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.
Yoga for Brain Health -- Part Five (Stress Management)
Ever feel stressed out? Yes, that was a rhetorical question. Of course you’ve felt stressed out. For many of us, this seems to be a normal state of mind. I recommend talking to your health care provider if you find that the stress in your life is overwhelming. But if you are looking to supplement the ways you currently deal with stress — or would like to dip your toes into yoga as a form of stress management — keep reading.
Research has shown that moving mindfully (e.g., taking a yoga class) can lower stress levels. Movement can lower your heart rate which in turn helps you to relax. I can’t think of one person who ever said, “I sure wish I hadn’t gone to that yoga class!” As Dr. Vanika Chawla, a board-certified psychiatrist at Stanford University said, “Yoga can counteract the harmful physical effects of stress and lead to changes in the body, brain, and mind that increase resilience and adaptability.” (https://longevity.stanford.edu/lifestyle/2023/10/03/how-yoga-affects-the-brain-and-body-to-reduce-stress/)
According to Harvard Health Publishing, breath focus (known as pranayama in the yoga world) helps you concentrate on slow, deep breathing and aids you in disengaging from distracting thoughts and sensations. There are also numerous breathing techniques that have been proven to activate your parasympathetic nervous system. This is the system that tells your body to rest and digest. Square breathing, longer exhales, physiological sigh, and 4-7-8 breathing all are breathing techniques to help you destress. You can find tutorials on my YouTube channel.
Did you know that meditation is a form of yoga? Headspace, Calm, and Insight Timer are apps that offer guided meditations. Listening to a guided meditation can be a terrific way to wash away the day’s stress and settle in for a good night’s sleep. I love to offer brief guided meditations at the end of some of my more vigorous yoga classes. Breathing techniques and meditation can lead to a continuity between heart rate patterns and breathing patterns. This coherence is associated with reduced stress and improved emotional well-being (Khajuria A, Kumar A, Joshi D, Kumaran SS. Reducing Stress with Yoga: A Systematic Review Based on Multimodal Biosignals. Int J Yoga. 2023 Sep-Dec;16(3):156-170. doi: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_218_23. Epub 2024 Feb 9. PMID: 38463652; PMCID: PMC10919405.)
Curious to try yoga for stress management? Contact me and set up a free 15-minute consultation.