Finding Your Home Studio

When you walk into the right yoga studio, it hits differently. It’s not just about the heat, the style of yoga, or the playlist ( though those matter too ). It’s something deeper, a gentle pull in your chest, a sigh of relief in your shoulders, that soft internal whisper that says, “I could stay here a while.”

I like to think of a yoga studio as a second living room. A place where you hang out with your chosen family, sweat together, breathe together, sometimes cry together. Over time, that crew becomes your steady circle. These are people who’ve witnessed you wobble through crow pose, collapse in laughter in savasana, and keep showing up anyway.

What makes a studio feel like home?

It’s partly the atmosphere. Warm light, earthy floors, plants spilling out of clay pots. Maybe a Gathering Space to connect with other students over some Tea. A boutique that sells local goods, beverages, and even some RAD Yoga Gear :)

It’s that low murmur of voices before class starts, the hum of anticipation before everyone settles onto their mats.

But even more than the space, it’s the people. The folks at the front desk who remember your name and ask how your shoulder’s healing. The teachers who see you, really see you, and offer cues that land in your body like truth. The community who will clap when you finally float up into a handstand, or give you a supportive nod when you flop out of it.

Try a few before you settle

Studios, like people, have wildly different energies. Some blast music and celebrate exploration. Others keep it hushed and sacred, with restorative intentions. Some lean heavy into sweat and heat, while others prioritize gentle movement.

If you’re still hunting for your home base, try a bunch. See how the space feels. Notice if you’re more relaxed when you leave than when you came in. Check if the teachers resonate, if the vibe suits your soul. No one studio is perfect for everyone, so give yourself permission to shop around.

When you do find the right spot, it is worth everything.It becomes a place you return to again and again. Through job changes, breakups, triumphs, and ordinary Tuesdays. A place that holds your stories in the dust of its floorboards and the stretch of its walls.

Sign Up and Show Up

Once you’ve found that special spot, commit to it. Sign up for classes online or by phone ahead of time. One class a week can make significant changes in your well being. 3-5 will amplify your progression, if that's what you're looking for.

Popular sessions can fill quickly, and it’s a simple way to keep yourself accountable.

Then just keep showing up! Let your mat unroll like a welcome mat for your own unfolding.

Make new friends... Laugh... Be vulnerable... Maybe, without even realizing it, you’ll find yourself rooted, heart-first, in a little patch of community that feels just like home.

Thank you for sharing your practice, gratitude to you for doing the work. Please try to respect and be kind to everybody out there. Namaste.

Consistency: The Sweet Secret to Unlocking Your Yoga Practice... And So Much More!

I’ve said it before ( And I’ll say it another thousand times )... There’s simply no substitute for showing up If you’ve been practicing with me for a while, you already know this is one of the big truths I come back to again and again. Consistency isn’t flashy. It doesn’t post thirst traps on Instagram. It doesn’t shout from the rooftops or promise overnight transformations. But it’s the quiet, patient, humble force that actually changes everything.

We live in a culture that loves the quick fix,or consistently chooses to "do less". A hack for this, or a shortcut for that, twenty days to the perfect whatever.

Yoga, though, doesn’t really care about your timelines. It’s a lifelong practice. It rewards those who show up, roll out their mat, breathe, and move, even ( or maybe especially ) when they don’t feel like it.

Why Consistency Matters in Yoga and Beyond

Let’s start with the obvious: your body thrives on regular movement. The human form is beautifully adaptable. It changes and responds to the demands you place on it. Practice consistently, and you’ll see improvements in strength, flexibility, mobility, balance, and endurance. That’s the surface layer, and it’s plenty to keep you going.

But what’s more interesting to me is how your mind changes. How your capacity to "be comfortable in your discomfort" grows. How your breath becomes an old friend you can count on, not just in pigeon pose but when you’re stuck in traffic or feeling overwhelmed at work. How your perspective shifts, so that life’s little bumps don’t throw you completely off course.

When you practice consistently, you start to realize that it’s not about nailing the pose. It’s about how you meet yourself in the moment. Are you pushing? Are you fighting? Are you backing away because it’s tough or staying open to learning something new about yourself?

Consistency creates the conditions for these questions to arise, and for you to explore the answers gently, day by day.

Yoga is Not Seasonal

Here’s the gentle nudge, friends: yoga is not a summer fling. It’s not a winter self-care project or something you dust off in January to counteract the holiday cookies. Yoga is every season, every cycle, every breath. The benefits compound over time: physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually, when you stay steady.

I see this so clearly in students who practice year-round. Their bodies adapt. Their nervous systems find a baseline of calm. They’re less reactive, more centered, quicker to smile, slower to judge. They get sick less often, recover faster, sleep better, digest better. That’s not magic. That’s just the payoff of regular practice.

It doesn’t mean you have to hit your mat for 90 minutes every day ( Just Saturday & Sunday 10:00 at Stretch :). Consistency isn’t about rigid perfection. It’s about honoring your commitment to keep showing up, even if today that means ten minutes of breathwork on your living room floor or five sun salutations in your pajamas.

Through the seasons of life

It’s not just about weather seasons. Life itself has seasons. Times when you’re crushing it, riding high, feeling on top of the world. And times when you’re grieving, stressed, exhausted, or burned out. The temptation in those harder seasons is to drop the habits that actuallu support you like your yoga practice.

But that’s often when you need practice the most. When your mind is spinning with worries, when your body is tight with anxiety, when you feel like hiding under the covers forever... Those are invitations to return to your mat... To breathe, to move, to remember that you are still here, still alive, still capable of connecting to something deeper than the chaos.

Consistency builds resilience. It gives you a safe harbor to return to when life is stormy. Over time, you start to trust that you can handle more than you thought. You become more adaptable, less reactive. You learn to soften around discomfort, whether that’s holding Warrior II for five more breaths or sitting with a challenging conversation.

How to Stay Consistent ( without Beating Yourself Up )

I’ve been practicing yoga a long time. I’ve fallen off the wagon plenty of times, mostly recovering from surgeries.

The key is not to get stuck in guilt or perfectionism. Just come back. Again and again. Each moment is an opportunity to begin.

Some little ideas that help:

• Schedule it. Book your classes ahead, just like you would a meeting or a flight. Block the time and honor it.

• Keep it accessible. Have a mat unrolled at home or props nearby so it’s easy to drop into practice for even a few minutes.

• Pair it with something you already do. Maybe you take three deep breaths every time you start the car, or a few standing stretches while the coffee brews.

• Make it enjoyable. Light a candle, play your favorite playlist, practice in the sunshine. Fall in love with the ritual.

• Be kind to yourself. If you skip a day (or a week, or a month), just come back without judgment. Consistency over time matters more than perfection right now.

The deeper gifts

Ultimately, consistency in yoga is about deepening your relationship with yourself. It’s about learning to stay—through the awkward, the uncomfortable, the joyful, the boring. It’s about exploring the layers of who you are beyond your thoughts and stories.

When you stick with it, yoga becomes so much more than a workout. It’s a mirror, a sanctuary, a laboratory for growth. It helps you practice patience, humility, courage, compassion. Those qualities don’t just live on your mat. They follow you into traffic, into tough conversations, into the messy moments of being human.

So keep showing up. Especially when it’s hard. Especially when you’re tempted to drift. That’s when the practice does its most profound work.

Thank you for sharing your practice, gratitude to you for doing the work. Please try to respect and be kind to everybody out there. Namaste.

Riding the Waves of Wellness: The Connection Between Yoga & Surfing

As a Yoga Instructor and former Semi-Pro Snowboarder, I've always been fascinated by how physical movement can create a harmonious relationship with our bodies and the environment. With this in mind, let's explore the synergy between Yoga and Surfing, and how it enhances my upcoming RAD Yoga Surf Retreat in Nicaragua this November.

Surfing is not just about catching waves, it's a full body workout that requires balance, strength, and flexibility! These qualities are cultivated through Yoga. When you paddle out to face the Ocean, you engage your core, shoulders, and legs, mirroring the challenges that we face on our mat! The paddle is "Cobra", the pop is "Up Dog", riding is "Warrior 2". This connection makes Yoga a fantastic complement to Surfing, helping to improve your performance on the waves.

But the benefits go beyond the physical. Both Yoga and Surfing encourage mindfulness.

In Yoga we focus on our breath to remain present in each pose. Similar to when you're riding a wave, the sheer exhilaration and need for concentration pull you into the moment. This practice can lead to a state of flow, creating a natural high that many Surfers seek!

At the Nicaragua Retreat, we'll not only practice Yoga to enhance our Surfing skills, but also cultivate a deeper connection with ourselves and our surroundings. Set against the stunning backdrop of Playa Escameca at Costa Dulce, we'll embrace the healing power of the Ocean, nourish our bodies with locally inspired "Farm to Table" cuisine, and forge connections with like-minded individuals.

Here's the crew after the morning Rocket Yoga practice. Rocket Yoga is a "Power Flow" practice with Ashtanga roots.

The Retreat experience also provides an opportunity to explore emotional and physical release. Just like in Yoga, Surfing can provoke a myriad of emotions! From joy and exhilaration to frustration and fear. The waves can challenge you, just as tough as a pose on your mat can. They also offer a chance to let go find freedom and go with the flow.

After the evening Active Yin Yoga practice. Active Yin adds Functional Movement to Yin Yoga. Healing combination!

If you're looking to deepen your practice, experience the thrill of riding waves at a Private Surf Break, and connect with a community of fellow seekers, this Retreat is for you!

Let's celebrate the union of Yoga & Surfing, where movement, mindfulness, and the ocean collide to create a transformative experience.

So grab your Surfboard ( Surf Instruction & Rentals available ) and your Yoga Mat, and join me in this Jungle Paradise, for an unforgettable adventure this November 1-8!

Thank you so much for sharing your practice and doing the work.

Please Try to Respect & Be Kind to Everybody out there. Namaste