Category: From the Blog

For Beginners And Refreshers!

Second Sunday of each month at 10:45am right after Paytons $10 Karma Class… we offer a beginning intro to yoga.

It’s about 45 minutes. A short, clear introduction to Love Yoga. And Intro to Yoga in general. And a demonstration of the basic poses and breathing practices.

You can come simply listen and observe? Or you can try a few of the poses. Whatever you’re most comfortable with.

We usually have a thank you gift as a token of our appreciation for showing up and checking out the studio.

And we always offer a great deal for signing up while you’re in the studio.

It can’t hurt… it doesn’t hurt. It’s not complicated or twisty or weird.

We intentionally make it as simple and easy as possible for anyone and everyone to give it a try.

So you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Please feel free to send any questions or simply message us to reserve your spot.

love@loveyogastudios.com

: )

Suzanne

Welllll…. since you asked. And you DID ask.

Someone out there according to Google is looking for Yoga that is more science than woo.

That’s my kind of yoga.  The neuroscience of Flow. 💚😊

It’s the kind I always searched for too.

I wanted the wisdom without the weirdness.

But I still ended up in weird trainings where we had to partner with strangers in awkward poses and share stories about how we wish we could save the world.

🥴

In my 20 years of training I have landed in some awkward, woo woo and downright weird situations.

I wanted to learn about the Vagus nerve, the brain, the breath, the body and the balance poses.

And then I found Leslie Kaminoff, Mark Stephens, Paul Terrell and Jason Crandell.

Teachers who got to the point, showed us what works and why.

Then my sciency practice finally got it’s due when Andrew Huberman came along to break down all the neuroscience of meditation, breathing, relaxation and more. My dream world!

Yoga is getting even more scientific ‘funding’ these days. Much to my great satsifaction.

That said……  ummmm….

Wait for it……

I AM a little woo.

Not totally WOO WOO. Just a little woo.

• I learned early on to set intentions and listen to my heart from Seane Corn in her Spirit Speak retreat.
• I’ve channeled energy, aligned chakras and studied reiki with Marie Manuchehri.
• And the subtle energy written about in ancient texts has been modernized and simplified by Abraham Hicks.

So I get it.

Energy is real. This world is a projection. The mind is the key.

Whatever you believe, however you live, it never hurts to move your body, quiet your mind and listen to your heart.

Maybe you tell yourself you do it for the bone density.

But when that magical thought occurs to you in savasana, I bet it’s hard not to wonder where it came from? 🪄

Much Love and Wonder,

💚

Suzanne

Hot Yoga? Not Yoga? Cool Yoga? Pool Yoga? Goats? Beer? Puppies, Oh my!

You have a LOT Of options out there today!

Why we don’t teach Hot Yoga anymore.

Hot yoga CAN be ‘yoga’… if it’s taught that way.

Most hot yoga I’ve come across in my 30+ years experience, has been primarily focused on the workout, the sweat, the effort, the strain. “Stay in it! The heat is your challenge! When you want to come out of a pose… is when your yoga really starts”.  What?

Yoga was never intended to be just a sweaty exercise.

Yoga (union) is a state of mind… with real physical benefits.

The union… is joining the mind and body. ‘AND’ being the key word here.

I’ve seen too many people jump into a hot yoga class with very little preparation, experience and certainly not a lot of awareness. The goal? Weightloss, endurance, socials.

I’ve also seen too many people on the verge of passing out, nervous systems fried, overheated and bordering exhaustion.

So I chose not to perpetuate the practice in that way.

This is why we don’t teach hot yoga… but MORE IMPORTANTLY why we teach STRONG YOGA. Mentally AAAAND Physically.

If you’re paying attention in a yoga class… with a teacher who teaches this… you’ll come to learn your personal threshhold for any of the poses, the breathwork and the meditation. In otherwords… what works BEST for YOU. Sounds selfish, I know.

But the practice of yoga is the study of YOU. Gaining awareness about you and your self. Your mind and body.

You decide. You choose. Every single time.

You learn how to make the practice more challenging or more relaxing depending on your state of mind and body at the time.

Do I need more plank today? Or more savasana? Maybe I need some twists?

If you’re paying attention and given the option… it’s very easy to make the practice your own… whether it’s hot, cold, fast, slow, weird… or not.

The bottom line is… yoga is a system of health and wellness that you can use ofr your benefit.  And a good yoga teacher will show you how to do that no matter where you are, no matter what room, what class and no matter what it says on their sign.

A GREAT teacher will demonstrate by example.

Stay calm, strong and balanced… whenever possible.

💚

Suzanne

“This was the most alive I had felt in years……”

FLOW is the subtle solution to so many challenges in life. I know because I’ve experienced it as such over and over again.

I’d like to promote FLOW so you can decide for yourself… what it is, why it matterss and how to find it for yourself faster than the years it took me to find mine.

You may have heard of Flow States  when referring to such activities as skydiving, a championship game, a concert pianist.

An extreme state of mind that allows for precision performance.

But FLOW is not just for professionals.

It’s actually a state of being every Brain can access.

A state in which your inner critic is quiet, your courage expands, your having fun and operating on what feels like autopilot.

It’s the subtle art of letting go, diving in and floating amidst the larger essence of LIFE! That’s pretty big, right?

So why aren’t more people talking about this? Why aren’t more people creating more FLOW in their lives?

I believe it’s because most think it’s TOO simple, TOO subtle and TOO vague to be taken seriously.

But I take it very seriously… so much so that I’ve made a life out of Finding Flow… every chance I get.

WHAT EXACTLY IS FLOW?

It’s that state of mind where everything just clicks. Time flies, you’re lost in your own little world and you feel like you’re, ‘in the zone’, ‘in your groove’, ‘on fire’, ‘in the flow’, etc.

Your brain releases a ‘chemical cocktail’ that gives you focus, creativity, courage, motivation and satisfaction’.

You are totally engaged in an activity that takes a little effort, a lot of focus and some level of fun. For you.

And that FUN part is what makes FLOW something different for everyone.

For me, it’s YOGA. Getting lost in the practice to the point that I wasn’t thinking of anything else. Time flies and before I know it I’m floating in Savasana.

For me… it started when I was younger with reading. I could disappear for hours into a good book. Then it was writing, then driving and rollerblading, then yoga, then meditation, then breathwork and more.

YOU may have experienced a state of flow while gardening, fishing, skiing, swimming, playing piano, drumming, working, running, painting, singing, dancing….  you get the drift?

Now you might be thinking… yeah that’s great but we can’t be in FLOW ALL THE TIME.

I agree.

But I don’t want to live a life where I’m never in FLOW either.

Focusing on creating Flow increases my chances of floating downstream more often.  So, I make an effort to do the things that create FLOW for myself.

The ways in which I find it most often these days is walking the dogs, practicing yoga, teaching yoga, learning Qi Gong, writing emails, playing pickleball and meditation.

It took me YEARS to Find my own Flow. I knew snowboarders, golfers, knitters, painters, hikers… who all had ‘their thing’.

I tried them all… but it wasn’t until I landed in a yoga class that I discovered that bouyant feeling for myself. I was high on Flow. My vision seemed sharper, colors seemed brighter, my food tasted better, my energy was next level.

THIS was more alive than I had felt in years. THIS is what I want to feel more often. THIS is what I hope everyone finds for themselves.

So if you haven’t yet found your flow… might I suggest a yoga class, a brisk 45 minute walk, a 30 minute silent drive, a guided meditation, or a dog. These are the quickest, most accessible ways I’ve found if you’re just starting your search… short of skydiving, water skiing or glass blowing. All of which ignite a state of flow almost immediately.

And when you do Find your Flow…. please share it. Someone else may still be searching for theirs.

: )

Suzanne

Summer Studio Updates: 

We’ve got Fun New Flows, new teachers and more sounds happening all month long!

First, we’re welcoming new teachers Payton Hermsen and Anita Earl! They are not new to yoga, just new to teaching. So you’ll have fun experiencing new voices, new styles and new flows.

Payton is teaching the Sunday Morning class. If you have a pass, use that. If you don’t have one, no worries and no pressure… it’s just a $10 drop in on Sunday mornings. And you can pay online or in the studio.

Anita is bringing ‘old school’ yoga.  What does this mean? It’s a vibe. An essence. It means – like me – she’s been practicing since the 80’s/90’s so she’ll bring her old school experience which includes a steady, focused flow, a bit of a groovy feeling and finish with stillness.

Next, we’re bringing Chris Hood back with his Sound Healing Sessions – twice this month. Wednesday, July 17th & 24th @ 7pm.

For those that attended his first one, we are making a few adjustments plus we’ll have ear plugs available. That way you can still experience the powerful feeling of the music at your personal, audio comfort level.

Two More Fun Flows, Save the dates:

Flow with Aunnie at Ankeny Vineyard, Saturday, July 20th. 11am

Flow w/Suzanne @ Bamboo Valley, Saturday, July 27th 11am

I often think I have all the answers… just ask my son This is why I am SOOOOOO passionate about FLOW.

Because FLOW is a state of mind where everything falls into place almost effortlessly, which naturally resolves a lot of issues in body, mind and soul. (answers).

You know the feeling.

You’re on a roll, in the groove, you’re on fire, time flies, things just click, your energy is FLOWing, you’re completely immersed in whatever you’re doing to the point that nothing else matters.

Maybe you find flow playing pickleball, running, reading, drawing, gardening, skydiving, driving, playing piano, working, traveling, writing…. Yoga’ing.

You are present… in that moment. (which means you’re letting go of everything else).

It feels like everything is OK.

So, if you’re ever feeling stiff, stressed, stuck, sleepless or sick… I believe the answer… is FLOW.

Vinyasa Flow to be specific.
Our specialty here at Love.

A good Yoga Flow gets me out of my head and completely absorbed in what I am doing. At. That. Moment.

Once you access this FLOW state for yourself, you can tap into your own FLOW… anytime you want. Whether it’s yoga, walking, skiing, climbing or baking…

What’s your FLOW activity?

“Suzanne, Just Calm Down”…..    That actually is the worst thing my ex ever said to me.

He’s truly a gem… but that pissed me off every time.

If I had a nickel for every time someone said this to me in my 20s when I was struggling with anxiety…. I’d be wealthy enough to be living my dream, touring with Sting and writing songs about single mums.

In a way, they were right. But the harsh reality was that I didn’t know HOW to relax.

And they didn’t know HOW either.

I have since spent my entire adult life studying HOW to RELAX. And then how to help others RELAX. (I hope we’ve helped you).

I’ll tell you how, plain and simple: breathe slower, only through your nose. It will become your more natural state of being.

You will become calmer.

I have 100 other fun tips and techniques that support this.. because that’s how many I had to test to figure this out. (see a few below).

Simple? Yes. Easy? Not so much.

Simply because Life happens and we forget.

IT. TAKES. PRACTICE.

Being stressed raises excess cortisol and causes other reactions, which contribute to inflammation and illness.

So lowering them… aka calming down and relaxing…. decreases it.

This is why Doctors recommend Yoga. 

Because the combination of moving, breathing and being still… LOWERS STRESS, your reactions and their complications.

One of YOU recently told us you lowered your blood pressure while IN THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE by slowing down your breath.

Another told us that you lowered your cholesterol by 40 mg/dl.

Someone else told me they already sleep better after just a few weeks of practicing.

We know it works. (And we know some people who really need it. )

So, instead of suggesting they, ‘just calm down’… try the 4 helpful tips below to get them into a calmer state without them even realizing that you’re ‘yoga’ing them’. ‍♀️

FOUR TIPS FOR CALM:

1. Have them Look at something very far away and soften their gaze. (A soft focus is a direct signal to relax your nervous system. Like gazing at a sunset, a far away tree, the landscape, etc. The trick is to soften the gaze).

2. Don’t tell them to take a deep breath. Instead ask them to breathe OUT as slow and as long as they can. It will make the next inhale naturally deeper and easier. (Slower exhaling also relaxes your nevous system).

3. And if they’re not already in a frenzy, have them hold their breath for a few seconds at a time. Maybe you’ve heard of box breathing? Use any length: 3 seconds, 4 seconds, 5 seconds… whatever works best.  (Box breathing:  4 second inhale, 4 second hold, 4 second exhale, 4 second hold. Repeat twice).

If they are already in a frenzy, have them breathe into a paper bag. You can google that, it works.

4. Last one… if you’re trying to calm yourself down… or talk yourself through anything… Use your own name. Say… “Suzanne, Slow down your exhale”. Because research shows that your subconscious responds best when someone uses your name. And it will probably piss you off less coming from yourself.

This is a Work in Progress. Isn’t everything? Well, it’s better than just a pile of mats… but THIS is the Mat your Must See…. YOURS!

Because we’re revamping the mat room this weekend and I can’t wait to show off the new storage. Neater, cleaner, cooler, roomier, easier…. you’re gonna love it!  (Thanks John!)

I can sense that your enthusiasm for this isn’t quite as high as mine… but to me… everything about the studio is ALWAYS… a work in progress. The schedule, the events, the flow, the design, the vibe….

I love rearranging. I love change. I love freshening the place up! ‘Freshening’? … is that the right word? Refreshing?….

Anyway… this is just a quick warning shot… more change is coming and it’s ALL GOOD!

That’s why we practice, so we can embrace change, light up our brains without setting our nervous systems on fire and enjoy every step of the way.

So keep practicing consistently! You know that’s how it works best.

And btw, You not only contribute to your own wellbeing when you practice with Love… you are contributing to the well being of this entire community… by helping us provide free TEEN Yoga, sharing yoga at the schools, offering free passes to new yogis and creating a calm community that also loves to embrace change.

THANK YOU! FOR SHARING THE LOVE.

What’s coming this Summer? Outdoor Yoga, Qi Gong workshops, Summer Solstice Celebration, More Booch, More Gong sessions, New Mats for the new mat room and more!

Embracing change with Love,
: )
Suzanne