The Planted Yogi

Friendly reminder: none of us are getting out of here alive.

So take the trip. Hike the mountain. Try the thing. Do what lights you up, even if it makes absolutely no sense to anyone else.

Today I got to spend the morning hiking and practicing yoga with two yoga teachers visiting from Ohio. We moved, breathed, laughed, and soaked up another ridiculously beautiful Colorado day.

Life is weird. Life is short. The mountains are calling. I’m going.

Yesterday’s magic looked like mountain trails, deep breaths, yoga in the sunshine, and a group of strangers becoming friends.

Good thing I stopped taking advice from people with no abracadabra. ✨🏔️🧘‍♀️

One of those summer days that felt almost too good to be real.

Friends visiting from Seattle, lingering in the backyard, eating al fresco, laughing until our cheeks hurt. Then a drop in from friends who happened to be nearby, followed by an impromptu trip to Boulder Reservoir. No plans, no agenda—just sunshine, water, and good company.

Days like this remind me that the sweetest parts of life are often the most ordinary. A shared meal. Unexpected invitations. People you love gathered in the same place at the same time.

Nothing lasts forever, and maybe that’s what makes these moments so precious. Grateful for this beautiful, fleeting, messy, wonderful life. ☀️💛

Busy making my toxicology degree the least interesting thing about me. 😅

Took a half day PTO today to lead a yoga hike, and it ended up being one of those afternoons that reminded me why I started this little passion project in the first place.

Met wonderful humans from all over the world, including a fellow UCLA Bruin. Somewhere between the trail and savasana, we realized we were getting our PhDs at the same time. Small world.

The real MVP was the canyon wind—keeping us cool and adding a soundtrack that no meditation app could ever compete with.

If you’d like some mountain air, movement, and good company, I’ll be subbing for Maria Rojas ☽ Yoga Instructor • Retreats next Tuesday at 6 PM in Martin Park. Come join us. 🏔️🧘‍♀️

ColoradoLife FindYourPeople

Lunch break: leading a yoga hike for a family visiting Boulder to elope and maybe move here.

Current status:
✔️ Corporate day job
✔️ Yoga hike side quest
✔️ Still rocking an ear infection
✔️ Trying to convince strangers to move to Colorado

Life is weird, messy, and somehow all these things are true at once. 😂🏔️🧘‍♀️

SideQuest WorkLifeBlend MountainLife YogaOutside AdventureEveryday

The last 4 days were spent exploring Mesa Verde National Park with my favorite people. ❤️

One of our family values is spending time together in nature, so every year we prioritize a National Park adventure. It’s not always easy to fit into busy schedules, but the things we value most usually require intention.

That’s a big part of why I love leading yoga hikes, too—creating opportunities to slow down, get outside, connect, and remember what matters.

Mesa Verde this year. Olympic National Park next year. 🌲

Now back to unpacking and finding all the water bottles we brought home. 😅

LiveYourValues MesaVerde OlympicNationalPark

Road trip rule: always make time for good coffee and good friends. ☕️

Snuck away for a quiet morning coffee and breakfast stop on our way to visit a dear friend who recently made the move to Salida. One of my favorite things about road trips is finding those little moments in between the destination—the local coffee shops, slow mornings, and unexpected conversations.

Now back on the road and excited for a weekend of catching up, mountain views, and exploring a new corner of Colorado.

Suspected strep. Ear infection. Perforated eardrum.

Not exactly how I pictured the week before our Mesa Verde trip. 😵‍💫

If you’re wondering about the warmie pressed against my ear in this video, yes, it’s a sea cow. No, it’s not one of my kids’. It’s mine. Apparently my spirit animal is a sleepy sea cow with a heating pack.

I’m crossing my fingers that I heal up quickly, the rest of the family stays healthy, and we’re all ready for some national park adventures this weekend. 🤞

The behind-the-scenes of adventure isn’t always glamorous, but here we are.