My journey to becoming an Elemental Rhythm Breathwork Facilitator has been part of a deeply transformative four-year path of inner healing, self-discovery, and expansion. Through this profound Breathwork and yoga, I’ve come into alignment with my soul’s true purpose and now feel deeply called

to share the power of breath with others.

Saturday night, we gathered for Songs of Devotion. The theme, uncannily, was water. We sang beautiful, uplifting songs from Brazil, Japan, the U.S.—in praise of water’s life-giving gifts. Water heal my body. Water heal my soul. In 75 minutes, we created a whole world together—hearts swelling and breaking at once. In the background, there was Texas. Sheila acknowledged the disaster as we began, noting that this theme had long been planned. It lived there quietly alongside the music. Even in celebration, there was grief.

Everything has its shadow. She creates. She destroys. We create. We destroy.

We’re very proud to be a sponsor of the Hops and Roots Festival happening this weekend at The Plant - a celebration of local food & beverage, music, and community. And yes—you can sweat it out with your homegrown, handcrafted, extra-organic hot yoga, brought to you by many of the Yoga Garden teachers you know and love (full schedule below). Note that the 9am classes are accompanied by live music!

If you’ve spent time at Yoga Garden, you already know—our studio is full of heart. It’s warm and welcoming, and rooted in real community. In teacher training, that spirit only deepens. You’ll share long days, deep conversations, lots of laughter, and meaningful moments with people who may become lifelong friends. There’s something beautiful about learning and growing alongside others—it creates a bond that’s hard to describe but easy to feel. We have a lovely group forming.

If you’re curious to learn more, I’d love to invite you to our upcoming Yoga Teacher Training Info Session. It’s a chance to ask questions, meet a few of us, and see if this path might be calling to you too.

I’ve been in recovery for over 11 years, and more recently, yoga brought a new kind of practice into my life—one I’m still learning. I’m not someone who finds meditation easy. I’m still figuring out how to use my breath, both on and off the mat. What struck me most during my teacher training was how many of the principles of yoga mirror the values of the 12 steps. It felt familiar but also challenging—I knew it was another path that could help me keep growing. That’s part of why I feel so connected to Yoga of 12-Step Recovery (Y12SR)—it shows me how to use the tools I’ve gained over the years in new ways so that I can show up, even when it feels impossible. 

Well, friends, its March in Carolina.  And you know what that means.  No, I’m not talking about college basketball (at least not in this newsletter). Nope. There’s nothing like a bit of spring cleaning to clear out some of the junk blocking the flow.  Alas, no, we’re not going to solve Pittsboro’s water quality challenges with a little elbow grease.  But working together we can make our little corner of the world a little bit healthier and more beautiful. 

As we do most years, the Yoga Garden Community is participating in the Haw River Clean-Up- A-Thon to show some loving kindness to our local waterways.

Venerable had messages for me this morning that I needed to hear. As we sat in the sunny kitchen of Sangha House, their deep compassion and wise guidance landed in my heart. We talked of the work of clearing karma from oppressive and oppressed ancestors and ending cycles of suffering for our families. They explained why it was so important to approach activism and social justice from love rather than anger.

Last night was Songs of Devotion with heart2heart, one of my very favorite studio events. As we sang songs of hope and longing and spirit together in community, I felt deeply connected and full of love. Within the sheltering walls of our little cottage, you are invited to loosen your grip on the external world for just a little while. Like so many places, families, and communities that quietly nourish the human soul, we will continue to hold space for kindness and safety.

The perception that we are all one soul underneath (ALL – the plants the animals the cosmos everything) – changes the game. Changes utterly how we show up in the world. Yoga literally means “union,” and it means being in this state of unity with everything. I know that you know this to be true. Because I see this incredible community showing up in that way.

In our overscheduled world, the simple act of showing up—physically being present—is significant. We all have countless valid reasons not to do something: time constraints, energy levels, or other commitments. Time is a precious nonrenewable resource, and how we choose to spend it speaks volumes about our priorities.

We're seven! The number seven is associated with luck and magic in a lot of different traditions. I've never really marked our anniversary before but this year, I'm full of nostalgia and gratitude for the many, many people who have built our sweet community. At Yoga Garden our secret sauce is love. And maybe some luck and magic, too.

I had spent years of hard work to get to this point - schooling, certifications, a successful business, money, a comfortable life. My situation represented the American Dream - what I had been working for my whole life. In a few minutes, it was gone.

At Yoga Garden we don't view instructors as replaceable cogs in a machine. We see them as individuals, each bringing their unique styles and perspectives to the practice of yoga. While I totally grasp the allure of predictability, a hallmark of many corporate chains peddling everything from burgers to clothing to homes, our approach celebrates the diversity and authenticity of our teachers and the many wonderful ways that Yoga can look and feel.

This is a post for folks newly entering the world of “Yoga.” Yoga classes can be confusing for newbies since it’s not clear if one is at boot camp, gymnastics, a church, a spa, or a photo shoot.

How we can elevate diversity and inclusion in yoga? What does that look like for you? Does that mean venturing out and exploring new class styles or teachers? Does that mean holding spaces that elevate Black yogis, such as this one? How can we make room for everyone on the mat to be their most authentic self?

‘Yoga’ is everywhere now, but independent studios have become more of a rarity, having been replaced by corporatized yoga business models. The major difference between a yoga company and a yoga studio is simple: one operates under a model of high volume and profit and the other operates under guiding principles of depth, connection, and self-exploration.