Tattooing Yogini

​I am 286 days alcohol-free. It’s wild to be here and I am beyond grateful.  My sobriety has brought up a lot of emotions: loads of anger at first, then a lot of introspection. I’ve contemplated relationships - past and present. I have examined my people-pleasing and self-sabotage tendencies. I have looked at how I treat myself and my body. It’s been an interesting ride, let me tell you.  Having a sober mind is the greatest gift I have given myself.  Today I awoke around 6:00am, as I usually do and have been looking back over my life. It’s wild how many lives I feel like I have lived and how it still bugs me when people try to tell me things I already know, simply because they walked in on this chapter of my life. I have been and done a lot of things. CHILDHOOD:  I remember being a kind child. I watched over my cousin when storms came in, trying to calm her fears of the thunder and lightning. I remember petting bees in my yard and eating clover nectar. I remember the...

​ A quick Google search of lessons and themes for the Wolf Moon presents things like, introspection, community, releasing limiting beliefs and setting intentions…many of the same things you’ll see for any full moon throughout the year. People often message me asking for simple rituals they can do during this time and while I share some ideas with them, I think it is vital that we turn within to listen for what speaks to us.  As I often say in Yoga, the practice is your own. What I present in class is suggestion, not prescription. It’s up to each student to take the reins in their practice, listen to their body and to trust their intuition on the mat. This translates to life off the mat, and especially when it comes to spirituality.  Like Yoga, spirituality is an individual experience.  For me, the Full Moon energy can feel like a lot, probably because I am a predominantly Vata constitution and I have a lot of excessive energy. To balance this, during the full moon, I like...

​ What is pratipaksha bhavana?  Pratipaksha bhavana is referenced in Patajali’s Yoga Sutras, specifically 11.33, which states, “vitarkabadhane pratipakshabhavanam,” which translates to “when disturbed by negative thoughts, cultivate the opposite.”  Before we discuss what this is, I’d like to mention what it isn’t. Pratipaksha bhavana isn’t spiritual bypassing or Pollyanna thinking. We don’t ignore or dismiss our negative thoughts to replace them with positive ones.  We practice Svadyaya (self-study) to acknowledge the negative thoughts, observe where we feel them in the body, and then begin to cultivate the opposite thought. Remember: To cultivate something isn’t usually immediate. Like sowing a seed and cultivating the soil to help the seed grow, Pratipaksha bhavana takes time and practice.  How Do We Practice Pratipaksha Bhavana?  For many, one of the biggest takeaways from a regular Yoga practice is the idea that perspective isn’t truth. What one person exper...

The final Niyama, Ishvara Pranidhana, invites us into surrender—trusting the flow of life and offering ourselves to something greater than the individual self. The Sanskrit translates to “surrender to the Divine,” and it asks us to release control, soften our ego, and rest in faith. This is not passive resignation. Rather, Ishvara Pranidhana is an active choice to live in alignment with grace, to recognize the sacred in all things, and to trust that we are held. Yoga Practice for Surrender On the mat, we practice Ishvara Pranidhana when we stop striving for perfection and instead breathe into presence. A few postures to embody surrender include: Balasana (Child’s Pose): A bowing posture of humility and release. Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Leg Forward Fold): Encourages grounding and letting go. Savasana (Final Rest): The ultimate act of surrender, releasing all effort into the earth. In each of these shapes, notice where you can soften—muscles, breath, expectations. Meditation: Trusti...

The final Yama, Aparigraha, is often translated as non-grasping or non-possessiveness. It reminds us that clinging—whether to things, people, or even old stories—creates heaviness and suffering. When we soften our grip, we open ourselves to receive life with ease and flow. Aparigraha is not about rejecting everything; it’s about cultivating trust. When we release what we don’t need, we make space for what truly serves our growth and joy. 5 Yoga Poses for Opening the Heart Center These postures help us soften, open, and release the tendency to cling: Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge with Heart Opener) Lift the chest and arms skyward, inviting openness and surrender. Ustrasana (Camel Pose) A deep heart opener that teaches courage in vulnerability. Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose) Expands the chest while grounding the body, balancing effort and release. Matsyasana (Fish Pose) Opens the throat and heart, encouraging receptivity and trust. Savasana (Final Resting Pose) The ultimate practice of release—...

In the Yamas, yoga’s ethical guidelines, Satya—truthfulness—asks us to align our words, actions, and thoughts with authenticity. Satya is not just about avoiding lies; it is about living in a way that reflects the truth of who we are at our deepest level. Truth is not always comfortable. Sometimes it means setting boundaries, speaking with honesty, or admitting what we’ve been avoiding. Yet Satya is always balanced with Ahimsa (non-harm), reminding us that truth should be shared with compassion, never as a weapon. Authentic Yoga vs. Impressive Yoga In modern yoga culture, it can be tempting to chase the “impressive” pose—the perfect handstand, the deepest backbend, or the longest practice. But Satya invites us to ask: What is true for my body today? Practicing Satya on the mat may mean choosing Child’s Pose instead of pushing into pain. It may look like honoring your breath over achieving a posture. It is the practice of authenticity—meeting yourself as you are, rather than performing ...