The Yogi Treehouse

New Class Alert

Slowburn Thursday morning 9am 🧘🏼‍♀️

I’m in love with the athleticism of a CTR (Core, Tone, Reform) class. As a long time yoga student and teacher, understanding the foundations of movements is key to my yoga practice, so having a Pilates practice that compliments my CTR workout seems only natural.

Pilates is my alignment breath base workout. I get personal attention and an understanding of what a low-impact mind-body exercise focused on core strength, flexibility, posture, and controlled movement should feel like.

Pilates is a perfect complement to my CTR workouts. Having a basic understanding of how to adjust my springs to support my workout and how to control my reformer helps me keep up and get max repetitions in my CTR workouts. Understanding the function of movement is key to targeting the intended muscles, and receiving the best results.

If you haven’t tried an into to Pilates class and are planning to take a CTR class, I would strongly suggest trying a class with Cara Ann Lukowich Life Time McKinney at Craig Ranch she’s a pro and incredibly knowledgeable.
̇lates

Love is the bridge between you and everything.

Love connects you to the entire world. It shifts your focus from yourself to everyone and everything else around you.

Love and yoga are deeply connected through the concept of Bhakti (the yoga of devotion) and the opening of the Anahata (heart) chakra. Both practices focus on dissolving the ego to create a deep, compassionate connection with yourself and the world around you.

Here are some poses you can add to your practice this week to encourage an open heart. 💜

Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana): Builds a literal “bridge” to lift and open the heart.

Wild Thing (Camatkarasana): A joyful expression of an open, fearless heart.

Have a great week yogis! See you on the mat 🧘🏼‍♀️

The gentle root embraces how quiet, persistent growth can eventually overcome massive, seemingly immovable obstacles.

🌱 Power of persistence: Small, continuous actions achieve massive results over time.

🌱Gentleness vs. force: Soft, living things can defeat hard, lifeless barriers. Internal growth: Deep roots create the foundation for outward strength.

🌱Time and patience: Overcoming huge challenges requires steady, long-term effort.

Sweet gentle roots keep growing those obstacles will move eventually. 💚

Stress Management: These are my go-tos

Managing stress effectively often requires a combination of physical, mental, and social strategies. The following approaches can make a significant difference.

Physical Health 🤸‍♂️

Get moving: Physical activity is one of the most effective stress reducers. Aerobic exercise helps lower stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, releasing mood-boosting endorphins. For me this is my Aerial Yoga, CTR, and Pilates workouts.

Mental and Emotional Practices 🧘🏼‍♀️

Mindfulness and meditation: Taking a few minutes to focus on your breathing during a yin or restorative yoga practice or practicing a guided meditation can help reset a racing mind. This is my yoga practice.

Social and Lifestyle Support 🥂

Connect with others: A strong support network of friends, family, or colleagues can buffer the emotional intensity of a stressful situation. Accountability partners and encouraging friends provide the motivation needed to stick to healthy habits and career milestones. This is my yoga community. Thank you for showing up! Seeing you each week always encourages me to do my best, to manage my health, to prepare an intentional class, and reduces my stress levels.

What are your go-tos for stress?

13 months postpartum. I keep hearing you look great, what are you doing?

Here’s my secret. It’s called CTR. Core Tone and Reform. It has been a part of healing my core and toning my body after losing the baby weight.

It’s such a fun vibe. I love the energy in the room, and I how strong and stable I feel on the reformer. I even love the burn out my muscles get and the soreness the next day. This is my new obsession! I’m working through my certification and I’m excited to share this experience.

What exactly is CTR?

CTR reform yourself to the core. This high energy athletic workout on a reformer strengthen and lengthen you to your center. Intentional toning, stabilizing, and moving with purpose.

Experience the method that proves true strength is not found in rushing through movement but in mastering it.

Launching at Lifetime McKinney in July let me know if you’d like to be my guest. I’m not on the schedule yet, but I’d love to go to class with you!