Guest Teacher Luca Richards

Spotted Dog Yoga is excited to host international yoga teacher and published yoga researcher Luca Richards for two days in October!!

Luca Richards is an E-RYT 500 and a Certified Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Teacher. Luca is trained in a number of fitness modalities, holding certifications in both classical and contemporary Pilates as an instructor and teacher trainer. Luca enjoys and shares a yoga practice that is both physically challenging and inspiring with a message that is tangible and grounded. He invites all his students to step out of their comfort zones and into powerful new possibilities. He uses creativity and humor to bring a powerful lightness to both the body and spirit.

Luca teaches classes, workshops and conferences throughout the USA and internationally, including Yoga Journal Live, ECA Thrive Fitness Conference, and presented at the White House in Washington, D.C. for Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Campaign.” Luca uses his love of yoga to offer service to the local and global community, including his work with Africa Yoga Project in Nairobi, Kenya and Standout Yoga, an organization he founded that supports at-risk youth. In addition, Luca has been published in academic research on the efficacy of yoga in collaboration with the University of Miami and with Florida International University.

“I am inspired by authentic connection and joyfulness in my practice, in my teaching, and in my life. I am committed to being with what is and to live fully in each moment. I have personally benefited from yoga in every way, revealing my own fluid strength and powerful vulnerability. As a teacher, my intention is to create a space where each student can experience their own greatness, without limitation or expectation.”  

JOIN LUCA AT SPOTTED DOG YOGA

Monday October 23rd 6-8pm

TRUE NORTH. A special class focusing on true north alignment:

Cost: $20

Tuesday October 24th 6-8pm

 

EXPAND YOUR BRAND.  
Open to certified yoga teachers.

Discover how to optimize what you do well, recognize your strengths, and do them with purpose. Gain tools to deepen your connection with your students and share your unique gifts. Create an individual brand that will make you thrive. Simply stated by entertainment legend Dolly Parton:” Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” This workshop will be packed with humor, everyday wisdom, and practical applications that will transform every area of your personal and professional life.

Cost: $25

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Just Call Her SUNSHINE!

You’ve seen her at the front desk…get to know Chantell Trumbull (nickname Sunshine) a little better! She has been married to her wonderful, fun loving husband Shawn for 22 years. The two met on the first day of their freshmen year in the dorm of Whitney Hall at CSU, Chico (they lived on the same floor). Chantell and Shawn have two teenage boys, Jake (17) a senior in high school and Cole (15) a sophomore. When the boys were little they tried a lot of different sports…soccer, little league, lacrosse, basketball…but the two have settled into their favorites, soccer for Jake and crew for Cole. The Trumbull family has two dogs, Murphy a ball and water loving black lab and Oreo a half poodle/half beagle mix called a poogle, otherwise known as the ‘fun police’ as he barks whenever too much fun is being had in the house!

Chantell has been practicing at SDY for ‘1 glorious year’ and loves everything about it because it feels like home! She loves the chill vibe, being with the community, practicing next to her people, making new connections and the support and encouragement we all show one another! You’ll mostly see Chantell practicing in the morning or at noon, though sometimes she likes to have a ‘lazy morning’ and show up later in the afternoon. About a month into her practice at SDY, Chantell mentioned to Nick that if we were looking to hire someone, she would like to be considered. Shortly after, she showed up at SDY for the first interview she has ever gone to in yoga pants!

Since starting her yoga practice, Chantell is more connected to herself and in-tune with her thoughts and feelings. She has become more ‘heart centered’ and open with herself and those around her. Life flows much more smoothly for her this way! She has also learned that she is enough, just as she is. She is doing her best on and off the mat…everyday is different and that is ok! Chantell has participated in our 40 Days to Personal Revolution program twice because she loves getting to know people and getting REAL! She has also completed our Connect: Assistant Program and has discovered that assisting is her new favorite thing! Chantell is now enrolled for our next Light Up! Teacher Empowerment Program beginning in October! She is excited for the program and just KNEW that it was time for her to take this next step. Chantell’s advice for anyone considering the program…“Don’t think, just do!” If your heart is nudging you in a certain direction…GO! Your heart is never wrong.

We appreciate ALL that Chantell does for our SDY community! She is the friendly face you first see when you come in, the excited assistant who can’t wait to see what you can do and just an all around amazing woman!

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!

Call Him JOHNNY VEGAS..and he might just sing to you!

TEACHER FEATURE: Eugene Shim

Some may call him “Shimmy” or, on rare occasion, “Johnny Vegas” but if you’re looking on the SDY class schedule you know him as…Eugene Shim. He is originally from San Francisco but currently lives in El Dorado Hills with his wife Vanessa, two kids, Zach & Olivia, plus two dogs, Angel & Ginger, to complete their lineup. Eugene’s favorite hobbies include sharing his love of yoga through teaching and attending comic conventions with his family. He has worked in law enforcement for the past 20 years, currently assigned as a detective with the Sacramento Police Department, and even started a yoga program for Sacramento Police and Fire employees. Eugene loves putting costumes together for his whole family so that they can “geek out” at various sci-fi and pop culture gatherings. He also enjoys the challenges of repairing broken electronic devices, making home improvements, and believes that coffee is the most important meal of the day.

Yoga has brought Eugene to a higher level of self-awareness. It allows him to feel more of what’s going on in his body and he feels more mentally focused on and off the mat. Yoga also compliments his running and CrossFit because of increased breath control, mental focus and body alignment/integrity. Like many SDY members, Eugene juggles hectic work and home responsibilities. His yoga practice helps bring balance and sanity to his life. To stay consistent, he simply makes the time for his practice and does his best to commit to the classes that work for him. Most often, you’ll find Eugene practicing at Spotted Dog Yoga during afternoon classes that coincide with “I PLAY YOGA” classes. He loves that his whole family can practice at the same time!

Going through the SDY Teacher Empowerment Program has transformed the way Eugene practices and teaches. His favorite thing about teaching yoga is watching a student have a breakthrough in a pose or throughout a practice. Seeing these shifts in others inspires and motivates him to present opportunities for people to make discoveries through his teaching.

Eugene loves the SDY community, particularly our positive vibe and ability to connect with each other. He encourages everyone to spread the word about the work we do here at Spotted Dog Yoga so that the growth of our community continues! Every new person adds to the vibrancy of our space!

We are so grateful that Eugene, and his family, are such an integral part of SDY! He inspires us to continue to do the work so that we may all inspire others to do the same.

Learn Yoga Series Starts 2/7/2017

“Learn Yoga” is a one of a kind program designed to lead participants into a clear understanding of how to build a strong foundation in all of the yoga poses that make up the “Journey Into Power” sequence. You will leave the program empowered to put what you have learned into action as you move forward with the development of your yoga practice! Join Jillian Clark and Kristin Obregon for this 6 session series and discover fundamentals of yoga philosophy, pose alignment, modifications of poses to fit your needs, breathing techniques to enhance your practice, and more! Here’s what past participants of “Learn Yoga” are saying about the program…

“Learn Yoga was a great experience for me. It gave me a more comprehensive understanding of the Spotted Dog Yoga practice. I highly recommend this class to all beginners that are interested in starting yoga. It can be a life altering experience if you allow the shifts to occur!” ~Rick Cheney

“I can’t say enough good things about my experience in the Learn Yoga series at Spotted Dog Yoga. Jillian and Kristin provided a thorough overview of the Journey into Power sequence that was appropriate for beginners, as well as people like me, who had been practicing for a while, but wanted to learn more about breath and alignment. This class was very interactive, with plenty of opportunities to apply what we were learning, and to ask questions. Best of all, it was fun!  ~Joelle Conway

 

NEXT LEARN YOGA SESSION:

Date: Feb 07, 2017 – Feb 23, 2017 From: 6:20 PM – 7:35 PM

with Kristin Obregon and Jillian Clark!

Enroll in “Learn Yoga” TODAY! 

 

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!