My Parents’ Homemade Gym Equipment Had Me Cracking Up
I live in Southern California. My parents (ages 90 and 79) live in New Jersey. Thanks to technology, we do our best to meet about once a week for a 30-minute online yoga session. I usually have three goals for our session together:
Move their spines in all directions, as well as stretch their necks, shoulders, and hips for better mobility
Challenge their proprioception (awareness of their bodies in space) to help prevent falls
Help them get stronger (to help with chronic pain, as well as better balance)
It is always a hoot to see what items they bring to the strength portion of their sessions. Here's what they brought recently:
My parents during an online strength and yoga session
Is there an older adult in your life who could benefit from some stretching, strengthening, and maybe listening to a guided meditation for calming? Contact me at the address or phone number at the bottom of the page!
All Really Great Things…
In his book A Calendar of Wisdom, Russian thinker and writer Leo Tolstoy said the following about progress:
"All really great things are happening in slow and inconspicuous ways."
I believe this is absolutely true about our yoga practice! When I work one-on-one with someone new, I ask that they schedule at least 10 sessions. Why? Because it takes time to see progress! You aren’t going to relieve stress, gain better balance, ease your low back pain, or loosen those tight shoulders in just one hour (or even four or five hours). But meeting once a week for 10 whole weeks? The transformation can be magical.
Curious? Email me at jennie@jenniemacgoyyoga.com or call (703) 539-2921 to schedule your free, no-obligation phone or Zoom call. And bring all of your questions!
From Group Classes to Something More Personal
Have you ever felt like yoga classes just… weren’t designed for your body?
Too fast. Too intense. Too focused on poses that don’t quite work for you.
In 2015, I wandered into a yoga class. The teachers were incredibly kind and supportive and the community was truly lovely. But…
Me? Not bendy. Mid-40s. Heated studio. Surrounded by handstands. Sound familiar?
I was extremely passionate about yoga (I was SO much calmer!) I was intuitively modifying poses to work for my body. I used to design training programs for a living. Could I actually marry my love of yoga and my skill at creating quality yoga offerings? A resounding YES!
So I got my first of many yoga teacher certifications and started teaching at my home.
And here’s what I discovered: most people didn’t want intense, fast-paced yoga. They wanted something that worked for their bodies—especially if they were newer, stiff, dealing with pain, or just not into getting on the floor.
So I adapted.
Over time, it became clear that group classes could only go so far. People wanted more personalized support.
That’s where one-on-one sessions come in.
Now I work privately with women across the country—tailoring movement, breath work, and meditation to each person. We can meet outdoors here in Southern California or over Zoom (yes—pajamas and pets welcome 😊).
If you’re curious whether this might be a good fit for you, I’d love to talk. Reach out at jennie@jenniemacgoyyoga.com or (703) 539-2921.
No pressure—just a conversation.
Warmly,
Jennie
The Hippy Hippy Shake
Do your hips feel tight or ache sometimes? I know mine do — especially after sitting at my desk for several hours or traveling. I have a couple of simple movements for you to try -- and they are done in a chair! So you can do them while at your desk or even after you've finished a meal at the kitchen table. I'd love to know what you think!
Confessions of a Multitasking Yogi (and a cool pose!)
This is the yoga pose called Cat Pulling It’s Tail. It is an opportunity to stretch your quads (front thigh) and hamstrings (back thigh), as well as explore a twist.
I am guilty of multi-tasking, even though I've read that it's not the most efficient way to get things done. Sometimesmulti-tasking makes its way into my yoga practice. But here is a situation where I think it's warranted! It's called "Cat Pulling Its Tail" pose. If you're a curious cat (wink-wink), take a peek below.
Cat pulling its tail yoga pose. Good for quad stretch, hamstring stretch, as well as a gentle twist. Pose is taken down on the floor.