I took my first yoga class over 20 years ago, without a thought that getting flexible, strong, and calm would ever actually turn into a career. I’m so grateful to have found something I’ve got such a passion for, and am able to share with my community. It’s been a great journey since launching my Xen Strength brand; filled with much […]
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You Don’t Need to Be a Teacher to Teach Yoga
I never set out to be a yoga teacher. When I was ten I saw the first video played on MTV and declared that I would someday be the President of the new music network. It wasn’t a far stretch, my dad worked in the music world and it was my life. I planned the […]
READ MOREMy Dirty Little “Resolution” Secret
Happy New Year! There’s something so refreshing and exciting about the start of a new year; a blank slate. A chance to renew our commitments to what’s working in our lives, and a chance to let go of what’s not. What’s my dirty little “resolution secret?” Well, I never actually made them. I decided a […]
READ MORE5 Tips to Enjoy the Holiday Season With Less Stress and More Joy
I love the holidays! I mean, I love most things about the holidays. Ok, honestly there are just a few things I truly love about the holidays. Downtime with my family. Cooking special meals for those I love. Decorating the Christmas tree. And the extremely raucous and competitive Yankee Swap party my friends host every year…. […]
READ MORESide Plank with Weights
Not a fan of sit-ups? I can’t stand ’em myself! That’s why I make sure to add a few side planks and plank variations to my flow each time I get on the mat so that my core gets some extra attention. Your abs actually support your entire body when trying to balance, they’re the connection […]
READ MOREHip Opening Sequence and Meditation
The hips are known to be the emotional storage depot of the body, so unless you’re doing an emotional detox of some sort every week you’ve probably got some “stuff” caught up in there. I’ve always been a huge fan of hip openers, and even after my hip surgery I still make sure to add […]
READ MOREHow to teach a better yoga class
There are tons of posts written for students about how to find the perfect yoga class, but how about how to teach one? When I first started out teaching I tried to emulate my mentors and then figured I should create a class based on what might draw students in, but not until I dropped […]
READ MOREMusic on Your Mat? Yay or Nay?
“Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.” Beethoven See, even Beethoven knew what’s up- music can be spiritual! However, despite what the classical OG of music says, I’ve seen a ton of debate in the yoga community over whether or not it’s “acceptable” to play music when teaching yoga. […]
READ MOREWhy Your Yoga Needs Weights
Why you should add Yoga Sculpt moves to your Yoga flow. Get flexible and strong all at once with Xen Strength Yoga.
READ MOREWhy I Almost Quit Yoga
Were you one of many ringing out 2016 by saying “good riddance?” This past year was plagued with unexplainable violence, racism, and tragedy; and to top it off, no matter my opinion on his politics we’ve somehow elected a president who is the last person on earth I want my two boys emulating- in real life or on social […]
READ MORERelationships Are Like Yoga Poses…..
The first few breaths (years) are bliss, then all of a sudden you’re holding your breath (and biting your tongue) Yoga means “union, to bring together.” Within your physical practice you negotiate the union of the mind with body, body with breath, and breath with movement. A union of some sort takes place in any relationship […]
READ MOREWarrior 1 Aligment Video + Xen Strength Version
Tired of the same old Warrior 1? Mix it up by adding some weights and take it to Xen Strength status. I’m using Warrior 1 as the foundation here, and give detailed alignment instruction on the basic pose before adding the weights element. Working the poses this way not only gives you a fabulous stretch, […]
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