LOVE PROFILE: Terri Speck

by iana velez | May 23, 2022 | ARTICLES, Profiles

LOVE PROFILE: Terri Speck

PROFILES

As we prepare for our June release of our print issue themed LOVE, we reached out to our amazing community to share with us a few thoughts on love. Terri Speck and Ed Mullen MD,founded PLAY (Peace Love and Yoga) based on a combined 70+ years working in hospitals they looked to make the shift from “delivering “ healthcare, to partnering with friends and neighbors on a passage to wellness. We asked Terri to share a bit more about love in this week’s LOVE spotlight.

Please share with us what you love about what you do:
There’s so many things I love about what I do! I love creating someplace special for our wonderful yoga community to gather.I am excited about offering all different styles and flavors of yoga and interesting workshops and talks. I love to teach and feel the comfort of my home community. PLaY is often getting visitors as we’re in a resort area, but we also have a steady group that feels like home. It’s the most creative thing I do!

Share with us what you have learned about LOVE:
I’ve learned that there isn’t anything else besides love that really matters in this whole universe. I’ve learned that the opposite of love isn’t hate, but fear. I’ve learned that the capacity for love is infinite and that there’s always enough love to go around.

What inspired you to support Yoga Love Magazine?
I was inspired to support Yoga Love Magazine because from the onset I could tell that the voice of the magazine was a little bit different that any other yoga magazine I had read. Iana’s emphasis and values were aligned with ours! Diversity, inclusion and a genuine love of yoga. In our studio, our small retail space is dedicated to female owned business, so that was a huge draw for us as well!

LEARN MORE

Take A Break

by Miko Hafez | May 15, 2022 | ARTICLES, Profiles

Take A Break

By Miko Hafez

PROFILES

Yoga Love Magazine - McKenzie Riepen - bio pic

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and our Seattle based team member Miko chatted with McKenzie Riepen who has been teaching yoga for 10 years, about what motivated her to take a month break from teaching. She shares her experience with us here:

You have been teaching for 10 years, why did you decide to take a month break?In my decade of sharing yoga, I had never taken a purposeful break from teaching (beyond the weekend getaway and holiday trip here and there) just to focus on studentship and reconnect to my Self. As a small business owner, I also wanted to take time to evaluate my offerings and ensure my work was reflective of my values. I completed a restorative yoga training in December, and rest in society came up as a big value for me. In addition to encouraging rest in my teachings, I knew I needed to give myself that time to do so.

What does taking a break mean to you?
Especially in a service-oriented business, taking a break means stepping back from others’ needs and attending to your own. It means valuing your rest over the world’s demands.

How was your overall experience taking a month break?
It was an amazing reset, and I highly recommend it. While I know not everyone may be able to take a month off, I highly recommend carving out time once a year to reconnect to your highest Self. I treated my time like a mini retreat: I nourished myself through practices in self care and continued education. I was able to reset some old habits into new behaviors that I am still including in my daily routine like mid-day yoga nidra: a physical reminder to rest and be still.

Learn more about McKenzie and her offerings at MIND.BODY.HUM

905 Western Ave Seattle, WA

@connectedmindbody

@mckenzieriepen

Community Spotlight: Exhale to Inhale

by iana velez | May 10, 2022 | ARTICLES, Profiles

Community Spotlight: Exhale to Inhale

PROFILES

FESTIVALS

On Oct 19th, Exhale to Inhale will be hosting their annual gala at the beautiful Rubin Museum in NYC. This amazing organization uses the healing practices of trauma-informed yoga to empower survivors, while helping communities to develop the skills and knowledge to support them.Maggie LaRocca, Exhale to Inhale’s Executive Director shared more about the upcoming event with us and ways to support their work.

What inspired the creation of this organization:

Zoë LePage founded the organization while a student at Barnard with the idea that trauma informed yoga should be a tool offered to survivors of domestic and sexual violence

In what ways can people support Exhale to Inhale’s work and mission?

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 1 in 4 women have experience severe phyiscal violence by an intimate partner, and 1 in 4 women and 1 out of 6 men have been sexually absued in their lifetime. It is likely that all of know someone, love someone or have been personally impacted by sexual or domestic violence. As Exhale to Inhale is a growing organization filling an unmet need, we need the support of our community to elevate our mission, help us raise funds to support our work, and bring awareness to the need for healing resources like trauma informed yoga that can help survivors with what is often a lifetime of healing.

What are you most excited about for this year’s gala event?

After two years of virtual galas, it is our first time being back in person since 2019 for our first ever gala. We can’t wait to see so many of our supporters in real life, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to uplift our honorees: Ana Pincus, Dianne Bondy and Flamingo, all have had a tremendous impact on our work!

Learn more and support:

@exhale2inhale on FB

exhaletoinhale.org/gala2022

exhaletoinhale.networkforgood.com/events/44095-2022-celebration-of-healing-gala-a-year-of-inspiring-growth

exhaletoinhale.org/s/2022CelebrationofHealingSponsorshipPackage.pdf

YogaLove Magazine - Vegandale Festival - Vegan Food

Spotlight Festival: Yoga Week

by iana velez | May 2, 2022 | ARTICLES, Festivals, Festivals 2023, Profiles

FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHT: Yoga Week

March 19th Kickoff Celebration at Shangri-La Springs, Bonita Springs, FL

PROFILES

FESTIVALS

Looking for something to do this Spring? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Natalie Williams, president of Yoga Week, a Unity Mind Body event, who we are thrilled to partner with this March! As a special exclusive gift to our community, save 10% on your ticket purchase via this direct link, or use code at checkout: YogaLove

What inspired you to create a festival?
In 2020 I had a vision to start bringing people together, due to the lack of connection that came from “social distancing.” I could tell that people wanted and needed to gather again. Many just didn’t know where to start; after ending their in-person practice for so long. I have the background of 10+ years’ coordinating in corporate fitness and wellness, as well as 12+ years’ experience of being a yoga teacher. I knew I had the tools to co-create an event to help many others, benefit both mentally and physically in our community. So, with the collaboration of our amazing yoga community, I did.

What makes your festival unique?
Showcasing diverse styles of yoga for a weeklong and bringing a community together who support each other.

What offering/presenter or class are you most excited about for this year’s event?
All of the diversity! There are many types of yoga, and each of them have fantastic mind and body benefits! From Vinyasa (flow) to Aerial (silk/hammock) and all of them in-between. Along with the different teachers, and locations that all hold their own style. I grew up traveling the world and always had an admiration of differences. I realized that holding space for all the variety, creates an interesting and spectacular world of richness and endless knowledge.

Learn More:
www.UnityMindBody.com is a platform for many to connect. Find upcoming Yoga Weeks, Retreats and virtual on demand classes through our Unity Membership that you can try free today at www.Unity-Membership.com

We have the 3/26 Grand Finale only tickets available for the upcoming Yoga Week located in Southwest, Florida at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Estero, Florida. Find your room block here.

Next retreat: Luxury Greek Retreat
September 8th-14th 2023

IG: @UnityMindBody
IG: @YogaWeekSWFL
IG: @NamasteWithNatalie
FB: facebook.com/yogaweekusa
FB: facebook.com/unitymindbody1
Website: UnityMindBody.com

Registration Info:
Yoga Week FB Event: fb.me/e/1TUg9vyuQ
Yoga Week Website: unitymindbody.com/yoga-week/
Yoga Week Tickets: eventbrite.com

Photo credit: Stefania Pifferi

LOVE PROFILE: Joclyn Kilpatrick

by iana velez | Apr 30, 2022 | ARTICLES, Profiles

LOVE PROFILE: Joclyn Kilpatrick

Founder Willow Soul Yoga

PROFILES

As we prepare for our June 2023 release of our print issue themed LOVE, we reached out to our amazing community to share with us a few thoughts on love. Our second feature celebrates Joclyn, owner of Willow Soul Yoga in Otsego, MN. Joclyn began her yoga journey almost 10 years ago when she was guided to try yoga for the first time during her pregnancy with her first child. Joclyn lives close to the community with her husband Ryan, daughter Willow, son Dash and their dog Luna. She is beyond excited to connect and bring yoga to Otsego, MN and surrounding communities. Thank you Joclyn for supporting Yoga Love Magazine and sharing your thoughts on LOVE.

Share with us what you love about what you do:
I love being a yoga teacher and a yoga studio owner because I get to share something so incredibly special to me, with the world, the power of yoga. When I started my yoga practice, the physical practice was immediately powerful for me. You know when something happens to you and you have chills all over your body, the GOOD chills? Yes, this is what yoga did for me. I like to think of it as the path of least resistance, when the inner knowing of a passion hits you with the most powerful force. As I continued my yoga path, I learned yoga is so much more than a physical practice. Yoga is a heart connection, it is a mind body connection, it is a path to a better place on the inside, it is inner peace, and it is life work.

I love sharing yoga in a way to embrace people to feel within their own body, and to nurture what is right for them. To help people achieve self-empowerment, growth, and their own inner guidance to the path back home to themselves. I love creating a safe space where people can begin and/or grow their own yoga practice. It means the world to me!

Share with us what you have learned about LOVE:
When I had my first child, Willow, I was reminded of what love really is. I have always had a big nurturing heart, and I have loved so many, but when she was born, I was reminded of how we all come into this world so innocent, without judgment, so pure. When I instantly had this heart connection with my daughter everything changed for me. Love is everything. If we could just do our best to focus on unconditional love and take more time to spread this love and kindness into the world and to ourselves everything would function with more grace and ease. I like to share the practice of taking a moment each day to connect with your heart space. Close your eyes and think of someone or a pet that you have unconditional love for. Feel that deep pit of love in your heart, feel the smile within, feel the peace they bring. Breathe it all in, and then reflect that love right back at yourself, because YOU deserve it. Meet yourself where you are today, see yourself as that innocent little baby, check yourself when you start to judge others, always come back to that strong feeling of unconditional love in your heart.

Learn more: willowsoulyoga.com

Festival Spotlight: Barefoot & Free Yoga Festival

by iana velez | Mar 25, 2022 | ARTICLES, Festivals, Profiles

Festival Spotlight: Barefoot & Free Yoga Festival

By iana velez

PROFILES

Looking for something to do this summer? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Beth James, the creator of Barefoot and Free Yoga festival about her festival, inspirations, and what she’s looking forward to! Check out this great festival taking place Aug 4-Aug 6, 2023 at Proud Lake State Park, Michigan.

Special thanks to Beth for offering an exclusive code for our community: YOGALOVE for 15% off passes!!

What inspired you to create a yoga festival?
I was first inspired 8 months pregnant at my friend’s wedding in the woods where Barefoot takes place. I kept going back to the woods, thinking about it and so I decided to try it out. I had been a yoga teacher in metro Detroit community for several years so I knew the community well but honestly had no idea how to put on something of this magnitude, but I followed my intuition and it said DO IT along with the beautiful forest & the trees.

What makes your festival unique?
We are immersed in nature, plus I believe the forest spoke to me that day and every year the woods is blessed for us to be blessed in the forest. We are surrounded by tall pine trees, the clean Huron River and fresh clean Proud Lake. Yet we are going 30-45 minutes outside of the busy city area of Metro-Detroit.

What offering/presenter or class are you most excited about for this year’s event?
I am excited to showcase all the amazing Michigan talent. In particular we have an emphasis on more shamanic healing; sound baths, plant ceremonies & talks and discussions regarding the benefit of alternative therapies such as psilocybin, ketamine, and cannabis. I am excited about the joining and understanding of how yoga and nature are the medicine people need most right now.

Learn more:
@barefootandfreeyoga
www.barefootandfreeyoga.com

SPECIAL OFFER:
YOGALOVE for 15% off passes