The Things I Think When I Close My Eyes (During Savasana)…

“Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!”

~Leonardo da Vinci

One of the things that I feel like I’ve become known for in my classes is my encouragement for students to open their eyes (and conversely to avoid closing their eyes) during asana practice, including during savasana. For me, as a coach for mental strength and fitness, this seems pretty straightforward, but apparently for many people, it’s a pretty controversial hot take. Within a 26&2 practice, my rationale is that opening the eyes during savasana is a physical manifestation of the mental practice, meaning that we are practicing mental presence, so like, be present, you know? 

I admit that as in all things, words MATTER (a topic that’s worth exploring at another time because I have THOUGHTS) and this is sometimes taken far too far. I’m not suggesting that people bring toothpicks in to hold their eyelids open during yoga practice, but merely to consider that they are in a place and time that should be acknowledged. Just as we encourage students who mindfully need to take savasana as a physical pause in the practice, if you need a mental pause, by all means, close your eyes! I often openly say in class that savasana is available to you. So is closing your eyes, if you need to close your eyes. BUT!!!! If you don’t, it may be an illuminating bit of growth in your yoga practice. After all, practical considerations of practicing presence requires you to acknowledge where you are physically, even as you “look within”.

(Before I go any further and have loads of you come at me, I’m limiting the scope of this discussion to the asana practice of the 26&2. I mean, when you are practicing alone at home, by all means, close your eyes and look within as much as you like. Do your thing.)

Now, a little background on myself. I maintain a regular yoga practice and I also maintain an even more regular meditation practice. There are loads of different sorts of meditation. I’ve taught classes and workshops in mindful meditation as well as walking meditations and of course, there are some lucky and impressive souls (not me because some part of my body always goes painfully numb) who are able to sit for a couple hours in stillness and meditation. In 1993, I learned a practice called Transcendental Meditation, popularized in the West in large part by its high profile practitioners starting with The Beatles in the 1960s. The practice is 20 minutes a day, twice a day. That doesn’t sound like much (and in many ways, it really isn’t and that’s the point), but I’ve been doing that as my daily jam almost every day since I was 19 years old—so it’s been 27 years of more or less consistent meditation practice. 

As a social scientist and “Very Experienced Meditator” (there are no air quotes big enough for the dripping sarcasm in using that label), I decided to do a very unofficial experiment and close my eyes during the first savasana between standing and floor series in my 26&2 practice. Immediately after my practice, I took notes on my phone detailing what was going through my head. I present for you my raw data illuminating my “mental presence” with my eyes closed:

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Day 1

OMG, it feels really good to close my eyes. This is pure luxury. Maybe I’m kinda mean for telling everyone to open their eyes? Am I THAT teacher? Am I an asshole?? I hope this is a full two minute savasana… Uh-oh, I’m gonna fall asleep in a minute. This needs to end. When are we doing wind removing pose? [Me opening my eyes to peek to see whether wind removing pose is going on and I just missed the cues and then closing them again because it didn’t.] Oh man, I played myself. This is hard. Did I go to sleep? Okay okay okay okayokayokay I’m fine.

Day 2

Okay, close your eyes. Yaaassssss. I’m so hungry. Should I have had a sip of my coffee before lying down? If I teach music class this Friday, what theme am I going to with? Is this the time to pull out the opera list? I want Chinese food for lunch. No, I can’t. Why did I say publicly that I wasn’t going to eat rice this month? Carbs are delicious. Carbs are my friend. I have a headache. No, you don’t you’re fine. That’s not a headache. Don’t whine. Calm down. STAY IN THE ROOM. 

Day 3

Stay present. Like what does that even really mean anyway? I’m present because I’m here. Okay, be quiet. Stop moving. What is that hair poking into my eyelid? Is it a hair from my head or is it an eyelash? Don’t touch it. You’re fine. Why is this so hard for me? I hate this experiment. It’s not even controlled. Or measurable. I wonder how one could operationalize a study on savasana? No. Stop. Stay present. Staypresentstaypresentstaypresentstaypresentfortheloveofgodstaypresent

Day 4

I give up. I’m opening my eyes and looking at the fan until my eyes are sort of fuzzy looking at the fan.

When I did, I felt… nothing much, actually. I was just there, which for me, is perfect. I didn’t feel any inner enlightenment nor  anything philosophical nor anything spectacular. I felt like I was staying still on the floor and I knew where I was. End.

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So. What did I discover in this experiment? Basically, that for myself personally, the second I close my eyes even for a second, my mind is off and running—I’m sometimes still thinking about yoga things sort of sometimes, but yoga things is my job, so I don’t see this as any different from someone thinking about the groceries or a meeting coming up. 

Is this or should this be a deeply serious yogic consideration to your practice? Perhaps not. However, it might be worth considering to what degree you give effort to your mental presence in class relative to your physical efforts. Although we are essentially engaged in a physically-driven practice, we are playing the game of yoga and that requires at minimum some acknowledgement of our minds also being a part of the thing. For me, that can be as easy as opening your eyes when it would be far easier to close them and check out. Or refocusing on your breath when you feel yourself making a mental to do list. Mental strength is not profound. But it is something that we can learn how to control over time in the same way that we learn to control anything else that we adopt into our regular practices.

Food for thought. Consider what’s best for you and your mind (but please try opening your eyes sometimes, please thank you I love you).

Maryam Bakht is a fitness coach and yoga teacher specializing in purposeful movement and mental strength and clarity. Maryam holds a PhD in Linguistics from NYU and in her time as a college professor has developed methods for practicing calmness and rest as a way to become more efficient and effective in work.

2021 - New Year?

What does the “New Year” mean? For many, this period of change from the “old” to the “new” can be rejuvenating, restorative, or maybe even life giving. But for some, this process of turning over a “new leaf” is simply a continuation of daily life. I think there is a lot of pressure surrounding the New Year that is wrapped in this idea that you “need” to create something entirely new and transformative for yourself. But y’all, I want to remind you that you are enough.

Especially coming out of a year of great difficulty and challenge, please remember that you are enough. 

One beautiful way to remember your strength and grace is the simple power of reflection-- this could be physical or emotional reflection. In a world that has become numb to the healing power of solitude, there is great beauty to be found in self-reflection. When we intentionally choose to look within ourselves and find a deeper sense of purpose and love, not only are we granting ourselves a more genuine form of grace, but the peace that this internal work brings restores the soul in ways that no societal form of healing can bring. There is a deeper discipline that we gain from locking eyes with ourselves in the mirror, by not looking away from our reflection, and finally, allowing ourselves to feel. In my experience, the feelings that I was running and hiding from in 2020 were actually the ones that brought me the deepest sense of peace and purpose once I was able to look myself dead in the eye and sit with these troubling thoughts. 

This past year, I grappled a lot with what to feel. As a young adult trying to navigate through college, the sheer amount of noise and opinions that were being displayed in the media, being told to me by my friends and family, or even being written by myself became this nauseating pressure of picking and choosing what and who to trust. Stillness and rest became such foreign practices to me. I wish I could say that “yoga saved me… and it just took discipline to sit under the heated lamps and breathe through the pain”, but even that isn’t the complete truth. This year brought heavy sobs, heartaches, anxiety attacks, social dilemmas, and genuine concern for the future of humanity--and those were just my battles!!! Together, we encountered a global health crisis, the disgust of systemic racism that still runs deep in our subtle but suppressive hierarchies, social isolation through the screens on our phones and computers, and the great polarization between two political parties that have fractured a nation which people still define as “united”. 

That was a lot, folks. There was a lot to feel and experience as our bodies moved through 2020. But we made it here, and we are still breathing through the next moment. At the end of the day, you are the only person who knows yourself best. And if 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that the love that you create and exude for yourself is greater than the hate and pressure that others daunt over you. 

Telling yourself that you are enough and believing in this mantra are two different things. Whether you celebrate the tradition of creating and following new year’s resolutions or not, I invite you to spend more time in deeper reflection in the coming weeks. I know I still have a lot to learn from my own deep, cognitive “dives”, but in staying committed to my personal practice, I know that I have the power to dismiss all external pressures trying to mold me into someone that I’m not. As 2020 comes to a close, I genuinely feel my past shedding off with every asana; I’m leaving behind something new and beautiful for me to appreciate and move through. 

Things will not serve you in life. Grant yourself the peace and grace to leave these things behind as time goes by. Your soul and being is stronger and more powerful than you might think. <3

Sending you lots of love today and every day. Happy New Year!

Sarah Townsend is a student at the University of South Florida, pursuing her undergraduate degree in elementary education. She is from Chicago, IL, and when she is not at the studio or studying for classes, Sarah enjoys cooking vegan food, going for long runs or bike rides, and spending time outside in the sunshine with her friends and family! Her main professional focus upon graduation is to go into urban education reform. She is also interested in discussions around racial and gender inequities; it is her hope to continue with this social justice work in graduate school abroad.

well, well, well.

Welp. Happy Thanksgiving. This time 4 years ago was busy workday for me, and the impending deadline felt a little ridiculous.

At the start of November 2016, I would go to the intended site for the studio everyday. I would just goof around mostly, measure things, and stare into dust passing through sunbeams from the windows. As soon as I found out about Small Business Saturday, I decided it would be a good day for a grand opening.

When work really had to pick up in order to meet a deadline, I got to work a little bit more. Along the way, my guiding principle was still “keep it simple” So much so, that I joked with a friend during a planning sesh that our tag line would be “bring your own towel.” LOL

I thought I was starting some kind of grimey, hardcore, fight-clubesque, yoga studio that claims to be for “everyone.” by the time we opened, it was still super humble. There was one room, one teacher, and one class in the morning and one at night, everyday.

I caved on the towel thing pretty quickly and various other things along the way. Each thing I caved on hopefully helped someone but gave birth to something that’s become the fabric of the studio. Not only do we have towels now, we also have, a bigger fancier studio, teachers, many classes a day, teacher training, an online option, a sauna, and you! You might be reading this having never known a Gaze without all of these things. I am so thankful for you.

Because of every individual who has been through the doors of the studio my guiding principle has been able to shift from “keep it simple” to “keep it serving.”

Wes Bozeman was Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork in 2009 and is a Florida Licensed Massage Therapist. MA58298 He began his massage practice after the birth of his daughter, when substandard maternity care cast a light on the value of bodily knowledge and wellness for his whole family. He began his yoga training in 2010 at Evolation Yoga in Tampa. Since then he has studied with Ida Jo and Scott Lamps at Ghosh Yoga, and countless other mentors along the way. He owns Gaze Hot Yoga in Tampa Heights where he teaches students, and teachers, and is happy to be their student too. Wes’ only goal for his practice is to empower his clients to be aware of their bodies, and facilitate healing.

Your Friendly Desk Gal <3

Hello everyone!

This is Sarah, the new “desk gal” at GAZE! I’m beyond excited to embark on this journey with the studio, but more importantly, I’m super interested in seeing how this experience is going to add to my own yoga practice. I started taking classes at GAZE in the fall of 2019 when a friend who I had met through my old coffee shop job could not stop raving about the loving and supportive community that this studio creates in each class. At the time, I had just transferred to the University of South Florida… and my previous institution was St. Norbert College, a small, liberal arts college right outside of Green Bay in northern Wisconsin (yes, it was cold -- and no, I don’t like the Green Bay Packers). I was also born and raised in the Chicago area, so deciding to spontaneously pack up and move down to Tampa, FL by myself after my first year of college was honestly the biggest leap of faith that I have taken so far in my short life. :) 

If I’m being very honest, the first couple of weeks after moving to Tampa last year were definitely challenging. As a sophomore at USF and knowing no one in the area, I felt like I was repeating my freshman year all over again. Also, because I was physically far away from my family, the emotional distance that I experienced grappling with my deep seeded homesickness started to really take a toll on my heart. And then, I took my first 60 minute, 26 and 2 Bikram class at GAZE. Y’all, I walked out of that class with wobbling feet, a pounding headache, and a genuine concern for much I sweat in just one hour! But -- little did I know that I was starting to solidify what would become a long lasting connection between my mind and my body.

For the rest of my first fall semester at USF, there were definitely better days than others. I was living in a student-housing apartment complex right across from campus, and as time passed, I realized this space wasn’t exactly fit for me. Fortunately, I was finally opening up to my work friends, and the majority of them lived closer to downtown. In spending time with them most every weekend leading into spring semester, I got to see so many more neighborhoods in Tampa that a lot of my USF friends don’t even know exist! I was falling in love with the city, diving deeper into my practice at GAZE, and finding more moments of stillness in my everyday life. I was relearning and reteaching myself that I was enough. I am enough. 

Around the holidays, I returned back home to Chicago for a week, and this was my first time back since leaving in August! The cold winter air in Chicago is something that I never thought I would ever miss, but as soon as my flight landed and I stepped outside, the bitterness of the wintry winds wrapped its arms around me like a long lost friend. I was home. Although there are only a handful of people that I still keep in touch with from high school, I was able to connect with them on this brief trip -- and I specifically shared with my hometown friends how I was integrating my mindfulness practice into my life. A lot of them commended me for having the courage to move to Tampa in the first place to start anew, but honestly, I don’t really see this as me being brave. Yes, it was a leap of faith, but I knew it was what I needed to do. I needed to branch out of my mold… I needed to find myself in places where no one else was going to tell me to look. My trip home ended rather abruptly, and with a heavy heart, I actually had to say goodbye to my childhood home for the last time. My parents had just sold our house, and while I could not be more happy for them and their new home in The Villages, FL, driving away from the “red brick house at the end of the hill” for the last time this past January can definitely be added to the list of things that will always bring tears to my eyes. Some things we just have to breathe in through our nose, and with an open mouth, exhale and let it go.

As I’m sure you are all aware, things rapidly changed at the beginning of 2020. My spring courses at USF started with little disruption, and while I wasn’t actively practicing at GAZE, I was still continuing my yoga practice at another wonderful studio, Sattva Yoga in Seminole Heights. At this studio, I grew in my practice of Kundalini yoga, and I spent a lot of mornings meditating on the new techniques I was learning from these classes. I started to notice and name my feelings as they passed by like clouds in my mind -- but never seeing them as judgments. These became strong practices in stillness; the quiet moments where we are only living in the moment and not worrying about the past or the future. We are in the present. I strongly believe that has been my biggest takeaway from 2020. 

Fast forward to later in the spring -- my college courses got moved online, the world seemed to be crumbling around me, and as I peered out of the window in my old apartment, I subconsciously held my breath as cars ceased to exist on the once busy roads. Panic quickly set in -- so I returned to the sanctuary that is my yoga mat. I signed up for GAZE guidance, the virtual program that was just starting at the studio, and for all of April and into May, I took at least four virtual classes a week via Zoom. Not only was I getting the much needed structure and discipline, but I was honoring my body in ways that I might have previously forgot. I was breathing. I was moving. I was still living through what society was calling “the end”. 

Summer came and went. I moved from the USF area to a flat in the Seminole Heights area where I currently live with me, myself, and I -- and all my fruits and veggies! My practice continued to grow with every back bend and deep belly breath. Every time I rolled out my mat, I felt like a piece of my heart was being pulled towards the sky, and no matter what had happened to me that day, I would be spending the next 60-90 minutes doing something for me. I took this consistent practice with me into my current chapter of life: my junior year at USF -- a first semester intern in the College of Education with a major in elementary education and a concentration in urban education reform. 

And that is where I will end for now. If someone would have told me that 2020 would be hard, that would be an understatement. 2020 has pushed the world into every dark corner and every back alley. But y’all -- never forget that you are still here. You are living and breathing through this pandemic, the economic free fall, the uncertainty of the election, or any other personal challenge you might be grappling with. One of my favorite poses in the 26 and 2 class is cobra. As you start to look up towards the sky and feel the muscles in your lower back fire up, there’s this unbelievable sense of power and beauty that your whole body experiences just from your own strength.

Take that power with you into these dark places. Thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy introduction -- and I hope to meet y’all soon! 

Also! If you have the time/are interested in reading some of my other blogs, I included their links down below. 

1. Personal Blog - Mindful Moods and Melodies 

2. Academic / Personal Blog - Real Stories, Real Public Harassment

3. Academic Blog - The Reflective Intern

4. Academic Blog - Technology for An Aspiring Educator

Talk to the people you know.

Here we are. On March 17th,  I closed the studio because COVID-19 was scary and it absolutely seemed like the right thing to do.  Less than a week later, all non essential businesses were ordered closed by the governor and I felt my decision was a little more justified. 

The fear of the unknown was real. What if someone had told me, “You’re going to be closed for the next two months and that’ll be the easy part!”? The shelter in place orders that followed in the last few months have put the exact right amount of pressure on other big problems both systemic and personal. 

A few weeks into the studio’s closure, it became increasingly apparent to me how I had neglected the folks closest to me. I convinced myself that it could be considered meddling or self-righteous behavior to invite them to yoga.  I had established a barrier in my mind that said, “these people don’t want to hear that.”  So “Save all the good info for strangers?”

While the studio was closed, I was busy building some online resources, which in some ways, turned into to an offering to my community, my friends, and my family.  It was a way to start a conversation that was difficult, but only in my head.

Since the killing of George Floyd was a catalyst for the eyes of our country to be turned in the direction of racial inequality and systematic racism, my own silence has felt more conflicted, shameful, and difficult.  As a white, straight, cis-gendered man standing at the very tip top of the privilege pile, it’s undeniable that I have tremendous power and thus a responsibility to talk to the people I know. I need to tell them about what steps I’m taking to be anti-racist, that things won’t work out if we don’t work them out.  If you’re reading this, I need you to know that I love you and Black lives matter. I think yoga can help you be healthier, and a person with privilege has a responsibility to use it for good.

Wes Bozeman was Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork in 2009 and is a Florida Licensed Massage Therapist. MA58298  He began his massage practice after the birth of his daughter, when substandard maternity care cast a light on the value of bodily knowledge and wellness for his whole family.  He began his yoga training in 2010 at Evolation Yoga in Tampa. Since then he has studied with Ida Jo and Scott Lamps at Ghosh Yoga, and countless other mentors along the way. He owns  Gaze Hot Yoga in Tampa Heights where he teaches students, and teachers, and is happy to be their student too. Wes’ only goal for his practice is to empower his clients to be aware of their bodies, and facilitate healing.

Find your balance

Getting the work/life balance right isn’t easy at the best of times.  Getting it right when one is suddenly (and unexpectedly) working from home and doing lots of other things at home can be especially tricky.  I started working from home in 1995 . . . before there was much working at home.  Back in the day I had all the gear – fax machine, printer, copier, huge computer, filing cabinets and all the accompanying supplies . . . I had to have a whole room set aside for an office.  Today many jobs are completely paperless and your work supplies may consist of a laptop and a phone.  Or your work setup may be somewhere in between.  Regardless of the equipment your working from home entails, the guidelines are the same for achieving balance in your new bubble.

Find a new version of your old routine

We are creatures of habit and when our routines are suddenly disturbed (or perhaps blown up is a better term) it can make everything seem out of control, make us feel anxious and stressed.  Try to find a new version of your old routine.  Continue to incorporate those things that are important to you.  Did you listen to a podcast on the drive to work?  Use that same time to listen to your podcast as you walk around the neighborhood (that’s your new “drive to work”).  Did you go to the gym at lunchtime?  Grab a YouTube video and use that same time to work out.  Was evening yoga class your thing?  Set the time aside that you would normally go to class and schedule a zoom class instead.

Find your new office

Already have a space for your home office – great!  Never worked from home before – get creative.  Your home is yours – use your space in a way that works best for you and your housemates.  Don’t feel confined by the definitions of living room, dining room, etc.  Maybe re-arrange the furniture to meet your new needs and repurpose items to create some separation.  Look at household items that can be used differently – a tall bookcase can become a wall, a bedside table can become a desk, hang a sheet in an open archway to create a door.   Perhaps clean out a closet and make it your new office.  Move lamps around to create the lighting you need.  Make your space work for your life!

Take breaks

In an office you probably take a break to grab a cup of coffee, talk to a colleague down the hall, chat at the water cooler about last night’s “must see TV” (ok, I’m dating myself, I haven’t worked in an office since that was a thing!!).  But you get my point, make sure to take time out for breaks during the day just like you would if you were at the office.  Without the distractions of the office it’s easy to forget sometimes . . . set the alarm on your phone, walk away from the computer at least once an hour, get some water, look out the window, walk around the house, walk around the block, do your favorite yoga posture.

Put the laptop away

When it’s time for lunch or your workout or the end of the day make the office “go away.”  Close the door if your office is in a separate room, close the laptop and actually put it somewhere you can’t see it if the dining room table is your office.  Out of sight, out of mind really can be very helpful when separating work from personal time.  If the computer is still right there it’s really easy for work to take over more than its fair share of space in your mind.

 Get creative, think about what you need, what you want, find your balance.

Jen took her first yoga class at a London YMCA in 1984 – and loved it.  That was over 30 years ago and she’s been practicing ever since.  A long distance runner and triathlete, Jen credits yoga with keeping her body healthy and injury free.  Yoga was the calming influence in her life when running her own business and raising 3 children.

Jen has her 200 hour teaching certification and enjoys sharing her love of hot yoga with her students.  She believes incorporating yoga into every day is key – postures, breathing or meditation – just take a little time for yoga every day to reap timeless rewards.  Jen loves the outdoors - hiking, biking, camping, traveling – always taking her yoga with her.

Jen's Tips for a Home Practice

No, it’s not the same as being in class.  But developing a home yoga practice can bring you the same benefits (and more) at times when you can’t get to class – say when you’re traveling or when the world goes crazy!  A home practice can help you pay more attention to your own body and what it needs as well as help you develop focus and discipline.  Read on for some ideas, thoughts and tips for practicing the 26 and 2 at home.

Find your time

In addition to possibly working from home, we have all those household chores to do that seem to fill the day.  So how do you overcome that to start a home practice?  In the beginning pretend you are going to class – use that same timeframe to practice at home.  Whether it’s a morning, afternoon or evening class that you normally attend use that exact same window of time to practice at home.  Put it on the calendar – book yourself into your own home yoga class so you’re committed.  You’re used to filling that time with yoga – so fill it with yoga at home. 

Start small

Everybody is different.  Some people will have no problem starting with an hour or 90 minutes of yoga at home.  For others this will seem impossible.  Don’t create a barrier worrying about time.  Start with what seems reasonable to you, something you can commit to.  Maybe it’s 15 minutes – go for it.  Do 15 minutes of yoga at home – standing deep breathing, half moon pose with hands to feet pose, awkward pose and eagle pose.  Then lie down and take a final savasana.  Fifteen minutes and you’ve done yourself a ton of good.  And be sure to appreciate your effort afterward.  Starting something new can be hard.  As it becomes easier you can gradually add time.

Find your spot or spots. 

The best location in your house for your practice may be really obvious or it may be tricky.  You may need to have a selection of locations depending on what else (and who else) is in your home.  Take the time you’d normally spend parking your car and checking in at the studio to walk around your house and find your spot.  A few things to consider:

1)      Distractions – try to find a spot that is as low on distractions as possible.  You may not want to practice next to a sink full of dishes or a cluttered desk if they will be fighting for your attention.  Same goes for music or computer noises from others.

2)      Surface – hard surfaces work well.  But maybe your locations all have plush carpet.  No problem, you can practice the standing series without a mat (less squish) and use your mat for the floor postures.

3)      Move stuff – taking a few seconds to move an area rug or a clock from the wall will go a long ways towards making your yoga practice comfortable and the area less distracting.

4)      No need for a mirror – most people won’t have a mirror in just the right place to practice.  You won’t need it – just find one point to focus on.  The first few times you practice it may seem strange not to see yourself but you’ll get used to it and it will actually help you improve your focus and balance to not use a mirror.

Think outside the box.  Some days it may be wonderful to practice outside if you have space.  If your outdoor surface is less than ideal grab a spare bed sheet first and put it down under your mat – you’ll have more space for floor postures if you’re not constantly getting leaves and dirt on your mat.

The bathroom.  It may sound weird but it can be perfect for so many reasons.  I’ve practiced in hotel and motel bathrooms as well as at home many, many times.  The door closes and people are less likely to bother you (unless it’s the only bathroom in the house and nature calls).  It’s cozy and not full of many distractions.  And you can also bring in a space heater to heat the place up a bit or even turn on the shower for a few minutes to get things steamy.

Next, turn off your own distractions – put your cell on silent and ask your housemates not to interrupt you.  If you have kids at home you can try setting a timer for them to not interrupt with a treat at the end if they are successful – always worth a try.

If you’ve been practicing for a while you likely know the sequence of postures by heart.  But whether you’re a long time practitioner or new to the practice a recorded class an also help.

Now you’re ready to practice.  Just as you would in class take a few deep breaths to begin with and bring your focus to a point in front of you.  Begin with deep breathing.  Take your time.  Think about the cues your teachers have used in class to adjust your body as you move through the postures.  Pause in between postures, stand still, breathe.  Don’t worry about timing each posture, you’ll have a pretty good idea when you are in the posture of how long to hold it.  Move into the posture, make adjustments, then hold still and be in the posture.  Take a few breaths, then move out of the posture.

If you’ve never practiced at home before it may feel odd the first few times.  But it’s like anything else, the more you do it the better you get and the more comfortable you’ll be.  You may find you have to work harder to stay focused.  Home can be pretty distracting.   Hang in there, don’t beat yourself up about getting distracted.  When you notice you’ve become distracted just gently bring your focus back to your yoga, to your breath. 

Some of the best things about a home practice . . . you get to tailor your practice to meet your needs.  If you want to hold a posture longer, go for it.  Prefer to do three rounds of camel, why not?!  Skip a posture you’re just not feeling up to today, just do it.  Your body, your practice.

Lastly, don’t forget the savasana at the end.  Savor your hard work.  Feel your body strong and your mind calm.  Always take your yoga practice home with you.

Jen took her first yoga class at a London YMCA in 1984 – and loved it.  That was over 30 years ago and she’s been practicing ever since.  A long distance runner and triathlete, Jen credits yoga with keeping her body healthy and injury free.  Yoga was the calming influence in her life when running her own business and raising 3 children.

Jen has her 200 hour teaching certification and enjoys sharing her love of hot yoga with her students.  She believes incorporating yoga into every day is key – postures, breathing or meditation – just take a little time for yoga every day to reap timeless rewards.  Jen loves the outdoors - hiking, biking, camping, traveling – always taking her yoga with her.