The doors to our new studio opened on May 1, 2010 and we couldn’t be happier in our new home! In the eleven or so months that I’ve been working and practicing at Pilgrimage, I’ve seen so much change at the studio, but the heart and energy of our community has continued to be strong and bright.

We’ve had amazing teachers leave San Diego to travel, to study, and to have new life adventures. At the same time, we’ve welcomed new teachers who have amazed us with not only their teaching skills, but also their warmth, grace, and ability to connect deeply to yoga and their students.

We’ve been in a constant state of change working to keep the studio running as smoothly as possible for our community. We began offering a reservation system for classes (which we no longer need in our big new space!), placing mat markers on the studio floor, and re-arranging the Welcome Area to be the most spacious and offer the most seating possible.

Now with our new home, we have room to stretch wide. Both inside the studio room and in the lounge area, students, teachers, and staff are comfortable waiting for class to begin or relaxing after class has ended. There’s lots of room to sit and chat with friends or just close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.

Pilgrimage of the Heart began as a gift shop and organically morphed into a yoga studio in response to our community’s requests for more meditation and yoga. As we move forward in our new home, we will continue to listen to your suggestions and work to meet your needs and hopes. Thank you for all that you’ve shared with us and for being the driving force in our flourishing and open yoga community. –Michelle Laxton

When I first began my yoga teacher training, I was over the moon about yoga. I was thrilled with all the new things I was learning, my developing physical practice, and my new community of yogi friends. I wanted to tell anyone and everyone I knew about how amazingly life-changing a yoga practice can be.

However, the lead instructor in my training suggested that we not proselytize yoga, but instead wait to field questions from those persons who might be interested. He said that a person who is ready to make a change in his or her life will see the light and happiness in our hearts and approach us to inquire about that special spark.

Years later, I work and practice at Pilgrimage. Everyday I notice and smile at all the beautiful sparks around me. I am one of those lucky people who truly enjoys coming to work. The teachers spark, the students spark, and the staff sparks. Coming into the studio, it’s impossible not to absorb this light and feel more loved, more light. Students will often mention to me that Pilgrimage feels very “right” to them, as if they’d been brought here at just the right time in their lives.

I would have to agree as I feel the same way. Observing a busy Thursday night at the studio with students chatting after class and teachers welcoming new faces, I can be fairly certain that these sparks are contagious. –Michelle Laxton

When I first started to commit more fully to my yoga practice, I was enamored by challenging Vinyasa-style classes. I couldn’t imagine staying in a single posture for 5 plus minutes while exerting absolutely no physical energy.

At this point in my yoga life, I consider gentle and restorative yoga classes to be extra sweet treats I give myself as often as possible. I think Meredith May, a staff writer at the San Francisco Chronicle described restorative yoga beautifully when she said:

“The point is not to stretch but to relax, turn inward and stop thinking. Practitioners use props such as blocks, bolsters, pillows and blankets to build forts they can lean or lie on. Falling asleep is allowed.”

The American lifestyle rarely includes time for relaxation, which is something that offers incredible mental, physical, and emotional benefits. I understand that for many finding time to exercise is challenging enough, let alone time to relax and decompress. If that’s your situation right now, perhaps you might consider committing to just one mellow class per month. While it might not seem like a lot, this class might become something that you look forward to and something that helps reduce your headaches or ease your back pain.

For more information on restorative yoga, check out the article from the San Francisco Chronicle mentioned above by clicking on the link below. –Michelle Laxton

(http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/18/DDDE1BDCLK.DTL)

Quickly the holidays arrived and quickly they flew by. We’ve entered into a new year and with this fresh start we’re offered an opportunity to consider our current lives and set intentions for the future.

Each year I set the same intention: to breath deeply. It’s something I don’t do enough and something that is tremendously beneficial to my health. Every time I turn on my cell phone, I see my opening message, “Breath deeply”, and I do just that. When I wake up in the morning and brush my teeth, I read “Breath deeply” on a note posted on my bathroom mirror and I do just that. As I see it, I take an absolute minimum of four deep breaths each day thanks to my intention and feel much better for it.

I am particularly fond of this intention because there is no option to fail. I succeed constantly by reading these little reminders and taking big belly breaths. My intention makes me feel good and is 100% positive. If you don’t have an intention this year maybe you’d like to take a few extra deep breaths each day or a few extra smiles. You’re success is guaranteed. –Michelle Laxton

Some yogis study ancient texts. Some chant mantras. Some meditate. Like many, I enjoy a variety of yogic practices, but my passion lies in asana, the physical practice of postures. I’ve learned that through asana, I am able to develop not only a strong body, but also a strong mind.

A beaming example of inner and outer strength achieved through asana is the world-renowned yoga instructor, Ana Forrest. Ana has battled many challenges throughout her life including a physical handicap at birth, physical abuse, drug addiction, epilepsy, and bulimia. Today she is a strong woman and a beautiful yogini.

If you’re feeling weak in your body or your mind and looking for an inspirational boost, check out Ana’s yoga demonstration at the Yoga Journal conference a couple years back. –Michelle Laxton

Ana Forrest - Yoga Demonstration

While an exciting time of the year, the holiday season also tends to be a very busy one. We sometimes attend several gatherings in a single day. Holiday shopping can be time-consuming and stressful. Each day seems to pass by at a rapid pace and it’s no wonder you might find yourself feeling exhausted every evening.

It’s easy during the holidays to shelve your yoga practice for a few weeks in order to make space for the new influx of commitments. However, a break in your practice during a period of stress can do more harm than good. Time on your mat is time for you. You can release the thoughts and energy that burden your mind, body, and heart, making space for the part of you that you want to share most this time of year: the joy, love, and kindness that reside within. Next time you find yourself making plans for the day and crossing yoga class off your “to do” list, take a moment to consider what will best serve you, your family, and your friends. –Michelle Laxton

When I first started falling in love with yoga, I found myself sleeping better, feeling stronger, and keeping my cool in the face of challenge like never before. With such great benefits, I had a hard time not talking about this awesome practice to pretty much anyone who would listen. I couldn’t wait to spread the word and share the gifts of yoga with my family and friends.

While most weren’t ready to buy a mat and pop into tree pose, a few friends agreed to give yoga class a try. For some it stuck and others it didn’t, but I remember very clearly the joy I felt at having offered up my little slice of heaven.

Last week one of my long-time students brought four of her close girlfriends to class. They laid their mats one next to the other, giggled during class, and quietly helped one another when lost. It was an absolute joy to see and feel the warmth of friendship in class and made me fondly remember those moments when I shared yoga with loved ones.

While we certainly don’t want to push others to yoga, it’s a great feeling to share something you love. If you have a friend that is looking to get healthy, build community, or just get out of the house, bring him or her to yoga class! Your support and encouragement will undoubtedly make their experience and yours a whole lot sweeter. –Michelle Laxton

When just arriving to your mat and closing your eyes, be extra sensitive to the first few breaths of your practice. I’ve found that the first few breaths can reveal a great deal about the current state of your mind-body-heart.

The first few breaths that happen to be deep and relaxed reveal the soothing effects of your earlier jog and healthful breakfast. The first few breaths that happen to be short and choppy reveal the stress caused by the traffic jam you encountered. The first few breaths that happen to be labored and tight reveal the pain felt from a disagreement with your partner.

In order to live our lives, working our jobs and caring for our families, we often feel the need to ignore our feelings. However, healing through yoga requires an open and observant mind. By watching the first few breaths of your practice, you may discover what situations throw you out of balance. When those same challenges arise in the future, you’ll be more connected to your mind-body-heart and therefore better able to keep your yogic cool. –Michelle Laxton

In years past, I’ve never been a big fan of Daylight Savings. The suddenness of the time change and the loss of light so early in the day always left me feeling as though I never had enough time. This year however things feel a bit different. Instead of lamenting the darkness, I’ve felt a sense of protection and warmth with the early arrival of night.

In my evening yoga practice this week, I’ve been especially grateful for the darkness. With the night sky, my mind shifts to release the day more easily and I feel more open to embrace a clear mindspace. I am better able to listen to my breath and move into the “yoga zone” where mental stresses and plans are put on hold. It’s as though the darkness informs my mind that the day is winding down. If you’re having trouble adjusting to Daylights Savings on a physical, mental, or energetic level, try taking time for a yoga practice in the evenings in order to embrace and integrate the darkness into your mind-body-heart. –Michelle Laxton

In yoga class, you’ll often hear teachers instruct students to “find the edge” in a given posture. The edge is not the point where you can’t breath or the point where you feel nothing at all, but somewhere in between. I like to teach my students to look for a point of mild discomfort where you can still breath deeply, but there is definitely a sensation of challenge. Pigeon pose is a great place to experiment with your edge.

In pigeon, we focus primarily on relaxing our muscles so that we can allow gravity and our own body weight to open our hips. Usually when I first enter into pigeon my body is a little surprised by this sudden stretch, therefore my muscles contract. At this point my edge is very apparent and very near. However, after a few deep breaths my muscles will relax and my edge will have shifted. I may need to stretch my torso forward and reach my forearms ahead to get back that sensation of challenge. By surfing the edge, you’re able to not only gain optimal physical benefits, but also to keep your mind steady, a practice that offers mental clarity and fresh energy to the mind-body-heart. –Michelle Laxton