Category: From the Blog

I’m probably gonna tear up a lil’ bit as I write this one.

Because this guy right here…. Is 1000% why I opened a yoga studio. And if you read the whole thing, you’ll understand just exactly how this relates to your practice today.

Entrepreneurship is in my genes for sure. Great Grandpa, Grandma and Dad all worked for themselves. I vividly remember sitting in my Grandma’s Uniform shop (for nurses) wanting to ‘run things’, count back change and greet customers with my witty charm. She also had a sweet crib in the back with her stocked fridge and tiny black and white tv to watch ’The Young and the Restless’.

But HE  – Zack – is WHY it happened when it did.

Zack had an elementary school assignment to interview his parents and write about who they were and what they did. He couldn’t explain where I worked because in his short life I had changed jobs a lot. All office jobs. All one step up, better than the last. I was searching for the perfect job that would allow me to make a decent wage, be there for him and not bore me to death.

So I gained a lot of experience during those times and I never missed any of his games. I even coached his soccer and basketball teams at one point.  But when he couldn’t describe what I did… that bothered me. He said I worked in an office somewhere.

True. I worked in a mill office, then the hospital foundation, then in sales for an employment agency, then in advertising at the Democrat Herald. I worked in the mortgage industry. (in 2008! I know, I know). And then after a short stint with my Dad’s insurance company, I went back to the hospital for my dream job at the wellness center.  My resume definitely seemed a little shaky until a wise person looked at it and said… ‘looks to me like you have the makings of an entrepreneur’! OMG my heart swelled!

But let’s back up a few years… to when Zack was born. I was 24 and smack dab in the middle of a decade of anxiety.
Random anxiety attacks kept me from fully living… even after he was born. (anxiety relief training below)

My biggest fear was that I would pass that on to him. I didn’t want to be an anxious mom. So I popped my VHS Rodney Yee Yoga tape in and started practicing yoga in my living room. For the next few years, I dabbled, I dallied and then I discovered it’s secrets! I studied it all, the breathing, the chakras, the sutras and the 8 limbs. This was my jam.

And then I began to dream.

I started dreaming of becoming a yoga teacher and my wildest dream was to open a studio… because then…. I would be doing something healthy, positive, kind and easy for my son to describe.

But deep down…

I really wanted to be someone he would be proud of. 

The first time I heard him tell someone… my Mom owns a yoga studio… that was it for me. I could die happy. ; )

But now… oohhhhhh how the tables have turned.

I mean I definitely think he’s proud of me.

But right now, I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of him.

You see, a year ago he told me that he wanted to be a Tattoo Artist. (Every parent’s dream, right?). 

I think I did a great job of not outwardly cringing while expressing my genuine support.
I knew he’d be great and I knew I would support him… I just worried about all that ink in his veins. (You know I like healthy things!).

He’d already finished college, created his own art show and had other jobs in the food industry, concrete, counter tops, ride sharing, t-shirt printing and maybe a few others? And then….

He had a dream. He chased it. He’s living it. He’s loving it.

He inspires me every day…with his unbridled enthusiasm for learning his craft, meeting new people and hearing their heartfelt stories while he literally paints their emotions on their sleeves.

(He also offers them breathing techniques and understands the power of a meaningful mantra. I mean, he is my kid. ; )

What’s all this got to do with you, your practice or the studio?

Well first of all it’s why we’re even here.

Yoga was my path to courage.  Zack was the catalyst. 

The courage to open a yoga studio… (in 10 days, in a fairly conservative area, during a recession, in the grass seed capital of the world… with no savings, no formal business training and no backup plan).

Yoga taught me that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

Yoga teaches us to calm the chaos and confusion in our minds and align our energy with our hearts. This is where you’ll feel your true path… even if it doesn’t seem immediately accessible.

It took me FIFTEEN YEARS to realize my dream.

It took Zack ONE.

I’d like to say that I taught him well, that he’s a quick study.

But in reality… it’s quite likely that… his soul is simply older than mine.

Back in the day… Being a Yoga teacher sounded like a chanting acid trip into the forest. And being a Tattoo Artist had an underground grunge band or street gang feel.

But now it’s where artistic expression meets social marketing meets human connection.

We both want to make a positive contribution in the world.

We want to be free to do creative work, express ourselves and have fun doing it.

That’s alignment.  That’s Yoga.

Practice… and all is coming. (K. Pattabhi Jois)

Thank you for being part of our dreams….

Much Love, 

: )

Suzanne 

ps. oh I haven’t gotten MY tattoo yet. I’m getting a few actually… something my Dad wrote… something my Mom wants and something else for me.
Don’t worry… none on my face! ; ). You’ll be the first to see them.

You can find him and his work HERE 

He suggested I add a disclaimer that occasionally his designs are NSFW 😂😉

It was 2 AM! I woke up out of a dead sleep…  I couldn’t catch my breath. My fingers were going numb, my heart was pounding, my neck hurt, my throat felt thick, something was terribly wrong. I didn’t know if I was going to pass out or have a heart attack. I was immediately pissed… because this wasn’t the first time I’d had an anxiety attack. But it was the first time it had woken me up out of a perfectly good night sleep!

Why would I wake up just to pass out?  At this point though, I was 22 years old and I had been through this enough times to at least know what was happening. At this point, I could either call someone or get up and start doing jumping jacks. (Yes, that actually helped at times).

On multiple previous occasions I had ended up in ER and had every possible test. Blood work, EKG, heart monitor, etc… all signs pointed to… PANIC.

That can’t be right. I’m 22. I’m smart. I’m healthy. I can talk myself out of this. I’m not even panicking… WTF.  And then it happened again…. and again… and again. I spent the next 9 years worried, afraid and determined to figure it out.

I. Tried. Everything. Herbal remedies, exercises, medication, meditation, dietary changes and more. I had to dig deep…. and finally go to counseling. They told me this was something I’d have to manage the rest of my life…. again… WTF?

They were wrong. 100%.
(In their defense, a lot has changed in the past few decades)

I’m not saying yoga fixed everything but it definitely led me to everything else that did. (yoga is not required in this course)

It’s now been over 23 years – completely free of anxiety attacks. Nada, zero, nil, none, nothing. Even through I went through childbirth, heartbreaks, job changes, empty nesting, moving, losing my Dad, almost losing the business and surviving 2020, to name a few of the hardest parts.

It seems to me that if I had a mental disorder or a life long affliction, those things would have put me over the edge, right? Nope.

I have never been more sure than I am today that anxiety is sadly misunderstood. And because of this, many people are led to believe that they have a chronic mental disorder. And in many cases… that’s simply not true.

It could be a broken breathing pattern, a faulty focus filter or a severe lack of flow…. or all three!

So I created a short, powerful training course to highlight these possibilities, the evidence behind them and the ways in which they have worked for myself and many, many others. 

It’s designed to eliminate anxiety but it’s also a powerful way to reduce any levels of stress and balance energy.

So if you or someone you know….

Or if you want a better understanding….

You can read more about it here… Anxiety Relief Training

: )

Suzanne

ps. if you attended one of the live workshops in the past, this is SO much more than a refresher… the link above explains what all is included in the course. Including the daily tips, course workbook and a monthly planner.

“Richard Rohr has written that if we have no notion of a higher power as we age, if we fail to believe that something benevolent is looking out for us, we become control freaks. We have no trust in the unfolding narrative”.

Admittedly, There are days when this feels like the only option… to control it all and figure everything out. But deep down, a wiser part of me knows the truth.

This is what usually brings us to the practice of yoga… searching for a way to TRUST in the UNFOLDING. To feel a sense of peace in a world of uncertainty. And you might have thought you were pretty good at that… a couple years ago. But what about now? How’s that uncertainty feeling?

One thing my search has showed me for CERTAIN is that…

Yoga literally CHANGES lives for the Better.   Ask Anyone.

And imagine for a moment how it would feel if YOU got to be the person that created space for that change.  A ‘Guide’ of sorts. And in the process… you created even more transformation for yourself?

Picture this.
People discovering how strong they truly are:

• Going from being super stiff to easing into pigeons and twists.
• Transforming stress and tension (aches & pains) into deeply relaxed states at a cellular level.
• Breathing to shift their perspective and soothe their nervous system.
• Learning to Trust themselves with whatever comes their way. Gaining inner clarity.
• And last but not least, connecting with each other.

It’s an incredible journey of self discovery as you realize these things about yourself.  It’s simply another level to create space for others.

PLUS! The medical/science research is bringing more evidence to light every single day about the massive benefits of yoga, meditation, breathwork and relaxation
(Later this month, I’ll be attending the Brain/Body Contract workshop with Dr. Andrew Huberman to bring even more evidence back to the mats!)

This is a HUGE step toward healing and strengthening not just ourselves… but the planet!

Would you like to Be part of that change?

Becoming a Yoga teacher/guide is now easier than ever!

Thanks to the advancement of online learning, our training schedule has evolved to a more practical and relevant schedule which now includes an online introductory session so you can explore the beginnings on your own, at your own pace in the comfort of your own home. 

This introductory session will deepen your own personal practice while at the same time giving you a look at the training process. Then you’ll have the option to continue on your yoga journey to becoming a teacher. Or you can simply apply what you learn in your own practice… and life.

So if you’re considering making this your project for 2022 or 2023, get started with our Online Workshops. Training Immersion to continue in the Fall.

You can attend live and ask questions, or play the recording at your convenience.
Message Me with any questions or to be added to our Training Updates – no obligation – just more detailed info.
Love@Loveyogastudios.com

Much Love,

; )
Suzanne

It was June 9th, 2017 and we had all just arrived in the South of France for the French Yoga Tour after an entire day of travel. (pics below) We were excited and exhausted. Thankfully our first stop that evening would be the spa!

4 hours later we were all ….. naked. Together. Yup. We walked in and they handed us each a 14″ square towel and threw us into the showers.
(Nothin awkward about that, right???)

Now this might be a casual experience for a seasoned European traveler.

But that wasn’t me. So to say I was mortified was an understatement. Everyone else was a little surprised but not mortified. I was definitely the least well traveled in the group.

This also wasn’t my typical spa experience… there was aggressive scrubbing, too much heat, tiny towels, a strange tea. I was a little out of my element and definitely struggling to ‘go with the flow’.

We all survived. Obviously.  And the rest of the trip was full of incredible delight and awe. The food, the caves, the music, the food… did I mention the food?  Oh and the wine. Plenty of wine.

Hawaii, however, was a much simpler trip. There were sandy beaches, lush forests, our own private pool, a luau, of course… and the food… did I mention the food? Their kombucha was also amazing. We had some interesting challenges there as well with someone getting stitches, someone frantically paddleboarding in the ocean (me?) and practicing yoga in a swarm of flies on the beach.

Travel is… well… fascinating. Isn’t that why we do it?

These are what retreats are made for.
Exploration, adventure, yoga, relaxation… and food.

But we can have all of that right here in our own space too!
If we get our minds to cooperate ; )

That’s why we constantly strive to create the best possible environment in the studio. The most relaxing, dedicated space for connection, exploration, imagination, reflection and transformation… a space we can’t always get in our homes with our people, our projects and our pets. 

It’s a ‘stretch’ to call it paradise, I know. (see what I did there?)

But it’s intended to be an example. An example of how we might bring all those aspects into our lives more often on a daily basis. A few moments of calm reflection here. A challenging adventure there. Using our intuition and following our hearts.

A Yoga Teacher’s primary aim is to create the space for the practice and to encourage you with timely suggestions to use that space to explore what works best for you. So that you create a practice you love and enjoy.

A great yoga teacher does all that…. with LOVE.

We always hope that we do this.
We always hope that you enjoy it.

But most of all…
We always hope that it makes your life  calmer, stronger, clearer and more enjoyable.

If it does, we’d be honored if you’d let us know. Everytime you share your experience with us, it helps us improve the experience for everyone.

Your experience here matters.

Thank you for being part of Love.

: )

Suzanne

P.S.
NEXT LOVESTRONG HIKE IS APRIL 17TH 9;30AM
TO LEWISBURG SADDLE.

Or was it? It may not have been what you ate.
And it likely wasn’t whatever you just ‘did’ either.

I mean, 6 tacos, 3 beers and a cupcake after running a marathon?
Yes, then probably it was.

But having random back pain, heartburn, joint pain, headache for no reason?

According to MANY researchers… pain is a distractor from unresolved emotional conflict. 

It helps us keep those painful feelings at bay by distracting us with physical pain. Pretty smart, eh?

Unresolved emotional conflict being:

• That conversation we don’t want to have.
• That sadness we don’t want to feel.
• The anxiety or anger we have toward something.
• That frustration we can’t express without hurting someone’s feelings.
• That flash of anger that causes one to jump out of their seat and slap someone in the face.

We all have moments of conflicted feelings because we’re human.

John Sarno writes, ‘How typical of the human mind. It appears to be a storehouse of often conflicting feelings and tendencies, most of which we are totally unaware of’. 

So even if we don’t think we ever have those conflicting moments… he says we do, we’re just not aware of it.

He wrote the book ‘Healing Back Pain’ and I cannot put it down. And I had to share it.

Because his research dives into the mind body connection we all know and Love over here.

I won’t spoil the ending for you because he’s discovered that much of the success of his readers… comes from simply reading the book and understanding the process. I was skeptical about that too… which is why i’m reading it. (No, I don’t have back pain. I have in the past, so I understand it).

But I will say that Movement, Breathing and Focus, play key parts in ANY type of healing. (Yet, how typical of the human mind to discount something so simple. If it’s not hard, it must not be worth it??).

Lucky for us we have a great place to practice all of those things and more!

Other books I couldn’t put down:
Breath by James Nestor
The Relaxation Response, Herbert Benson
Buddha Brain, Rick Hansen
Lucky Dog, Brandon McMillen – Dog training : )

Everything I read makes it into our classes in one way or another… yes even the dog training practices… they’re hilariously similar… move, focus, be patient, snacks! LOL.

Thanks for reading, see you on the mats!

: )

Suzanne

That’s Amy ^^

I hijacked her class this morning.

Actually, I subbed for her this morning. (more on that from her later).

I spent the first part of class talking about the reality of a true, traditional yoga practice.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot. It wasn’t a whim.

It’s just that the events of the weekend compelled me to do something different today.

Now I’m all for evolution and change. But this ancient practice of yoga and particularly the 8 limbs was part of a briliant system designed for total health and wellness.

And it’s still incredibly relevant today… because our nervous systems haven’t changed all that much.

(Well except for the onslaught of stress, medications and social pressures). 

The 8 limbs include the Yamas, the Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyhara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

We don’t always talk about all of them in class.  But you’re practicing them.

All of them.

Mindset, breathing, energy work, meditation and relaxation to name a few.

Plank is great tool for strengthening our arms.

Twists are a great tool creating space in our bodies.

Pranayama is a great tool for calming our nerves.

Dhyana/meditation is a great tool for focusing our minds.

I just really don’t want the last 12 years of my teaching to boil down to only plank.

I hope with all my heart… that your yoga practice gives you the strength you need when you need it, the calm you want when you want it and the clarity/focus to choose.

And if plank does that for you… great.

But if you’d like more. We’re here for you.

Thanks for reading, (and thanks for not leaving class this morning… I needed to get that out! ; )

Suzanne

Like ‘look yourself in the mirror, high five’ kind of proud?

Are you strong enough to Live a life you love?

Physically… and mentally?

I want to be proud of what I do and feel strong enough to get through challenges and keep moving forward with enthusiasm. And I do, most of the time. And part of the reason I do is by connecting with others who share their experiences.

That’s why we’re launching a new Fresh Start challenge, Our annual Soul Compass workshop and Yoga Teacher Training… all next week! Because we want to start off 2022 strong and do things we’re proud of all year long!

Accomplishments, both small and wild, tick off boxes in our brains that make us proud. Then our brains reward us with good vibes. ‘Spirits lifted, energy flowing, heart swelling’ kind of vibes.

Furthermore, science shows that If I share MY story of my proudest moments…YOUR heart will feel that and it will tick off some boxes in your brain too. And if YOU share your stories with ME, you’ll be using science to lift my spirits and raise your own at the same time.

So it makes sense to DO THINGS we’re proud of, ENCOURAGE each other and share our GOOD ENERGY with everyone!

So let’s share stories… I’ll go first.
Here’s the Reader’s Digest version of my top three:

1. Single mom loses job, opens studio 9 days later. You know that’s how Love Yoga began, right? I went to yoga training and the boss didn’t like that so she let me go the day I got back. Rude. She told all my co workers that I abandoned them with no notice which was absolutely not true. But that day… instead of wallowing in the unfairness of life, my Mom told me to ‘go find a space’. And with $5k we started Love Yoga just 9 days later. I had no plan, a huge dream and zero savings. I just had to #keepgoing.

2. Suzanne overcomes fear of flying to hike the Grand Canyon and fall in love. It didn’t work out with him, but it was fun while it lasted! I hiked my ass off, saw more stars than I knew existed and slept in a tent for 5 days! (those who know me know that’s unbelievable… but true!). It made me stronger… and proud.

3. Yoga Studio survives 2020 with LOVE, humor, enthusiasm and the best ever teachers and clients! (Well, y’all lived that story with me).

And I would be remiss not to mention my most precious accomplishment ever of raising the perfect son… but if I start writing about Zack, this will be a novel, not an email. Suffice it to say… I did a damn good job : )

So now, I’m challenging you… to join me in 2022 and set the bar a little higher for making ourselves stronger, healthy and proud. And there has never before in my time been a better year for this!

Jan. 1st. The FRESH START Challenge is a simple personal challenge to Move, Hydrate and Meditate. That’s it. Three things. The postcard is a snapshot of the month of January and all you have to do is participate at your own level and drop the card off by the 30th to be in the drawing! That’s it! FREE!  (And if you have a yoga pass, you get the movement and meditation in every class!). Bring a water and you’re all set!

Jan 3rd. The Soul Compass workshop will help us tap in to our intuition to identify the things that expand our soul! Things that makes us feel good, strong, and heart swelling happy…. and how to not let those things fall through the cracks throughout the year. $35/$25 for members. Sign up on the workshop tab above.

Jan 8/9. Our new Yoga Teacher Training Retreat is a chance for you to get a weekend for yourself and a sneak peak into what training is like by attending just the first weekend. Learn the basic foundations and enjoy a weekend of breathing, flow and meditation while improving your own personal practice and connecting with others. If that sparks your interest in the rest of the training, great. If not, no pressure. Just enjoy, either way! $287 for the entire weekend. (It will also count toward a future training if you decide later to dive deeper). Message me to sign up.

Plus a $250 Giveaway!

But First… the Solstice Celebration is already almost sold out!
So all I’m gonna say here is that it’s Tuesday, 12/21 @5:30pm.
You must register, so get signed up now.
There are no drop in spots are available.

Okay, so Why the Giveaway?

Because every couple years, I have to test our email platform.

Which is why I included the words bad news and condom in the subject line. (of the email, not this post).

I had to.

THIS is why I’m giving away $250 in gifts… to make up for the email trickery.

There’s no bad news… unless you’re disappointed that this isn’t going to be about condoms.

Listen, if you know me, you know I try to never waste time. Yours or mine.
Our classes are timely, our emails are rare and I respond to most questions within 24 hours.
But if you’re not getting these emails than it’s pointless.

So every now and then I have to test it.

Three years ago I wrote an email that actually was about condoms. I used a condom and guacamole analogy… our open rate TRIPLED!
🤷‍♀️(Hey, YOU opened it!) 😂

So, if you happened to miss our latest emails about the Teacher Training Special, Or the new Warm Power class? The Winter Solstice Celebration or the Recharge Retreat… then you might want to check your Promo folder, or your email options in Walla.

And JUST FOR OPENING THIS EMAIL... and for allowing me this brief analysis, you’re all entered into the Solstice Celebration drawing! ($250 worth of massage and local biz gift certificates).

** You can also white list our address (love@loveyogastudios.com) so our emails don’t get pushed to your Promo folder or spam. Let me know if I can help?

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