Last weekend I was practicing with an upturned chair under the dogwood tree when I had an interesting yoga experience.

It was nothing magical, and perhaps just a series of coincidences that my human brain registered as a pattern. But I had a poignant insight about myself in the midst of trying to get my shoulder to roll back and my pec and anterior deltoid (front shoulder) to lengthen.

In yoga we call this kind of shoulder-rolling-chest-stretching “heart opening”. It’s a flowery way to talk about moving the body into a backbend-like shape. It’s also metaphorically tied to the idea of opening to feelings, love, compassion, and vulnerability. You know, heart stuff.  

Anyway, at the time of my “heart opening” I had no intention of opening my heart emotionally (although it has been something that’s been on my mind recently, so maybe I had primed myself for the poignant insight.) I was sincerely just trying to get a stretch in a part of my body that felt sore and tight.

We did a lot of planking and shoulder strengthening in class last Tuesday, and I needed to stretch my sore muscles out. But badabing badaboom, I unfurled into a revolved triangle pose and this sad but deeply healing personal insight materialized in my mind. Like a dream-scene taking shape on screen, the thought twinkled into existence. So I got my journal and wrote it down. I’ll go back to it soon and use it as a prompt for a journal entry. The practice/the process, right?  

I feel a little um…self-focused in writing these newsletters as of late. My hope is that by telling you more about my practice I can inspire you to keep going in your own. It’s also a way of bringing you into the theme of the week. It’s always nice to have some company in contemplation and practice. Thanks for being my crew! 

With that all said, let’s open those shoulders and maybe even hearts this week. The anatomical direction we’ll head in is the opposite of slumped shoulders, so we could also call this “posture week” and not be lying. It’s a three-for-one. Practice is productive like that.  

Oh! Super exciting news: We have a guest teacher guiding a brain-based wellness class in place of Yin Yoga this Wednesday.

Instead of Yin, Elisabeth Kristof will take us through a brain-based approach to develop core strength, hip mobility and greater well-being.

I love what Elisabeth brings as a teacher so I hope you’ll join to experience it for yourself. More details about Elisabeth and what to expect on Wednesday are below. Invite your friends!

Meet Elisabeth

Elisabeth is an expert in using applied neurology, somatics, and subconscious reprogramming to move people out of pain, unwanted behavior and stress response. She is the founder of Brain-Based Wellness, a revolutionary online platform that trains the nervous system and body to resolve old patterns, improve performance and increase well-being. Elisabeth is a certified applied neurology practitioner who has been in the fitness and movement industry since 2007. She works with entrepreneurs, athletes, leaders and creatives to improve resilience, manage stress and regulate emotions through intentional, science-based brain training. Her research and work with hundreds of clients taught her that healing and change must occur in both the body and the mind, that each body, mind, and nervous system is unique, and most importantly, that with the right tools, we are all capable of healing.