September Newsletter

REFLECTIONS

September is a great month for transitions and a renewal of energy. You might find a new found pep in yo'step this month as new opportunities open up for you, the days start to shorten, and in some places, the weather shifts. Here in Rochester, Minnesota, I'm seeing this first hand. The leaves are starting to turn and I'm finding my morning walks with my dog Stormi have a certain kick in the air. We leave the patio door open and shut the screen door, letting in fresh "cool" air and sunlight in. Feel free to be jealous if you're reading this from the triple digits in Phoenix, eeks! I'm trying to soak it all in, knowing our first winter will be here sooner than later, and then I'll be jealous of you!

I'm looking forward to visiting Phoenix in October, where I'll be giving a workshop at Mountainside Fitness and subbing classes! More details will come out in next month's newsletter (or sooner)!

As far as new opportunities opening up, I'm excited to announce I enrolled in my second 200hr Yoga Teacher training! It's an online program that focuses on anatomy based yoga. After I finish that, I'll complete an additional 100hr teacher training to accomplish my 500hr YTT. I can't want to share what I learn with you all! I've also bit the bullet and applied for a job at the local gym I joined. I'm all set for an interview later this month and wonder if teaching classes is in my path here, even though I said I would take the year off, ha! Typical, right? You know me...I can't help it, hehe. Teaching is my love language!

How do you face transitions, changes, and renewals? If a new opportunity arose for you, would you take it?

MOTION IS LOTION!

In the fitness world, we do burpees.

In the yoga world, we do Sun Salutations.

Did you know they’re basically the same thing?

In these videos below, I break down the Basic Sun A, Traditional Sun A, Sun Salutation B, and The Burpee - with a special guest host 😊.

Basic Sun A

Traditional Sun A

Sun B - Breakdown

Sun B Fluid

Burpee Breakdown with special guest

SUN SALUTATION EXPLAINED

Surya Namaskara in Sanskrit, meaning “Sun” and “to bow down” or “show gratitude,” is a series of movements when connected with your breath, can provide a wide range of feelings. Depending on your movement through each posture, you might feel

• Energized

• Relaxed

• Awakened

• Sweaty

You can use Sun Salutations as a warm up or dedicate your entire practice to them. In Ashtanga Yoga, both Sun A & Sun B are repeated 5 times before moving on to the standing postures. Sun Salutations provide a great pre-workout warm up as well!

Stock Photo

Benefits of doing Sun Salutations:

• Improved Cardiovascular Conditioning

• Strengthen & Lengthen muscles and joints.

• Great way to burn calories

• Improves focus, can promote mental/emotional stability, facilitates stress release.

With all these benefits, I highly recommend memorizing these two Sun Salutations and make them a staple in your practice or pre-workouts.

BURPEE EXPLAINED

You love ‘em or you HATE ‘em, right? News Flash: If you’ve done the Sun Salutation A before, you’ve pretty much done a burpee! And vice versa…if you’ve done a burpee, you’ve basically performed most of the Sun Salutation!

Starting from standing:

• Jump or lift to the tippy toes

• Hands go to the ground and fee step (or hop) back

• Plank with the option to push-up

• Step (or hop) the feet towards the hands

• Stand up and start all over!

Stock Photo

Are you starting to see a resemblance in these two pictures?!? There are different way to spice up the burpee. You can add or subtract most any motion into this basic burpee format to cater to your own style. Scroll up and read the benefits of Sun Salutations again because they are also found in the burpee. Yes, you can even feel a sense of calm doing burpees (you know if you know…).

SUM UP

I hope you all take in everything September has to offer. I've given myself the mantra, "I am able to adapt and pivot to my circumstances" to help me remember that ultimately, I'm the one in charge of my life and my happiness. Whether it's opening up to new opportunities that will come your way, feeling a renewal of energy and spirit, learning about the Sun Salutations and Burpees, or you're scrolling just cuz, my wish is that you found something of value in this newsletter. I enjoy being able to "connect" with you all, even though it's not in person. Have a wonderful September!

CONNECT

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