Freedom Lies In Being Bold

-Robert Frost

Stepping into leadership is not an easy task and can in fact be downright intimidating. What we know to be true from our experience at every new level of training is that taking the next step is going to be BOTH exciting and scary. In moments of “decision,” the fear or resistance we feel should not make us retreat but causeus to move forward. Consider that often the thing we avoid or find excuses not to do, is the thing that we are MEANT to do.

We are thrilled to begin “BE BOLD: Advanced Leadership Training” at Spotted Dog Yoga this Saturday AUGUST 12th. This program has been created as an access for SDY teachers and “LIGHT UP!” 200 Hour Teacher Empowerment graduates to continue and expand their development as leaders. 

Congratulations to Kristin Obregon, Jennifer Cox, Stephanie Tice, Rick Cheney and Emily Kendall for being accepted into “Be Bold!” In the next year, they will revolutionize and transform themselves as human beings, students, teachers and leaders in our community!

Wherever you are in your yoga journey, Spotted Dog Yoga has a great program for you.  We invite you to enroll for “Learn Yoga” Beginners Series starting August 15th, “40 Days To Personal Revolution” starting September 5th and apply for “Light Up” Teacher Empowerment Program starting October 21st.

The Spotted Dog Yoga family acknowledges YOU for taking the lead in your practice and growing our community from the inside out!

-Nick and Katie

Modifications For Side Plank

Adding One More To The Pack!

Ready to learn a little bit more about Spotted Dog Yoga’s founders Nick and Katie Clark? They first met at Zuda Yoga in Folsom when Nick was leading a program and Katie was a participant. The details of that first encounter will differ depending on which of them you ask, but the bottom line is that it was pretty much love at first sight. After going on their first date, Nick and Katie became inseparable and it also wasn’t too long after that Katie completed yoga teacher training and began teaching as well.

Not long after Nick moved in they decided to rescue a dog…little did they know that the newest furry member of their family would change their lives forever and become the face their future business! Bandit came from an abusive household and also narrowly escaped “death row” at the pound. This 35 pound bundle of energy has not only taught Nick and Katie many important lessons (don’t leave your favorite hat on the floor) but also inspired the couple to go for their dream of opening their very own yoga studio and Spotted Dog Yoga was born! The studio motto, “Play Hard. Love Big.” is a reminder of what Bandit has taught them over the years.

Nick and Katie were married May 7th, 2016 in Nick’s hometown of Durango, Colorado and went on a 24 day honeymoon through Italy! When they returned from their trip, they decided it was time for Bandit to have a sister and rescued Allie Mae last summer.

Nick and Katie are thrilled to announce that the fifth member of their growing family is on it’s way! They are expecting their first child January 2018 and couldn’t be happier!

She Loves YOGA….

Meet Emily B Kendall! Emily, or Em for short, is originally from Boulder Creek and currently lives in Orangevale with her husband, Jesse, and their two rescued Thai Ridgeback mix pups. Lisa rescued Em and Jesse in 2010 and is the pride of their family. She is mixed with a “Carolina Dog,” an avid hunter and actually works for Jesse in his handyman business (when a client has rodent problems)! After moving out of the bay area in 2015, they began looking for a second “Carolina Dog” but didn’t find one. After posting a video of Lisa last October, a ridgeback-mix who looks a little like Lisa found them! Ginny-bean is now the family’s baby…a cuddle bug and full of mischief! Nothing says love like 65 pounds climbing up on you while you sit on the couch.

Emily loves gardening, birding, hiking, paddling (anything that floats), road cycling, running and dog training! Emily has a degree in Applied Mathematics and climbed the corporate ladder (starting as a Marketing Associate and now a Senior Director) in less than 10 years. Emily had no problem eating chicken when they had a pet chicken but after her death she gave up meat. She back packed around Europe when she was 17 and has climbed Half Dome 5 times (once in the moonlight).

Emily and Jesse moved here almost 2 years ago and with only one local friend, plus working from home it could have been a very lonely transition. But Emily met so many amazing people and immediately felt welcomed the moment she walked into Spotted Dog Yoga! Emily’s yoga practice has brought her the awareness that she is not easy on herself and has helped her be ok with andcreate space for ease within her mind and body. With her full time job, early morning and evening classes work best for her schedule. Emily loves practicing in the early morning because it sets the tone for her day. She stays consistent in her yoga practice by looking honestly at her schedule and penciling in practices. Emily knows that when she is feeling “off” it’s because she hasn’t been practicing regularly. When she gets cranky, her husband even asks her if there is a yoga class she can go to…a lot of us can relate to this!

Emily completed “Light Up! Teacher Empowerment Program” at SDY this past February and began teaching her very own classes in March! Emily will tell you that, “If you are even considering the program, you are ready now.” DO IT! You won’t regret it! You will grow in unexpected ways beyond your yoga practice. If you feel stuck in any aspect of your life, Emily can’t recommend this program enough!

We are SO glad that Emily found SDY and is now such an integral part of our team and community! Thank you for all you do!

You gotta LOVE her!

Meet Stephanie Tice…fabulous SDY teacher! In addition to being a yoga lover, Stephanie (or Stephy) loves to hike, go to the beach, travel, read and play board/card games! She is originally from San Jose, CA and has been married to her husband, Ryan, for 18 years this June! Stephy knew she was going to marry Ryan the night they met! They have two daughters, Lauren (15) who is finishing her freshman year at Vista and Camryn (13) who is finishing 7th grade at Folsom Middle. The Tice family also has a one-eyed dog named Ohso. He is a chocolate brown cocker spaniel and is “oh so” cute!!! Stephy is a total neat freak (it calms her), loves Las Vegas and playing blackjack, secretly wishes she was a CIA agent and her favorite meal is a burger with fries and a cold beer.

Stephy has been practicing at SDY for 21 months and teaching with us since January. She is also a school teacher so during the school year she prefers to practice in the evening. During the summer, however, she enjoys the 5:45am classes…call her crazy but she doesn’t sleep in! In order to stay consistent in her yoga practice, Stephy tries to practice at the same times and days each week to stay committed. Being consistent in her practice keeps her in a good mindset and she is more productive in her everyday life. When she doesn’t practice she can easily slip back into her old way of being/thinking.

Stephy never thought she was going to become a yoga teacher, but after developing her practice and becoming a part of the community she knew she wanted MORE! She is inspired by the possibilities of growth for herself while being able to give back to others. Stephy has discovered a lot about herself through her yoga practice. She has found an ease about being on her mat which has carried over into life off her mat. She has discovered what it means to be present and let go of expectations of what she thinks things should be and accept what is. She has also realized that she is the source of what is in her life.

From the very first time Stephy walked into Spotted Dog Yoga the community feeling has been a huge inspiration to her. She loves the camaraderie, the support and encouragement and the friendships she has made!

We are SO lucky to have such an amazing teacher and friend in Stephanie! Thank you for all you do!

Africa Yoga Project. Handstands, Hugs and Happiness Tour at Spotted Dog Yoga

Join us for a very special evening as we host TWO teachers from the Africa Yoga Project at Spotted Dog Yoga! Admission to this class is $20 and goes directly to support the Africa Yoga Project! A VERY BIG thank you to Baptiste Yoga and Baptiste Yoga San Francisco for making this possible for our community!

Africa Yoga Project at Spotted Dog Yoga in Folsom, Ca

Hugs, Handstands and Happiness Tour at Spotted Dog Yoga in Folsom, Ca.

Hugs. Handstands. Happiness. We can not think of three other words that describe walking into to the Africa Yoga Project Shine Center, the community based yoga center where hundreds of people practice yoga weekly. in Nairobi, Kenya.

We are very excited to bring the contagious energy, enthusiasm and effectiveness of AYP to Spotted Dog Yoga in Folsom, California.

The Africa Yoga Project  (AYP) transforms the lives of disadvantaged young people through expanding employment in the growing health and wellbeing sector, turning forgotten members of society into role models and community leaders. Drawn from ethnic and regional backgrounds from across Kenya and raised in the informal settlements of Nairobi, AYP teachers reach as many as 6,000 people per week through free outreach classes, and bring positive and transformative messages to communities!

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*Please put the name(s) of attendees in the comment bar to reserve your spot!

“WORKING ON YES!” By Rachel Camero

Being a YES takes work.  It’s not easy to embrace the opportunities that life offers us.  In fact, it’s not even easy to recognize them when they are in front of us. Opportunities can arrive disguised as challenges or adversity.  Other opportunities show up as things we determine to be out of reach.

Last week I was presented with such an opportunity.  A friend mentioned that she’d like to go to Kona Hawaii and stay at her parents’ house before it is being sold at the end of March.  Immediately, I thought, “yah, that would be awesome” and then shrugged it off as an out of reach concept and let it go.  Two days later I received a text, “Kona?”.

Suddenly the realization that my friend was serious and that I was not sunk in.  While I continued to write it off as impossible, the feeling that I wasn’t open to being a YES nagged at me.   Still, I focused on all of the reasons it was unrealistic.

• Short notice
• It will cost money I wasn’t planning to spend
• I have too much going on a work
• I’d be away from my family (and on my Birthday)
• My husband is traveling for work, who will care for the kids?

 I had made up my mind that it was just not good timing.  But still I felt unsettled by my own unwillingness.  I started to explore the deeper reasons behind my resistance.  Thoughts and feelings about being outside of my comfort zone showed up.  I might start to feel awkward with my friend and her family (believe it or not, I’m an introvert and need time alone or with my family to recharge)?  What if don’t look good in a bathing suit?  What if I can’t keep up with my friend in the surf?  In other words, feelings of self-doubt and insecurity with leaving my comfort zone were my largest obstacle.

As I came to this realization, I knew deep down that I had to find my way to YES!  A few more days passed, but I began to check off my logistical obstacles one by one.  I began to evaluate my blessings.  A loving husband who absolutely supports me having independent lady fun.  Parents and in-laws who love spending time with my kids and have helped me raise them with love.  A great job with flexibility and an income that supports this type of spontaneity.

With no logistical obstacles remaining, I was forced to face my deeper insecurities.  I want to continue to challenge the boundaries of my comfort zone.  Every time I do this, my comfort zone gets larger and more inclusive of amazing experiences.  When it comes to a new challenge at work, or at home, I know how to embrace it.  But, for some reason, simply taking a personal trip without my family put me on edge.

I’m writing this now to say I am a YES!  My flight is booked and I’ll have subs for my classes this week.  I can’t wait to share my experiences with you in class when I get back.  Now that I’ve written this, it feels so silly to think it was difficult for me to arrive at YES for something like this.  I mean, how blessed am I that this is what I struggle with?  But the truth is, we all have areas where we need to work on YES.  Today I am a YES!

Rachel Camero

Spotted Dog Yoga Teacher