Category Archives: Uncategorized

September 2026: Back To School?

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MOON DAYS: NEW MOON= THURSDAY 9/10/2026 AND FULL MOON= SATURDAY 9/26/2026.

This month is a month of 5 TUESDAYS. That means at least three led Primary Series classes are on the calendar if we’re alternating weeks like usual, this month. So Tuesday the 1st, 15th, and 29th will be a teacher-led version of Primary Series. Tuesday the 8th and 22nd will be Mysore style, or a more self-guided practice session. If you’re wondering what that is, head over to the Mysore Page.

The three times that we’ll have a led class, I am going to focus on an aspect of Tristhana for each class. The 1st will be Breathing. The 15th will be about Bandha, and the 29th I will be covering Dristi.

What ARE these bolded terms and words? you ask. Tristhana is kind of a Sanskrit-y mashup word for what gives life to an Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice. Generally understood as BREATH/BANDHA/DRISTI, these are the three pillars or legs of your practicing of Yoga. BREATHing in a certain way during your practice time gives an energetic and mental benefit, which ties in with your movements and economy /manipulation of your subtle and physical energies. This would be BANDHA. Drawing your senses inward and concentrating on a visual point at the same time continues the stability and strength of your practice, body and mind. This is DRISTI. All three overlap with each other, and all three points of focus have a physical/gross component and an internal/subtle component.

Breath: you can’t do Yoga without it! Change your breathing, change your mental process.

Bandha: Movement doesn’t happen without the breath. Bandha directs and conserves energy when coordinated with your breathing. It adds another layer to concentration and stilling of the mind. Vinyasa fits in this category too, because it is a specific movement or sequence of movements and postures.

Dristi: often this can mean “follow your nose”-with your eyes. Nasagrai is one of the indispensable looking places in this practice. : ) But definitely not the only one!

And another thing……

Ashtanga Yoga Shala Minneapolis is hosting Sathu Jois for a September workshop weekend! This is not something of mine or at my usual studio, but if you have the option, it’s a great place to learn about Ashtanga Yoga if you’ve been wanting to. Information here!

December 2025

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Above is the lovely Shanti Mantra that many of you may have been present to sample and learn about on 11/11/2025. I chose this because not only is it for lasting Peace, it is a mantra protective of teachers, students and the relationships they have. An important idea, on the first anniversary of R Sharath Jois’ passing.

FULL MOON: THURSDAY 12/4/2025

NEW MOON: SATURDAY 12/20/2025

ASHTANGA PRIMARY SERIES LED CLASS DATE: TUESDAY 12/2/2025.

There are 5 Tuesdays in December this go-around, I’m going to be asking everyone how they might feel about a more structured schedule for December. I know the last couple of weeks of the month are deep in holiday time and perhaps I can focus in or back off to better work with this. How does everyone feel about another led class (or a half Primary) on Tuesday the 16th, or after? Regular practice is always a commitment but Primary Series is a wonderful anchor for the whirlwind of the holidays and closing of the year.

Mysore Style Tuesdays on the Horizon! September 2025

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First Tuesday of the month: September 2nd, 2025- Primary Series Led Class. Doors open at 5:45pm, and class officially starts at 6pm. This is the guided Ashtanga Yoga sequence most of you know and love, so not much different on this particular Tuesday. If you’re a regular attendee, good to see you! If you’re new to this class (and Ashtanga Yoga in general), welcome! We can chat a little before we get started to get you on the right foot, going forward.

Ashtanga Yoga Tuesdays thereafter: 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30- these will be a Mysore Style format- at a slightly different time. 5:45pm- 7:45pm. Be aware that you don’t have to start at 5:45pm sharp. Simply arrive as early as you can, likely you will have enough space in the 2 hour time slot to do what you are working on in your asana practice. What if you don’t want to do everything you know? Not a problem, either- this practice is about what’s right for you, in the present moment on the mat. Sometimes “less is more”.

Last Tip: take some time to read up on what I’m offering on the classes page and there’s more on Mysore Style Ashtanga Yoga on its own page.

See you on the mat!

AUGUST 2025

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We made it! Anyone feeling a little boiled and smoked? I know I do! Also, next Tuesday 8/5 is National Night Out. Get to know your neighbors if you can! Chances are you’ll know if anyone on your block or nearby is hosting something that night. Parking and residential driving might be interesting on this night so be aware. 🌟 Below are some photos from my Ann Arbor trip.

Downtown Ann Arbor wildlife and a view of Pickerel Lake.
Dolly was very happy to see me home- practicing again. ❤️

Moon Days this month:

Saturday 8/9- full moon

Saturday 8/23- new moon

December 2024

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New Moon: 11/30 or 12/1 take your pick 💜 then there’s 12/30

Full Moon : Sunday or Monday 12/15 or 12/16

No Tuesday 6pm class on 12/24 or 12/31 at Nokomis Yoga. Be merry! It’s been a long year. Rumor has it there might be a kirtan on the 31st. Stay tuned!

I will also be subbing at One Yoga again, for the Mysore program on Sunday 12/15 and Monday 12/16.

Holiday Bummers: it’s official, I will not be returning to Mysuru in February 2025- much as I had been looking forward to making this trip more of a regular thing in my life. Sharath Yoga Centre will be open December to March but there will be no Sharath to preside or confer with. I’ll have to wait and see what develops in the new year. (I’ll be honest, I’m a little afraid of 2025 at this point. )

I will continue on, and teach what I know. 💜

November 2024

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Flexing at work a week or so back.😜

New Moon(s!) – November 1, November 30th

Full moon- November 15th

NEWS: Election Day 2024 is nigh. Also a Tuesday. Many of you may have early voted. I am going to be present at the studio for our regular class time, but I decided to switch the format to Mysore Style, or self directed practice. See previous posts/class offerings page for more information on this topic. I felt that this would be a good opportunity for you to decide to come to class and do what felt best, not to worry about trying to feel present /performative when so much is going on this week. You don’t have to make practice an all or nothing deal- come over and move and breathe ! You will find your way. 😄

September 17th 2024-

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Hello, Folks! Some updates and reminders! Tonight’s class will feature some free jazz talk about DRISTI. 🙄 The eyes have it. Or, Follow Your Nose. Part of Tristhana- and really the cherry on top of what we do in regular practice. It sounds crazy but keeping your general gaze close to your nose can be a very creative and grounding experience in practice. Talk about rabbit hole! 🐇

Next week (9/24/2024)we will explore Mysore Style/ Self Directed Practice from 6m till 7:30. There’s some info about this on my previous blog post, same on the Class Offerings Page! Don’t worry about fitting in and nailing every posture in the Primary Series sequence . Mysore practice (as it can be called) is a great opportunity to play, learn and practice Yoga regularly. It may feel weird to be moving around not in sync with everyone else or even not hearing the teacher talking as you practice, but here’s where you can experience community and spend time learning about yourself!

Anyway, if you’re interested, great! If not, no big deal. Guided class will be back on the first Tuesday of October. 😜 10/1/2024.

Here’s a photo of Ashtanga Yoga Luxembourg in a Mysore Style practice situation. Thanks, internet!

September Song

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Ok, Folks, we’re in the Spooky Season. : ) Enjoy the fall of summer and (I’m hopeful) cooler temperatures. Things may get spicy but of a sweeter, not fiery quality.

New Moon: Monday 9/2/2024

Full Moon: Tuesday 9/17/2024

NEWS:

This month I will be trying something new! There’s been interest in some self-directed practice(AKA Mysore Style)from some of you, and I’d like to investigate the experience with you all! This month (September 2024) I will be holding a Mysore Style class time on the last Tuesday of the month- 9/24. It will be the same start and end time, and the biggest difference will be not talking everyone through the Primary Series sequence as usual. This opens up the practice time to work on your own but also at your own pace, with the support of a teacher. Try it, you might like it! Don’t worry, I can provide reminders and answer any questions that may come up prior to the day.

Extra Credit: Another idea ready to be implemented is some field trip time! If any of you are interested in going to other practices/classes with me, I’m looking to do some practicing in public this fall. : ) I get alternate Fridays off from work and then there’s weekends, if you have the energy. Let me know!

January 2023!

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Some things to mention before I forget!

February is coming up fast. The moon days for February this year are Sundays.

FULL MOON: Sunday 2/5/2023

NEW MOON : Sunday 2/19/2023

I am not teaching at the Yoga Center anymore, but this year is the 10 year anniversary of my Yoga Study 500 hours completed there. In 2013 I also began an Ashtanga practice after taking a weeklong Primary Series immersion with David Swenson there. He is returning this spring for a weekend! Check out the workshop offerings at the Yoga Center Https://theyogacenterretreat.com/workshops/retreat site for the weekend of 4/21/2023 to 4/23/2023. I may check out the arm balance/float offering, as I am still figuring a lot of these things out nowadays.

Another thing worth mentioning in the short term is tacos! Yes, tacos. It’s becoming a very new tradition to go get some tacos with John and Hiromi from the Tuesday Ashtanga class afterwards. No pressure! It’s just a nice way to spice up the winter nights after class if you’re so inclined. : ) Do inquire if you’re interested.

A couple of weeks ago I introduced an alternative vinyasa for anyone curious about keeping with their Tristhana when their upper body might be trying too hard to keep up.(shoulder/wrist/etc pains or problems). While it’s not a cure-all, once you get the rhythm of it you may find it helpful when attempting to take care of any issues with the upper body for a while. I tried this out during a primary series led class, after a very taxing weekend. I could keep up with the vinyasa count and my shoulders didn’t get sore.❤️

Here’s the YouTube link that I found and worked with. Enjoy!