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    • About
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    • Private Yoga
    • Fertility and Pregnancy Support
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February 28, 2021

“How is your heart?”

February 21, 2021

Doing yoga without a teacher

February 19, 2021

How stress can mess with your period and fertility

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February 14, 2021

How to actually improve your relationships

February 7, 2021

How to stop making the same mistakes again and again

February 5, 2021

Beat PMS Bloating and Digestive Issues

February 3, 2021

For Better Breastfeeding…Forget the Numbers

Previous Posts

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We know how our periods *cause* stress, but stress We know how our periods *cause* stress, but stress can actually harm your periods too. The building blocks of the stress hormone cortisol are the same as the ones for estrogen and progesterone. When we have high stress, our bodies prioritize making cortisol instead of progesterone and estrogen. 

If you experience irregular periods or frequent bleeding, some of those bleeds could indicate that your body's estrogen levels are dropping prematurely (before ovulation). A stressful event (either mental or physical) may have diverted resources away from the building of estrogen, causing bleeding between cycles.

Similarly, many physical PMS symptoms like bloating and migraines may be associated with higher levels of stress in the weeks leading up to your period.

The impact of cortisol on progesterone is important for fertility. You need sufficient progesterone to create a lining of the uterus that can house a fertilized egg. Insufficient progesterone can make it more difficult to get or remain pregnant.

Of course stress isn't the cause of every single case of PMS or infertility. But the physical and mental stressors do have downstream effects. 

If you're wondering how stress could be impacting your cycle, start with some honest accounting: 
1. How often would you classify your days as stressful? 
2. Do your periods or PMS symptoms change based on your stress levels? 
3. Do you feel like you bounce between feeling super tired and super wired? 

If you think that stress could be at the root of your period issues - this is good news! Because instead of buying random period creams and remedies, you can instead direct your efforts to your relationship with stress.

In Ayurvedic consultations, we reduce stress in your system to help rebalance your periods or increase your fertility. We look holistically at your diet, sleep, movement, daily routines, and mindset to get rid of PMS symptoms and regulate your periods. It's pretty amazing what we can do. We always start with a free consultation. Head to the link in my bios and click on "Ayurvedic Consultation" to sign up.

*Pictured above: 3 great yoga shapes for when you have your period!*

#ayurveda #wellnesscoach #periods
Life can feel pretty complicated sometimes. We get Life can feel pretty complicated sometimes. We get caught in all of the doing and the trying, the pushing and the pulling. And yet, I also think life is simple. We need to feel safe, and we need to feel connected.

There are some people that are gifted at helping you feel connected. They are interested in you, welcoming, and just have a presence of peace. I learned this past weekend that a past coworker of mine passed. He was someone that had this exact gift. It was so remarkable and rare that I'm talking about it even though I haven't seen him in 11 years. 

One of the greatest gifts we can give others is our presence. And so in our yoga practices this week, we'll be cultivating presence and the simplicity that comes from simply being open and present for others in our lives. We'll have breathing practices to support calm and balanced energy and yoga asana shapes to create space in the heart for contentment (santosha).

Join us on the mat - everyone is welcome. Classes are pay what you can. If you don't know which class to take or have any questions - reach out via DM or send me an email at spirocollective.com.

You can also get on-demand access to my yoga classes by joining on Patreon. It's just $6/month for 80+ classes. Learn more at patreon.com/spirocollective or follow the link in my bio.

Sending much love to you <3 #zoomyoga #yogateacher #virtualyoga #anahatachakra #loveissimple #anahata
Hanumanasana - splits pose - is one of my favorite Hanumanasana - splits pose - is one of my favorites. This pose gets its name from a flying leap that the monkey Hanuman takes across the ocean from India to Sri Lanka. There's a lot of uncertainty about whether he can make it all the way across. There's fear that he might get caught by the demon king's spies when he lands. But Hanuman is devoted to his vow to help Ram recover his wife Sita, so it's a risk he's willing to take. 

We all have these moments of being asked to risk and venture into the unknown. Falling in love, deciding to be a parent, or even just committing to our own self-care. There can be fear. Uncertainty. Anxiety. And yet we take the plunge. Knowing that to live fully requires these leaps of faith. In doing so, we open our hearts to all that life has to offer.

Our fear of failure can stop us from doing so many things. It keeps us locked in the same habits and patterns instead of venturing to find a new way. You'll notice that in this pose, I use a block underneath my thigh. This prop keeps me grounded and stable instead of precariously dangling in the sky. 

Things can change. You do deserve all that your heart yearns for. What flying leaps is it time to make? What props might support you as you go?

#hanuman #hanumanasana #yogateacher #yogapose #yogaeveryday #splitspose
“To open your heart is to make peace with the ri “To open your heart is to make peace with the risk of life.” - @robbell 

Life is uncomfortable. It’s uncertain. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. Sometimes everything goes exactly the way we have planned and other times our worst nightmares come true. 

When we have hard times, there are options. One option is to bear witness to our life situation, experience the flood of emotions, and nurture compassion for self and other. Another is to lock up our hearts, hoping to avoid the pain, sadness, and fear that might be arising.

I’ve had a fair number of clients recently (predominantly pitta folks) who have walked around with a tightness in their chest and constriction around their hearts for years. This armor is designed to keep the hurt out, but it unfortunately keeps love, joy, and sweetness out as well. They tend to be quick to anger and judgment at themselves and others.

Much of my work with these clients is on softening and opening the heart through cooling foods, routines to reconnect to the heart space, and very importantly, learning to nurture self-compassion and reduce self-criticism and blame.

We’ll be bringing some of these heart opening practices into our yoga classes this week with shapes, breathwork, mantras, and visualizations to make peace with the risk of life and as a result, start truly living it. 

Join me on the mat - all classes are pay what you can. If you have questions about which class is right for you, send me a DM, I’d love to help you out. And if you can’t make it live - check out patreon.com/spirocollective. You can access all of my on-demand classes for just $6/month.

#ayurveda #pitta #anahata #yogateacher #zoomyoga #virtualyoga #yogaeveryday #pittadosha
I used to fear that being content with the present I used to fear that being content with the present meant I would never grow. If I was happy with how things are now, how would I ever strive or work or want to improve my life or the lives of those around me? This thinking turned "now" into an enemy. When I looked at my life, all I saw were cracks and the things I wasn't satisfied with. It caused a lot of distress because I was constantly fighting between now and future.

But wanting to grow and change and be better doesn't have to compete with contentment in the present. Being excited and happy about the future doesn't mean I have to disparage or be dissatisfied with where I am now.

Do you struggle with the "yes, buts", or get caught in future thinking? For example, saying "yes, I go running twice a week, but I really should be going three times..." If so, there are two practices I've used to cultivate contentment for the present moment.
1. The mantra "I have arrived. I am home" from Thich Nhat Hanh. It's a reminder that we don't need to run away from here and now.
2. Practice present-focused gratitude. Instead of naming anything random you're grateful for, choose something that relates to your current experience - something you can taste, hear, touch, smell, or see. For example, gratitude because you're running and it's not raining. You're working and you have good music playing. This grounds your gratitude in the present moment. 

Lastly, from a reformed future-thinker, let me tell you that finding contentment simply makes life easier. Constantly wanting to change your situation or feeling unsatisfied disperses your energy. With contentment, your energy is contained and able to be directed towards the future you want to create.

This is a skill I work on with all of my clients. You show up to a yoga class or for fertility coaching because you see a future that is different than your present. And yet we can only make progress right here, right now. So we ride this balance between accepting our present and taking action towards our goals. The result is that we actually make progress because we're not putting energy towards denying our current reality. It's a beautiful thing.
Your infinite potential exists just outside your c Your infinite potential exists just outside your comfort zone.

It's one of those annoying paradoxes: we spend a lot of time seeking comfort and stability, but if we stay in those comfortable places, we become stagnant. When we get caught in our habits and patterns, we repeat the same situations (and mistakes) again and again. 

It's getting to be Kapha season, which is ruled by the elements earth and water. Kapha dosha is stable, loyal, steadfast. But it can also get stuck in the mud, fearful of change.

So in our yoga classes this week, we're focusing on exploring possibilities and stepping outside our comfort zones. Don't worry - we'll start by creating a strong foundation so we can take chances without feeling like we're out of control.

We'll explore balances, twists, and breathing exercises to feel the depth of our strength and the possibilities in our bodies and lives. 

Join us on the mat! Our livestream yoga classes are pay what you can, with 5% of proceeds going to @careorg. If you're unsure which class is right for you - reach out, I'd be happy to help.

Or, join the community on @patreon to get access to all of your yoga classes on demand. It's just $6/month for 80+ classes. Or, level up your subscription and get access to the learning library of yoga poses, breathing exercises, and meditations. Learn more at patreon.com/spirocollective - the link's in my profile. 

It's a new week! Let's see what possibilities exist.

#zoomyoga #virtualyoga #yogaschedule #yogateacher #ayurveda #kaphaseason #thetoolsbook #kaphadosha #spring
One of my favorite pieces of advice from Ayurveda One of my favorite pieces of advice from Ayurveda is to "eat like a baby." I say it to all of my clients who are experiencing excess Vata issues like anxiety, constipation, irregular periods, dry skin,, or low back pain. All of my postpartum folkx get this advice, too! 
_

It sounds silly, but it's also the easiest way to remember that to balance Vata, you want to choose foods that are easy to digest and nourishing for the body. Focus on foods that are soft, cooked, and warm. Break out the instant pot to make soup, roast lots of root vegetables, and avoid raw or spicy foods.
_

It's also important to keep the foods you eat simple. No smoothies with 34 ingredients! When you use less ingredients, your body has an easier time digesting each ingredient fully. You'll create grounding and anchoring in the body, relieving some of those negative symptoms I mentioned above.
_

Pictured above - a baby-worthy meal of kitchari - rice, split mung dahl, carrot and parsley. Soft, simple, and delicious! 
_

#ayurveda #vatadosha #yogateacher #vatabalancing #digestion
"No one is born with healthy self-esteem. We must "No one is born with healthy self-esteem. We must earth this quality in the process of living, as we face our challenges one at a time." - Caroline Myss
_

Yes, my friends. This week we dive in and explore the 3rd chakra - our center of self-esteem, confidence, and (healthy) ego. 
_

We will feel the joy and vitality that comes from *owning* what it is you want in the world and who you want to be. In our Tuesday and Friday classes, we'll be exploring strength from the inside out, culminating our practice with crow, revolved crow, and fallen angel pose.
_

In prenatal yoga, we'll be focusing on the power to choose and our ability to discern our right path, even when there are a lot of loud voices telling us all the things we "could" or "should" be doing.
_

You'll leave these practices feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to be the creator of your life, not the victim.
_

All classes are pay what you can. If you can't join live, check out patreon.com/spirocollective. There are 80+ classes of varying lengths and styles for just $6/month, including these 3rd chakra practices, which will be uploaded in the next 2 weeks! 
_

See you on the mat <3 
_

#zoomyoga #virtualyoga #yogateacher #manipura #thirdchakra #carolinemyss #personalpower #selfesteem #yogaeveryday

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