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Receive a Private Evaluative Yoga Session before you join a scheduled practice. I Don't Need No Stinking Props!I have been guiding Yoga Practices since 2006. My practice and teaching style began as Vinyasa. I had no desire to appear as though I didn't know what I was doing or that I needed a prop to access a posture. I was young, fit, strong and (kind of) flexible.  Experience Leads to WisdomMy teacher, guide and friend, Amy Pearce-Hayden, strongly suggested that I teach an alignment practice. It changed my entire perspective. I had to practice with tools in order to be able to teach with them. I had to focus upon what I was doing accurately, inaccurately and also what I saw my practitioners doing with their bodies. I would practice creating with my body the postures that I saw my practitioners doing. I became skilled at seeing, feeling and doing postures with both accuracy and misalignment.  Begin Where You AreRather than attempting to force me into shifting my perspective, Amy gave me the opportunity to experience what I wasn't willing to see. I was allowed to work from my practice of Vinyasa and develop a deeper understanding of the postures through my own practice and desire to be a better teacher. This is what an Evaluative Session can do for you. Before jumping into one of the practices at LTY give yourself the opportunity to get to know Jenay and the Rajahatha lineage. Give us the opportunity to learn about your practice, understanding and experiences. Then, we can work together to help you choose the practices that most align with your needs and desires. Are you ready to begin the practice at LTY? Request an Evaluative Session to identify the best sessions with which to start.
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Guest Article: Trevor McDonald - Website Life is chaotic. From the moment you wake up and open your eyes, you’re already being greeted with a steady stream of stimuli from seemingly everywhere. And that’s even before you get out of bed! It’s all too easy to want to block everything out, put your blinders on, and try to slog through your day-to-day routine. It’s easy to become so focused on just getting through your day, that when it winds down to an end? You realize you haven’t even focused on one single thing. You were just go-go-go, trying to survive another day. That simply won’t do. That lack of mindfulness can come back to haunt you. You may not even realize it, but being detached and distracted can be very harmful to you. It’s so important to be in the moment, be focused, and be mindful. Yet these days, more and more people are detached, distracted, and unaware. It’s easy to get distracted by countless ads, blog posts about how to avoid body shaming, and everything in between. The truth is, mindfulness – within your daily routine as well as in your Yoga practice – is an essential element to both your physical and mental wellness.  What Is Mindful Focus & Why Does It Matter? It’s so easy to get caught up in the big picture that you overlook the smaller details in life. When you feel like your attention is pulled in a thousand different directions, feeling overstimulated and overwhelmed can seem normal. The thing is, though, that it’s not normal to feel like you’re constantly on an emotional or mental ledge. Over time, chronic stress can actually be extremely harmful to your health. Mindfulness can help redirect your thoughts, allowing you a chance to relax and breathe. Practicing mindful focus has been shown to have several important health benefits. People who practice mindfulness tend to be happier overall and have better health. They're less likely to get sick too since mindfulness has been shown to help boost immunity. Mindfulness is also a great way to help relieve anxiety and stress. If you feel like you’re so overwhelmed with tension and stress that your mind doesn’t want to shut off at night, you may benefit from mindfulness. It has been shown to help those suffering from insomnia, too. Finally, people who struggle with chronic pain have reported finding lasting relief from their aches through meditation. As you can see, mindful focus isn’t just something that gets passed around by yogis; even researchers and medical professionals can agree that it’s got some pretty incredible health benefits!  Practicing Yoga to Become a Healthier YouIf it feels like your mind is racing and you can’t seem to shut it off, you’re not alone. If you’re struggling to calm your mind, then you may find that practicing mindful focus through yoga can be incredibly helpful. It’s important to remember that yoga isn’t something that’s reserved exclusively for the trained and enlightened. It’s a practice that’s inviting to people of all age groups, genders, and backgrounds. Before you can understand the benefits of yoga, though, you first need to understand what the principles of yoga are. Yoga focuses on a combination of special techniques. More commonly, they include learning specific poses, mindful focus, and breathing. Together, these make up a portion of yoga. By taking the time to practice and grow with yoga, you can start to notice a huge difference in your overall well-being. Because Yoga poses are a type of gentle exercise, it can have incredible effects on your physical health. Yoga can help relieve chronic lower back pain, for example. It can also help with numerous neurological disorders that can cause severe pain and discomfort. Researchers have found that it can help with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and fibromyalgia. They can also help lower your blood pressure, allowing you to live a much healthier life. Yoga has been shown to help address a huge spectrum of both physical and mental health issues, as well. It can help treat depression, reduce stress, help with addiction, and reduce insomnia. Regular practice of yoga poses can also help boost your immune system, reducing your risk of catching an illness. The bottom line? Just the mere practice of yoga can greatly, significantly improve your quality of life.  Applying Mindful Focus to Your Daily LifeApplying the principles of yoga to your daily life doesn’t have to be something difficult or complex.
You don’t need to worry about trying to carve hours of your week to focus on, well, focusing. In fact, even taking the time to practice a tiny bit of yoga can be quite beneficial to your health and welfare. Even if you don’t have an hour to commit to yoga, you can still find a few small ways to sneak it in. Finding even 10 or 20 minutes to practice mindfulness can still be a positive influence in your life. Even better? You can do it right here, right now, in the clothes you’re wearing – no special equipment or yoga mats needed! To dip your toes into a yoga practice, you need to start small. Take 10 minutes to focus on your breathing. See if you can relax your mind and try to meditate. If you have a few more minutes, then the gentle hatha yoga postures can help you work out the stress and aches of your body and mind. Begin with Hatha, after you have developed control and ease of the postures, then you might attempt the styles of yoga that have grown from Hatha such as vinyasa or Yin yoga. Yoga is so inclusive and gentle that it can be beneficial to you, no matter your age or current ability level. There really is no excuse not to practice it. That’s the wonderful thing about yoga. There really is something for everyone. The more you practice yoga and mindfulness, the better you will start to feel. If you’re looking to improve your focus, reduce your stress, enhance your outlook on life, and even shed a few unwanted pounds, yoga is for you. What are you waiting for? Your inner peace awaits you. You just have to be ready and willing to practice mindful focus. Are you ready? 1) Tahoe is a Year-Round PlaygroundWe have what are called "Multi-Sport Days" in Lake Tahoe. Any day of the year can include skiing, hiking, biking, swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, and more. In any month of the year you can go out for a relaxing boat ride or tour the basin via car. Between the Tahoe Basin and the valleys below there are so many options for activities that you will need to stay for more than a weekend to truly understand why we love Tahoe. When planning any retreat, it is important to have options. In Tahoe, they are built in. We have activities for people of all ages, sizes and ability levels. Every day of your retreat can include a new adventure that you can guide yourself, or hire a resident to arrange something just for your group.  2) This is the Air the Angels BreatheMark Twain is quoted as saying, "To breathe the same air as the angels, you must go to Tahoe." Lake Tahoe is the perfect place to breathe freely. The fresh mountain air, blue bird skies and incredible views will refresh and renew you from the outside-in. Residents of the basin will often brag of feeling like "super heroes" when at lower elevation. The thin air results in a need to breathe more deeply, move with consciousness, and consider what your body needs. Every breath you take while on your Yoga Retreat will remind you of the value of breathing. The ancient Yogis would head to the Himalaya to practice. In Tahoe you can discover why they chose the mountains as a place to practice mindfulness, breath and movement.  3) The ViewsIn the studio, on the beach or paddle board, atop a mountain, on a boat, a roof deck or on the lawn; no matter where you choose to practice, the view is sure to be amazing. Studios like Lake Tahoe Yoga offer the unique option of a custom-built practice at the location of your choosing. The intention is to set the stage for a Yoga Adventure. Yoga is the practice of union and one of the best ways to connect with yourself, others and the world around you is to engage. Learn to practice with the sand between your toes, a board shifting on the water, the wind blowing and birds singing. At Lake Tahoe all this an more will enhance your practice. Seek out an instructor who is familiar with the area and has local connections. Tahoe is a magical place with many unique and hidden opportunities. Trying to discover the best view or place in which to practice takes time. Rely on those who know.  4) We Know How to Have FunLake Tahoe is located on the border of California and Nevada. California is known for having a laid back lifestyle and easy going attitude. Nevada has a reputation for nights that never end. Lake Tahoe combines the best of both worlds. Rent a boat and relax on the water or spend some time in the sun on the sand. Tour the Thunderbird Lodge, go down to Vikingsholm, climb up Fannettte Island or dive off of the rocks near D.L. Bliss or walk the grounds of the Pope Estate. In the evenings, plan for food and drinks, dancing and more. There are places to find mocktails, vegetarian and vegan options as well as locally sourced foods. Whichever type of fun you are into, Tahoe can accommodate. Yelp can help, but a resident will be your best source for places to try. The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority can direct you to Tahoe's Best spots for fun, relaxation, food and more.  5) Tahoe is still a Hidden GemVisitors typically come to Tahoe for two reasons: Winter and Summer. What most people don't know is that Tahoe has more to offer. The warmth of Spring brings with it fields of wildflowers and soft mountain biking trails as well as the rush of waterfalls . The Fall season is crisp and cool. It is the perfect time for a beach cookout or early morning paddle. Tahoe is beautiful during every season, but only peaceful during a few months out of the year. When planning your yoga retreat consider visiting when it's less busy and you'll find that peace is easy to find. Jenay specializes in creating unique practices that honor your requests and always includes some extra TLC. Contact Lake Tahoe Yoga to join a scheduled practice or, have one customized for your group.
When life gets busy, it’s easy to find yourself in a nonstop routine that cultivates tension and anxiety. Awareness of not only your surroundings but also your inner emotional state is fundamental to yoke the energy of concentration. The practice of incorporating mindful practices as well as physical effort can help you establish a happier and healthier life.  Your yoga practice doesn’t have to stop when you leave the mat. Whether it’s running out of the house to pick up the kids from sports, making dinner for a family of 8, or even coping with a lost loved one, check out these mindfulness exercises to harness your ability to deal with life’s challenges.  Mindful Breathing Never underestimate the power of simplicity. Maintain awareness of your breath and focus your attention on moving the breath in and out. This exercise can be done at any time of the day and in any position anywhere. The results can be tremendous.
Concentration Now that you’ve focused on your breath, follow your breath beginning to end. Sustain your awareness and let fleeting thoughts pass.
Awareness of Your Body Tension in the body can be released by the mind. Awareness of the body can help bring oneness to the body and mind. The more peace and harmony in your breathing, the more it will reflect in your body.
 Mindful Walking Self-reflection is essential to appreciating the wonders of life and letting go of the things that hold us back. Mindful walking is a simple technique that can enable you to find your purpose, increase your well-being, and give you the clarity to navigate yourself through the world.
Slow Down A warrior never rushes. Combat the addiction to rush and stay present. Slowing down can sometimes be the best way to speed up. Whether it’s moving slower, taking time to think about the things you speak, find perspective on balance by calming the body, mind, and spirit in preparation for meditation.  The combination of mindfulness and physical activity is the crux of combating negative thinking and emotional distress. Although this practice requires discipline and self-control, mindfulness can transform your ability to concentrate and make a breakthrough. The focal point of mindfulness practices is meditation. The combination of physical and mental practices can train the body to stay calm and be observant. This concentration allows one to wake dormant energy toward awakening. Christin Lee is a yoga instructor, entrepreneur, and lifestyle blogger living in NYC. She currently writes for InsiderEnvy with an emphasis and focus on fitness, health, and universal human rights.
Lessons Learned in the Bahamas: Always carry a MacheteAny job can be made easier if you choose the correct tools. On a trip in the Bahamas I decided to collect various coconuts in order to experience the difference between young coconut water and the meat of a mature coconut. I did my research and knew what to look for, then went around the area collecting. When it came time to open the coconuts I discovered that the only tools available to do so were kitchen knives. Oh how a machete would have made a difference! After hours of whacking, smashing, shaving, and cutting, I opened all of the coconuts and was able to enjoy the fruits of my labor. Had I a machete, the work would have taken one quarter the time.  How to Practice Hatha YogaHatha Yoga focuses on the practice of asana, pranayama and kriya. It is the most popular practice in the United States. As a result, there are hundreds of companies selling products to help you improve your practice. Traditionally, there are just 3 tools you need in order to practice Yoga everywhere: your body, your breath and your mind. However, being able to create a space and access poses with ease often requires some assistance. When you don't have your instructor near, a few tools can change everything.  Tahoe Yoga Tools: A Unique Souvenier Over time we have tested a variety of asana tools. Due to our small retail space, we carry very few. Those that are on our shelves have been tested and proven. These are the tools we use in our studio and the ones we recommend for you to use during your practice. Manduka Mats stay clean, show little wear (over years of use) and are easy to clean. Our foam blocks are lightweight which make them durable and easy to toss to the side, or lift over head. We also get a pretty sweet bulk discount from Yoga Direct. Our Yoga Straps are sold exculsively in the studio. Our director, Jenay, makes them from organic cotton and YKK clips. You won't find these anywhere else. The same goes for our Lavender Eye Sachets. Filled with organic lavender and buckwheat, they are unique to LTY.  Support Your Self, Support Small BusinessAs you begin to practice Hatha Yoga more seriously, consider the tools with which you approach your practice. Consider the source and the quality. Consider for whom you practice. Join us for a class and gain more than just awareness. Develop the physical skills to access deeper areas of your own body. Lengthen your breath and become aware of your emotions. Learn to listen to the chatter in your mind and quiet the unnecessary thoughts. Do so with the correct tools and you will develop a stronger practice. Pratyahara Package1 Manduka eKO Mat
2 Foam Blocks 1 Yoga Strap OR Eye Sachet $110 Visit Lake Tahoe Yoga to purchase. Orders may be placed online for pick-up at studio. Yoga vs yogaDuring a recent video stream, the difference between capital "Y" Yoga and lowercase "y" yoga was described. The first being the traditional practice as described by the Yoga Sutra and Hatha Yoga Pradipika. The latter, being the practices commonly engaged in by modern Americans. What is the difference? INTENTION: Yoga practitioners are seeking betterment, contentment, enlightenment, while yoga practitioners are seeking a better body, group affiliation and fun. The traditional practice of Yoga has been copied, cut, split, divided and sectioned out. There are hundreds of styles that focus on just a few of the aspects of the practice. As a yoga practitioner, you are only getting a tiny taste of a very big pie. Be Willing to ListenTo truly practice Yoga you have to be able to honor the traditions outlined in texts from over 5000 years ago while still existing and functioning as a human living in today's society. This is not easy. Many Yogis are perceived as weirdos who are out of touch with the rest of the world. Look at Jim Carey; he understands Yoga, but his words are falling upon deaf ears. Many of those with whom he speaks are not practicing Yoga. What he has to say is difficult to grasp, therefore, it can sound as though he has lost his mind. Yoga practitioners are willing to listen, even if we don't quite understand. We are ready to learn, to experience, to gain wisdom. Be Willing to CompromiseYou perceive the world based upon your upbringing and experiences. You see the world through your own eyes. You will never be able to see it as your brother, best friend, grandfather, or aunt does. At all times, we must do our best to attempt to see the world in another way, even though it will always be shaded by our own perspective. We can compromise. We can reach out to others and meet them where they are. At Lake Tahoe Yoga we do this by offering our weekly Vinyasa & Vino practice. We are seeking yoga practitioners who are willing to attempt to see the world differently. We want to meet you and hear about how you see the world. We have opened our door to invite you in to learn about the traditional practice of Yoga and to encourage you to try it out. We want you to feel good, to look good and to have fun as well as to listen, learn and discover your Self. Join us on Friday evenings for Vinyasa; a sequence of interconnected movements that encourage grace. Then stay for a glass of wine and Satsang; a conversation among like-minded people.  You are out of BalanceYou night not notice it, but you have become so comfortable with how things are that you just accept that this is how you are supposed to feel. When was the last time you checked in with yourself? When was the last time you tried something new? When was the last time you felt uncomfortable? When was the last time you allowed yourself 15 minutes of time to allow your thoughts to run wild? When was the last time you allowed yourself 15 minutes to quiet those thoughts?  How well do you know your Self?In the movie Anger Management, the main character is asked to explain who he is. Can you do this? Without describing yourself as what you do, who you know, where you live, what you enjoy? Can you describe your Self? Try this: write down that which you do, where you live, what you enjoy, who you know, who you are in relation to others, etc. Now, describe what you look like, what you love and what you dislike about yourself. Now, read what you have written. Is this you?  You are not your self.Through the practice of yoga asana we develop an understanding of our habits. We learn that we have, over time, developed practices that protect us, that compensate, that hide the imabalances. When we direct our breath, we identify the limitations we place upon ourselves and the ways in which we cheat ourselves from accepting who we are and what we need. When we sit or rest in silence we learn to listen to the chattering within us. We begin to hear our body and breath. We notice the useless thoughts buzzing around in our heads. Movement, breath and silence help us to identify all of the imbalances to which we are blind; it sheds light upon that which we have allowed to hide in the darkness. You are your SelfWe are not here to direct you through a workout or fix your ailments. We are here to help you to identify your imbalances. We are here to guide you through asana sequences that address physical and energetic change. We are here to guide you through breathing practices that shift your awareness and spark emotion. We are here to encourage you to be silent so that you can hear the chatter of your mind. It's time to show up. To be here. It's time to seek synchronicity.  Create SynchronicityYoga's sister science, Auyrveda, brings balance to our body, breath and mindful practices. By evaluating our lifestyle, eating, sleeping and working habits, we begin to paint a picture of who we are. We begin to see the difference between the self and the Self! We become whole only by breaking apart the pieces of our own individual puzzling selves. Each of us is like a puzzle that appears to be put together, but when you look closely, you see that there are pieces added or misplaced. As we practice, as we shed light upon the darkness, we begin to identify the pieces that need to be removed or replaced. Book a Synchronicity Session today.30 minutes
$40 Identify imbalances. Learn how to return to your true nature. Return to synchronicity through specified practices. Why do you practice Yoga? Is it for fitness, relaxation? Is it because your friends do it? Yoga is not something that we do in order to get something nor is it a fad to be attempted and abandoned when something new comes along. It is a practice for life. If you've been practicing and haven't noticed any changes beyond the physical, perhaps it's time to find a teacher who offers more than postural instruction.  Yoga is an ancient practice and science. What was discovered long ago by the ancient yogis was that there was more to life than what they could see. With each new level of consciousness reached, they sought more, they reached further. Today, may of us begin the practice with the physical (Hatha). To do Yoga we must apply the system of practices in a way that improves us beyond the physical. We must seek that which lies beyond what we can see. My teacher and I were speaking about the dilution of Yoga that has occurred over the past decade or so. She said to me, "Imagine someone deciding to go to school to be a chef. On the first day, the teacher tells them to get out a knife and cutting board, eat a hot pepper and then go take a nap. This is what is happening in many Yoga classes: the instructor has been told that there are things we do in the practice, but they are not taught why, how or when they should be done." I couldn't agree more. With few exceptions, every class I have recently attended has included aspects of the practice applied inaccurately or in incorrect sequence. It felt just as my teacher had described: like I'd eaten a hot pepper and tried to go take a nap.  The practice of Yoga is complete; it addresses body, breath, energy, emotion and thought. Through fitness, we find strength and balance in our bodies which moves us beyond our limits; beyond our fears. Pranayama (directed breathing techniques) connect body, energy, emotions and thoughts. Through mindfulness practices we find an inner calm that we can draw upon even in the most stressful of situations. These practices develop individual awareness and connections with others. They help us to discover the bonds between all things in the universe. In the ancient texts these practices are outlined specifically. They are described and prescribed specifically. The names, techniques as well as time and place are included. To ignore these explanations is to ignore the practice of Yoga.  Ask yourself "why?" Why are we doing this breathing practice? Why are we holding this mudra? Why does this sequence of postures include crow? If you don't know the answers ask your instructor or teacher. If they don't know the answers, then it's time to find someone who does.
Seek more than what you expect, more than what want. Dedicate yourself more fully to the practice and be open to the experiences that arrive on your path. Include the practices of Yoga in your life and your life is bound to change. Tahoe is a playground. It really is. There is the opportunity to do any number of fun activities in a day. You could wake up and CrossFit, go for a run, mountain bike, play golf, go skiing and finish with a restorative Yoga practice or a cocktail. What a great place in which we live!
In order to keep this place wonderful and sustainable, we have to not only protect the natural resources we have but also the community of incredible people that have made this location what it is. Since the opening of Svadhyaya Yoga Studio in 2008, I have worked to make sure that I feel connected to our community and that I am actively supporting it. I cross the state line in order to visit friends who own businesses, I reach out to local not-for-profits, I support our schools and groups that give back. In turn, our studio is supported by the incredible community of practitioners that have found their way to our space. Yoga, as you may already know, means union. When I think about what Lake Tahoe Union means to me, it means unity in Lake Tahoe through the connection of all of us including community members, businesses, families, everyone! Take a moment today, tomorrow and every day. Consider what you have done in order to be a part of your community. How have you supported, sustained or grown the world around you? How can you do more? |
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Lake Tahoe Yoga Studio, School & Retreats
Discover Your Self ™
Zephyr Cove, NV, 89448
(775)580-7224
Design, Graphics and Photos by Jenay
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Lake Tahoe Yoga Studio, School & Retreats
Discover Your Self ™
Zephyr Cove, NV, 89448
(775)580-7224
Design, Graphics and Photos by Jenay
Except as permitted by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including files downloadable from this website, without the permission of the copyright owner.
The US Copyright Act allows certain uses of content from the internet without the copyright owner’s permission. This includes uses by educational institutions and by Commonwealth and State governments, provided fair compensation is paid. For more information, see https://www.copyright.gov/title17/title17.pdf.
The owners of copyright in the content on this website may receive compensation for the use of their content by educational institutions and governments, including from licensing schemes managed by Copyright Agency.
We may change these terms of use from time to time. Check before re-using any content from this website.
Lake Tahoe Yoga. Tahoe's premier Yoga studio offering classes, private sessions, paddle yoga. beach yoga, baby and me, prenatal, alignment, vinyasa, athletic, workout, fitness, stillwater, Mindbody, teacher training, Yoga alliance, yoga therapy, bachelorette party, yoga instruction, om, aum, classes, fitness, wellness, active, exercise, athlete, stretch, flexibility, balance, mindful, meditation, restoration, yin, nidra, relaxation, breathing, pranayama, yoga sutra, yamas, niyamas, satya, ahimsa, brahmacharya, ishvara pranidhana, avidya, asteya, tapas, svadhyaya, jnana, aparigraha, wellness, outdoor yoga, corporate yoga, mountain pose, downward dog, asana, practice, tantra, hatha, raja, rajahatha, workshop, yoga workshop, vacation, ayurveda, pitta, vata, kapha, yoga om, omni, yoga shala, yoga for health, accessible yoga, partner yoga, yoga for athletes, yoga for fitness, flexibility, health, wellness, mindfulness, private yoga teacher, private yoga classes, private yoga instruction, downward dog, yoga streches, yoga for kids, yoga Tahoe, south lake Tahoe yoga, south Tahoe yoga, yoga south Tahoe, class pass, wedding yoga, senior yoga, healing, healthcare, yoga near me