Yoga for Recovery

Today is National Relaxation Day—which sounds like official permission to pause, breathe and let our shoulders come down from somewhere near our ears. Maybe savasana, maybe a nap, maybe a nap while your in savasana

Relaxation isn’t about escaping life. It’s about creating enough space within ourselves to meet life with a little more peace, compassion and grace.

We breathe.
We soften.
We laugh.
We let go of what we can—even if only for this moment.

And when the world feels especially heavy, we begin again.

Breathe • Belong • Begin Again

We center.
We breathe.
We stretch.
We wobble.
We laugh.
Sometimes we cry.
And every once in a while, we do something we were absolutely certain we couldn’t do.

That’s Yoga for Recovery.

It’s not about touching your toes, perfect poses, or looking like the person on the mat next to you.

It’s about showing up.

Learning that falling out of a pose doesn’t mean you failed — it just means you get to try again.

For one hour, we make space for all of it — the laughter, the tears, the shaky legs, the quiet moments, the little victories and the occasional “You want me to put WHAT where?”

And at the end, we rest Savasana!

And maybe leaving the mat knowing something we didn’t quite believe when we walked in:

I can do hard things.
I can begin again.
And I don’t have to do any of it alone.

The light in me sees, honors, and loves the light in each of you.

Oh, and there's always a Playlist to sing too! Yes there can be singing in yoga!

Some Sundays look like this...

A full room.

Laughter that echoed between the walls.

There's singing (because sometimes healing has a soundtrack). There’s laughter and sometimes crying!

Long, quiet breaths.

And finally... Savasana.

Every week I'm reminded that recovery isn't about becoming someone different. It's about coming home to the person we were always meant to be.

Before we leave, I always share a reading or reflection, and we end the same way:

"The light in me sees, honors, and loves the light in each of you."

Today that light was easy to see ant the love easy to feel!

Thank you to everyone who rolled out a mat, showed up exactly as you were, and allowed this community to hold one another for just a little while.

See you next Sunday.

Every once in a while, someone asks me, "Isn't yoga anti-God?"

It's a thoughtful question, and one that's worth talking about.

Yoga has ancient roots and a rich history. Like many practices that have evolved over time, people approach it in different ways and for different reasons.

But here's what I know...

A yoga mat doesn't ask who you voted for. It doesn't ask what church you attend. It doesn't ask whether you're certain, questioning, or still searching.

It simply invites you to breathe.
To slow down. To become present. To care for your body. To quiet the constant noise of the world. To create space for healing.
In our Yoga for Recovery class, people come from many different walks of life, with many different beliefs—and sometimes no beliefs at all. Yet for one hour, none of that matters.

We breathe together. We stretch together. We laugh together. Sometimes we cry together. And, little by little, we heal together.

No one is asked to change what they believe. No one is asked to leave their faith—or their questions—at the door.

The practice itself isn't what defines us. The love, compassion, kindness, and grace we extend to one another do.

If a practice helps us become more patient, more peaceful, more compassionate, and more present for the people we love, perhaps that's something worth celebrating.

The world gives us plenty of reasons to build walls.

I'd rather help create a space where people can simply breathe.

Some Sundays in Yoga for Recovery are quiet and grounding…
and some Sundays turn into full-on group therapy with a soundtrack. 💛🎶

Today’s practice had a little bit of everything — tears, laughter, singing out loud, deep breaths, and that beautiful reminder that healing doesn’t always look the same.
Sometimes recovery is releasing. Sometimes it’s reconnecting. Sometimes it’s belting out lyrics on the mat with people who simply get it.

We even paused to celebrate a recovery birthday today — because in this community, every milestone matters. 🎉 One more year of choosing life, healing, growth, and showing up. Those moments deserve to be honored.

There is something incredibly powerful about a room full of people showing up exactly as they are — no masks, no expectations, just honest humanity and grace.
And of course… we ended the only way we know how: soft lights, savasana, and essential oils floating through the room. 🌿✨
Grateful for this community. Grateful for the music. Grateful for every soul brave enough to keep coming back.
Drop your favorite recovery/yoga song below ⬇️🎵

Below was our Playlist for today! We were very grateful for the Grateful Dead recommendation!

Check out my playlist on Amazon Music: Soft Rock Restorative Yoga
https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/a1d670b3ed0e482089b771b593628890sune?ref=dm_sh_O8JT7t7XzdDT23e06bhn5R2e8

✨🎶 YOGA FOR RECOVERY PLAYLIST CHECK-IN 🎶✨

We need YOUR song requests!
Some Sundays we’re mellow and reflective…

🌙 deep breaths
🧘 gentle stretches
💛 soft healing vibes

…and some Sundays we’re singing out loud like nobody’s watching 😄🎤
💃 big energy
🎶 windows-down kind of music
❤️ songs that remind us we’re alive
What songs move YOU?
Drop your requests in the comments ⬇️

(Yes… everything from current hits to 90s throwbacks to guilty pleasures is welcome 😆)

Because sometimes the right song becomes part of someone’s healing.

Who would you stay and help?

Life is kind of like a party..

Simple Seated Breath / Stillness

Not every practice needs movement…
“One breath at a time… one day at a time.”