SAM Sather
The Sacrum: A Key to Spinal Health and Mobility

The sacrum, often overlooked, plays a vital role in both spinal health and overall movement. It's not just a single bone but a fusion of five vertebrae that occurs as we age, usually completing the process in our 20s. Despite this fusion, the sacrum is part of a dynamic system that requires awareness and movement to stay healthy.

The Sacrum: A Key to Spinal Health and Mobility
SAM Sather
The Convergence of Yoga and Creativity

Yoga and creativity share a special connection. Both require us to move beyond the confines of the familiar, to explore the unknown, and to embrace the perspective of a beginner—a fresh lens through which we see the world. This convergence of yoga and creativity is a catalyst for inspiration, opening doors to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of being.

The Convergence of Yoga and Creativity
Amanda Dzengeleski
Why we are a Yoga Therapy Studio. Plus, ...

Yoga therapy is fundamentally about empowering you to take an active approach to self-care through the tailored application of yoga. Unlike general group classes, which aim to benefit a wide range of participants, yoga therapy offers a personalized and evolving practice that addresses specific health challenges and promotes overall well-being.

Why we are a Yoga Therapy Studio. Plus, Nourishing Opportunities to Practice.
SAM Sather
NEW Studio Announcements: Introducing our ...

We have made new updates to our class schedule and an exciting addition to our team!

SAM Sather
iRest: Active Resting That Heals

iRest Yoga Nidra can be perceived as resting, especially since rest is in the name, and we all are not people who rest. Resting can even be a bit scary. It is easy to wonder: Will everything be OK if I slow down and rest? What if I told you that iRest Yoga Nidra is active resting? You are doing something. You are actively listening to a voice, following the prompts, re-wiring your brain, and improving your health.

mindfulness

Noticing Your Subtle Body

Noticing Your Subtle Body

Even if you don’t notice it or feel it, every time you step on the mat and move your body, you support balancing your inner and outer experience. Yoga practices give an opportunity for Qi (Chi, life force) to flow more freely through the meridians (rivers of energy). You might not be able to see Qi flowing through meridians, however you can experience the effect of your energy. Free flowing Qi allows the energy nourishes our body and improves the health of our organs so we can experience the vitality of life.

Perfection Lies Within

Perfection Lies Within

Every time we show up to our yoga practice we can open ourselves up to learn something new about ourselves. We can invite curiosity to listen and notice how the body, mind and spirit respond to our practice. We should strive to observing without judgment or desiring to fix or change anything. If we are lucky, we can embrace mindfulness and learn something new about ourselves.

The Profound Practice of Āsana

The Profound Practice of Āsana

For many people, their first exposure to yoga is the physical practice, referred to as yoga āsana. Everyone’s body is different so their physical practice will be different. No matter how you practice yoga āsana, you are integrating the physical, energetic and spiritual body. Yoga āsana offers a tangible tool to cultivate stillness through movement.

Embrace a Beginner's Mindset to Cultivate Joy

Embrace a Beginner's Mindset to Cultivate Joy

Adopting a beginner’s mind can be a powerful tool for cultivating joy and embracing the present moment. As we navigate the journey ahead, let us move with an open mind, embracing each moment as an opportunity for renewal. In the simplicity of presence, the beauty of growth, the release of expectations, and the nurturing of self-compassion, we uncover the true essence of joy that lies within us all.

Pause to Experience Awe

Pause to Experience Awe

Yoga can help you learn to become more aware of why you react the way you. Your practice supports leaning into the full human experience and enjoying being in the present movement and experience the fullness of life. Pausing to savor the experience of awe can take you outside of yourself and give you the opportunity to really experience living in the present moment.

Enjoying All of Life’s Peaceful Moments.

Enjoying All of Life’s Peaceful Moments.

Yoga postures, breathing exercises and meditations help you achieve a peaceful state of mind. However, yoga is not limited to practices on the mat. You can experience glimpses of your peaceful nature at any time. You can experience PEACE in any setting and doing any activity. Take time throughout your day to relish in life’s beauty. Seek out joy and immerse yourself in the experience.

The Five Hindrances

The Five Hindrances

The five hindrances are mental states that challenge our ability to be mindful and present. These hindrances include sensual desire, ill will, sloth, worry or restlessness, and doubt. Such mental states have a potent effect on the way we see and interact with the world. As the name suggests, these qualities hinder our ability to perform effectively and respond appropriately. The hindrances are not to be seen as obstacles, but rather a valuable opportunity for self-inquiry. To overcome our hindrances we must become mindfully aware of their presence so we can learn how to best navigate our own unique path to liberation. 

Embracing Silence

Embracing Silence

One way to experience the completeness within is to embrace silence. Ainslee introduced us to the value of silence with this quote from Thought for Today. 

"Behind all creation is silence. Silence is the essential condition, the vital ingredient for all creation and all that is created. It is a power in its own right.

The artist starts with a blank canvas – silence. The composer places it between and behind the notes. The very ground of your being, out of which come all your thoughts is silence. The way to silence is through meditation. When you arrive in your own silence you will know true freedom and real power. Stop, take a minute, and listen to the silence within you today.”

The Practice of Yin Yoga

The Practice of Yin Yoga

Yin and Yang are opposing conditions that exist simultaneously on a spectrum. We apply yin and yang based on the context, for example, the heart as yin when considering deep in the body, but the heart can be referred to as yang when referring to the blood pumping through. Some yang styles of yoga aim to stress the muscles through rhythmic and repetitive movements, and some yang styles of yoga focus on strength and more intense focus. While yin yoga commonly includes activities that are quieter, more contemplative. Yin may gently target the ligaments, bones, and joints. You will be encouraged to use props to increase or decrease intensity of a stretch or to shift where the pose targets to help honor the history of our bodies and also help us adapt a yin pose to our unique body.

Mindfulness Retreat at NC Botanical Garden

Mindfulness Retreat at NC Botanical Garden

On Saturday, October 29 from 8:30am-3:00pm at the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, we invite you to The Heart of Hope: Wisdom from the Garden retreat. Step into a garden and you will encounter a bountiful display of creativity: the vining of the mischievous Morning Glory, the colorful blossoming of Chrysanthemum, the flopping spread of purple Asters and yellow Goldenrod. All around, flowers showcase their beauty, pollinators buzz around, plumes of grass sway in the wind, birds sing their melodies. Whether this garden is a container garden on a balcony or a landscaped backyard, it is sure to inspire awe and a sense of presence.