Wow, what an amazing Sunday. I am continually impressed by the yogis in Charlotte and the amazing things that we can do to benefit the community. It’s a really cool thing to be a part of.
My “home studio”, Y2 Yoga, hosted a donation class yesterday afternoon benefiting Carolina Breast Friends. We had three teachers, two assistants and 70 students. I was so honored to be asked to lead the cool down/floor portion of the practice.
(Photo credit Wanda Koch)
(Yes, I am an extremely hands-on yoga teacher. And yes, I only perform this assist on other ladies. Ha.) The energy for the practice was insane. We filled both rooms at the studio, had two photographers shooting the class and the local news even came and did a story for their evening broadcast. Everyone was so excited to be there and practicing together for a cause that has touched almost everyone in some personal way.
(Photo credit Wanda Koch)
We raised over $4,000 in ONE DAY for Carolina Breast Friends. I left the studio beaming from ear to ear with so much gratitude. It feels so good to do something with a purpose. To believe in the power of collective breathing and intention. To see your work transform into something meaningful that positively impacts the lives of others.
I don’t know what I would do without yoga in my life.
In fact, I was so on a yoga high that in this morning’s practice, I finally got something that I’ve been working on in my own practice for a long time – full Sun Salutation A with a handstand. More practice needed but it’s a great start.
Ugh. So jealous. ;p
😀
Wow, what a great fundraising effort!
Aw, Jen, this is such a sweet, touching post. I live all the way on the West coast and I’ve never been to your neck of the woods. It’s really neat to hear about the incredible Charlotte yoga community. Very cool, and what fun!!
Awesome, Jen!
Yoga for a cause! Perfect!
I feel the positive energy flowing!
Continuing to see these yoga posts has me so intrigued and wanting to start. I have the same newbie fears and thoughts. What if I can’t do hardly anything? What classes will give me a decent workout (I love to run and CF!) I am completely inflexible… etc. I know I won’t have any of these true answers until I move forward, but I’m kind of frozen in place.
The clip of the sun salutation and handstand is so beautiful — such strength and beauty in the video.
jenny – i totally know all of those feelings and they are SO normal! it’s all about trial and error. it took me years to fall in love with yoga…i actually kind of hated it until i experienced yoga in charlotte. it’s all about finding a teacher/style that works for you and sometimes that is not easy. you have to have some interesting experiences along the way to get there!
I really enjoyed the sun salutation video, and it led me to your last video you posted with questions about Bodypump, Crossfit, etc. The question about yoga in a studio was interesting for me. I’ve been doing yoga on and off for about 3 years, occasionally in a studio but more often in a gym. I’m in graduate school and I’d like to get deeper into the yoga lifestyle & my practice… but I live in a small town (so not many choices) and I honestly can’t afford a studio right now. The classes at my gym are pretty good for what they are, but I’d love your opinion on getting the most out of yoga classes at home or in a gym/YMCA environment.
Also, love your blog and especially the yoga posts! I did my undergrad in SC and I used to make weekend trips to Charlotte – it’s fun getting a glimpse of it from time to time. 🙂
hi melissa – i’m glad you enjoyed the videos. it sounds like you have found a way to fit yoga in that works for you right now. i think that is so great! i think even more than the space/location it’s about finding a TEACHER who you really love and a community of yogis that you feel comfortable with. stick with what you’re doing if it’s working for you now!
AMAZING. Such fluidity and strength in your sun salute!! CONGRATS
thank you grace!
Excellent work on the fundraising. Though I must say, given current events, I had hoped to see hurricane relief being the subject of your donation…. You guys did an amazing job, I think you should hold another for someone like the Red Cross! That could go a long way for people who have suddenly lost everything! Nice work!
hey ruby – thanks so much for the comment. this fundraiser had been planned for months as a “grand finale” to breast cancer awareness month. we have several women at the studio directly impacted and all the funds that we raised were going back to the local community of breast cancer patients/survivors. but yes, there is much that can be done for the hurricane victims.
Glad to see you were able to get such a great response! It’s definitely an excellent cause!
Great post! The video clip was beautiful- congrats! I agree with some of the previous comments. Your posts about yoga have been inspiring and I’m starting to become more interested in it. However, though I run and work out 4-6 days a week, I have never tried yoga and am actually intimidated by it! I would love some advice about being a total newbie, but I’ll shoot you an email later this week inquiring about this. Awesome job again!
kim – thanks for the positive feedback on the post. i love sharing my love for yoga with y’all. it’s all about finding a style/teacher that works for you…and embracing your newness! 🙂 feel free to e-mail!
What a cool event! My mom is a Body Pump instructor, and her gym just had a “Pump for Pink” class a few weeks ago, complete with a playlist of songs by the artist Pink!
Love your video clip…You look so strong and graceful! Once my shoulder is better, I hope to get back to yoga and maybe even attempt a headstand some day!
Haha oops…Handstand! But maybe a headstand, too. 🙂
paige – i LOVE the pump for pink idea! bodypump certainly has it’s share of pink songs to choose from!
That is absolutely amazing!!! Fundraising feel SO great after you’ve done all that hard work and it goes to an amazing cause.
Jen you look so gorgeous and graceful! The photos definitely portray an abundance of positive energy – happy to see you had such a good weekend 🙂
thank you so much erica!
Awesome job and for such a great cause! Those days are the best when you know people came together for all the right reasons. Also, amazing handstand…one day I would love to be able to do that!
you will! we’ll work on it! 😉
I always love seeing the photos done by Wanda Koch- she’s incredible. And I never tire of your videos- so inspiring!
she is so talented! we’re so lucky to have her come and shoot all of our special events!
That video is so inspiring! Just went to my first class in a lonnnnnnnnnnnnng time last night & I walked out so happy & refreshed (though I’m sore today). I love your yoga posts & have a Manduka mat on the way from Amazon per your recommendation 🙂
awesome! i LOVE that feeling! you’re gonna enjoy the manduka. it’s great and i’ve had mine for 2.5 years now!
random question but what kind of yoga mat & towel do you use/recommend? I am in looking to invest in a nice mat & am thinking about getting a yogitoes towel b/c I mostly practice hot yoga. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
What an amazing event and job you did! Congrats!
Hi Jen — I recently moved to a new city, so I have been practicing yoga to “have something to do”. I’ve been going back and reading some of your previous posts about yoga. and I LOVE the video you posted here!!! I was wondering what your thoughts are on how many days in a row it’s okay to practice. The classes I take are hatha based, I think, and the room is not heated. Just wondering if I need to take days off in between like I would for weight training?
Thanks! You are so inspiring!!
CONGRATS on such a awesome turn out! That’s awesome! I miss yoga teachers who are more “hands on” with adjustments. They help so much both mentally and physically. Have a great night!
That video was amazing! I love reading your blog … you always make me want to get into yoga, but I am usually deterred by my lack of flexibility!
-Amanda
Oh I love this so much! This is one of the reasons I love going to yoga as much as I can. I literally cried when my prenatal yoga class ended because I can’t make the next session. (too late with holidays for my due date). This looked like it was an amazing time, thank you for sharing. I can tell this has gotten the yoga enthusiasm going for a lot of people. 🙂
Wow, it is always amazing to me what you can achieve when communities band together like that! I most definitely wouldn’t mind spending my day doing yoga, especially for a good cause
Very cool video.
I’m glad you only do that assist on women! There is a …. liberal? …. yoga studio near me that I don’t go to very often but one of the last times I did there was a male instructor who did an assist on a female student and he was like sitting on top of her with his crotch near her head!!! I looked up for a second to make sure I was doing the right pose and I was like OMG. That’s too much for me!!! I would have screamed out loud if he did that to me!
Your practice is beautiful! I really need to work on my handstands! I love that you are a very hands on yoga teacher…I need to work on becoming more hands on while teaching, but my style has always been very much leading by example versus hands on. After having some wonderful hands on teachers though, I want to get more into those adjustments! I love your blog, it is such an inspiration as to what I want to do with my life and career in fitness and wellness! Keep on yoga-ing:) Namaste!