AUGUST
FOLD IN
As Summer comes to a close, we take time to reflect and take care.
At the beginning of the month, I was chatting with my sister and she described summer like a weekend. She said June is like the Friday of summer, July the Saturday, and August the Sunday. I stared at her for a moment and realized I had never agreed with anything more.
What does August mean to you? Does it feel like the end of summer- squeezing every last drop out of each day? Does it hold a special summer vacation that you take every year? Is it your birthday month or anniversary month?
And what does Sunday mean to you? A day of rest? A day to get caught up on everything you didn’t finish on Saturday? A day with family? Or maybe it’s like your August- squeezing every last drop out of the weekend.
As August slowly comes to an end, as summer gives us it’s final moments and we can feel fall hiding around the corner, as school begins and our schedules start to resume, try and pay attention.
How are you spending these moments? These warm, sun-filled “Sundays”?
Maybe squeeze every last drop out of tomorrow and then the day after, take a long nap. A little bit of both.
Sweet summer is ending and fall is beginning to flirt- I ask you to hold yourself. Notice. Spend your August how you would want to spend your favorite Sunday. Sending you love.
— Written by Lauren Booth
REFLECT with a Remix
I love a good remix. You can always expect 3-5 remixes in my classes. There’s something about nostalgia viewed through a fresh lens. Over 2.5 hours of remixes and covers.
— Hayley Pierzynski
stay grounded
A grounding movement practice by Reilly Butler
Settle into the comfort of the here and now. allow yourself to undress the fear of running out of time before summer comes to a close and settle into the comfort of savoring these final moments of pure elation and liberation.
root through the souls of your feet.
let’s leverage our props! grab a yoga block or substitute a stack of books, firm cushion, or folded blankets. stand tall, your feet come to the edges of your mat’s width apart, angle your feet outward, micro-bend your knees, engage your belly button to spin, drop your shoulders away from your ears, and heart shines. slowly bend your knees and lower your booty to the ground or your prop. hands come to heart center. elbows push against knees. lengthen your spine. heart stays lifted with shoulders away from ears. take your tongue away from the roof of your mouth. your heels may stay rooted on the ground or they may be slightly lifted, either variation works.
stay in for 30 to 60 seconds. using your breath to support the sensations throughout your hips and inner thighs.
add in a twist by placing your right hand on the ground near your right foot, reach your left arm overhead for a few breaths and switch sides.
to come out of malasana, slowly plant your hands on the ground in front of you and send your booty to the sky, heel-toe your feet together for standing forward fold. repeat as many times as your body desires.
malasana or yogi squat has so many benefits like opening our hips, strengthening our pelvic floor, stretching our thighs/groin/ankles/feet, and helps improve our digestive system.
in a season that often feels so busy, we blink and it’s nearing the end, how can you stay grounded?
shift your perspective
A meditation for reflect and remind you of being right here right now with you in this moment.
By Reilly Butler
find a blank spot on the wall, with enough room for you to gently glide your legs up the wall and scootch your sit bones until you feel the wall supporting you. allow your big toes to kiss, close your eyes, and settle into an easy breath. take three really big inhales and three really big exhales, noticing the tension release in your jaw, in your shoulders, down your spine, noticing your legs feeling lighter as the wall supports you.
with every inhale, allowing your belly to rise and expand, signaling to your body you are safe and you are here. with every exhale, surrendering to the present moment and releasing what no longer serves you.
repeat these affirmations with each inhale three times.
i am grounded in the present.
i am safe and supported.
i am strong, capable, and resilient.
i am exactly where i am meant to be.
i know who i am and i love who i am.
when you’re ready slowly bring your legs into your chest for a squeeze and surrender to fetal pose.
breathe in, breathe out.
repeat the affirmations once more.
i am grounded in the present.
i am safe and supported.
i am strong, capable, and resilient.
i am exactly where i am meant to be.
i know who i am and i love who i am.
