Gwen Zest for Life Yoga

~Thoughts from the mat~

In the past several weeks, my Yoga practice hasn't been anything close to what I'm used to.

Lots of practices cut because I started cuddling my senior cat (can't say no to that!)
Practices were I had to move in diagonal from my mat because too many animals on it.
Many missed live practices, more than I would want to, because of a busy schedule and/or need to rest.
MFR on a plane because I couldn't do anything else.
Sometimes I had to skip some poses because I just couldn't do it where I was (practicing on a ⛵️).
& so on.

This led me to reflect on what's a real Yoga practice?

Is it the one that happens no matter what on the same day, same time?
Is it the flexible one that adapts to your space, your energy, your environment & exists within your busy & sometimes chaotic life?

What if it is both?
(& honestly, who's deciding that but you?)

What's your practice like lately?

I'll be at sea for several days 🐬⛵️ but Micaela is taking care of the classes at Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio Bonaire

See you on September 5th!

The last episode of the season is out & this is such a good one!

As I am getting busy with scientific expeditions & conference, I am closing the second season of Yiga that Works so I can focus on teaching, guiding students in 1:1 therapeutic Yoga session & my research project.

I am also entering a challenging period in my life & this led me to reflect on how Yoga can support me.

I hope you'll enjoy this episode. Yoga that Works will be back in a few months 🧡

Apparently I have a bit of a reputation on Bonaire for being a "hardcore" Yoga teacher 😅

I heard someone say that & it got me thinking... what do we actually mean when we say a Yoga class is challenging?

Is it sweating, shaking, going upside down? Or can lying still for 10 minutes be just as challenging for someone else?

I really enjoyed exploring this one, because there is a whole rainbow between "easy" & "hard" Yoga, & challenge can look VERY different depending on who is on the mat.

https://sites.libsyn.com/579125

New episode of Yoga That Works is out 🎧 go have a listen & let me know what challenging Yoga means to you!

𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟓:𝟑𝟎𝐩𝐦 - 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐚 & 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio Bonaire
𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟔𝐩𝐦 - 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐚 Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio
𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟔𝐚𝐦 - 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚 Sand Dollar Bonaire (outside class)
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟗:𝟑𝟎𝐚𝐦 - 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰 Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio

From 12$/class or join via partnership (check with your employer)
Mats & props included.

✨ Why sign up for class?
✔️ Saves your spot
✔️ Helps your teacher plan (tea included!)
✔️ Keeps things smooth & easy
✔️ Keeps you committed
✔️ Respects everyone's time

All levels welcome.

Just bring yourself!

Please message me if you’d like to join.

In August, we cultivate our confidence in our balance. On the mat, we alternate challenges and rest, balancing on one foot or in a pose. But of course, this also applies to our lives, because what good would your Yoga practice be if it didn't help you live better?

Please tell me I'm not the only one having to fight for space on the mat 😱😵🤭🙋🏼‍♀️

Gwen is back from her short break so we're back to the regular schedule for the rest of July!

Don't forget to sign for the class(es) you want to join as there is a minimum & maximum of students per classes to ensure the high quality & comfort provided.

𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟓:𝟑𝟎𝐩𝐦 - 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐚 & 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio
𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟔𝐩𝐦 - 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐚 Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio
𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟔𝐚𝐦 - 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚 Sand Dollar Bonaire (outside class)
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟗:𝟑𝟎𝐚𝐦 - 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰 Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio

From 12$/class or join via partnership (check with your employer)
Mats & props included.

✨ Why sign up for class?
✔️ Saves your spot
✔️ Helps your teacher plan (tea included!)
✔️ Keeps things smooth & easy
✔️ Keeps you committed
✔️ Respects everyone's time

All levels welcome.

Just bring yourself!

Please message me if you’d like to join.

I'm taking a small break this week to rest, recharge, & spend some time to enjoy the island.

Sunday Morning Flow will be beautifully covered by Renske. I'm so grateful she'll be on the mat with you while I'm away.

The schedule for next week is already here so you can also plan ahead.

If you're missing your practice, remember that Life Lab is always there for you. You can explore the full library with a 7-day free trial, so whether you have 5 minutes or a full hour, you'll find a practice that supports exactly what you need.

Have a beautiful week, take good care of yourself, & I'll see you back on the mat next Monday. 🧘‍♀️

A few days late... & to be honest, that's quite fitting for this new episode. 😊

Life got busy, priorities shifted, & instead of adding more pressure to "stick to the schedule," I chose to adapt.

Which is actually exactly what this week's podcast is about.

🎙️ Did Yoga Change, or Did We?

When I started practicing Yoga almost ten years ago, most people came to class because they wanted to become more flexible, stronger or simply move their body.

Today, I see something very different.

People come because they're overwhelmed, they don't sleep well, they're recovering from injuries, they're feeling disconnected from themselves or they're simply looking for a way to navigate everything life is asking of them.

The practice itself hasn't changed all that much.

But we have.

Because of that, the way we use Yoga, the way we teach it & the way we experience it has evolved too.

In this episode, I share why I no longer think the first question should be "What kind of Yoga should I do?" but rather...

"What do I need today?"

I truly believe that's where a practice starts becoming something that supports your real life.

🎧 The episode is now live wherever you listen to your podcasts.

I'd love to hear what you think after listening.

Do you think Yoga changed... or did we?

𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 | 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐲

A new month, a new theme, & new ways to explore your practice.

This July, we'll explore what it means to move freely. Not by moving more or becoming more flexible, but by reducing unnecessary tension, improving the way different parts of the body work together, & creating movement that feels lighter, smoother, & more effortless.

Our early morning Hatha classes will be exploring the diaphragm & the breath, releasing tension around the rib cage to create more space for easier breathing & freer movement throughout the body.

Sunday Morning Flow classes will focus on the spine, exploring movement in every direction to improve mobility, posture, & the connection between the upper & lower body.

Tuesday's Hatha classes will have a new focus that I will be working on during the week & I will share with you soon what I am coming up with.

As always, Monday evening classes continue with a different sequence each week. While the movements & MFR practices change from week to week, you'll continue finding familiar techniques that help release tension, improve blood & lymphatic circulation, & bring the body back into motion.

As always, the goal is not to move more, but to move with more ease. To leave each class feeling lighter, freer, & more comfortable in your body, both on & off the mat.

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𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟔𝐚𝐦 - 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚 Sand Dollar Bonaire (outside class)
𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟓:𝟑𝟎𝐩𝐦 - 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐚 & 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio
𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟔𝐩𝐦 - 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐚 Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟗:𝟑𝟎𝐚𝐦 - 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰 Smiling Buddha Yoga Studio

I will be on vacation from July 8th until July 12th. Another teacher from Smiling Buddha will teach the Sunday class on the 12th.

From 12$/class or join via partnership (check with your employer)
Mats & props included.

✨ Why sign up for class?
✔️ Saves your spot
✔️ Helps your teacher plan (tea included!)
✔️ Keeps things smooth & easy
✔️ Keeps you committed
✔️ Respects everyone's time

All levels welcome.

Just bring yourself!

Please message me if you’d like to join.