“I really regret going to yoga today …” Said No One Ever!

Although yoga has been around for over 5,000 years, and was actually introduced in The United States in 1893, it was the hippie and new age movements of the 1960’s that really popularized the physical aspects of yoga. Then in the 80’s and 90’s, the fitness craze and VHS tapes made yoga even more popular. Now, tens of millions of people practice yoga in probably just as many yoga studios across the U.S.

As yoga became more popular in the west, a variety of styles of yoga were created to meet different needs of the students. Now yoga studios and teachers differentiate themselves by styles of yoga all across the U.S. Unfortunately, all these different options can be very confusing for beginners! Today I’m going to share the main types of yoga styles and who might benefit from each so that you can choose the right style for you and get the most out of your yoga practice!

Today’s blog is all about Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as Social Phobia or SAD. It’s when you fear being judged or rejected in a social situation and although you logically know your thoughts are irrational, you believe there is nothing you can do to change. I’m here to tell you that there is nothing wrong with you and there is something you can do to feel better! Although I can’t make your anxiety go away, I can share with you how SAD impacts your day to day life and how mindfulness techniques can help you better manage this specific type of anxiety.

Balancing poses have become a staple of social media feeds everywhere. And why not? Those pictures of someone serenely holding tree pose on a mountaintop as the sun crests the horizon can convey yoga’s ability to help us work towards broader equilibrium in our lives…and generate lots of “clicks” and “likes” for the page. This week Steve Sampson takes a deeper dive into what balance is, what can affect your balance, and why working on balance is important (spoiler alert: it’s not about looking cool on Instagram, LOL).

If you already have a morning routine, you probably understand the power it has on the rest of your day.  If you don’t have a morning routine, you’ve probably heard that it’s a good idea to start one.  My own morning routine really didn’t take shape until COVID-19 slowed everything down.  Before COVID, I found myself flailing about, reading all sorts of advice and trying to find that perfect mix of things to do so that my day would start out “right”.  Unfortunately I just felt more anxious - not only did I not have a morning routine but I was also frustrated that the “text book” ideas were not working for me.  If you can relate, today’s blog will help!  I’m sharing how you can feel more grounded and confident to create your perfect individualized morning routine so that the rest of your day is a whole lot better.   

Ah … Summer. The days are long and the living is easy! Summer is a time for growth, for trying new things and for self-development. The only problem is that summer can also mean sunburns, physically overheating, and more frequent feelings of anger and frustration. If you hate the heat (like I do!), summer may not be the most ideal time of year for you to practice yoga. But the good news is that you can adjust your practice to manage it! Ayurveda, considered the sister science to yoga, helps explain why you might feel discomfort in summer and what you can do to clear away any feelings of aggravation. Here’s how to adjust your yoga practice during summer with clarity and ease by applying Ayurvedic principles to your regular practice.

Ah … Summer.  The days are long and the living is easy!  For kiddos, it’s a time when school ends, alarm clocks turn off and a sense of freedom is in the air.  Summer is a time for growth, for trying new things and for self-development.  And, summer can also mean sunburns, physically overheating, and more frequent feelings of anger and frustration when we find ourselves out of balance.  If you hate the heat (like I do!), summer may not be the most relaxing time of year for you.  But the good news is that you can do something to manage it!  Here’s how to better manage your health during the heat of summer with clarity and ease by applying Ayurvedic principles to your daily life.  

The summer is in full swing, and hopefully you’ll have a chance to enjoy some down-time and take a vacation! Whether you’re traveling or planning to stay more local, there are some great ways to enjoy your yoga practice even when you’re out of your normal daily routine. Steve shares some thoughts in today’s blog on how you can plan to bring your yoga practice with you on vacation!

The internet and social media would have you believe that yoga is all about tall, thin, hyper-flexible women putting their body in very awkward positions. Although we have begun to shift this perspective as an industry, it still irks me to no end that most people are still turned off by yoga because they just can’t relate to these images. And these people could most likely benefit the most from yoga! The number one response I get when I say to someone, “Oh you should try yoga!” is, “I’m not flexible enough to do that.” My response? “Exactly. That’s why you should do it.”

For a beginner, yoga can be intimidating and a bit scary. In fact, along with “I’m not flexible enough”, I also hear, “Oh I don’t know what I’m doing so I’d rather not take class.” I get it - I was once a beginner too! Today I’m going to break down exactly what you need to know so you can confidently sign up for your first class and begin to experience the health benefits of yoga.

If you have experience with panic attacks you know how debilitating, overwhelming and extremely terrifying they can be. A sudden, short-term abrupt surge of intense fear floods your body and you feel like everything is completely out of control.

You feel like you are dying.

If you’ve never experienced this yourself, chances are you know someone or you will meet someone who might be going through this very intense experience. It can be very difficult to manage a panic attack while you are in it, or help someone through one, but the good news is that mindfulness techniques can help. Today I’m going to share how you can better manage a panic attack for yourself or for others so that you can feel more in control, reduce the symptoms quicker and find a greater sense of ease.

When I first started practicing yoga in 2000, I can remember my teacher suggesting that we come to the mat with a “Beginner’s Mind” and thinking, “what the heck does that mean?” I wasn’t sure about anyone else, but I was there to master the poses and “win” at doing yoga.

Can you relate?

It took a few years, but I finally realized that the point of yoga was not to perfect the poses and get a gold medal. The point is to explore and enjoy the journey as it unfolds, and embracing a beginner’s mind is a key first step to achieving that. If that seems confusing, don’t worry! Today I’m going to share exactly what it means to have a beginner’s mind both on and off the mat so you can open the doors to all sorts of possibilities in your life and the lives of others.

As humans we are not meant to live in isolation - we are hardwired to participate in communities. Back in our cave-person days, your tribe was your survival. If you separated from your tribe, there was a good chance you’d be eaten. And although we have evolved beyond our cave-people days, the importance of community is still very much part of our DNA. Communities help us feel a stronger sense of personal identity as well as offer a sense of connection, empathy and mutuality. Here are some reasons why we think Our Serenity Community is so important!

I don’t know about you, but I tend to think in absolutes, especially when I am afraid to make a big decision in my life.  I use words like “always” and “never” and think it’s either A or B and there are no options in between. And of course this “all-or-nothing” thinking causes my mind to ruminate, making me feel more anxious. In this blog I walk you through a cognitive technique called “Fear Planning” from Tim Ferris that will help you think through your fears and anxieties in a way that will reduce your anxiety and give you the confidence you need to make better decisions for your life.

“They” say that every human being experiences a “calling”. It could be toward a career path, a way of life or even where you should go for vacation. Merriam-Webster defines a calling as, “A strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence”. My personal translation? To be in alignment with your higher purpose.

I’m sure I’ve experienced many callings in my life, but today I want to share what I consider to be my biggest calling - my journey to leave Corporate America and become a full-time entrepreneur. You’ll learn a little more about me and how I got clear on my calling so that you might be inspired to follow your own heart and intuition as well.

Unfortunately, there is a double standard in our society when it comes to mental health. If you break your leg, have diabetes or high blood pressure, you go to the doctor to get help. But, if you have anxiety or other mental health disorders, you may be judged or called “crazy” because of the negative attitudes and beliefs people have toward mental illness. Although more people are accepting of mental health issues, the stigma associated with it continues to be a problem. Today I’m breaking down the social stigma around anxiety and what you can do right now to overcome this stigma to get the help you deserve when it comes to managing your own anxiety.

As I write this blog in June 2021, 41.4% of Americans are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. States are reopening and life seems to be getting back to some sort of “Post-Covid Normal”. Whatever that means. Some people can’t WAIT to get together with friends and hug strangers on the street while other people feel more comfortable staying put in isolation. As the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be shining, you might be wondering why you aren’t as excited to go back to the “way things were.” You miss being around other people in your community, but you just don’t feel ready. I get it! In this blog I share exactly why you might be feeling this way and how you can use mindfulness techniques to figure out how to best take care of yourself during this post-pandemic transition.

I was a cyclist long before I ever tried yoga. When I found my way to the mat, I thought yoga was just going to be an occasional “stretching” activity to help improve my cycling performance. Although I quickly developed a passion for the philosophy and broader practices of yoga, I did find that certain physical yoga postures (or asanas) were just what I needed after long hours in the saddle. In today’s article, I’d like to focus on one particular area where I experienced this benefit: my back.

If you are an avid runner, or even just go out for a run on occasion, you know how tough running can be on your body. Your leg muscles are tight and you might even struggle with tension and joint pain. And if you are training for a race or trying to improve your performance, you might find that these issues are preventing you from reaching your goals.

Although I am not a runner myself, I have helped many runners loosen tight muscles, increase mobility and prevent injury through yoga. In fact, I would argue that yoga is the perfect exercise to recover from a run. The best part is that you can do just 10 minutes of yoga after your run to feel the benefits. Here’s how to stay out of pain and improve your running experience with yoga.

“You can’t pour from an empty cup”, is a widely used saying that basically means you can’t take care of other people until you take care of yourself first. Self-care is important. You know that.  So why isn’t it a priority? I get it - you’re busy!  There’s not enough time in the day to get it all done.  Besides, you’re strong and can just push through feeling depleted.  But what if I told you that eventually you can’t?  That eventually your happiness in life will depend on slowing down and doing activities that promote self-care? Here’s a closer look at how depletion impacts your overall health and how self-care gives you the energy and balance you need to make better decisions, have healthier relationships and be happier in life. 

Almost everyone is thrilled that nice weather has finally arrived. Everyone, it seems, except for our knees. As we get out and get moving, many people find knee pain common. If your knees hurt more getting off your bike, descending from a hike, or simply coming down stairs, you’ll be interested to learn how gentle thigh stretching can take the pressure off of your knees.

When it comes to playing golf, you probably have three main goals:

1. Eliminate strokes and improve your overall game

2. Stay out of pain and away from injury

3. Be able to play this crazy game you love for many, many more years

Want to know the best way to achieve all three of those goals? You guessed it - yoga. Although I’m not playing birdie golf, I know my yoga practice has helped to improve my game and keep me out of pain. And I want the same for you! Here’s how practicing yoga for 20 minutes a day can keep you out of pain and improve your overall game so you can have more fun experiences than frustrating ones on the course.