The phrase “we store trauma in the hips” gets repeated often in yoga spaces—especially right before pigeon pose or other deep “hip openers.” For many students, it resonates. Emotions can rise unexpectedly: tears, memories, a wave of sensation that feels bigger than “just a stretch.”

But as thoughtful practitioners—and especially as yoga teachers—there’s a responsibility to pause and ask:

Is this literal or metaphorical? What does science actually say? And how does yoga philosophy understand the relationship between body, emotion, and memory?

This post is an exploration, not a definitive verdict—offered with humility, honesty, and care.

As a new year unfolds, many people feel an inner pull to reflect on purpose—on what truly matters and how they want to move through the world. In yoga philosophy, this inquiry is known as Dharma: the path of truth, alignment, and meaningful action. Rather than a rigid destiny or fixed role, Dharma is a living, evolving relationship with one’s inner wisdom.

This teaching invites practitioners to listen deeply, act courageously, and trust the quiet knowing that guides each step forward.

As the chakra journey continues, attention moves upward from grounding and flow into the solar plexus chakra, known in Sanskrit as Manipura. This energy center is the seat of personal power, clarity, and purposeful action. It is where intention becomes movement and inner knowing transforms into embodied confidence.

The beginning of a new year often arrives with pressure—to fix, overhaul, and transform life overnight. Yoga offers a different invitation. Rather than resolutions rooted in self-improvement or perceived lack, yogic philosophy invites practitioners to begin again through Sankalpa: an intention that arises from wholeness, wisdom, and devotion.

This approach honors the natural rhythms of growth and aligns intention not with ego, but with the deeper self.

As the year draws to a close, the rhythm of winter invites us to pause, reflect, and soften. The end of one cycle and the beginning of another is a sacred threshold—an opportunity to let go of what no longer fits and to make space for what’s yet to come.

This practice of reflection is not merely an act of nostalgia—it’s a form of yoga. Through Svadhyaya (self-study) and Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender), we create time to look inward, integrate our experiences, and release what we’ve outgrown. When paired with Abhyasa (practice) and Vairagya (non-attachment), this ritual becomes an alchemy of clarity, compassion, and renewal.

So today, I invite you into a year-end yoga ritual—a ceremony of letting go and welcoming the light ahead.

As the light fades and the days grow shorter, the Winter Solstice offers us a sacred pause—a threshold between darkness and light, stillness and renewal. Across centuries and cultures, this turning point has been celebrated as a moment of reverence, reflection, and hope. In yoga and Ayurveda, the solstice mirrors the deep intelligence of nature, reminding us to rest, replenish, and trust in the gradual return of the sun.

As the seasons turn toward winter, nature calls us to slow down. In yoga, this shift toward quiet and reflection is beautifully embodied in Yin Yoga—a practice of stillness, surrender, and deep listening. While Vinyasa, Hatha, and power practices build heat and strength (the yang side of yoga), Yin invites us into the yin: cooling, introspective, and deeply nourishing.

n yoga and in life, we are constantly invited to dance between two forces—Abhyasa (discipline, practice, effort) and Vairagya (surrender, letting go, acceptance). These complementary teachings, rooted in Yoga Sutra 1.12, remind us that “the fluctuations of the mind are stilled through practice and non-attachment.”

Finding harmony between these two energies can be one of life’s greatest lessons—and one of yoga’s most powerful gifts.

Yoga invites us to look beyond the physical postures and into the subtle layers of our being. One of the most profound yet less-discussed aspects of yoga is the prana vayus—the five currents of life force energy that flow through the body. Rooted in the Upanishads and expanded upon in classical yogic texts, these vayus reveal how energy moves within us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. By understanding them, we can add intention and depth to our practice on and off the mat.

As the pace of the year quickens and the world invites us into busyness, yoga reminds us to slow down—to savor, to breathe, and to be present. This Thanksgiving week, let’s explore how true gratitude isn’t something we force, but something we feel through embodied awareness and mindful presence.

The journey through the chakras continues with the second energy center—the Sacral Chakra, or Svadhisthana. If the Root Chakra grounds us into safety and belonging, the Sacral Chakra invites us to move, create, and feel. It is the seat of pleasure, emotion, sensuality, and flow—the energy that gives color and rhythm to life.

Every yogi remembers that moment—the quiet, subtle voice inside whispering, “There’s something more for you here.” Maybe you’ve heard that call, too. Perhaps you’ve been practicing for a while and feel ready to go deeper into yoga philosophy, alignment, and self-discovery. Or maybe you simply crave a meaningful reset and a community of like-hearted people.

If you’re feeling that gentle pull, this post is for you.

Yoga isn’t only about the poses—it’s also about how we meet the world and ourselves with clarity and compassion. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.33 offers timeless guidance for emotional intelligence and equanimity. Known as the “locks and keys,” this teaching invites us to respond to life’s challenges with wisdom instead of reactivity.

By cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the suffering, delight in the virtuous, and equanimity toward the non-virtuous, the mind retains its undisturbed calm.

Halloween may bring up images of ghosts and goblins, but for many of us, the real monsters live inside our phones. Social media is one of the most powerful—and at times frightening—forces shaping our lives today. It promises connection, but often delivers distraction, comparison, and manipulation.

Through the lens of yoga philosophy, we can bring awareness and balance to our digital lives, transforming social media from a trap into a tool.

Yoga invites us into balance—between movement and stillness, effort and ease, doing and being. One of the most powerful practices to embody this balance is Yoga Nidra, also known as yogic sleep. This guided meditation technique creates a bridge between wakefulness and sleep, offering profound rest, nervous system regulation, and even spiritual insight.

Restorative yoga is one of the most profoundly healing and nourishing practices in yoga, yet it is often overlooked in a culture that glorifies productivity and busyness. Unlike more active forms of yoga, restorative is not about movement, intensity, or even stretching—it is about intentional rest.

When practiced regularly, restorative yoga offers balance, nervous system support, and deep emotional healing. It teaches us the art of surrender, helping us release effort and reconnect with ease.

Welcome to the first post in this chakra mini-series. If you want a broader primer, you can read/listen to the overview episode on chakras first—but you can also dive right in here and circle back later.

The root chakra—Muladhara (Sanskrit for “root support”)—is the foundation of the seven-chakra system. It’s located at the base of the spine/pelvic floor and governs the legs and feet. Whether you relate to chakras as subtle anatomy or as a rich metaphor, this lens offers a practical way to reconnect with your body, your home, and your sense of enoughness.

For many yoga teachers, completing a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training is a transformative milestone. It provides the tools to teach confidently, share philosophy, and step into leadership. But for some, the journey doesn’t end there. The call to go deeper—to refine, expand, and embody yoga at a more profound level—becomes undeniable.

That is where the 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training comes in.

This year marks a milestone close to my heart: True Love Yoga turns 10 years old. What began as a spontaneous outdoor yoga class in 2015 has grown into a thriving community that has weathered ups, downs, and transformations—all while staying rooted in love, authenticity, and connection.

As I reflect on the past decade, I’m filled with gratitude for every student, teacher, and supporter who has helped shape this journey.

As summer winds down and fall routines begin, the season invites us to reconnect—with rhythm, structure, and most importantly, with our yoga practice. Just like sharpened pencils and fresh notebooks symbolize new beginnings, the transition from summer to fall offers a natural moment to reset and recommit to the mat.