What does it mean to truly show up? How can our yoga practice touch all aspects of our lives? How can this practice be inclusive and relational? I am a yogi. I am also a mom, artist, friend, teacher, and wife. But in the freshness of the moment, all these stories drop away and I […]
If you’ve ever taken class with Gina, you know that her transitions and energetic cues are as artful as they are sensible. Below is a piece she wrote on the influence Gyrotonic has had on her yoga practice and teaching. Circles. Spirals. Undulations. Wow! The first time I was introduced to Gyrotonic was back in […]
We expect that our mind should conjure up new ideas, solve problems, and provide deep insights. Unfortunately, our minds and our senses are often misused, overworked, and overstimulated. Our mind can only function to the degree in which we understand its internal workings and our lives are a reflection of our awareness. All day long, […]
I have heard my teacher, a lifelong monastic, compare engaging in yoga practice with constructing a house. In both instances, the importance of developing a deep, solid and structurally sound foundation is paramount, as it provides support for everything else. If the foundation is not developed with love, care and attention, the building, or, in […]
Start your summer off on the right track with Morning Flow, an early morning yoga practice that invigorates the body and calms the mind. It’s true! Waking up is hard to do! But so worth it when you start your day in a way that honors your life, your body, your mind, your spirit and […]
Q: Tell us about yourself! (Where are you from? What do you do? Do you have any kids? Whatever you feel is your story) A: I grew from babyhood to high schooler in Davis, California (where cows and bikes and privilege are the main currency), graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, where I studied […]
Q: Tell us about yourself! (Where are you from? What do you do? Do you have any kids? Whatever you feel is your story) A: I’m relatively new to Portland having moved here from Virginia in the beginning of 2014. I had just retired from my first job and wanted to pursue a master’s degree full […]
Interdependence. Three summers ago, I got these tattoos. These arrows came to me after a horrible break up and the subsequent months of agonizing heart break and pain that followed. The invisible threads that connect us all with lovers, with friends, with family, and yes, even strangers, felt as if they were winding themselves around […]
Last week, I received a Facebook message from a friend inquiring about my Yoga for Athletes workshop. He said he had seen the flier, was interested in attending, but he had a few concerns. Not only was he worried that he wasn’t accomplished enough to be considered an “athlete,” but he felt anxious that he […]
Article originally posted on mattnelsonyoga.com. Shortly after my first child turned three years old, I found myself feeling that there was a disconnect between my sadhana and my family life. Having two children under four is a consuming endeavor, and presents a unique set of challenges with regards to finding time to engage in daily spiritual […]
Yoga and rock climbing are a natural match, both combining mindful movement and bringing focus to the present moment. I began my own journey into rock climbing eight years ago, when my sister took me to the Portland Rock Gym while visiting from New York. I had always been afraid of heights, and I thought […]
As we practice it today, Yoga can be understood as the process of breathing into movement. Whatever first drew us to Yoga class, many people find themselves returning for the experience of plugging into an elusive but ineffable something, something we find at the core of ourselves, and yet instinctively understand to be more than […]
Q: Tell us about yourself! A: I grew up in Rhode Island and moved to Portland in September 2008. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. I love being so close to the mountains, rivers, ocean, and all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I ride my bike everywhere and spend most of my […]
Q: Tell us about yourself. A: I am an artist with a background in furniture making and jewelry design, and I make my living from using my creative energy as an Interior Designer. I love being an artist, it is very freeing. I can be myself. I own more tools than clothes. I like to […]
I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself, as some of you may be unfamiliar with my work at The People’s Yoga. I am the creator and teacher of Yoga for Bigger Bodies. This yoga class was created when I noticed the absence of support for people living in larger bodies. It was created […]
What is the Yogathon? Since its inception in 2010, the Yogathon’s purpose has been to bring awareness to the long term effects of trauma and how they impact those within our community. Through Living Yoga’s trauma informed yoga programs, students are taught mindfulness, impulse control, and wellness practices. These life changing skills support students in making […]
Q: Tell us about yourself! A: I am from Toronto and northern New York originally, but I’ve lived in a lot of places. I think I thought being nomadic was part of becoming an artist – something I can openly admit to being without breaking into hives these days. I moved to Portland from Chicago […]
I enrolled in my first Yoga Immersion after seeing a paper flyer taped to the check-in counter of my local studio. Those two words, “Yoga Immersion,” spoke to a longing that had taken form in me that I hadn’t quite named yet: I wanted to steep in the practice. I sensed there was something more […]
I began dreaming about Nepal years ago. The Himalayas, the living yogic traditions, and the sacred temples and stupas called to me. BKS Iyengar’s quote, “Move from the known to the unknown” became my mantra. This last year, I decided I would try to spend my next birthday in Nepal and set an intention as […]
