Once I read that when we set out to follow a certain path, there will be distractions along the way. Alternative paths may open up, and there may be many other directions you may decide to follow.

We need to remain vigilant and flexible. It’s not healthy to keep walking the path we set ou to just because that’s what we planned to do. Maybe one of the alteranative paths that opened up for us will bring more joy. Maybe we will learn new things, meet new people, create new opportunities for growth and expansion.

Or, we may follow a different path for a while, then change our minds and go back to the original plan, this time with more certainty. All these options are acceptable.

I believe that, from time to time, we need to pause and take a good look at different areas of our life. Are we happy? Are we where we should be? Is that path we chose fulfilling still, or there’s more that we could be doing? It’s not easy to do, but it’s so important. To take an honest look at our lives and admit, with compassion, that maybe it’s time to try something different.

All the answeres we need are already inside of us. We just need to stay quiet long enough to listen.

As Yoga teachers, we are constantly evolving. We may feel very passionate about a certain style of Yoga today, but find something else that agrees with us more tomorrow. And that’s OK. We just need to stay open, and welcome the nudges that the universe gives us.

Today, I taught my last Sunday morning class. While it was not an easy decision, it’s something that’s been brewing in my mind for a very long time, and lately the nudges got stronger and stronger, to the point that I could no longer ignore them. It was time to pass the baton and to start something new.

I have to admit that pride held me back for a long time. I am so proud of the Stretch & Release class. It’s a class I created when the studio opened 8 years ago, and I am so proud to have nurtured it to what it is today. But pride is not a reason to hold on to anything. Especially when you feel strongly that it’s time to let go and move on.

Zaina has graciously accepted the take over the class as of September 7th. And I will sub it from time to time, for sure.

So, if I can leave you with anything, let it be this: when we practice yoga, we hopefully gain flexibility not only in our bodies, but in our minds too. So, try to keep an open mind and an open heart. Keep supporting the Sunday morning class, and help me welcome Zaina to our studio. She’s a fabulous teacher with so much to offer, and you’re all in for a treat.

What’s next for me? I will keep teaching my Barre+ class on Thursday evenings, and I will be adding a Tuesday Flow class at 5:45 PM very soon. I am dealing with some knee issues but as soon as I know that I am good to go, I will start the class. I am really excited and looking forward to keep sharing my practice with you.

4 Responses

  1. Thank you, Teresa, for all your kindness! It was one of the elements that helped me settle here after arriving in the US.
    All the best to you!❤️
    Hanna

    1. Hanna, writing this post and reading the comments remind me of the impact I made, which I often forget. I am so happy to hear that I had a contribution in making you and your husband feel welcome when you were new to the US. ❤️

  2. Change happens for a reason. I am glad you decided to follow your heart. I am sorry that I missed your last Sunday. Even though my crazy schedule doesn’t always allow me to attend- that class holds a special place in my heart. Especially during the pandemic when those Sunday classes were the highlight of my week! I’ll see you when you sub and I might have to drop in to a barre class or two! – Lisa P

    1. Hi, Lisa, I’ve been missing you! Yes, those pandemic days were so difficult but also so special, we created very strong bonds. I hope you can keep attending the Sunday class, we all miss your positive and vibrant energy.

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Jennifer Miranda

Jenn took her very first yoga class in 2012 while searching for a fitness
routine that would improve her strength and flexibility. After that first class,
she got hooked. Yoga changed her life not only because of the physical
benefits of doing yoga but she also discovered that yoga has greatly improved
her mental focus and self-awareness. Because of this, she decided to share
her practice with others. Jenn completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training
in April 2017 and is a registered yoga instructor (RYT-200) with the Yoga
Alliance.

Jenn’s ultimate goal as a yoga teacher is to lead students towards a deeper
level of physical fitness and healthy lifestyle along with mental peace. She
loves to help beginners feel comfortable in their practice and learn essential
postures while motivating and challenging the more experienced yogis and
ensuring a safe practice for everyone. Maintaining her own personal practice
while learning and gaining inspiration from other yogis enables her to design
innovative, energetic, and fun sequences that are fit for all levels.

Jenn is also a professional portrait photographer and her love of both yoga
and photography paved the way for Yoga Photography. The skills she has
acquired over the years allow her to best capture yogis demonstrating beauty,
strength, and grace through movement.

Carrie Del Purgatorio

Carrie has had a consistent, daily, at-home yoga and meditation practice for many years and was finally inspired to take her love of yoga to the next level and embark on teacher training in 2022. She enjoys teaching a more powerful yoga flow with a strong focus on breathing. Carrie firmly believes that a little self-love goes a long way, and she feels extremely grateful to be able to share her practice with people.

Camille Alonso

Camille is a Holistic Health Coach, 235RYT (235 hour Registered Yoga Teacher),
Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, and former Pastry Chef. She received her 200RYT at Indigo Yoga in 2018 and studied meditation at Kripalu in 2019. She then earned her Integrate Nutrition Health Coach Certification at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

She is also a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America with a Bachelors in Baking Pastry Arts and Business Administration. Camille began her yoga and meditation practice in 2009 when she was dealing with chronic panic attacks. She found that through mindfulness practices she could feel like herself again. She is now inspired to guide clients through a relaxing and peaceful practice and leave them with tools to help manage stress and anxiety.

Theresa Conlon

Theresa is a Yoga Alliance certified instructor (200-hour RYT) who has been teaching since 2013. She is skilled in various yoga styles including Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Restorative, and Meditation. Theresa also brings an extensive dance background to her yoga practice, which includes teaching both modern dance and ballet. She has over 40 years of dance/theater performing experience and currently showcases her choreography as part of Bergen Dance Makers, a dance collective in northern New Jersey. Theresa’s yoga classes offer a calming mix of traditional asana postures and creative movement flows, supported by energy-moving breath. Students of all skill levels are invited to find ease and peace in their bodies/minds/spirits through the joyful bliss of yoga movement.

Carrie Parker Gastelu

Carrie Parker Gastelu, E-500 RYT, has been teaching yoga since 1993. Carrie began her journey when Yogi Raj Mani Finger initiated Carrie into the ISHTA Yoga lineage after training with Mani’s son, Yogi Raj Alan Finger. In addition, she has studied many other yoga traditions as well as anatomy, physiology, movement, and awareness practices to create an eclectic style all her own. She is known for her honest, non-dogmatic yet passionate approach.

Carrie is a regular speaker and contributor at conferences, websites, and print publications and has been featured in Fit Magazine, the Yoga Zone Book, and in the Yoga Zone Video, “Flexibility and Stress Release.”

Lisa Podesta-Coombs

When Lisa found yoga in 2008, she started to find herself again and it set her on a path of health and healing. She received her 200HR RYT certification from Raji Thron of Yoga Synthesis, and her 30HR Chakra Yoga Teacher Training certificate with Anodea Judith and holds a Y12SR (Yoga of 12 Step Recovery) certification. She is also a Holistic Health Coach (certified through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition). Lisa believes we’re all on a journey of learning how to trust ourselves; she helps her clients build that trust by supporting them in creating better habits for a better life through various functional movement modalities like yoga, barre, Pilates & strength training, mindset, and whole food nutrition.

Forever a student with a passion for people, holistic health, and self-actualization, Lisa is always embracing opportunities to advance her education to better serve; Ayurveda workshops & immersions have been of particular interest as she continues to deepen her knowledge of and experience with food as medicine and she recently completed Unleash Her Power Within, a transformational program of rediscovering our truest selves, powered by Tony Robbins.  

As she continues to give herself space and grace to nourish her natural self and actualize her potential, Lisa continues to share the gift of movement as medicine to inspire authenticity & health in body, mind, and spirit. You can expect mindful, accessible, dynamic, playful, and uplifting classes from Lisa.

Roberto Reynoso

Roberto Reynoso completed basic training in 2017 at Jaipure Yoga in Montclair. The training was Hatha Vinyasa based. Roberto has created his own style from the various styles of yoga he has loved practicing. He is well-versed in Iyengar, Vinyasa, and Restorative Yoga. He hopes to teach poses and themes in each class that inform, challenge, and guide students toward a better understanding of how to make the shapes and the anatomy behind the poses. He hopes to help students find more space when they leave and also hopes to help people grow in awareness through breath, alignment, and movement.