Smalltown Yoga is not physically a studio, but is a virtual/remote business where I offer weekly new yoga classes, can be hired for educational workshops, consultations, and custom routines. We are all always healing; my journey through physical and emotional trauma continues to drive my passion for customizing movement and lifestyle to the needs of groups and individuals that is the integration of my medical background and educational background. I help to empower us as babies, toddlers, grade school children, high school children, young adults, and adults.
Most of all, I have become confident in my abilities to transform practices and mindfulness exercises to fit the needs of an individual in the moment. Although mindful movement can seem absurd to some under certain conditions, it is the creative transformation of breath and flow to fit the needs of the injured, grieving, sick, or compromised body that actually allows us to retain our humanity.
As someone dedicated to mindful movement under any circumstances and non-judgmental as to what that looks like, I believe that it is imperative that mindful movement be woven into our educational systems through creative lesson planning workshops that cater to and fit the common core standards and guidelines of our state system. A goal of mine is to create workshops and lessons that are progressive in teaching methodology as they require active participation and movement, but that incorporate and teach a love for creativity, movement, innovation, experimentation, while infusing the knowledge for our students to be the transformative generation to tackle climate change, violence, racism, healthcare, and poverty.
I continue to try to update my blog with new and relevant information/reflections as well as add more resources and research to my other website that is focused more on education, yogaforourlives.org
Since I LOVE to teach (I would really prefer in person!), and I find it motivating in order to grow and sustain my own yoga practice, I also try to upload free zoom classes as well that generally are powerful vinyasa flows with clear linking of breath and movement. My belief and what has worked for my own mental wellbeing is that in any movement or activity that we are engaged in, awareness of breath, slowing down breathing, taking deeper breaths, and linking inhalations and exhalations to movement enhance mental and physical wellbeing and performance levels. The linkage or "breathe in motion," as I call it, increases the positive energy flow that results in stronger physical and mental stamina.
Though I know longer have my studio, I do teach yoga in educational communities as well as occasionally in other venues and I do look forward to hopefully being able to offer some yoga classes outdoors this summer!
