a blog by Ellen Davies
Welcome back, Friday Favorites! I’ve been backsliding recently and haven’t posted any favs, but now we’re back up and running! For the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting some of my best-loved yoga books, the ones I turn to again and again. One of my […]
A few weeks ago I went to a hatha yoga class in Kansas City. The teacher started class by quoting Buddha: If you love yourself fully, you are incapable of harming another. I loved that quote. It resonated with me. As soon as I could, […]
Sometimes the hardest part of a yoga class is the first part: centering. As a teacher, I am always second-guessing myself here: Is this too much time? Should I move on? Did I already say that thing about your breath? Should I say it again? […]
I am excited to announce that I am now certified to teach Yin yoga. “That’s great,” you’re thinking to yourself. “But what the heck is Yin yoga?” Yin yoga doesn’t conform easily to the so-called elevator pitch, but I will do my best to describe […]
Have you noticed that sometimes it’s hard to pick a yoga class? The words “hatha” and “vinyasa” don’t always mean the same thing, from one studio to the next, and even from one teacher to the next. Recently I took one of each class at […]
This is a true story. Several years ago, I was scheduled to sub for my friend Anne’s Wednesday noon yoga class at the Y. That morning, however, I really didn’t feel like teaching. I spent a lot of time complaining to my friend, Kelly, about […]
When you take a yoga class, how much do you modify? My post from the other day, about ending up in the “wrong” yoga class, got me thinking about modifications. Many people don’t modify, which frustrates me as a teacher. No matter how often I […]
One of my yoga teacher friends used to say: Yoga props are your friends, and it’s always good to have a friend by your side. I love that saying. But some yogis are resistant and don’t use props. I have helpfully sorted them into categories. […]
“I can’t do yoga–I can’t even touch my toes!” If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that line from someone, I would have a lot of nickels. This seems to be the most common deflecting response when some people hear that I’m […]
After my regular Saturday morning Power Yoga class a few weeks ago, one of my regulars said something that made me think. He said, “Ellen, you’re just the goddess of this class!” I kind of laughed, because that’s my normal response when I’m uncomfortable. “Kind […]