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!

DONATE MONEY TO PURCHASE TICKETS*

*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

Feature: Rachel Camero

Have you met Rachel Camero (aka Hot Rod)? Rachel lives in Folsom but is originally from Berkeley (that’s B-Town to the locals). She loves yoga (duh), painting, snowboarding, reading, and learning new things. Rachel’s husband Issac and two kids, Lorenzo and Naomi, all have a great sense of humor and the LOVE to watch funny movies together.

Rachel began practicing at SDY on our very FIRST day of business and tries to get her own practice in 5 times per week. Rachel keeps her practice consistent by looking at her schedule each night for the following day. She looks for space in her schedule to fit in a class and if there isn’t any, she FINDS time. Rachel is better at her job, parenting, and living when she prioritizes her yoga practice in her life. Currently, Rachel’s favorite AND most challenging pose is…press-up hand stand! It doesn’t matter if she ever gets it, she just likes to challenge herself to work on something new and feel the possibility! Rachel understands that coming to yoga over and over to create shifts in her poses in addition to expanding her practice through programs or workshops creates continuous shifts in her life.

Since she began teaching at Spotted Dog Yoga in February of 2015, Rachel has felt that the SDY Team and community is invested in her and her success as a teacher.  This makes her feel like investing back into SDY and our community by working together to create a fun, challenging, and safe space for growth. On top of that, Rachel LOVES the people and the amazing connections she has made here! She calls it “a big old love fest that lights her up every time she walks through the door…”

We couldn’t agree more Rachel! Thank you for being such an amazing leader who contributes so much to our team and community!

Join Rachel Camero EVERY 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:15pm for  “Wildcard Wednesday!” 

Beyond the Noise

In the world today it isn’t that often that we find the time to slow down, unplug, and connect.  As a society, we are constantly overstimulated by external noise, leaving little time to actually hear what’s going on inside. Your yoga practice is meant to provide you the space to connect and listen, not to be just another form of distraction.

Spotted Dog Yoga was created as a special space for you to re-connect to yourself and to build relationships with other people in this amazing community. The culture here reflects the experiences that Katie and I have had on our yoga mats and in our lives over the last 6 years. When we first started our journey with yoga, we only taught and practiced with music. After years of playing music in all of my classes, I had a breakthrough and observed that I was using the noise of the music as a way to hide from my students. My biggest concern was my music, not connecting with others, and I was spending more time putting together playlists than working on myself. Yoga teachers and practitioners alike can easily use the practice of yoga as just another way to distract themselves and disconnect. Sometimes we do this without awareness as a result of an internal fear that we might feel or discover something about ourselves that we’ve been trying to hide.

Through our training with the Baptiste Institute and our commitment to this practice at Spotted Dog Yoga, Katie and I discovered where we had previously been hiding as teachers and have taken on a new way of teaching and being. It was a big shift for me personally to stop playing music in my classes and simply hold space for myself and others. Since we made this shift, however, I have found more peace within myself, gained confidence in who I am, and developed real connections with others. I am no longer hiding behind the noise and I invite you to do the same. It is possible for all of us to gain insight into who we are simply by giving ourselves the space to listen.

When you roll out your yoga mat at Spotted Dog Yoga, you invite the possibility of big breakthroughs simply by creating the time to be present and listen. Below, discover three reasons why the majority of classes at Spotted Dog Yoga are taught without music.

1. Your Practice is a Moving Meditation.  Gaining access to the present moment can be as simple as listening to your breath and focusing your eyes. However, simple doesn’t mean easy. Your yoga practice will constantly push you to your limits and test your ability to remain present and calm throughout a class. Practicing in a noise free space allows us to actually hear our breath, which also helps with our practice of drishti (focused gaze). Your breath and drishti throughout a practice will help you build mental fortitude and create awareness around the distractions you create for yourself on the mat.
2. Observe Your Thoughts. When we take out external noise and distraction, we are able to notice our internal dialogue. Once you have created awareness around your thoughts and reactions, YOU have the ability to choose whether they are serving you or not. This new-found awareness creates the possibility of shift in your thoughts and in your life! How you do anything is how you do everything…your yoga practice will give you direct insight into how you are being and where you can grow.
3. Cultivate Connection. When music is played during a yoga practice, it can very easily be an “out” for us so that we don’t have to feel what is coming up. Our style of teaching  at Spotted Dog Yoga causes us, both as teacher and practitioner, to do the work necessary to create shift on and off the mat because there is nowhere to hide. Through this practice, you will gain a deeper understanding of who you are and what you stand for so that you can share yourself more powerfully with others. Your ability to create authentic connections with others requires that you first understand yourself in a real way.

Looking forward to seeing you at “The Dog!”

Nick

 

 

Spotted Dog Yoga has a lot of great workshops coming up this summer! Click Here to learn more about what is going on at SDY! 

Want to stay more connected with your community? Join our Spotted Dog Yoga community Facebook page by clicking here!

 

 

 

 

 

Upgrade Your Yoga Experience

Choosing the right yoga mat and yoga accessories will make a huge difference for you and your yoga practice.  If you haven’t already noticed, at Spotted Dog Yoga, we are BIG fans of Manduka brand mats and mat towels.

Here are 3 reasons why selecting a Manduka brand mat will enhance your yoga experience for years to come:

1. Lifetime Warranty*. After purchasing your Manduka Pro or Manduka Pro Light mat, get excited about the fact that you will have it for life! You will like it so much that you may end up buying another color! *The lifetime warranty for Manduka mats is available if the mat is purchased from an authorized dealer like Spotted Dog Yoga!
2. Thickness and Density. Sore joints? These mats give you the ultimate balance of softness and firm to protect your joints. Breaking in these mats is a whole lot like breaking in a pair of running shoes. Over time you will notice that they get better and better.
3. Non Absorbant.  Let’s face it, when you are doing hot yoga, you are going to sweat a lot.  Imagine if your yoga mat collected all of that sweat over a long period of time.  Then imagine breathing deeply in and out of your nose directly over the accumulated sweat.  Enough said!  Manduka mats are non absorbent and easy to clean so that every time that you jump on your mat, you’re assured a stink free ride.

Manduka Mats

Yogitoes Towels

When you start to sweat you are going to want to grab a Yogitoes or Equa mat towel!  A mat towel is light weight and non slip to give you extra grip when you start to sweat. Yogitoes and Equa mat towels are most effective when you slide them over the top of a wet yoga mat.

During your introductory period at Spotted Dog Yoga, you’ll have the opportunity to ride a rental Manduka yoga mat for free!  Also, for your very first class, enjoy a free mat towel rental on us!

After your first class, we recommend that you purchase a mat towel or two, but if you aren’t ready to purchase we also rent them for $4.00 per visit.

Don’t want the extra laundry?  Add on towel service to your membership!  For $15.00 extra per month, you get one each hand towel, bath towel, and mat towel per visit to the DOG!

Sun Salutations

Sun Salutation A and Sun Salutation B are a combination of poses that provide the perfect formula for re-awakening your body and clearing your mind. Once you settle onto your mat, these rhythmic and repetitive movements will increase your flexibility as you build heat and generate shift in your body! Over time, your body will start to crave the rhythm and energetic feeling that these movements bring.

Here are 2 reasons why Sun Salutations work every single time:

1) Slowly Building Heat. Sun Salutation A is a simpler combination of movements that is designed to slowly increase your flexibility while helping you generate breath and connection to your body. After a few rounds of Sun Salutation A, when the breath of the class really gets pumping, Sun Salutation B is introduced as a way to build an inner fire while targeting different muscles & parts of the body that are traditionally tight.

2. Thirsty for Rhythm. Think for a moment about a time in your life when you were in rhythm…and remember how good it felt! From day to day and week to week, amongst all of the things that are happening in our lives, one of the most valuable things we can do for our sanity is to be a creation for rhythm. Sun Salutation A’s and B’s will bring your body and your breath into sync and re-awaken your dormant energy.

WATCH: Sun Salutation A and Sun Salutation B.

Current “Light Up!’ Empowerment Program Leaders in each pose of Sun Salutation B!

Today is the day that you re-awaken your body again!  Swing in to Spotted Dog Yoga today for your daily dose of “feel good” yoga!

Deepen your understanding of yoga and SIGN UP for “LEARN YOGA” today!  This 6 session series that is guaranteed to give you the tools to build and take your practice to the next level!