Yoga Adapts to You

A few years ago, I had two surgeries on my dominate hand, and found myself exploring yoga in a whole new way.

Off the mat, I was challenged to slow down and mindfully approach my activities. I was thankful for my breath practice as it helped me stay patient with myself.

On the mat, I was able to embrace a full spectrum practice while still honoring my needs and recommendations from my surgeon.

Yoga isn't one-size-fits-all. It can AND should be adapted to suit your body and current needs. Size, strength, injury, illness, and flexibility are factors we embrace in our holistic practice.

Just because one part of you needs adaptations doesn't mean the rest of your body must wait. As well as giving options in class, I'm happy to talk with you after class about how to adapt poses for your unique needs.

You deserve a life giving practice that supports your healing and honors your needs.

Shine Through

Lynn Marie Nelson

Psst.... I've extended early bird pricing for my Books & Yoga to Monday. Our selected author's beautiful words are below.

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Life Worth Breathing

The words took my breath away. Life carries on, but the sting finds me in every quiet moment. The stillness seemed to electrify my pain.

Breathe. I heard my heart say.

At first I ignored... but my heart persisted. Breathe.

I continued on. It whispered again. Breathe. Don't run. Don't busy yourself. Just breathe.

I sat... I cried... I breathed. Repairing my wounds with each nourishing breath. Time and time again.

Bruised by life's Beauty... healed with breath. HOW we walk life's path makes the difference between contentment with what is or shrinking with bitterness. Happily human or angry victim of life... our choice.

Together we practice. My latest newsletter has a few ideas for us to connect as well as recipes for an herbal hot toddy and refreshing essential oil blend. Community amplifies our connection to the electricity of life deepening grace's gifts in our journey.

Let's Breathe Together

Lynn Marie Nelson

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Did You Hear?

I was surprised by the sadness I experienced after an acquaintance passed away. With only a few encounters, her friendship left a lasting impression by the kind words she extended.

Brief but supportive interactions = heart moved and touched by grace. This reflection fuels my commitment to share and inspire you to champion yourself and others as I challenge myself to do the same.

I LOVE that we practice yoga together honoring our unique needs without the pressure to push or conform... We are beautifully different and so is our practice. My latest newsletter has a few ideas for you to connect to your innate goodness.

With gratitude and love, I hope you find many reasons to share good words today. Don't forget to hear the ones you receive. And if you need a few good words... let me know.

Lynn Marie Nelson

The Brass Pitcher

"What's this for?" my three-old niece asks while holding up a tiny brass pitcher. On my entry table nestled by our coin jug and a picture of a stream running through the Maquoketa caves, it's a reminder of the abundant flow of love, energy, support and money. How am I to explain that to my eager to know 3 & 5 year old nieces?

Turns out the brass pitcher holds fairy dust. When we leave my home, we sprinkle fairy dust on our bodies with the intention to fill ourselves with love so that we are ready to share our love, smiles and thanks yous with everyone we meet. For two years, we've shared this ritual and although the words change, the intention is the same… We fill ourselves so that we are ready to give to others. [tweet this]

Iowa Cub puts on a fabulous display of fireworks that we enjoy from our deck and living room. After a wonderful afternoon of playing and firework show, we sprinkled the fairy dust all over us, and agreed to share our smiles like pretty fireworks to all we meet. Now 5 years old, Madison says, "There's always more than enough."

After hearing no too many times to count… no more ice cream… no more time on the drum… no more coloring… no more picking on your brother… no, no, no… she still had the mindset of abundance. "There's always more than enough."

Was she talking about smiles, love, thank yous, or joy? I don't know. Whatever it was, she was exactly right.

The next day I bathed in her words when the noise in my head wanted me to believe I wasn't appreciated or loved enough. Her words, our ritual, reminded me... There's always more than enough. [tweet this]

I’m convinced the tiny ones know life's secrets. We just have to listen. No… not now… you can't do that… that's not right. Ugh… it's not just little kids that hear these words. They come at us from our boss, colleagues, significant other, and friends. Even worse these messages hit from all sides not just from the people in front of us. Our media feeds, articles, inner dialogue and email gather a plethora messages that can leave us feeling less than, not good enough, and rejected.

It's my hope that our holistic practices together… yoga, conscious breathing, meditation, hikes, discussions, healthy eating, Reiki, sound baths… fill us so that we may be of good service to our community. [tweet this]

May we know when and how to refresh our vessel. 

May we give from our always overflowing pitcher of love.

Lynn Marie Nelson

Yoga with a View

Live music, skyline view... and free... do I really need to say more? Hope to see you on the mat under the Brenton Sating Plaza Canopy or on the trail at Lake Ahquabi. By the way, I have 2 spots open for tonight's (July 11) refreshing yoga practice featuring Christopher Raven playing live. See you soon!

Grateful for Your Beautiful Light in Our Community!
Lynn Marie Nelson

Home of the Brave

The call comes and the words bounce in our heads... the unthinkable becomes our next challenge. Feeling hopeless, rejected or unappreciated... we continue not knowing what should come next next. Facing our fear... we breathe... we engage and learn.

Hot mess? Stuck? Actually we are moving forward. Our bravery is found in the moments of solitude when we choose to look through our neighbor's eyes... when we comfort ourselves without validation from another... when we take a break... rest and listen... when we dare to take the next step.

We are BRAVE. 

Life happens... How do we deal and continue on? The choices... wallow in drama or reframe our story... get buried in defeat or begin again... limit ourselves or find joy on our path.

Our practice fills our bag with tools to make the path less difficult. Yoga helps us live well. We practice on the mat so that when we step off we're at ease in our bodies, connected to peace, and prepared to engage in life.

Perfectly Imperfect...We share our light with the world.

Whether we step on a trail, ride a bike, swim, run or unroll our mat... we connect with the peace and bravery within. Together we continue the path with grace.

I hope to see your beautiful, brave soul soon.

Lynn Marie Nelson

Riverwalk Yoga

I'm happy to be sharing my "backyard" with you on a beautiful downtown Des Moines Yoga walk. I'll teach you how to practice yoga anywhere anytime with a walk by the river. Save your spot for one of these or another Yoga Walk today.