Celebrate Freedom in Body & Mind
SUMMER SELF-CARE SERIES
Week 5: June 30-July 6
As we move into the heart of summer, our studio is proud to offer a special self-care series dedicated to Celebrating Freedom in Body and Mind. This week, we’re turning our attention inward and inviting you to light up from within. True freedom in yoga is more than physical flexibility—it’s the ability to move with ease, to feel fully, and to breathe deeply. It’s the space we create in our lives, our thoughts, and our bodies to let joy rise to the surface.
This week’s focus is a reminder that freedom isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we cultivate. Through intentional movement, breath, and presence, we can release patterns that restrict us and celebrate the vast potential already within. We invite you to join us in embracing this freedom and exploring what it means to live with a more open body, a more open mind, and a more open heart.
The Breath of Joy
One of the most uplifting practices we’ll be sharing this week is Breath of Joy, demonstrated by our beloved teacher, Jenny. This invigorating Pranayama practice helps energize the body, awaken the senses, and clear mental fog.
Here’s how to do Breath of Joy:
Stand with your feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent.
Inhale in three parts:
First, sweep your arms forward.
Second, sweep your arms out to the sides.
Third, sweep your arms overhead.
Then, exhale forcefully through the mouth with a “ha” sound as you bend your knees and swing your arms down and back behind you.
Repeat this for 4–6 rounds, moving with breath.
Then pause in stillness, with hands resting by your sides or on your heart, and feel the effects.
This practice is a favorite for recharging the body and creating mental clarity. Use it anytime you feel sluggish, stuck, or disconnected from your own inner spark.
Intention of the week
“Let your breath energize you. Let your heart open. Let joy move through you.”
Let this inspire you this week.
Heart-Opening Poses to Expand Your Inner Space
This week’s featured postures—Camel Pose (Ustrasana) and Supported Bridge—both work to open the heart, energize the spine, and invite emotional spaciousness.
Camel Pose (Ustrasana): Begin kneeling with your knees hip-width apart. Place your hands on your lower back or heels (if accessible), press your hips forward, and lift your chest toward the sky. Let your head follow only if it feels supportive. Stay for 5–10 breaths and notice what begins to soften.
Supported Bridge: Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet hip-width apart. Lift your hips and slide a yoga block under your sacrum. Allow your arms to rest at your sides, palms facing up. Stay here for 5–10 breaths, letting the chest gently open and the breath become spacious.
As you rest in these shapes, ask yourself:
“Where can I invite more freedom in my thoughts, my body, or my routine? What would it feel like to move from joy rather than pressure?”
Classes focused on the theme of the week
This special week is the perfect time to join us in studio classes that highlight these heart-expanding themes. You’ll find Heart Openers and Breath of Joy infused into the following classes:
Monday
5:30pm Vinyasa with Jessica
7pm Yin with Tom
Tuesday
9:30am Hatha with Tom
5pm Hatha with Lisa
6:30 pm Vinyasa with Sarah
Wednesday
6am Hatha with Emily
9:30am Hatha with Charisse,
12pm Hatha with Sarah
Thursday
6pm Vinyasa with Emily
Friday
6am Vinyasa with Michelle
9am Hatha with Lisa
9:30am Vinyasa with Charisse
5:30pm Hatha with Sarah
Saturday
7:45am Hatha with Lisa
9:30am Vinyasa with Jenny
10am Hatha with Tom
Sunday
8am Hatha with Michelle
8:30am Vinyasa with Paige
Final Thoughts…
Whether you’re a longtime yogi or stepping onto your mat for the first time this summer, we hope you’ll join us. This week is an invitation to release, renew, and reconnect with what sets your soul alight.
“Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it within.”
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Let’s celebrate that freedom—together.