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.

Inversions in yoga—whether gentle or advanced—offer a unique opportunity to cultivate strength, confidence, and play. While these postures can be intimidating, they also invite us to shift perspective, confront fear, and rediscover joy in movement.

For yoga teachers, one of the most powerful tools in your teaching journey is your voice—not just how you sound, but your unique expression, perspective, and presence. Finding your voice is a dynamic process that evolves with time, practice, and experience.

The concept of chakras has captivated spiritual seekers, yogis, and wellness practitioners for centuries. Are they a literal energy system? Are they metaphorical representations of our emotional and psychological life? Or are they something else entirely?

Many of us spend long hours sitting—working at desks, driving, or using screens—which can lead to poor posture, physical discomfort, and mental fatigue. Yoga offers practical tools to help rebalance the body and restore mental clarity, even in small pockets throughout the day. Here are some accessible ways to bring movement, breath, and awareness into your daily routine.

One of the most foundational yet nuanced concepts in yoga is the balance between effort and ease. Known in Sanskrit as sthira (steadiness) and sukha (ease or sweetness), this dynamic is at the heart of yoga practice and philosophy—from posture to breath, from nervous system regulation to the way we live our daily lives.

In the ever-modernizing world of postural yoga, it’s easy to lose touch with ancient symbolism and spiritual context. Yet nestled at the heart of many classes lies a single resonant sound with the power to unite breath, body, and spirit: Om.

Meditation is one of the most misunderstood yet transformative elements of the yogic path. It's often depicted as a serene practice reserved for the spiritually enlightened, but in truth, meditation is accessible to everyone, no matter your background, beliefs, or current mental state.

For many yoga practitioners, there comes a moment when the desire to go deeper becomes undeniable. Maybe the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training was years ago. Maybe teaching has started to feel routine. Or maybe there’s a calling—not to start over, but to evolve.

As the heat of summer settles in, especially in places like Kansas City with its intense humidity and bold seasonal shifts, Ayurveda offers a holistic toolkit to help keep the body, mind, and spirit balanced. In Ayurvedic philosophy, summer is ruled by the dosha Pitta, composed of the elements fire and water. While this season can be vibrant and energizing, it can also lead to physical and emotional overheating if not approached with care.

As the U.S. celebrates Independence Day, many reflect on the idea of freedom—often through the lens of national identity and personal liberties. But in yoga philosophy, freedom takes on an entirely different, and deeply internal, meaning. It’s not about doing whatever we want, whenever we want. It’s about liberation from ego, fear, and attachment—and living in alignment with our truest selves.

Savasana. Corpse Pose. The final resting pose at the end of most yoga classes—and often the first thing to get skipped when time is short or minds are busy. But here’s the truth: Savasana isn’t just lying down. It’s not a nap. It’s not the throwaway pose. It’s the heart of the practice.

Over the years, I’ve fielded many thoughtful questions from students:

“What am I supposed to do in Savasana?”

“Should my mind be quiet?”

“What’s the right way to lay?”

This posture can feel mysterious or even uncertain, especially in a culture that equates stillness with laziness. But in yogic philosophy, neuroscience, and my own lived experience, Savasana is a profound and essential part of yoga. Let’s explore why.

When I first fell in love with yoga, I was coming back to movement after years of inactivity. I had danced throughout my youth, but somewhere along the way I lost my regular practice. Yoga helped me rebuild strength, reconnect to my body, and discover a new kind of empowerment.

But as the years went on—and as my asana practice deepened—I began to experience something unexpected: chronic pain, instability, and even injury.

It wasn’t because I wasn’t practicing. In fact, I was practicing daily. What I came to realize was that mobility without strength was leaving me vulnerable. My body needed more support than yoga alone could provide.

That realization changed everything.

In 2018, I hired a personal trainer who taught me the basics of resistance training. I learned how to deadlift, how to squat, how to safely load weight—and my body transformed. The pain I had carried started to dissipate. My joints felt more stable. And, maybe best of all, my yoga practice became more powerful, more fluid, and more sustainable than ever before.

Today, strength training is as essential to me as yoga. I want to be practicing both until I’m 108—seriously.

Yoga retreats have always held a special kind of magic for me. As I write this, I’m preparing to leave for my next retreat in the Algarve, Portugal—bags nearly packed, itinerary double-checked, and a beautiful group of humans about to gather for what I know will be a transformative experience.

This pre-retreat moment is always a blend of anticipation and grounded intention. I want everything to feel just right—for the journey to be smooth, the connections to flow easily, and the practices to land deeply.

And it got me thinking: why are yoga retreats so powerful? Why do they feel so different from a regular vacation—or even our regular practice?