I’ve just embarked on a super amazing life challenge: Prana Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training. I’ve been doing yoga for so many years and I’ve always felt a connection to it, but not as deeply as I have over the past few months. They say life’s great obstacles can dictate reasons for big personal changes. That’s more or less what happened to me. Without getting into too much detail on the why…I’m all about finding positive influences and intentional based, soul-nurturing activities. 

What got me here?

My personal life changed a lot at the end of 2017. I went through a tough breakup and my heart was sad. The great news is I’m getting way stronger by the day. I found that even on the worst days, my yoga practice offers me so much stability and great comfort. I might walk into the studio with a distracted mind but I leave after practice with a renewed sense of freedom, creativity, happiness, and lightness. 

As the days go on I carefully observe my emotions and responses to the world around me. Sure sadness and hardship happen in life. But I’m used to a life filled with all kinds of wonderful opportunities. I’m used to high energy days and dream filled nights. I’m a mom, daughter, business owner, great friend and overachiever. I was noticing great slumps in my discipline, sleep, and productivity. I also noticed that the days I practiced yoga was helping immensely.

Seeing this effect it had on me I wanted more out of my practice. I love attending classes here in Telluride and craved to pursue the practice on a deeper level.

What’s keeping me here?

That’s the keyword: HERE. Being in the moment. There’s nothing like it. With my practice, I’m enabling my mind to focus on more than it had been ever before. I have a fiery personality, toning down the flame can be hard at times. The fireworks both for me and against me when I let the flames grow too large. Yoga is offering me a cooling balance, a required slow down time. That time makes everything else flow way better. As humans, we require things that cannot be bought easily. Vitality, presence, and joy can be found through yoga…with a committed practice.

It’s amazing what mindful breathing and an embodiment practice can do for the memory and creativity! The peace and tranquility I feel from the moment I commit to a class time all the way to the moment I fall asleep is a true gift. That’s not to say the bumps in the road aren’t there. I can just smooth over them a bit more gracefully and mindfully now. 

In yoga, I am meeting the most amazing community of like-minded people. We learn from each other, share experiences, laugh and cry together. To have this deep-rooted connection is awesome. 

My body loves the holistic exercise. I used to be a marathoner and into high-intensity exercise. I still love the great intensity, but not as fierce as I was right after I had kids. Moving to the mountains helped to tone my California exercise obsessed personality down a bit.

Why Prana Vinyasa vs. other styles of yoga?

I discovered the Prana Vinyasa practice here in Telluride at the Telluride Yoga Center. One of my all-time favorite yoga instructors and friends, Kristin Taylor introduced me to this particular practice. Her flowing classes resonated with me as soon as I started attending them. I love so many styles of yoga, but this practice created by Shiva Ray really connects me on so many levels. An awareness of the breath in every part of our lives is a root focus of this yoga. Combining meditation, asanas (yoga poses) and the breath in certain sequences are part of a healthy foundation both in and out of the studio. This yoga is not about just rushing in and out of the gym to get a quick “yoga workout.” It’s way more and that’s what I’m drawn to. It also taps into Ayurveda, traditional Sanskrit and many traditions that are thousands of years old. 

Yoga for the Peaceful

The 6 month, 200 hundred hour teacher training I’m taking is offered by the awesome Monica Mesa Dasi. She created Yoga for the Peaceful in the beautiful mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado. CB is only 3 hours driving time from Telluride. It’s easy for me to get to & a beautiful drive. I wanted to do this sort of deep level training in the place that comforts me the most, the mountains.  Yoga for the Peaceful has two locations in CB, which makes it easy for locals and tourists to get their OM on.

I brought my bogs Moose and Bo along for the adventure, it was such a treat to go home to them after a long day of learning. I rescued them, but every day they rescue me!

Crested Butte, Colorado

This quintessential mountain town is exactly what you picture for rustic, mountain charm. The skiing is amazing and all four seasons have something unique to offer. I love the main st. in town, there are so many wonderful restaurants and little shops to poke into. 

Best coffee at this sweet place!

This soup from Sherpa Cafe was so warming and delicious!

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