Carissa Souza Yoga & Human Design

Jumping on the retrospective 2016 trend: I was at the peak of my asana practice, searching for myself through movement, effort, and curiosity.
In these photos, I see a deep need for expression—shaping my body into poses, into art, into meaning, into a version of myself I thought might last forever.
At the time, it felt like I had found a forever identity.
Ten years later, I understand that growth doesn’t always look like expansion.
Sometimes it looks like release.
Sometimes it looks like recalibration.
I realize that identities can be temporary homes, and that growth can mean leaving behind the four walls of that shelter you once loved—without it ever having been wrong or wasted time.
I’ve learned it’s okay to outgrow what once felt essential.
I also learned it’s more than okay to grieve who you once were.

As I move into the next decade, I want to remember this:
•nothing is ever lost.
•every chapter built the foundation for the next one.
•every version of us leaves something behind—wisdom, strength, tenderness—
and hands it forward to the next becoming.
•
Here’s to our rising 🕊️
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•
#2016

Istanbul is a city that hums w/ layers — empires stacked on empires, prayers echoing through stone. Every street & bazaar felt alive w/ memory, pulsing w/ color & chaos. Spices piled high like mountains & the call of shopkeepers floating through the maze. It’s overwhelming & intoxicating in the best way — the kind of place where you lose yourself & somehow find a truer part of who you are. Our days here were stitched together by the rhythm of the tram & the scent of roasted chestnuts. We rode from one side of the city to the other, watching domes & minarets rise & fall against the skyline. We took boat rides across the Bosphorus, crossing from Europe to Asia & back again, existing momentarily between two continents. At the #HagiaSophia, we stood in awe beneath its golden dome, where mosaics shimmer with the breath of many faiths & incarnations. The air felt thick w/ reverence, like centuries of devotion still lingered in every ray of light filtering through the windows. The sounds of the muezzin singing a capella prayer surely must have stirred the most stoic of hearts. The Topkapi Palace felt like stepping into a space untouched by time. Intricate tiles in every shade of turquoise & gold & the whispers of the past woven into the very marble. The #BasilicaCistern, was a stunning cathedral of water & stone, like nothing I’ve ever seen… quiet, accompanied by the sounds of echoing water droplets. One of the things I’ll never forget are the small, human moments — the man who handed us a branch of his grapes to eat w/ a smile that said everything words couldn’t, the shopkeeper who earnestly offered me a bite of his sandwich, the way people here seem to carry hospitality in their bones. I wish I kept track of the countless cups of Turkish tea & coffee we were gifted. I wish I kept track of all the friendly neighborhood cats I petted. Istanbul is contradiction & harmony, chaos & grace. It’s where history breathes right beside you — where East meets West not in conflict, but in a kind of soulful conversation. Some cities you simply visit. But #Istanbul visits you back— weaving itself into your spirit, alive in every breath. —Carissa

Back from the ocean and feeling lit up from the inside out. ✨
Weds 10 AM –
Thurs 9:30 AM –
Fri 9:30 AM –
Your mat is waiting. 🌊☀️

New Class Alert!⭐️
Wednesday Morning Vinyasa at 10:00 am!

My Vinyasa Flows are a breath-led soulful practice that blends mindful movement with intentional stillness. It lives in the center of slow flow and vinyasa— where we explore the space between effort and ease, strength and softness — the sacred center where lasting change begins. My classes are for anyone seeking a mindful pace, space to breathe, and a place to return to themselves.

Hope to see you there!

⭐️ Wednesday 10am
⭐️Thursday 9:30 am
⭐️Friday 9:30am

For my friends asking for a night class:) I’m subbing Rebecca’s Vinyasa class, 7:00 PM tonight at Milford Yoga. Otherwise I’ll see you Thursday or Friday—Same time. Same Places! (Health House / Awakening )

You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.”

you’re being taken to where you need to go and sometimes that can feel like you’re pushed beyond your limits. Trust this is shattering what has served you in the past and how you once defined yourself…. Trust you’re being cracked open so more light can pour in. ✨

If you’re interested in flowing with me, I’m still teaching:
Thursdays 9:30 am
Fridays 9:30 am
(Links in bio)



Photo: | North Carolina Beachs

Happy Equinox and astrological new year! I feel an incredible shift the past few weeks… as if I’m truly coming out of hibernation. How about you? I’ve missed you. I’ve missed connection, which is why I’m really looking forward to hosting a workshop that feels tenderly dear to me. A Full Moon Journey under the Pink Full Moon in Libra. Why does this feel so tender to me? Because, as I (and we) move closer towards our purpose- people will naturally flow in and out of our lives, either uplifting or redirecting our energy. I’ve been feeling a bit of loss as of lately. But in the same breath I’ve had some people surface that feel like a healing salve to my heart. This Moon invites us to tune into which relationships truly align with our highest path and which ones might be pulling us in another direction. Being the first full moon of the astrological year, she provides us with a potent time to reflect on where we are, what (and who) we’re carrying forward, and what (or who) needs to be released as we step into this new cycle. Together, in this 2 hour ceremony we’ll move through a mindful Yoga flow, dive deep into a guided meditation, be carried by the frequencies of singing bowls, and explore a journaling practice that’ll invite balance, clarity, and release. Bring your yoga mat, a journal, and an open heart as we embrace this lunar cycle together. Hope to see you there , . 🌕

Event page here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/12FQSx9oza7/?mibextid=9l3rBW

Sign ups here:
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=34374746&appointmentType=75934693

Happy Equinox, friends!
•Tuesdays 9:30am classes at Awakening NY will be on hold for a while, and Fridays are still on!
•Thursdays 9:30am I’m at the Health House, Milford.
Save the date April 12, 5-7pm for a special Full Moon Journey at Milford Yoga ! (More details to follow) ☀️🌕💛

I am rising with the sun's gentle promise
I am breathing in new possibilities
I am flowing like water around challenges
I am growing stronger each moment
I am choosing peace as my companion
I am worthy of all good coming my way
I am radiating light from within
I am grateful for this fresh beginning
I am walking in grace and purpose
I am exactly where I need to be

In morning's embrace
Light dances through my soul
Peace blooms anew

~ Etheric Echoes Etheric Echoes

~ Art by Iulia Bochis Iuliastration