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

Meet SDY Teacher Jillian Clark

Meet Jillian Corwin Clark, one of our fantastic teachers who was born and raised here in Folsom! Jillian’s top 5 favorite things about Folsom are: gorgeous bike trails, its growing diversity, its close proximity to Tahoe and the beach, its historical value and its family friendly environment. Jillian has been married to her husband, Danny, since 2012 though he was her childhood sweetheart as they first met in Kindergarten. They have a 3-year-old daughter named Halle and value family, community and love above all else. You’ll often find them riding bikes, doing house projects, playing in Tahoe and building Legos and forts. They describe themselves as simple and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Aside from yoga, Jillian’s hobbies include DIY home improvement, interior design, photography, reading, quality journalism and watching Netflix. She has been skydiving over the Swiss Alps, lived in London for a short time and attended college there, danced pre-professional ballet throughout most of her childhood/early adulthood and used to live 2 doors down from Nick and Katie.

Jillian has been practicing at SDY for over 2 years and is most inspired about teaching at SDY because of the students. Through her yoga practice, Jillian has discovered that she often worries too much about what people think, which gets in the way of her authenticity. She has realized that she has so much potential to connect with others and really shine when she is truly being herself. Jillian feels most grounded and present when she moves her body and breath simultaneously. She was a dancer many years ago, and yoga is the next best vehicle through which she feels present and alive.

Jillian loves SDY and calls it home because of the community and fun! She thanks each and every one of you for giving her the freedom to be herself and lead from her heart! Join Jillian for “Learn Yoga” starting Tuesday 8/15!

We love Jillian for her dedication to creating community at SDY! Her passion for teaching inspires us to share this yoga practice with as many people as possible!

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!

LEARN YOGA: Modifications for Back Injuries

Don’t let a back injury take you away from your yoga practice. You can use your yoga practice as a way to heal your back by creating stability in your core through safely modifying your poses.

The video below goes over three different ways that you can modify your chaturanga (high to low push up) so that you can consciously create strength in your core while protecting your back.

1. Skip chaturanga, hold plank pose instead and then press directly back to downward facing dog from your plank position.
2. Drop your knees as you lower to the ground. Come into cobra pose instead of upward dog. Press back to your hands and knees and then into downward facing dog.
3. Without dropping your knees, lower all the way to your belly. Come into cobra pose. Press back to downward facing dog.

 

At Spotted Dog Yoga in Folsom, CA we teach the “Journey Into Power” sequence as discovered and designed by Baron Baptiste, founder of the Baptiste Yoga Institute.

Learn YOGA! Sign up for SDY’s 3 week beginner series “Learn Yoga!” The next session begins on August 15th!

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!

THE POWER OF THE MORNING…

From Monday June 19th to Sunday June 25th the Spotted Dog Yoga community will participate in the “Good Morning Sunshine Challenge!“ During the week, students will commit to doing as many “early bird” yoga classes as possible. This challenge gets people out of their normal routine and shows them the power of waking up and doing yoga first thing in the morning! The promise of this challenge is that it will bring SDY students a renewed sense of vitality, power and freedom in their bodies and lives! 

Spotted Dog Yoga is a Baptiste Yoga Affiliate studio in Folsom, CA. Our style of teaching is derived directly from the the methodology and teachings of Baron Baptiste and the Baptiste Yoga Institute. For more than 25 years Baron Baptiste has devoted his life to creating and sharing transformational yoga practices and programs. He shares the Baptiste Yoga methodology through workshops, books, yoga teacher trainings and his continued work with non-profit organizations.

In Baron’s book “40 Days To Personal Revolution” he speaks to the power of practicing yoga in the early morning…

“It is best to practice first thing in the morning, before eating, because your mind and body are free from clutter and therefore more impressionable than at an other time during the day!  It is a wonderful way to set the tone of your day. Plus, if you don’t get it in the morning, you very likely won’t do it later as you get caught up in your day. The discipline of getting up just a little bit earlier each day will soon prove to be golden to you, as the power of the morning is invaluable.”

Spotted Dog Yoga exists to inspire students who are willing to do the work to unlock their greatest potential. This program has been set up for YOU to do just that…all you have to do is sign up and show up!

Sign up NOW and get ready for a transformational week at Spotted Dog Yoga.