This is part 5 in IzzyJi's Yoga off the Mat series. 

When I first had my knee replacement, I was given a few things to bring home with me to assist my recovery and healing, including a walker and a quad cane (a cane that has 4 feet instead of just 1).  Before I had even gone into the hospital, I had ordered some things to “upgrade” the walker I knew they would give me, including a multi-pocket “basket” to replace carrying my purse.  I was...

This is Part 4 in IzzyJi’s Yoga off the Mat Series.

I remember in my second week of physical therapy, I was doing an exercise where you lift the surgical leg up to tap a step and then set it gently back onto the floor. Then, you trust that surgical leg to hold your weight while you gently lift your “good” (non-surgical) leg and do the same thing. Lift, tap, and down. Lift, tap, and down. Equally challenging to both legs because when the “good” leg is on...

I have decided that part of my purpose as a yoga teacher is to help people in more abundant bodies or/and with physical challenges such as myself to help make complex/uncomfortable poses more accessible. The second week of my yoga teacher training, we had a wonderful teacher by the name of Sat Kartar Singh. I was put at ease pretty quickly that I wouldn’t be “judged” for not being able to do the complex poses. One day, he said something to me that completely changed my...

Since having Total Knee Replacement surgery, guess what my favorite yoga pose is? 

My FAVORITE pose/action is SAVASANA (Deep Relaxation). I’m fidgety most of the day. I’m not comfortable in any one position for very long, but when I’m able to lie down, even on the tables at therapy-- it’s HEAVEN. I can literally feel myself surrendering to the padded table, so much so that I wondered if I ever really surrendered like that during a yoga class. I’ve always...

Every single time I go to physical therapy for my recent right knee replacement surgery, I get a little “yoga wisdom”, and I promise you-- it is never intentional. Only one of the therapists I work with practices yoga, and even then, it is a “spotty” practice (her words, not mine). It just amazes me how much my practice follows me and comes in handy at PT. 

Last week, I got a real lesson on balance. I’m not talking about physical balance, although I am...

Our initial statement on the Yogi Bhajan allegations was on March 6. 

We took time after each class over a two week period to make sure our community was aware of the allegations, and to open the door for discussion, both in a group setting and privately. 

Needless to say, our members were disappointed to learn of yet another betrayal from a trusted leader, and in an industry dedicated to love, healing, truth, compassion, and right action. 

The 76 page report issued by An Olive...

You cannot breathe deeply and worry at the same time. 
Breathe. 
Let the worry go.
Breathe. 
Let the love and intuition in.

-Sonia Choquette

During physical therapy, I had developed a bad habit of holding my breath and tensing my entire body to try and lift my leg or bend my knee. My PTs (physical therapists) would constantly remind me to breathe and relax through it. One day, one of them said - “Hey! Don’t you teach yoga?! I need you to go into yoga mode when...

September arrived and with her I felt a sense of heaviness. I noticed the cooler, darker mornings more than I have in the past. I'm experiencing a sense of anticipation for what fall and winter will bring. I’ve heard others are feeling this too.

But why?

In her recent podcast, Brene Brown is likening the next few months to the “Day 2” in a 3 day training she once offered. Day 2 is when you realize there is no going back, you feel raw and challenged. You want to numb...

Fear is real. There are threats in the world. We've gotten hurt, and the pain sometimes doesn't seem to let up. People have died. We've gotten our hearts broken. Our expectations failed us. 

I was recently working with a client who referred to 2020 as a “dumpster fire of a year.” It’s hard to argue with that, but it got me thinking about how shifting our language and thoughts shifts our perspective. Which reminded me of this quote by Wayne Dyer: 

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.”

How can we consider the events taking place this year in different ways? I’m not talking about spiritual bypassing, but...