Yoga has been a part of my life for the past 8 years. I started when my hands and arms were in pain from creating jewelry. There was an imbalance in my life and my body was giving me messages to get my attention. I tried acupuncture, conventional doctors and massage, which were all helpful to some degree. But the modality that helped the most was a committed yoga practice.
I fully committed to my yoga practice in 2016 when I signed up for yoga teacher training. I told myself I did not want to teach yoga. I only wanted to know what my teachers knew. Little did I anticipate the potential transformation available through the experience. The initial training was a journey deep into the self, an exploration of the personal psyche. Upon completion, I immediately enrolled in the advanced teacher training where my instructor encouraged us to create our own “flavor” of yoga. Of course, I chose to incorporate stones and crystals. These had been my guides and allies thus far in my life as a jewelry artist. I was curious to discover what else they had to show me. I dedicated my yoga practice to the stones and allowed my next steps to be revealed. I had witnessed first hand the healing power of yoga and with the stones as my companions, I knew I was being called to share this practice.
I am currently developing what I call “Crystal Yoga”, a form of yoga that enlists the gentle healing energy of stones in the practice. One example is a Yin & Crystals yoga class where I supply a whole case full of gems, crystals and mineral specimens and the class co-creates a crystal grid to set our intention and a sacred circle in which to practice. I particularly like working with Rose Quartz- the stone of unconditional love. So I also teach a Reiki, Hot Stones and Restorative yoga class where in addition to offering heated tumbled basalt, I also provide rose quartz specimens, while sharing Reiki energy with students in restorative poses. I have also developed a Yoga Nidra class where I guide the students into a very healing hypnogogic state and help them journey into the energy of rose quartz to receive a healing and a blessing. The possibilities are boundless.
Due to the pandemic, my in-studio classes have been cancelled. All of my classes are trauma informed, taught from a perspective of inclusivity. If you are interested in experiencing a Crystal Yoga class at your favorite studio or privately in your home, please contact me.
Note about Yin and Restorative Yoga, and Yoga Nidra: Yin and Restorative are two common terms to describe slow yoga classes. Yin prompts the students to stretch the bodies’ connective tissue (fascia) by holding poses from 2-5 minutes. Props are offered to help modify the pose to suit individual body types, giving students control over how much sensation they feel. Then you settle into your body and breathe, taking a moment to get intimate with the sensations. Meditation is encouraged and facilitated. Restorative is very similar but the poses are even more gentle and held for longer periods of time. Yoga Nidra is an ancient form of guided meditation. The student assumes a comfortable reclined position supported by blankets and pillows while the teacher offers a guided meditation to relax the nervous system and induce deep rest in the body/mind system. All of these practices are appropriate for anyone and everyone. No prior experience necessary.