Neuro Based Movement |Yoga Retreats | The Yoga of You

How Addicts Heal Through Yoga

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:00:16 -0700

There’s no denying that addiction has become a national epidemic. It can affect anybody from
rock stars to plumbers to project managers. Addiction doesn’t care about your profession or
social status. As recently as 2016, it was estimated that over 22 million Americans currently
struggle with either addiction or substance abuse, costing the country more than $484 billion per
year. Even worse, addiction takes lives, destroys families, causes emotional pain, increases the
risk of financial troubles, and ruins the lives of addicts - as well as the lives of their loved ones.
Although we typically think of individuals being addicted to either drugs or alcohol, these are not
the only types of addictions. In addition to drugs and/or alcohol, addicts might also struggle with
other addictions such as codependence, sex, gambling, and more.
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Traditional twelve-step programs are a well-known option for treating these various types of
addictions. Twelve-step programs have many time-tested and life-saving benefits, including
sponsorship, support, structure, and affordability. However, they also have their limits.

For some, twelve-step programs may not be as empowering or effective in healing addictions.
Yoga, on the other hand, can be both empowering and deeply healing for many people.
Yoga is an ancient healing practice that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. Since then, the
practice of yoga has spread around the world thanks to its healing potential. The benefits of
yoga can help people heal from any of the aforementioned addictions.
For those in addiction recovery, yoga can be an empowering, relaxing, and extremely spiritual
practice. It can be done in a group class setting, or it can conveniently be practiced for free in
the comfort of one’s own home. Best of all, a yoga practice for addiction recovery can be
incorporated on its own or in addition to a more traditional twelve-step...Read More

Flowing toward happiness

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 09:45:44 -0800

"The First Draft of Anything is always shit"

Earnest Hemmingway

Fear is the gatekeeper of flow. So if we're going to try scary new things or test out different approaches we need find ways to "trick" our way around fear since removing it isn't an option. Luckily for us, Fear is easily tricked because it's really dumb. Dumb jock like dumb. Yes, spooky but coolest.

Here's 3 easy ways to trick fear.

Explore around: Ever see that Star Trek episode where Kirk accidentally crashes the Enterprise into an alien village thus killing their queen and Spock has to tell Kirk to stop apologing because the confused aliens don't have cultural concept of a mistake being a bad (or good) thing. Now delete the concept of failure from your worldview. It's easy to do. All you have to do is commit to frame everything in terms of Exploring, Experimenting or Playing. It's ok to crash into a few planets when you're out exploring the galaxy.

20 Minute Rule: As any running nut will tell you - it's much harder to stop after 20 minutes than starting at zero. Similarly, finding the time and confidence to either explore big ideas or tackle dreadful tasks (like taxes) are hard to get going on. Do this trick - put on some good tunes, set your timer for 20 minutes and promise yourself that you must stop before the timer goes off. 9 out of ten times you'll break that promise because your in flow.

Pick one mind a week: Everyone likes getting their mind picks. It makes people feel valued. Send one email out a week to someone that you think is interesting to talk about something that's interesting to you. It can be someone you know or not. Big, small, famous, homeless - it doesn't matter - you just have to find them interesting. Just send them a 4 line mail explaining that you'd like to pick their mind about something you're exploring. The response

How Can You Make a Bedtime Yoga Routine Work for You?

Thu, 15 Feb 2018 16:18:27 -0800

We live in a fast-paced world that often leads to over scheduling and high stress. You may be among those who find themselves chronically sleep deprived, which means you regularly get less than the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Developing and sticking to a bedtime yoga routine might be what you need to unwind at night and prepare your mind and body to get the rejuvenating rest your body craves.

Why do you need so much sleep?

The body performs vital functions while you sleep. During the day, your energy reserves are taken up with everything from critical thinking and basics tasks to problem-solving skills and digestion. While you sleep, all those activities cease, which allows your body to expend that energy elsewhere. The brain cleans itself while pruning and strengthening connections made during the day. The immune system goes to work and reduces inflammation while your body repairs and rebuilds any damaged muscle tissue.

However, getting the rest you need can be difficult. Stress, an unpredictable work schedule, or certain medical conditions can make it tough to get the shut-eye you need. That’s where a good bedtime yoga routine can make all the difference. Yoga reduces inflammation, boosts mood, and can help relieve stress-related tension that builds throughout the day.

How can I fit yoga into my bedtime routine?

The mind and body love a good routine. In fact, the body runs on regular routines call circadian rhythms that control your sleep cycle. When you consistently...Read More

5 Q's with Dan Houston, Yoga's Reverse Engineer.

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:48:02 -0700

Quick and candid with Dan Houston about training K-12 teachers to teach yoga and mindfulness, school-based yoga research, reverse engineering your yoga (and life) and the value of watching Fail Army.

Why we’re psyched about Dan?

Dan’s passion is empowering teachers and students to realize their fullest potential in the areas that matter most: yoga, work, school, goal setting, and family.

His scope of experience spans over multiple countries, a kinesiology and movement studies degree, a masters of education, and in-depth experience in a variety of Eastern practices (meditation, yoga, and various martial arts). Dan’s driving mission is to apply his depth of knowledge and experience to make a significant impact in the daily lives of the teachers and students he trains and serves.

Why we’re all psyched about what he’s doing?

Dan is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of In-Powered, and the Co-Owner of Mind Tribes, a yoga-inspired business and professional development company.

In-Powered is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that creates life-changing opportunities for those impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline through the transformative practice of yoga. They are committed to offering individualized yoga programs in schools, juvenile justice centers and prisons to create a powerful shift for individuals and their communities.

Mind Tribes is a yoga-inspired business and professional development company that empowers yoga practitioners, teachers and entrepreneurs through a suite of intensives and mindfulness trainings.

Our 5 Questions with Dan Houston

Thu, 09 Mar 2017 14:39:55 -0800

Quick and candid with journalist Sonia Azad about mindfulness in middle schools, Instagram yoga superstars and french fries.

By John Holcomb

Who is Sonia?

Sonia’s an Emmy® Award winning journalist who has spent her professional career globetrotting. From reporting on big stories for TV stations across the country, Sonia has covered youth and politics in Washington D.C., reported on global conflicts and war crimes from The Hague, and now files health and wellness reports as a medical correspondent at WFAA-TV (Channel 8) in Dallas. Along with an undergraduate degree in Journalism from The University of Texas, Sonia holds two advanced degrees (Journalism and Legal Studies) from Northwestern University.

Sonia's Yoga Background

Sonia has been practicing yoga since 1999. In 2015, Sonia became a RYT-200 certified yoga instructor through the The Yoga of You. She describes her current approach to yoga as old school-- deliberate, alignment-based mindful meditation in motion rather than fast-paced gymnastics. Sonia both teaches yoga at Balancing Energy Health & Yoga Center and leads destination retreats through One Yoga Global.

5 Questions for Sonia Azad

JOHN: How do you feel your high school experience would have been different had your teachers been yoga-certified?

SONIA: I think it's so easy to get lost in high school... figuratively and literally. There is so much happening -- emotionally, physically, mentally. I was fortunate to have incredible teachers and mentors who did their absolute best to ensure my...Read More

5 Questions with the radically honest (and fiery) Dr. Andrea Paige.

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 07:40:24 -0800

Quick and candid conversation with Amsterdam/Bali-Based Naturopath Dr. Andrea Paige about Tamil martial arts, her crush on Jason Silva and whether or not she plans on teaching in Antarctica.

By John Holcomb

Who is this international woman of mystery?

Andréa Paige (ND, MSc, E-RYT 500) is an Amsterdam/Bali-Based Naturopath, empowering people to take their health back into their own hands. Raising the bar on health, Andréa teaches in a fun-loving, accessible manner. Her robust educational foundation provides Andréa with a unique perspective in the healing world. Advanced studies in: Nutrition, Evolutionary Anthropology, Ethnobotany, Iridology, Colon Hydrotherapy and Yoga Therapy have culminated in a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine.

For the past nearly 4 years, Andréa served as the Director of Detox Programs at the renowned Yoga Barn in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, and now leads retreats independently worldwide. Her work focuses around equipping high achieving young professionals with instruments for inner exploration: explorations in "inner tuition" and ringing them back to a deep sense purpose and a vital connection to their aliveness. Oh, and she asked if you would stop by for tea @ liveforvitality.com!

5(ish) Questions for Dr. Andréa Paige

JOHN: Do you prefer I call you Dr. Paige or Andréa?

DR. PAIGE: Call me “Andi”, please John! I'm trying to get rid of that professional ego. I've been called Andi since the day I was born. :)

JOHN: OK then — What sets your soul on fire Andi?

ANDI: Haha! John… did you get that from my e-mail tagline…?! Hmmm… I AM fire, so it doesn't take much to...Read More

5 Qs w / "The Unbreakable" Judith Flores

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 09:11:18 -0800

Quick and candid conversation with fitness expert Judith Flores about the fusion of fitness and yoga, overcoming heartbreak & homelessness and whether or not she'll let me bail on my Ketogenic diet.

By John Holcomb

Who is Judith Flores

Judith is the owner of Emerge Fitness & Yoga Training. She’s a fitness expert for weight management, nutrition, and human performance as well as the dedicated mother of two boys, Ivan and Gael. Like many of the Yogis we've spoke with she's high achieving and remarkably resilient.

According to Larry Thraen, the owner of the Yoga of You, “Judith is 100% unstoppable and unbreakable. Whoever meets her realizes immediately that the concept of "impossible" is not part of her belief system. I’m so impressed as her as a person and a professional. It’s not difficult to see why her clients find her so inspiring."

Over the last 16 years, Judith has serviced more than 25,000 training sessions and holds numerous personal training certifications including from the highly coveted National Academy of Sports Medicine's (NASM) Optimum Performance Training© (OPT) and Professional Fitness Instructor Training (PFIT). She's also certified as a Performance Enhancement Specialist, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Rehabilitative Exercise Specialist and Cancer Exercise Specialist. (She's also a CPR instructor for the AMA and a P90X Live instructor to boot)

Judith & Yoga

Judith is currently blending her extensive background in fitness with her newly acquired Read More

5 Qs w/Hope Wills, the "Eclectic Yogini"

Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:12:49 -0800

Next stop on our 100 Yogi roadtrip is Hope Wills. Hope is a native Houstonian who has lived all over the lone star state as well as Brooklyn and Nashville. It took me about 10 seconds to understand why Hope has such a loyal following. Something in her voice is both strong and calming -- forthright. I got the sense that this is a woman with a very clear vision. Her authenticity and sense of humor came out immediately. In my mind, miles away in Wisconsin, we were already fast friends.

Yours too (I), Hope? :)

Larry, who has known Hope for years and is partnering with her on the Starry Sky Mountain Retreat in Colorado this summer, only confirmed my first impression.

“Hope is not your Instagram garden variety yoga instructor. She’s about as close to the real deal as it gets. It’s hard to leave one of her classes without feeling wholesome and grounded. She’s meticulous with her class planning. Her sequencing and playlists are flawless.”

Hope refers to herself as an "eclectic yogini" and draws from her early experiences practicing with Ashtanga, Anusara, and Jivamukti-trained teachers. However, her practice is also heavily influenced by her recent Hatha Yoga and meditation study in India which she credits for her a shift in her overall style. Her home practice is a slow flow practice with more emphasis on the breath and attention to the movement between the asanas rather than the number or difficulty of the asanas she incorporates. "I know it sounds corny, but I teach from my heart - and I believe in being completely vulnerable about where I am in my own practice and my shortcomings on an off the mat. AND… I don’t take my practice too seriously. I laugh at myself ALL THE TIME!"

One last thing I love...Read More

5 Qs w/Larry Thraen

Tue, 17 Jan 2017 10:14:14 -0800

Happy new year, friends and welcome to our joyful experiment. The concept and inspiration behind our project is to truly understand, from each of you and yogis everywhere, What is the Yoga of You...
Our goal is to reach out to 100 yogis that inspire us to ask them each 5 interesting questions during a 10-minute phone call (old school way of connecting!). They may be the same 5 questions as today or they may not. This is an experiment after all and your feedback will help guide the questions, of course. We’re looking to learn, be inspired, enjoy conversation and explore fresh ideas from unique perspectives. This is just the beginning of what we hope becomes a really open discussion, path-generator and connector for all of us.
Our first interview is with Larry Thraen, owner of The Yoga of You. Since we work for Larry, he better be our first interview or else. ;) If you don't know Larry (which you probably do), you can check out his bio on the website right here.
I caught up with Larry for 10 minutes during a virtual lunch. He was enjoying lentil soup at home in sunny Houston, TX. I was 'iced in' at my home office in Madison, WI because, well....Madison, WI.
Hope you enjoy my 5 question conversation with Larry as much as I did.
Namaste, Amanda
5 Questions for Larry Thraen
Hi Larry. We've got your 5 questions for you. Remember you instructed me to develop my own questions. No giving me a hard time on the questions.
Yes and Yes. Let's see what you got.
Question Number 1: Can you talk to us about a particular “a-ha” yoga moment that led to a major breakthrough in...Read More