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Happy Fall y’all! What a great turnout we had last week! It was so nice seeing everyone show up, roll out their mats, and make time for themselves. Thank you for bringing your energy and being such an important part of the Sixteen2Five community. And speaking of showing up, we have quite a week ahead. October came to a close and November opens up, we wrapped up Halloween, are adjusting to the end of Daylight Savings Time, and looking ahead to Día de los Muertos and Election D

Hello Ghouls, Goblins, Witches and Wizards! Halloween is creeping up, so it’s time to give yourself a little boo-st of feel-good movement! If you’re feeling a little creaky, your shoulders are tighter than a mummy’s wrap, your hips are howling, or your body feels like it’s been gathering cobwebs of a haunted house, I’ve got just the treat for you! Let’s Work on Getting Those Cobwebs Out! Stretch it out with yoga. Stretch away the spooks, release tension, and make a little mor

First, a big thank you! Thank you to everyone who replied to the questions in last week’s newsletter. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. I promise to give them all thoughtful consideration as we continue to grow and shape the studio together. Second, a familiar face is back! Vicki is back teaching the Gentle and Restorative class this Thursday. It was my pleasure to cover last week but it’s great to have her back, so be sur

Help Me Shape the Schedule (please) But first, before I forget, I will be teaching the Gentle and Restorative class on Thursday the 15th. I changed the description below and will probably forget to change it on next week’s newsletter but I’m writing it here, Vicki will be back on the 22nd :) Now, back to shaping the future. We’re heading into a busy season, and we know this time of year can make it even harder to find time for yourself. That’s why I’m thinking about how to ma

On my recent road trip up north, I got to see the very beginning of the fall colors emerge — slowly shifting from green to gold, orange, and red. That little bit of red among all the green was phenomenal! Such a beautiful contrast. My favorite was the hillsides. They looked like a patchwork quilt, with each tree adding its own little splash of color. While not always easy, it reminded me that change can be both natural and necessary. Trees don’t hold onto what they’ve outgrow

The trip isn’t going quite go as planned. The nor’easter had other ideas, and suddenly there was nowhere to go but… home (or in this case, the B&B in Mystic, CT). So I stayed inside, finished my book, and ate the rest of last night’s salad and pizza. Honestly? Not a bad way to spend an extremely windy and rainy day. And it reminded me that sometimes a rest day is exactly what we need and exactly what I took. We may struggle a bit with a case of the shoulds. I should go, I sho

Hi, how ahh ya?—I’m in Ogunquit, Maine! It means beautiful place by the sea. I am finishing up my quest to visit all 50 states and this is my first stop.This trip, I’ll also be staying in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island. I’ve noticed while traveling just how much I enjoy the experience of being in a new place—learning a bit of history, taking in the scenery, and opening myself up to something different. I also love that yoga and Pilates can come with me a

Y’all know me—I love to stretch. There’s something delightful about slowing down, breathing deeply, and feeling my body lengthen. I’ve been known to stretch while waiting in line at the store or use the nearest couch or bed for a modified downward dog when my back or shoulders are feeling tight. But as I get older, I’m realizing I need to add more strength to my routine, too. It’s all about balance! (See what I did there?) Strength helps us maintain stability, balance, postur

As we celebrate the unofficial end of Summer known as Labor Day, we’re reminded that Monday honors the labor movement and the contributions of workers — the people whose dedication and everyday work helps keep communities moving forward. But let’s also take a moment to appreciate a different kind of work: the work your body does for you. Every. Single. Day. Your body carries groceries, collects and delivers donations, does the laundry, mows the lawn — and gets you through err

I can’t speak for you but I’ve been feeling a little tender as I watch the goodbyes, the tributes, and the memorials to Dolly Parton. Whether you were a fan of her music or not, it’s hard to lose someone who seemed to bring so much light, laughter, music, generosity, and positive energy into the world. But if Dolly taught us anything, it’s that even when life gets a little heavy, there’s always room for a song, a smile, a little compassion—and maybe some very big hair. So thi

This week, I want to talk about balance. We sometimes think of balance as something we either have—or don’t. But balance is a skill we can practice and improve throughout our lives. Balance isn’t just about standing on one foot. It’s about functional balance: the ability to stay steady while doing the everyday things that make up our lives—getting up from a chair, reaching for something on a shelf, stepping over a doorway, turning, walking, or carrying something. The encourag

This week I have a question for you… No worries—there’s no wrong answer! Why do we call it a practice? There’s no simple explanation, but here’s a basic answer: because every day is different. Some days we feel strong and energetic; other days we need to move more gently. Our practice gives us a place to meet ourselves exactly as we are, where we are. And that’s one of the things I love about teaching online. You can join me from the comfort of your home, take the modificatio

I’m back in New Orleans after a tiring day of travel. Both flights were delayed—and, as it turns out, that was actually a good thing! If the second flight hadn’t been delayed, I would have missed it, had to spend the night in Las Vegas, and I’d do almost anything NOT to spend more time in Vegas than I have to, lol! It got me thinking about flexibility—getting and/or being flexible. When we think of flexibility in yoga, we often think about touching our toes, folding deeper, o

Thursday I fly back to New Orleans. Vicki will be leading the Gentle and Restorative class this week and throughout August (Thank you, Vicki!). Leaving CA is bittersweet. I love it out here: spending time with and helping my parents, seeing old friends, and, of course, enjoying their pool but I am also ready for my own space and returning to my routine. As I prepare to head to the Big Easy, I must admit going back brings mixed emotions—gratitude and reluctance, joy and uncert

Here’s the best news of the week: Vicki is teaching Monday’s Yoga for Flexibility, Strength and Balance class. Second best news: Momence links have been tested and everything is working! This week, my parents celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, and it's had me thinking about the many versions of ourselves we become through the years. In yoga, we call it abhyasa—steady, devoted practice. It's never been about perfection. It's about showing up, again and again, with patie

This week I’d like to ask, what counts as yoga? Is it when everything is perfect, the groceries are purchased and put away, the laundry is done, the dishes are cleaned up and dinner is in the Crock-Pot? Is it when our mat is laid out, props are at the ready, ambient music is playing, and the light is soft? If all this comes together,what’s your secret? Please share! Reality is much more challenging, unpredictable and unique. So here is why I’m asking a follow up question: Can

Happy Sunday, Everyone! I wanted to share the quick story behind the name of the studio, Sixteen2Five Yoga (or 1625, for short). When I was a kid, I had trouble saying my R's. "car" sounded like caw, "water" came out wa-dew, and, of course, "four" became faux. Before long, my family discovered this was pretty entertaining and loved asking me what time it was at 4:44. Eventually, I figured out a way around it. Instead of struggling through and saying "faux faux-ty-faux," I'd r

I'm going to keep this week's newsletter short and sweet since it's my first of what I hope will be many weekly updates. I'm looking forward to exploring a variety of topics with you and I always welcome your suggestions. For this first newsletter, I'd like to share something I learned during teacher training that has been on my mind a lot over the past week: Beginner's Mind. It's exactly what it sounds like—before we can become anything else, we must first be beginners. When