Hello Dear Souls!
I hope this newsletter update finds you smiling. I wanted to drop you a quick line to recap a whirlwhind summer and let you know where to find me this fall.
In April and May I completed the first module of my 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training. It was challenging and refreshing, and I met some of the smartest, most inventive women from all over the world. It was so inspiring to learn from and share space with movement professionals who care deeply about biomechanics and how it applies to yoga asana. Jules Mitchell, the head of the training and one of my most influential teachers, taught us everything from how to use restorative poses to inform how students might modify active asanas, to diving deep in scholarly articles about the major joints in the body. We practiced somatics and learned the value of Feldenkrais movements with guest teacher Todd Hargrove, and I was particularly fascinated by the in-depth lectures and engaging discussions on pain science. I will be completing the second module over 16 days in October and I can't wait!
At the end of May I left for Greece. My first international yoga, mindfulness, and Pilates retreat, Unplug and Unwind, was a wonderful experience. I got the opportunity to connect with 14 unique souls and a part of every one of them will always be with me. We visited ancient towns, explored deep blue lagoons, and took leisurely hikes along one of the most breathtakingly beautiful coasts I have ever seen. There was no wifi anywhere on the retreat property, and we relished every minute of it! Even though I taught 18 classes, an inversion workshop, and 15 privates in six days, I left full of love, energy, and gratitude. The small and attentive staff of Kathy’s Island Retreat was the icing on the cake! The handmade, organic, fresh food and peaceful environment they created allowed me to really drop in and focus. Take a look at some of my pictures from the treat. None of them have filters! A piece of heaven on earth. I will be returning to Kathy’s Island Retreat and Karpathos in the future so don’t worry, you haven’t missed out!
After Karpathos, I traveled to Athens, Chania Crete, Santorini, and Londonto round out my adventurous summer. Then I started my regular teaching schedule in July and am thrilled to be back in D.C., at home, and sleeping in my own bed! Since I have been back things haven’t calmed down though - I got engaged to the love of my life and the kindest man I have ever met, added a regular Friday morning 6:30am class at Past Tense Yoga Studio, added three reformer classes at Fuse Pilates on 14th, and just completed the tower/trapeze module of my comprehensive Balanced Body Pilates training this past weekend! Whew!
I swore I would get this letter out before August came. Ooof...it is August 20th, but I am here and breathing and sometimes that is all we can do. I have had to remind myself that compassion starts with me and that I do everything I can.
Stress normally has negative connotation, but in my opinion it shouldn’t. Good things create stress too! So I invite you to pause, take deep breaths, and remember that everything you seek is already within you. The only constant is change!
Hope to see you in class soon.
Love, light, and deep breaths,
Liz