Image via Flickr user Stephanie Young Merzel

Yoga teachers devote a lot of class time to sharing how NOT to do a particular pose for good reasons: Sloppy alignment, over effort, and big ambitions can create unwelcome tension and even injuries over time.

That said, if I read one more article about how almost everyone does  _______ Pose incorrectly, I might scream. Can it be helpful to pick apart all the ways we do yoga wrong? Sure. Let's take a break from that and focus on all the things yoga students actually do RIGHT for a change, OK?

This post is for every student who's ever been discouraged when, no matter how closely you listen to your teachers' instructions, you just can't figure out why she runs over to you and pokes your ribs EVERY effing time you attempt Downward-Facing Dog. I've been there. Please know that one day it will all click and you will totally understand what your teacher means when she tells you to "knit your ribs" in.

Until then, though, take heart in all the many things you're doing absolutely perfectly!

For example:

You unroll your mat over and over again. Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes it feels like you've run a marathon by the time you've worked hard all day, rushed through traffic, dropped the baby off with the sitter, and finally FINALLY found somewhere to park so you could get a glorious hour on your mat.

You show up with a smile on your face even though someone just flipped you off in the parking lot.

You do your best to listen to both your teacher's convoluted instructions and your body's own wisdom and intuition--which is a lot harder than it sounds.

When you fall out of a pose, you laugh at yourself and try again.

When your neighbor on the mat next to you falls out of a pose, you chuckle to yourself and try not to embarrass her in front of the whole class.

When you're tired, you rest.

When you're energized, you challenge yourself.

When you're injured, you modify.

You focus on your breath moving in and out.

You soften where you're naturally hard. You firm where you're naturally soft. You bring your body and mind closer to balance every time you practice in more ways than you can probably even identify.

You make changes little by little, bit by bit. You know that the the smallest changes are worth so much more than the biggest, grandest ideas that you don't follow through on.

You make yourself, your health, your well-being a priority.

You recognize that your teacher has bad days--you smile at her and you come back the next week anyway.

You let the lessons you learn on your yoga mat spill over into all the other areas of your life: you stand up straighter, breathe deeper, leave a smaller footprint, and treat others with more kindness and compassion.

You are open to the unlimited possibilities this practice has to offer you--both physical, mental, and emotional.

You rock! Never forget that!

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Know anyone in the Charleston, SC area who is expecting a baby? Send them my way! New Prenatal Yoga Class series starts next week at Barefoot Yoga Studio in North Charleston's Park Circle.

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The sun. The sand. That healthy sea breeze. The cackle of the sea gulls. The laughter of children.

The beach is one of the most awe inspiring place in the world. Sometimes just a quick walk by the ocean can really put things in perspective: Nature is a large and wonderful place, but we, with our petty problems and worries, are but a small drop in that ocean.

So of course, practicing yoga on the beach would be an awe-inspiring experience.  "When people are outside they feel more free, less stressed," says Melora Morgan, a yoga teacher in the Charleston, SC area who teaches beach yoga classes at Folly Beach. People are more likely to be playful in their practice."Just walking out onto the beach brings an immediate release." Unfortunately, some of the things that make a beach yoga session really amazing, are also the things that make it a challenge. You can't always predict when a beautiful day in SC will turn into an ugly thunderstorm, the wild will blow sand into your eyes, or all of a sudden a hundred tourists will set up camp right in front of the ocean blocking your view and your Zen.

 I asked Melora for a few tips on how to make sure your Namaste on the beach leads to bliss.

1. Avoid slipping on the sand. Leave your fancy $100 yoga mat at home--and don't forget a large towel to put under your old, crusty mat to keep you from sliding around on the sand.

2. Protect your feet. Under no circumstances should you bring a BLACK mat to the beach. The color absorbs heat, and can burn your tootsies.

3. Protect your skin. Of course, wear sunscreen! But beware: When sweat and sunscreen drip into your eyes, it's not a pleasant experience. A headband might help. Or use a waterproof sunscreen that won't run.

4. Don't forget your suit. Wear your swimsuit underneath your yoga clothes. "Nothing feels better after a hot, sweaty yoga class than to jump in the water," Melora says.

5. Go with the flow. Allow the sounds of nature the birds, the ocean, and yes, even the tourists, to be your soundtrack. Don't be flustered by the distractions. Let them bring you into the present moment and more into your experience.

Learn more about Melora and her beach yoga offerings through Serenity Tree Yoga by visiting her website and Facebook page.

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Image via Flickr User Neal bepko

Stand up Paddleboard yoga is one of my all time favorite summer activities. If you want to know why it's awesome, read this blog post I wrote last year for Yoga Journal. When I was starting I had a hard time finding many solid tips for taking my yoga practice to the water--below I share a few pointers to help you get started.

1. Find the center of your board. Most boards have a handle in the very middle of the board to make it easier to lift and carry to and from the water, but the handle is also a great marker that tells you where to stand so you'll be more stable as you paddle. That means it's also where you'll want to center yourself for most yoga poses. For standing poses, like Warrior I and II, plant your feet firmly, and keep your legs actively engaged and isometrically pull them toward your midline (which should also be toward the center of the board). If you feel wobbly, start with a more narrow stance than you might if you were practicing on solid ground--you can always go wider as you get more comfortable.

2. Stay low. When I first tried yoga on an SUP board, I was so pleased with myself when I was able to lift up into Crow Pose with relative ease. It didn't take me long to figure out that poses practiced closer to the board (like Crow and Bow Pose) are much easier for balance than those standing poses that are considered "basic" in a yoga studio. To make Warriors more accessible, practice from a kneeling position, with the back knee down first. Then, slowly, carefully, mindfully (see tip #3) plant the back foot and straighten the back knee to stand up.

3. Take your time. You might be able to move quickly from pose to pose in a vinyasa class, but if you do that on an SUP board, you might find yourself swimming with the fish! Go slow. Find your sea legs. Move with mindfulness and care, especially as you transition from one pose to the next. You'll be more comfortable on the board in no time!

4. Be a beginner again. A lot of people take to the waters when they want to find a little extra challenge than they might find in a yoga studio. Fine. But here's an important thing to consider. While you might rock your poses on land, it's a totally different experience when you take it on an SUP board. Your balance may be feel off--WAY off! You might even begin to get frustrated that you aren't able to float right up into an advanced pose like you've seen others do in your Instagram feed. Resist the tendency to compare (or compete) and really enjoy the adventure of being a beginner again. Go back to your basics--feet grounded, muscles engaged, gaze focused--and be OK with feeling fully present and alive in poses that you sometimes check out in during your studio practice. That's a more advanced practice than Scorpion Pose, really.

5. Connect. Yoga is all about connection. So take this opportunity to take connection to a whole new level. It's yoga, so you obviously want to connect with your body, your breath, your intention, the present moment. But don't stop there. Connect with nature--whether you're in a place with dolphins swimming by (my favorite!) or just a calm, serene landscape. Connect with other SUPers, kayakers, fishers... wave at people partying on their pontoon boat even though they're totally disrupting your zen and the motor boat making waves that threaten to send you overboard. Because it's the ability to connect that makes this practice different from other fitness activities.

6. Be safe! This is a "duh," tip, but oh so important! Bring along a life vest. And Find an SUP Yoga teacher in your area.  (If you're in the Charleston, SC area, look me up!) Rent a board that's long and wide--I like the Boga Yoga board.

Bonus Tip: Most importantly, have fun! You might fall off your board. It happens. It might even be funny to someone watching from a distance. So, what? When you fall, laugh at yourself, climb back up, and try again. Enjoy the process.

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Image via Flickr user katerha

I haven't had a summer reading list since high school. That could be because that was the last time I had enough free time to sit down with a big stack of books to read for pleasure (Oh wait!, I had to do it for a grade?. Nevermind.)

This year I'm not working full time, so I've found myself with a little more down time. Sure, I'm writing whenever I get assignments, teaching a few yoga classes week, keeping my 2-year-old busy in the sweltering Charleston, SC heat, practicing yoga as much as I can, cooking a lot.... OK, I don't have time to read books now either. But, I am more motivated than ever to learn, grow, find financial freedom, clean up my act, and generally enjoy every moment as much as I possibly can. (If for no other reason, then because I've started to notice my daughter mimicking nearly everything she sees me do--from asking her Daddy to turn down the TV (oops!) to my Downward Facing Dog.) I want her to see me more often with a book in my hands and less with a screen in my face. (And, yes, I do read on a Kindle. It was just a figure of speech, OK?) So, I made my own summer reading list. You'll notice these are not all yoga books--but they all are very relevant to my life as a yoga teacher, mother, freelance writer, woman, etc.

Money: A Love Story. I think all yoga teachers should read this book by Kate Northrup about valuing yourself, spending money on the things you value, seeing sound financial decisions as a form of self-care, and understanding that there are a billion ways to create abundance in this world. This one was the first on my list, and I've already devoured it.. but still need to go back through and do all the journaling exercises.

It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys: The Seven-Step Path to Becoming Truly Organized.  Kate Northrup mentions this book a couple of times in Money: A Love Story, and I knew it would be the next book I'd dive into. Even the title kind of strikes a nerve with me because I'm the type of person who has a million grand ideas and a ton of ambition and drive, but my life is just too chaotic right now to be as productive as I'd like. Case in point, the e-book I'm "writing" that's been collecting electronic dust in my Google Documents list for two years now... TWO!

Pushback: How Smart Women Ask--And Stand Up For--What They Want. This is another one that I think people in the yoga community have trouble with. Compassion is a part of the practice, and so it's really easy to think, "Yes, I do need to make X amount teaching this yoga class, but I certainly wouldn't want the studio owner to sacrifice what she needs to meet her bottom line... so I'll just take what she offers me." This attitude never helped anybody pay their bills, and settling for less than we deserve doesn't help the thousands of other yoga teachers out there struggling to pay their bills either.

Breathe: A Novel. Sure this sounds like just another fictional story of someone transforming through yoga... But, every now and then, I like to be reminded in a don't-take-yourself-so-serious way that yoga can be fun, healing, and, yes, even entertaining. I'd like to read this one on the beach, with a fruity umbrella-shaded drink in hand.

Miracles Now: 108 Life-Changing Tools for Less Stress, More Flow, and Finding Your True Purpose. I've followed Gabrielle Bernstein online for a long time now--and I have loved her video tips and tricks for using meditation and Kundalini Yoga techniques to deal with everyday life. So I can't wait to dive into this book, which promises to offer 108 simple solutions to combat complicated problems like "stress, burnout, frustration, jealousy, resentment" without spending hours meditating and practicing yoga everyday. We'll see. I'm skeptical of anything that offers quick fixes, but I don't doubt I'll learn at least one or two more things to add to my toolbox.

To keep myself motivated and honest, I'm going to review each of these books when I'm done reading them. Will you join me? What are you reading this summer?

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Photo by Chris Chavez

As a yoga teacher, I'm always trying to make my language more clear. Sometimes that means giving more instruction, but most of the time it means learning when to shut my trap and allowing my students to feel and experience the poses on their own.

Here are a few of the things I know I need to strike from my yoga teaching vocabulary...

"Did you feel that?" Students nearly always just nod. Uh huh.. sure.. I feel that. (Now will you leave me alone?) If you're making an adjustment, just make it. Watch your student's body with your EYES for confirmation that they understood what you asked them to do. If you don't see a difference, they probably didn't feel it. Try saying it in a different way. If you did see them make a change, make sure they know it by giving them some feedback. Yes! There! That's it! 

"Does anybody have any requests for today's class? Anything you want to work on?" I've been doing this in my classes every class for months. I've noticed in classes that I attend, other teachers ask the same questions, too. The response is almost always a lot of blank stares, shrugging shoulders, and "anything's fine with me." I've come to this realization: My students expect ME to plan the sequence. That's why they're there. Sure, I want to leave the door open for any questions or requests, but when something comes up for one of them I trust them to come to me and ask.

"Now we're going to ...." and other words that don't mean anything. "OK. Now, we're going to place our hands down on the mat." "Then, you're going to step your right foot back." "Great, now you're going to bring your hands up toward the sky." My goal is to teach yoga class in the same way I'd write. That means cutting out all the unnecessary words. I've noticed myself saying "Now you're going to.." about 500 times in class, when it would be so much more effective to abolish the phrase entirely and just give the flippin' instruction. "Place your hands on the mat. Step your foot back. Reach your hands up toward the sky." My goal is for each and every word I say to have meaning when I'm teaching. No fillers. It's a work in progress, and practicing speaking in clear and concise language is as much a part of my practice these days as Triangle Pose.

Also... anything on this list should be abolished immediately.

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Kelly Jean Moore

I love Walt Whitman, reading his work just breaks my heart open.  I love all of the arts really. Theatre, Dance, and the visual arts all inspire me and remind me of the depth and drama of the human struggle and of human nobility. Simple things inspire me, like watching animals move and children play. Movement is fascinating. My beloved LGBT friends, who work everyday for their equality in this country, inspire me. There is so much light and life in this world. How could I not be constantly enthralled?

Learn more about Kelly and Mission Yoga here.

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I had lunch with Elli Boland a few weeks ago. The conversation drifted, as it often does when you get two yoga teachers together, to the business of yoga, success, and how the two fit together (or rather how they do NOT fit together as is more often the case). I furrowed my brow, sighed, and in an exasperated tone said: "I just try SO HARD." 

Elli looked me straight in the eye, and called me out. "STOP IT!," she said in her uber-cool German accent. She doesn't mess around. 

It really is that simple--in life and in yoga. One of the most life-changing lessons we can learn is to slow down, let go, and just watch as everything falls into place. Elli finds ease in her life, her yoga classes and counseling sessions, and even on her inspirational Facebook pages My Holistic Coach and Agents of Change. She might make it look easy, but it's the result of years of study and practice.


Here's what she had to say about it:


Loaded Question alarm! :)Yoga is really the basis for all that I live and teach. Not just the asanas, but really the tools and mindset that it teaches us. Yoga philosophy and healing techniques are a core value for me.  I work as a holistic life coach, guiding people in all areas of life: relationships, communication, career, addictions, exercise, nutrition….and for most issues I ‘prescribe’ yogic ways of dealing with things. I am fascinated and empowered by Yoga philosophy. I do love the asana practice, but I don’t ‘need’ it. What I cannot live without is meditation, breath work, and overall yogic way of looking at things. And I offer that perspective to my clients so they can create the life of their dreams through love and compassion, instead of fear and force.

What do you love about the yoga community in Charleston?


Inspiration flows all day, especially when I slow down and rest. When I meditate and take time for doing what I love, take time to be, to rest, and to laugh, every single thing, every person, every story inspires me. I find it really helpful to understand what Inspiration is…vs. motivation. Wayne Dyer put it something like this: Motivation is when you take a hold of an idea. Inspiration is when an idea takes a hold of you. I had been a highly motivated person. But often I found myself unhappy chasing after something. Now that I learned to let go and let things flow, ideas come to me left and right, and it comes from my heart, not my head. So I get inspired when I listen to my heart’s desires, my intuition, my true self. To hear it louder,…well, I meditate. 

Elli teaches yoga at Mission Yoga in Downtown Charleston. Learn more about her work on her Facebook pages My Holistic Coach and Agents of Change.

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Image from Lululemon

I've been teaching a yoga class at a gym for a few months now. The yoga class is the first one at this location, so the students are all mostly new to the practice. There are several flyers up around the gym that list the benefits of Pilates (one of the group fitness classes that has been on the schedule for years, I'm told). Now, I'm not a competitive type.. (OK. I actually am, but I try not to be), but it bothered me that there were so many flyers up in the gym touting Pilates and yoga wasn't represented anywhere. So I asked the gym manager if I could put up a few flyers, too. I started to just write out a list of my own benefits (like this one), but I thought it might be more fun to let my students tell me what benefits they'd noticed after practicing yoga for a few months. Before class started last week, I passed around a sheet of paper with the header "Benefits of Yoga" and asked make the list.

I couldn't have been more pleased by the things they wrote:

More flexibility
Strength
The ability to laugh when you fall
Teach concentration without taking yourself too seriously
Relaxation
Deep stretch
Peace of mind
Feel soooooo good afterward!
Just letting go of the day!

I added a couple about breathing, mindfulness, and self-care.. but I think they pretty much nailed it! It was also a great exercise for me to see what messages I've been effective at getting across. I might try this exercise again in 6 months to see how the list changes over time. In the meantime, I hope it helps get more people to the mat.

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When I first moved to Charleston a couple of years ago I was thrilled that my apartment was only a few miles from Holy Cow Yoga Center (little did I know that a "few miles" could take up to 30 minutes in Charleston traffic--but that's a different topic). The first yoga class I went to here was led by Trace Bonner. From the first Downward Dog, I knew I'd found a teacher I'd be able to connect with—this lady says what she means and means what she says. She's direct, relatable, and funny in a way that comes so naturally I don't think she even thinks about it—it's just who she is. This is a quality that, for me, is the difference between a good yoga teacher and a great one. So I wanted to talk more to her about her approach to the yoga practice and find out what makes her tick.  

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It is going to be really terrific! Is the third book we have worked on together and is a translation/commentary on a very old yogic scripture. The other two are called An Offering of Leaves and Sweeping the Dust by Ruth Lauer Manenti. They each have 40 teachings in them, with a verse from ancient texts or songs at the beginning, and a story that helps to convey the meaning. They are sweet gifts for anyone you know. You can buy them at lanternbooks.com.

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Image via Flickr User Scrap Pile

When I moved to Charleston, SC a couple of years ago, I was thrilled to find an amazing, thriving yoga community. Studios everywhere. Amazing teachers. Fabulous workshops. Excited students. You'd think I'd be right at home--immediately making close friends and becoming a part of the scene. But that's not what happened.

You might not guess it based on my online personality (if anything, I'm a little TOO eager to get involved in online communities), but when I go to a yoga class.. I'm painfully shy. I unroll my mat and either rest in Child's Pose (nose squished firmly into my mat) or stare at my toes until class starts. When class is over, I pack it up and I leave. I am not usually one of those students who crowds around the teacher waiting for her turn to ask a question or give a hug. As you might guess, this has made it quite difficult to find my place in the community. (Not to mention the full-time job I had--and now the baby--that made it nearly impossible to attend class regularly.)

But recently, I've decided I'm tired of observing. I want to teach again--and not just a little bit, but a lot! I want to really dive in and start sharing my practice with the world in a meaningful way. To do that--I have to find my place in this amazing community.

So I set out on a mission. I started reaching out to teachers I admire in the area and get to know them a little better. I asked them questions about the yoga they teach, the communities they serve, and what newcomers can expect from their classes. I also asked them out for tea or lunch. And because I'm sure that there are others who can benefit from their amazing stories.

In the coming weeks I'm going to share Q&As from the amazing teachers right here in my own beautiful city in a series I'll call Hometown Yoga Heroes.

But first, I want to know: How did you get involved in your yoga community? Do you have any tips?

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A couple of years ago, I made a big move from the yoga rich San Francisco Bay Area to Charleston, SC. Charleston is one of the most beautiful cities I'd ever visited. It has old buildings, cobblestone roads, romantic gardens, and some of the most amazing beaches. Charleston also has some of the best restaurants and a thriving art culture. When Charleston was named the Top Destination in the WORLD by Conde Nast Traveler 2012 Readers' Choice Awards, I wasn't even a little bit surprised. This is a great place to live! But how does the Charleston yoga scene stack up? I've done a lot of yoga in a lot of different places, and Charleston is one of the best places to get your Om on. Here are just a few of the reasons.

1. Studios Galore and Amazing Local Teachers. I've heard a rumor that the Charleston area has more yoga students per capita than anywhere else outside of New York City. I have no way to confirm this rumor, but there are TONS of studios offering nearly any style of yoga you could want. I'm a notorious yoga studio hopper so I've tried most of them--and they are fantastic! I'll share my favorites in another post soon!

2. Traveling Teachers. Since I moved to Charleston, I've been able to take workshops with Kathryn Budig, Cora Wen, and Jason Crandell (three of my most favorite yoga teachers of all time). I've recently missed workshops by Briohny Smyth, Dice Iiada-Klein, Doug Swenson, and Chrissy and Kenny Graham. Because this town is SUCH a celebrated destination--and because we have such a thriving community (offering the best in Southern Hospitality, ya'll)--top-notch teachers want to come here. And Charleston residents get to benefit. Lucky us!

3. Community Events.There are plenty of yoga friendly events in Charleston. From the annual yoga marathon to benefit Louie's Kids in Marion Square to the new Green Fest there are plenty of opportunities for yoga students to come together to celebrate the practice and the lifestyle. Back in June, the new Lululemon store on King Street organized one of the coolest yoga events I've seen called King Street Yoga. One Big Ass Yoga Mat .. They closed down the street so yoga students could line their mats up to practice. Check out the pictures here. More than 500 yogis showed up.

4. Yoga Adventures. Want to try something new and exciting? Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga? Check. Aerial Yoga? We've got that, too. Beach Yoga? Oh yeah!

5. Healthy Lifestyle. It's true. Charleston, SC is steeped in Southern culture. And that means sweet tea and deep fried foods! But Charleston is a pretty progressive city with a lot of healthy options for local, organic foods as well as active pursuits--both of which are pretty important for a thriving yoga lifestyle.

Have I convinced you? Or do you think your city has Charleston beat as the best yoga city? I'd love to hear why!

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