ & Drink Specials

Guest List event $30 pre-sale at Down the Hatch only – $40 day of – includes entry, food, 2 drink tickets, and show. Please dress in professional attire for this networking event.
Mission: To bring together young professionals; helping build community, support community, and grow as a community.

Thanks to Aydon at Prison Street Designs for the DTH Flyer & Promotional Images.

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ACRO fun with Aaron Lind & Christine Moonbeam in MAUI!

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Time just seems to get away from you, when you're having fun on Maui!  It was nearly a month ago that Aaron Lind & Christine Moonbeam, from Lift School of Acrobatics, came to the islands for an Acro Intensive weekend workshop.  I was amped to be able to go to the workshop on Maui, focusing on handstands, hand to hand, whips & proper safety techniques when practicing your favorite Acro moves. Aaron & Christine really focused on refining the foundational skills for your acro practice, while keeping it fun & safe.  

The Friday night introduction was great! They got you into it immediately with some effective warm-ups, really focusing on strengthening our handstands & getting up prepared for a weekend of hand to hand. Their enthusiasm & passion is so obvious, and it takes a real gift to take that skill and teach it to others.  Emphasizing the importance of slowing down and communicating with your partner, they were able to jam pack the weekend with Acro awesomeness, with everyone in attendance breaking barriers, building confidence, and having an absolute blast.

For me, I was just really excited to be a part of the whole thing, and within the acro community in Maui, you have a lot of skilled practitioners that are there to play, have fun & learn together.  It was great for me to work on my flying skills for sure, but I found that my basing became that much stronger over the course of the weekend.  Which, with all my traveling around, I find myself basing much more often... so I'm glad to be building in that area. :) Plus, since the workshop, I've seen real progression with my handstand. They really gave us good techniques to get away from the wall & get comfortable on your hands. 

Aaron & Christine all smiles!

If you're interested in doing an intermediate to advanced acro workshop, I highly recommend seeking out Aaron & Christine.  They are based out of New Orleans, but are hopping around the globe instructing & bringing a whole lot of acro fun your way.  To all my peeps in Illinois, there is a workshop coming up this month in Chicago, so go get it. Many mahalos & a big THANK YOU Aaron & Christine, it was so much fun! I look forward to the next time I can play with you guys. :)