Queso the Yogi

yoga is about flexibility, but not the kind you’re thinking.

it’s not about who can touch their toes, or who has a full lotus pose, or who can hold full pigeon pose the longest.

it’s about being flexible with ourselves — our current mindset, our preconceived notions, our beliefs about ourselves and others. when we view ourselves and surroundings with a fixed and inflexible mindset, we limit our capacity for self-compassion, introspection, and growth.

so what are the ways we can improve our flexibility?

• we can listen to our bodies when they ask us to choose a different option/modification in a pose than we normally would (not easier or harder, just different). like opting for a modified plank and chaturanga, rather than full plank.

• we can be MINDFUL about our present states of being - thoughts, emotions, physical sensations or otherwise - recognizing they are not permanent states of being and simply gleaning the necessary information they provide and letting them pass.

• we can give others the grace that we want for ourselves too. living the belief that we’re all doing the best we can AND we can do better.

• we can recognize when inflexible thought patterns arise, be curious about where the came from/why we have them, and then do the work of beginning to dismantle them, with kindness and compassion of course!

flexibility is rooted in mindfulness, radical acceptance and self-compassion — all of which YOU are worthy, just as you are right now! @ Raleigh, North Carolina

hello sweet friends and (current or future) yogis!!⁣
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will be offering a FREE virtual trauma centered trauma a sensitive yoga class every thursday evening from 6-7pm.⁣ you can take it from wherever you are! https://nami-wake.org/event-registration/?ee=5223
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a gentle reminder: trauma is not always a single BIG traumatic experience. trauma can also be prolonged or repeated exposure to interpersonal trauma (read: unhealthy and/or toxic relationships with self, friends, family, or significant others).⁣
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our bodies bear a lot of the physical impacts of trauma. our joints, our muscles, our neurons — all of these carry the weight of our traumatic experiences, making our body feel like a scary, foreign, or unsafe place to settle. TSTCY helps us learn to reestablish a healthy connection with our body and mind, as much as is comfortable and accessible for us on any given day. it’s all about choice, invitation, and empowerment — all things that trauma can take away from us. ⁣

i’ll be taking the classes too and i’d love to see you there and share this experience with you 💜 @ Raleigh, North Carolina

“too much”⁣
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for me that feels like a white hot ball of fire, ignited in my low belly, working it’s way up my body - into my lungs, slipping under my sternum, wrapping around my collarbones like a vine, rising up the back of my throat like the smoke stains in a chimney, its heat making my whole face flushed, producing a fine sheen of sweat.⁣
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that sensation? that’s shame. for me, at least; it may feel different for you. and for me, I feel it most vividly when I perceive my vulnerability as being rejected, invalidated, made fun of, or written off.⁣
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it makes me want to crawl up into myself. take up as little space as possible. hide from the masses. never open up to anyone again.⁣
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like when you were in middle school and you thought you picked out this really BANGIN outfit, one where you’re really feelin yourself. but then you get home and realize your shirt had a massive stain on it all day, therefore ruining the outfit (and your sense of style) entirely.⁣
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right? wrong.⁣
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being open about the things that are hard or the things you are excited about does not make me or you or anyone else “too much.” other people may perceive you as such, but that has to do with their own biases and preexisting mental constructs, not a lack of self-worth on your end.⁣
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that is not to say that I can’t be a lot at times - I feel a lot of things at high intensity, like, all the time (helloooo bpd) and I talk about those feelings A LOT. but I am not inherently lesser than because I do. I am a human that’s fighting a battle with her brain and sometimes that battle looks a lot like oversharing about my feelings, or being needy, or bragging about a personal win.⁣
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that is not to say that there isn’t a need to respect other’s boundaries - sometimes people aren’t in a place to support others and that’s okay. the difference there is an awareness on both ends: “I see your pain and I respect it from right here, I just can’t dive into it with you.”⁣
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i’m not entirely sure the point of this ramble so I think I’ll just say feelings are ok you are ok I am ok you are not too much you are just right I am not too much I am just right be kind to others please be kind to yourself please 🤍

palmetto vriksasana in the palmetto state 🌴

starting my day off with a short, sweet, energizing flow from Faith Hunter!! support Black yogis/creators/peeps!!

Energizing Morning Flow I Yoga with Faith Hunter This is an all levels short morning yoga practice to get body moving and the mind energized. There are movements that open the chest, shoulder, hips and hams...

“to some people, surrender may have negative connotations, implying defeat, giving up, failing to rise to the challenges of life, becoming lethargic, and so on. true surrender, however, is something entirely different. it does not mean to passively put up with whatever situation you find yourself in and to do nothing about it. nor does it mean to cease making plans or initiating positive action. surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to rather than opposing the flow of life.” — eckhart tolle⁣
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i’m sure i’m not the only one finding myself pushing against the current — pushing away thoughts of when, what if, and why. accepting this as the normal for the foreseeable future. feelings like frustration and anger and loneliness and sadness. even pushing away good feelings a little bit (gratitude guilt anyone?)⁣
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turns out this constant pushing away?? doesn’t really work?? so i’m left to sit with my s**t. surrender to the current state. ⁣
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surrender to the weirdly still turbulence that is life now. it’s this paradox of chaos and confusion and constant change and unknown, that also feels stagnant and stuffy and like running on a hamster wheel. like frantically trying to claw your way out of heavy quicksand. ⁣
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the only treatment for this sedentary chaos?? you guessed it, MINDFULNESS BABYYYY!!! no amount of restless thought or fruitless action will change our situation. the best thing we can do is pause, accept (surrender to the existence of) the thought or sensation, and allow it to pass. be as present as possible — find tangible ways to connect to the now. REALLY feel the earth support your body, feel the sunshine on your skin in precious moments outside, listen to the sound of rain on the pavement outside, intentionally savor the taste of the food you’ve cooked for yourself or purchased to support small businesses 🙃 ⁣
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after that, you may find that the moment feels a little less stuffy, pressurized or difficult, even if it’s just in that moment. then we do it again and again and again until it becomes second nature, and life feels a little easier. surrender is not synonymous with failure; surrender is acceptance.

hi friends! i will NOT be hosting a live virtual class this week but I encourage you to attend Current Wellness's class on wednesday at 5:15pm EST -- Connect + Move!! here's a description of the class:
"Join Brit Guerin, licensed mental health counselor and fitness pro, for a movement class to enhance physical, social, and mental wellness.

We will begin with a community check-in, head into a stress management technique, and then move our bodies to feel energized and refreshed.

This class will be guided for all levels."

I am SO excited for this class and would love to see some familiar faces there :) sign up through mindbody and support an amazing up and coming local organization:

Current Wellness in Raleigh, NC, US Schedule and discover studios at Current Wellness.

hi everyone!! next free fb live class will be this wednesday, april 8th, at 7pm EST. it will be a slow flow + deep stretch :)

Hi everyone, I hope you've enjoyed my classes so far! When you have a moment, please fill out and submit this liability waiver prior to attending any future live or recorded classes. Thank you!

RELEASE OF LIABILITY FOR VIRTUAL CLASSES Please click the link to complete this form.