YOUniversal Yoga

Her class theme focused on Ishvara Pranidhana - the yogic principle of surrender.

Surrender is not about giving up. It is about showing up fully, doing your part, and then releasing the need to control every detail. It is the art of planting the seed, watering it consistently, and trusting nature to handle the blooming.

We also played one of our favorite training games: “Spot What’s NOT in Alignment.” Part yoga, part detective work, and just enough laughter to keep everyone on their toes. This exercise helps trainees sharpen their ability to recognize misalignments and offer thoughtful, effective adjustments.

Teaching yoga requires both preparation and trust: learn the structure, refine the cues, and then allow your authentic voice to emerge.

Sometimes the greatest growth happens when we stop forcing the pose and trust the unfolding.

This week -The theme in yoga teacher training is Svadayaya, which means SELF STUDY.

This principle is about becoming a student of yourself.

Because honestly… most of us will read reviews before buying a toaster, but won’t spend five quiet minutes noticing our own thoughts.

Yoga gives us a mirror -not the kind that checks your hair, but the kind that reveals your habits, reactions, stories, and patterns.

Every pose becomes information:
Where do you push?
Where do you quit?
Where do you brace?
Where do you soften?
Where do you stop breathing when life gets uncomfortable?

Self-study isn’t about becoming someone else.
It’s about finally becoming honest with the person already here.

There’s a story about a student, who once asked a teacher,

“How do I become clearer and wiser?”

The teacher handed him a muddy glass of water and said,
“Wait.”

The student sat there impatiently, wanting instructions, techniques, answers.
But after some time, the mud slowly settled, and the water became clear.

The teacher said,
“Wisdom is not always adding more. Sometimes it’s becoming still enough to see clearly what was there all along.”

That is self-study.
Not forcing clarity -allowing it.

Yoga is not the practice of mastering the pose.
It is the practice of meeting yourself honestly inside the poses and in life.

💜And what a gift it is to spend an hour listening inward in a world constantly demanding our attention outward.

May you be a little more aware of your patterns…
a little gentler with your humanity…
and a little more connected to the quiet wisdom already living inside you.

The deepest relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself.
Today , we practiced showing up for it.. YAY

Watching yoga trainees become teachers is a little like watching a spark realize it was fire all along. 🔥✨

Huge congratulations to Nicolle for practicing Parts 1, 2 & 3 of her final class project today in Teacher Training -stepping fully into the seat of the teacher with heart, presence, courage, and grace.

This week’s theme: Tapas - the sacred burn, the discipline, the willingness to stay present through the uncomfortable moments that shape us into who we are becoming. And wow… you could feel it in the room.

Today we explored alignment principles, intentional movement, conscious cueing, deep self-study, and closed with a grounding 10-minute meditation that reminded us: growth doesn’t always have to shout… sometimes it arrives in stillness.

Sweaty palms. Brave voices. Open hearts. Future teachers rising. 🤍🧘‍♀️🧘🏻‍♀️

🔥

Sunday mornings at YOUniversal Yoga = controlled chaos… the Pilates kind 😄

Mat Pilates today featured paper plates (yes, really), balls, straps, and a little unexpected singing—because nothing fires up your core like laughing mid–hundred. If it slides, shakes, or makes you question your life choices… we’re using it.

Then we leveled up at 10:30 barre—chairs, tiny pulses, and a splash of Christina Aguilera energy. Strong, sassy, and just the right amount of dramatic 💪🏻✨

Core engaged. Legs on fire. Spirits high.
This is your sign to spend your Sundays with us.

Teacher Training today hit that sweet spot 😌🔥

We flowed together as a community through an all-levels Vinyasa before diving into our Asana Lab—because nothing bonds people faster than a few well-placed lunges and a little shared struggle 😉

Today’s focus: hips + legs (aka where we store everything).From deep lunge + quad stretch to half split-full split, gate pose, pigeon, fire log, deer, wild thing (a spicy modification), and a sneaky twist to rinse it all out… we explored it all.

And layered into every pose? Santosha (contentment).

Because contentment doesn’t mean everything is easy…It means finding peace in the wobble, in the stretch, in the “why is this still happening?” moments.

Sometimes Santosha looks like:✨ Holding the pose✨ Modifying the pose✨ Or just surviving the pose and laughing about it after

And then… the real practice: 8 minutes of silent meditation.No movement. No distraction. Just being with what is—which might be the deepest stretch of all.

Progress isn’t always prettier… but it can feel more peaceful when we stop fighting where we are.

Proud of our trainee for showing up, leaning in, and embracing the work—exactly as it is. 💜