Styles of Yoga Offered:

• Vinyasa Style

Class(es) I Took:

• Yoga Wave (Advanced)

Instructor:

• Laura Baily

Price:

• $15 drop-in

We stayed in Grayton Beach (a tiny community near Santa Rosa Beach) at the end of January 2014. It was bitterly cold and we ended up getting iced in for a few extra days…but not before I had the chance to check out the local yoga scene.

My first foray into 30A yoga was at The Studio which was, at the time, located in the Central Square of Seaside. I’ll tell you, all of the town names and addresses were very confusing, When I was first searching for yoga classes online I couldn’t tell if Santa Rosa or Seaside was closer to where we were camped. Turns out they’re kinda the same place, although I’m sure the locals will correct me on that…or maybe it’s the towns Watercolor and Seagrove, I have no idea.

Anyway, The Studio was a really nice place with real, dark stained wooden floors and beautiful drapery and a mirrored wall. It’s very minimalist yet warm, literally and figuratively, seeing as the room was about 90 degrees when I arrived for a 10 am class on a bitterly cold morning. Technically, it wasn’t a Hot Yoga class but it was close. If you’ve read my other Rambling Yogi posts you know I’m not exactly a fan of Hot Yoga but I wasn’t about to back out after forcing myself out of my warm bed so early in the morning.

Owner/Instructor Laura greeted me promptly and explained the class to me ensuring I understood it was an Intermediate to Advanced class. I rolled out my mat and got settled in when the other students started streaming in. They all looked very fit and there were just as many men as there were women (something you don’t see often). It got so full that we had to line up all of our mats just a foot or so apart and then stagger where we stood on those mats so we wouldn’t hit each other when we swept our arms overhead or lifted a leg up for three-legged dog. And then class started.

This clearly wasn’t going to be the same old vinyasa style class I was accustomed to. Nope, the music was loud and fast paced (maybe even pop if I remember correctly) and the flow was f-a-s-t. Laura was front and center, going through every movement along with us all while giving cues to pose transitions without even breathing hard. This woman is in great shape! Since it was so faced paced there were no hands on corrections and not much time for alignment cues. This was the type of class that you really needed to know your stuff.

One thing that stood out was Laura’s ability to scan the room and vocalize minor corrections and words of encouragement to specific people…yes, she knew everyone’s name and even remembered mine…which she used to reassure me it was okay when I had to take a short break and wipe the sweat from my brow, upper lip and arms. It was hot and the class was intense. It consisted of non-stop movement…jump backs, jump through, crow pose, firefly and countless chaturangas (a move similar to a very, very slow push up). Lifting the towel to sop up more sweat became increasingly difficult as my arms became jello.

I’ll admit, as soon as the class started I didn’t think I would like it. After all, yoga is about connecting the body, breath, mind and spirit and I could hardly catch my breath in this class. But as it progressed I kinda enjoyed not having time to think (or over-think in my case) every move. There was also no time to criticize myself in the mirror…or compare my abilities to anyone else in class (something I’m working on and one reason I like having no mirrors in class). It was methodical yet challenging, much like hiking up a steep trail where all you can do is plant one foot in front of the other and keep doing it until you reach the summit.

Sadly, while reviewing my notes and checking out the website for The Studio so I could write this post, I found out that it has since closed…or maybe moved is the right wording. According to her website, Laura Bailey Yoga, she is teaching weekdays at East of Eden Retreat and Spa and, when it’s open for the season, on Sundays at The Hub (both in the Seaside/Santa Rosa Beach area). Her Facebook page looks to be the best way to stay current on her class schedule.

If you’re looking for a workout style yoga class, one that will make you sweat so much you’ll forget all of your problems, then check out Laura’s classes. Just be sure your practice is advanced enough that you know the names of common poses and how to transition into and out of them. You should also have an idea of your true capabilities and be willing to make your own modifications if certain poses aren’t currently in your wheelhouse. And finally, be humble enough to stop and rest in child’s pose or savasana and grab a drink of water whenever you need.

Studio at Zen
707 R. Jackson Blvd.
Panama City Beach,  Fl  32407

Style of Yoga Offered:

Class(es) I Took:

• Hatha
• Vinyasa
• Basic/Beginner
• Mediation
• Ebb & Flow (gentle)
• Vinyasa Jam (advanced level)
• Rockin’ Vinyasa (faster paces intermediate level)

Instructor:

• Judy Christian

Price:

• $10 drop-in

The Studio at Zen is located on the grounds of The Zen Garden Market and Lotus Cafe. The Merchants at Zen Gardens are a collection of 4 businesses working together to foster health, beauty and happiness. It was like hitting the jackpot when I came across this place…I could take a yoga class, grab a late breakfast and pick up a few specialty items all at the same place.

The grounds did not disappoint. Zen Gardens is extremely…well, zen. It really does feel like your stepping into a sacred space. The gardens are beautiful (they grow and sell plants) and the buildings are inviting. There are water features, lounging areas and it just feels so inviting. The yoga studio is a re-purposed screened garden room and is one of my favorite spaces (so far).

The studio is carpeted and, at the time of my visit, mats were provided. There were also plenty of props available, from blankets to bolsters.

I took a Vinyasa class led by Judy. The combination of the open-air space, tranquil gardens and spa music made it a wonderful class. Judy was an impeccable instructor…keeping the class flowing and engaging. It will remain a favorite

After such a great class I did decided to treat myself to a snack from the Cafe. They have a great selection of organic foods (some vegan, some not) to enjoy onsite or take home with you. I ordered a “cheez” ball and
sliced apples and was sadly disappointed. For the price it was such a small portion…maybe a 1/4 cup of seed “cheez” and a few slices of red delicious apple (one of my least favorite apples and not usually a type offered at fairly upscale organic places). And, since I got it to go (I wanted to share it with Clark), it was placed in a Styrofoam to-go container. Call me crazy, but for an organic, Zen place that even serves sustainable wines I was kinda shocked. I ended up emailing the owners about this but have never heard back.

I’ve recently found out that control of the studio has gone back to the owners of the Zen Garden Market. It looks like none of the old teachers are there anymore however, there is still a functioning studio. It’s now called Zen Garden Yoga. They offer a variety of classes 6 days a week. If I were in the area I’d definitely go back…

To find classes by the former owner of The Studio at Zen check out this Facebook page.

Yoga Elements
108 Carillon Market St.
Ste 1
Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Styles of Yoga Offered:

• Beginner/Renew
• Ashtanga (Primary Series)
• Kripalu
• Restorative
• Core
• Vinyasa Flow
• Yin Yang
• SUP
• Aerial

Class(es) I Took:

• Kripalu

Instructor:

• Dawn Brooker

Price:

• $15 drop in for regular mat classes
• $20 drop in for aerial
• $35 drop in for SUP (includes board rental)

Although our visit in Panama City was unseasonably cold it was still beautiful. We stayed at St. Andrews State Park and had a fantastic view of the bay. A short bicycle ride away, bundled up against the crisp morning air, and I had parts of the beach all to myself. This is where I practiced yoga most during our stay…but I also managed to make two forays into Panama City Beach proper to take two very different yoga classes. The first was at Yoga Elements.

Practicing some handstand variations on the secluded beach.

Yoga Elements is situated inside the Carillon Resort at Carillon Beach, a very posh community on the outskirts of town. Their website describes it like this:

Carillon Beach Resort Community was designed to provide a luxurious modern retreat with the entire creature comforts one would expect in an exclusive resort community. CARILLON is a true haven for the discerning short-term traveler or second home weekly experiences. It is truly a special safe environment for those who make Carillon their home away from home.

It reminded me of some of the upscale ski resorts we’ve been to…like Squaw Valley. Once you enter the grounds everything you could need is within the “compound”; restaurants, yoga studios, retail shops, art galleries, wine bars, tennis courts, condos. And, of course, a private (gorgeous) beach and (man-made) lake. It’s really stunning, especially with the gas lights flickering throughout the resort.

I took a Kripalu class that started at 4pm…so it was already getting to be sunset. That meant I was unable to get any good photos of the area (but you can check out their website to see just how pretty it is). The studio itself was also dark…partly because the huge windows, which overlooked the lake they use for their SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) classes, were now only reflecting the dark skies and partly due to the mood lighting (a very calming effect in the room). But this also interfered with my ability to get any usable interior shots of the studio. Poop.

Yea…you might want to just check out the website to see what the studio looks like…

The dark wood floors and galvanized metal accent wall, combined with strings of white lights throughout the space, really set this studio apart from most that I’ve seen (so far). It was industrial yet welcoming. The actual floor space for class seemed quite small. There were only 3 students (including myself) and the instructor so it didn’t feel crowded but I imagine it can get a little tricky with larger classes. The hardware for the aerial classes hang overhead, but well out of the way for regular floor classes.

Dawn, our teacher, was wonderful at giving cues and demonstrating poses and she walked around and made alignment corrections. As I stated in another Rambling Yogi post I feel that corrections (or at least acknowledgement from the instructor that you’re doing things right) are vital when taking studio classes…it’s part of the reason students pay for classes. Dawn was interactive with all 3 students dividing her time amongst all of us. The class flowed seamlessly and was quite satisfactory.

If I were to return I would probably go back to try one of the aerial or SUP classes rather than a traditional yoga class. I had intended to take one of those while we were in the area but our timing was off (no SUP due to the cold and the aerial classes didn’t work with the dates I had available). It seemed to be nicely priced for such a posh area. If you attend an earlier class strolling around the grounds would be a nice added benefit.

Here’s a bonus photo…proof that yoga isn’t about being perfect. I set my timer and captured this face plant. Thankfully, I wasn’t injured and ended up laughing uncontrollably for a few minutes. Also, there was no one else around, whew.

The ever graceful Rambling Yogi…

Cedar Key Library (Upstairs) 
460 2nd St.
Cedar Key, FL 32625

Christ Episcopal Church (Parish Hall)
Hwy 24
Cedar Key, FL 32625

Styles of Yoga Offered:

• Gentle
• Intermediate
• Mediatation
• Variety of Hatha and Vinyasa and other styles

Classes I Took:

• Gentle
• Intermediate

Instructor:

• Mary Innskeep
• CD/ Audio Tape with no instrucot

Price:

• Free/Donation Based

When we decided to spend winter of 2013 in Cedar Key, FL we were excited about experiencing Christmas and New Years in a small tiny town that had a moderate climate. Since I was growing my yoga practice I was worried that I wouldn’t have any opportunities to enjoy studio classes where I could benefit from the energy in the room. It really is a thing…that energy. And no matter how advanced a yogi gets, attending a class now and again can boost your practice, help correct some alignment faults (hopefully before muscle memory makes it difficult to do so) and revitalize a stagnant practice. 

Unfortunately, Cedar Key doesn’t always offer teacher led classes. When I was there the only instructor in town was out of town (except for one class). But much to my surprise there is a rather large yoga sanga in this town of 701. I think it’s safe to say that every “class” I attended had at least 10, if not 15, practitioners. Don’t worry about being the only one to show up…it just won’t happen.

Despite the early, chilly mornings I rode my bike to the library or Church and rolled out my mat several times during our two month stay on the island. Almost all of those “classes” had no instructor or teacher so there was no one present to give corrections or demonstrate poses. Instead, someone would decide on which CD or audio tape to play and we’d follow along with verbal cues only. This might be a problem for those who are beginning their practice, not because the poses were advanced (none were) but because they may not be familiar with the names of the poses. For instance, if the tape said move from downward facing dog to plank and then chaturanga to up dog some beginners might feel lost. It would be possible to follow along by just copying one’s neighbor but without a teacher to help with alignment it is very possible to pick up bad habits.

I don’t generally practice in the RV “hallway” but when I do I strike a crow pose.

While I did enjoy the energy shared in these groups I found myself not attending as often as I could have. Part of it was the fact that I have a collection of online resources for my home yoga practice that allows me to practice at a level I am comfortable with and that challenges me on occasion. Waking up at 7am for an 8am gathering that might end up being an “intro to yoga class” wasn’t always appealing to me. Granted, the group dynamic was almost always worth the effort but my laziness, combined with a late afternoon challenging home practice, was more my speed at the time.

It’s wonderful that the community of Cedar Key has pulled together and kept this 5 day a week offering going for years. They are truly dedicated to the practice and you’ll likely come away from “class” with a lighter feeling and a smile on your face. Depending on when you visit the area you might luck out and be able to attend a few classes led by Mary, which I highly recommend.

This is the current offering according to the Cedar Key News. Be sure to check online or at the library or church when you get to town for any changes. 

5) DVDs ~ I only carry one Yoga series in the RV right now. It’s Tara Stiles: This Is Yoga 4 DVD Collection (note: this collection should only cost $20 on Amazon and I have no idea why, as of Nov 14, 2015, it’s listed at $160). While I’d love to recommend this to everyone, it might be geared more toward the intermediate yogi. But, there are plenty of other DVDs out there that will work for every level. A good brand to look for is Gaiam…they’ve been a leader in western yoga for many, many years. You can’t go wrong with Gaiam.

I hope these suggestions help you develop and grown your RV/home practice. I’m lucky in that our floor plan allows for me to practice indoors when the weather is bad but I love to practice outside whenever possible. And, of course, I do like to strike a pose whenever and where ever the mood strikes.

Yoga on the roof of the Mutiny (pre-solar).

Yoga in front of the clubhouse at Sunset Isle.

Yoga on the sugar white beach in Cedar Key.

*The link is to the current Groupon deal that was good as of Nov. 14, 2015. If it has expired simply Google “Yoga Download Groupon” to see if there is a current deal being offered.
 

Yoga On York
.250 York Street
York, Maine

Styles of Yoga Offered:

• Vinyasa Flow with classes offered in Level 1, 2, 2/3 and 3
• Gentle Yoga
• Meditation
• Yoga Tone
• Yoga Core
• Hip Hop Yoga

Class(es) I took:

• Level 2/3 Vinyasa Flow

Instructor:

• Rae Lynn

Price:

• $15 drop-in (or $70 per month unlimited)

There’s something about the Maine Coast that makes “normal” people want to don on a pair of Sperry Top-Siders and dress in pastels. The dress code recommendation must be available in the literature you can obtain at the rest stops near the state border. It seems to make it all the more bearable when taking scenic photographs only to find that there are people in said photo. But hey, they’re all dressed like Easter Eggs, adding a nice splash of color to the often times grey skies and grey sea. Smart move Maine…

Scorpion at the famous Nubble Light House.

Being the type of yogi who has never owned real yoga clothing (I generally wear the same old faded stretchy shorts I ran my marathon in 4 years ago…and a cheap tank top) I’ll admit I wondered what the other students at Yoga on York would think when I attended one of their early morning classes. My sister, Marylou, was with me…but she’s a fashionista. She owns Sperry Top-Siders, pastel shirts and can even tie a sweater around her neck making it look as if she’s walked right out of an L.L. Bean catalog. And she also owns real yoga outfits…yep, outfits…all color coordinated…color me jealous in the most non-yogic way!

Needless to say, I felt a little like a bag-lady walking into this well-appointed studio.

In the spirit of a true yoga-ness no one blinked an eye at my clothing. Why would they when they were there working on their own practice? My mind can play tricks on me…sapping my self-esteem like those spigots they screw into the maple trees in these parts…extracting that delicious syrup.

The studio is gorgeous. Set in what might be considered the basement (although still above ground mostly) of an old house there is an immediate feeling of comfort when you walk in. The entire studio is carpeted (a first for me) so it’s kinda sound proof…a refuge from the buzzing of what little traffic might pass by outside. I liked that…a lot.  There’s also an entire wall of mirrors…something I hadn’t seen in a yoga studio since we hit the road.

Rae Lynn made us feel welcome and taught an exceptional class. We worked on several balance poses such as Warrior 3, dancer and Eagle which all ended up being a challenge for me. I was already a little self-conscious about my attire (for no good reason) and facing myself in those huge mirrors worked against me. But no one else was looking at me (except Rae Lynn whose job it was to look and offer adjustments). As I spent my time searching the faces of my fellow students for any sign of judgement they were just doing their practice with grace and ease. They certainly weren’t trying to one-up anyone. And they couldn’t give shiite about what I was doing on my mat. I have to remind myself that not everything (or is it hardly anything) is about me.

Not only was this a great overall practice but it was a huge eye-opener. I thought I was over the self-criticism and need to “prove myself” in front of strangers (hey look at me, I might be wearing old, thread bare shorts but I can nail crow pose!!) but facing those mirrors proved me wrong. And that’s the beauty of taking real live classes, even just once in a while. You practice, you struggle, you face your faults, you work on the ones you can, you practice some more and each day you become more you (not the you that is critical of self or others but the you that is hidden underneath all that crap). Yoga on York gets points for helping me do that on this visit.

Oh, they also get extra points for being conveniently located right next door to Bagel Basket Cafe and Coffee House. It’s not surprising that New England has an aversion to Starbucks (like a lot of us do) so it’s nice to come across a good quality coffee house that also happens to be located next door to a yoga studio! Not only did my sister and I enjoy a great class but we were able to bring home breakfast for the menfolk so no one had to cook…score!

Of course we also do yoga poses while hiking!

Ohana Yoga
633 Maple Street
Hopkinton, New Hampshire

Styles of Yoga Offered:

• Kripalu
• Mixed Level Hatha
• Chair
• Power
• Prenatal
• Kids/Family
• Pilates

Class(es) I Took:

• Mixed Level

Instructor:

• Shira

Price:

• $12 drop-in

Our journey through New England with my sister, Marylou, and her husband continued into New Hampshire. It was perfect timing to be here (October 7-9, 2013) with the fall colors and crisp air. The sun, lower in the sky now, filtered it’s light into the windows of the studio making it very calming and serene.

The front of the studio and alter area.

Ohana is situated in what used to be a single story house, so it’s very inviting and has a comfortable feel. Lots of windows allow for natural lighting, a far cry from the overhead florescent bulbs I’ve experienced in larger studios making them feel like a “gym” and not a “sacred space”.

So peaceful here.

Marylou and I decided to get up early for a mixed levels class in the hopes it would challenge us a little. One of the hard things about doing yoga-on-the-road is determining whether or not a class will feel one’s needs. While I have no problem taking beginner level classes (which are always good for remembering the basics and checking in on alignment basics we tend to forget) I sometimes want a challenge, especially if I’m paying over $10 per class. I want to learn new things and have someone check out my form as I learn new (advanced) poses. I want to do a handstand or arm balance or something even crazier!

Between classes (and while we were parking for 5 weeks in my sister’s driveway) Marylou and I had been practicing yoga together daily…challenging each other with more difficult poses that demanding strength and balance. We pushed one another to work on those poses we each dislike (we all have them)…mine is reverse triangle (and shoulder stand and plow) and hers is chair pose. So, can you imagine how joyful I was when this class involved about 25 chair poses?!? Take THAT Marylou!

This was the first time I had an instructor use chair pose as a transition pose to move into so many other poses. It made for an interesting class and even Marylou seemed to have a new appreciation for the pose since we learned how to move into poses like Eka Pada Koundinyasana I.

Eka Pada Koundinyasana I (a work in progress) at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan.

The class was very well run…fun, challenging, exciting…everything I had been looking for. Even the instructor, Shira, was engaging and supportive. She came around and made corrections and suggested new ways of entering poses which has really enhanced my home practice. My only negative point was her critique of my crow pose.

Now, I’m not of the mindset that my practice is perfect. Far from it…especially since I mostly practice at ‘home’ with no one correcting my alignment. However, I have taken many yoga classes from a variety of instructors. Almost all of my past instructors have offered 2 ways of getting into crow…one involves hugging your knees into your upper arms like this:

Hugging knees ito upper arms.

And the other has you place your knees on the backs of your upper arms like this:

Knees balanced on backs of arms.

Many of those classes have integrated both versions into the same class allowing the student to attempt them and choose the one they prefer. Well, in Ohana, this second version is considered a “show off” pose used in “those Ashtanga classes” (and this was said with a little bit of a disdain). I’ll tell ya, that was news to me as I was only doing it this way because it’s ‘easier’ for me…not because I view it as more ‘advanced’ or ‘better than anyone else’.

Looking toward to back of the studio.

This response almost made me dismiss the joy of the remainder of the class but I realized that every one will have opinions and not all will align with mine. I still prefer to do my crow on the backs of my arms but I did  her preferred variation for the duration of her class.

Other than letting my feelers get a little bruised, it was a great class. Shira was funny and helpful in all her other corrections. During Shivasana she came around and applied some essential oils and gave a little neck rub. It was pure heaven.

My new coffee cup purchased from a local artist through Ohana Yoga studio.

And to top it all off, Ohana supports local artists and craftspeople by offering space to sell handmade soaps, lotions, pottery and other “yogi type” stuff. They also have a small consignment area where I picked up a yoga top and an awesome Vera Bradley purse for $12!

I highly recommend Ohana Yoga (despite our disagreement over crow pose) if your travels take you to the Contoocook area. I’ve found myself comparing the studios I’ve visited since with this one and it definitely set the bar pretty high.

• Hatha
• Variations of Hatha and “flow”
• Beginner/Basics
• Restorative

• 60 minute class $13 drop-in
• 90 minute class $15 drop-in

My brother-in-law and sister driving down the streets of Burlington.

As Tales From the Mutiny toured around New England, we were fortunate to have my sister, Marylou, and her husband, Craig, caravanning with us is their truck camper. My sister is an amazing activities director, and after 12 months on the road I was not opposed to turning over all of the decision making and planning to her. Since they love Vermont we were eager to have them show us around and a trip to Burlington was born.

Stopping for #yogaeverydamnday outside of Yogarama Clothing Store.

There were so many studios and options for classes in Burlington and we were only there a few nights so we simply picked, at random, a class that fit our schedule. We ended up at Burlington Yoga for a late afternoon, 90-minute Flow class. I was happy to find that the studio was upstairs in an older building (as opposed to a shiny new boutique studio). We went up the narrow, creaky stairs and found a bench/coat room type area meant for taking off our shoes and jackets. I was somewhat surprised to read a sign encouraging us to bring our shoes into the yoga room due to some recent thievery of shoes. Shoes? Perhaps it was the vast amount of Ugg wearers that attracted shoes thieves to the area?

Inside Burlington Yoga.

As class began to fill and settle it appeared we had 3 instructors hence, the 3 mats at the front of the room…(or one instructor and 2 helpers?) as they seemed to be taking turns leaving their mat and making corrections. I’m not opposed to corrections, at all, I just like to know who these people are…and since there were no introductions I didn’t know exactly what was going on. Another issue I had was that these 3 people were in the room the entire time my sister and I were, including when we were asking where the instructor would be located. A perfect opportunity for someone to say “hey, I’m so-and-so, I’m your teacher today…why don’t you gals grab a bolster and block and we’ll get started soon.”. Nope, instead, she was a stranger to us AND we had to get up in the early part of class to grab a bolster (as did a few other students) since no one made it clear they were necessary.

Yogi toes!

Now for the good stuff. Although I was unsure who was touching me and making corrections (some of which I had never been told and wasn’t sure if they were ‘correct’) I really appreciated that they were hands-on. There’s nothing like taking a class, paying $15 and never having the teacher acknowledge your practice. Even if I don’t need any corrections (ha) I’d at least like to know I’m doing it right(ish). I mean, I can (and do) my own yoga practice at home, for free, without assistance or corrections. So why pay $10-20 for someone to stand up front and never offer personal attention?

The teacher seemed a little more welcoming after class…perhaps she’s just shy or introverted? But I would encourage her to mingle a bit with the students before class…or at the very least, introduce herself to students she’s never seen before. One disappointment was that the next class was scheduled so close in time to our’s ending that we had people hovering over us to claim a spot. Several appeared irritated that it tools us a couple of minutes to gather our things and vacate the floor. After a class I like to take my time, after all, we had barely been out of savasana for 2 minutes!

Me, our friend Lindsey and my sister, Marylou during an early morning lakeside practice.

Hey sis…let’s try this Partner Yoga thing…grab my ankles. This is going to be soooo cool!

Samatva Yoga

• Hatha
• Vinyasa
• Ashtanga
• Yin
• Restorative
• Baptiste Power
• Detox
• Prana
• Urban Flow
• Sama-set
• Siva-set
• Family Yoga (Pre-natal, Baby and Me, kids and teens)

• Hot Baptiste Flow

• Frederique

• $16 drop-in

Sisters and sisters…

Lunch at the Sleepless Goat which offers vegan and vegetarian choices, yay!

Samatva Yoga is a pretty impressive establishment. They offer so many different forms and styles of yoga that I refused to list them all for fear of causing my readers to go all glassy-eyed before even getting to my witty description. They also offer so many different payment plans and add-ons that it would be helpful to have completed Calculus to understand it all (so much for all those years of saying “I’ll never need to know the tangent and binomial theorem in real life!”). Actually, it’s not that bad and the staff is pretty helpful…and anyway, we were there for one class so the drop-in rate was what worked for us.

Still wondering how the Partner Yoga ended??

Hmm, somehow this doesn’t seem right.

Holy hell!

Had this been a video you would have witnessed my lovely sister (in the pink) bend and straighten her legs several times as my face smacked right into her rear end. Over and over and over again. Yep…that’s some sisterly love right there. I’m just glad I didn’t pee myself from laughing so hard. I’m really glad she didn’t either!

• Ashtanga
• Kripalu
• Hatha
• Vinyasa Flow
• along with private sessions and self-practice hours

• Ashtanga
• Kripalu

• $10

source

Satyana is my sister’s studio and since I didn’t take any interior pictures of it I thought I’d include a few pics we took doing yoga together.

A little crow and baby crow at the Apple Farm.

Badlands, South Dakota

Mt. Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Belle Fourche, South Dakota (the geological center of the United States)

Devil’s Tower, Wyoming

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Infinity Room at the House on the Rock, Wisconsin

Farm View in Free Soil, Michigan

Even Clark does a little handstand now and then.

Along the Upper Peninsula, Michigan

Traverse City, Michigan

Home practice in the RV generally means tight spaces…

and lots of pet interference….but I get it done.

As a former long distance runner I had toyed with the idea of maintaining my training when we hit the road in October 2012. I had visions of running in marathons (or even 5ks) in every state of the Union. I’ve always been a goal setter that way. But after a few months on the road reality sunk in…at least my reality. We were often in places that were not conducive to running. Clark isn’t a runner so I was always out alone running long distances which meant an hour or two of running ‘blind’…not knowing if the trail or route I was on was “safe” or if I would have cell service should I get hurt. Sometimes we would end up in areas that offered no good areas to run…the roads were too dangerous with no shoulders and heavy traffic and the high school tracks were closed to the public. At one point I ran around the RV park we were at to get my miles in…about 34 laps. It wasn’t fun. People thought I was crazy.

Crossing the finish line at the San Diego Rock n’ Roll Full Marathon with my Great friend, Coleen.

I lost my mojo because running was becoming work…trying to map my runs without Internet, constantly discussing possible routes with Clark and my projected return time (so he would know if he needed to come look for me), and frankly, the stress and tension I created from the fear that I might get hurt and not have access to any help exhausted me before I even took the first step into my run.

Not wanting to completely give up on exercise I decided to recommit myself to yoga. I virtually stopped all other forms of exercise (running, kettle bells and HIIT workouts) to see if “just” yoga could maintain the level of fitness I would be comfortable with long-term. So far, it has.

By the time I got the brilliant idea to blog about various yoga studios and classes around the United States we’d already crossed our 12th state line. I’ve never been much of a studio student because most of them have been cost prohibitive. My history of formal yoga classes includes a semester in college (paying for credits was way cheaper than a 3 month studio fee…actually, depending on where you’re at it may be cheaper than ONE month!) and a month of hot yoga thanks to an awesome Groupon I found while we were still living in California.

Although these aren’t mine I have owned 3 of these VHS tapes…can you guess which ones? source

Most of my experience with yoga has been home practice. Thanks to VHS (you thought I was going to say Betamax, didn’t you!!) , and now, DVDs and YouTube one can learn a lot without ever leaving the comforts of their home (or RV). However, I really do think that taking a class, when possible, can improve your practice, clarify some concepts and offer a chance to check in with a teacher to work on alignment and corrections. It really doesn’t do much good to practice yoga consistently if you’re doing it all wrong time and again. Besides, you share a certain energy with the other students when attending class which can reinvigorate your home practice if it’s starting to feel a little stale.

Headstand at Mustang Island, Texas

Scorpion Pose in Jackson’s Oak Park, Mobile, Alabama.

Pigeon pose in Point Park, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Triangle Pose White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

Pigeon Pose McKinney Falls State Park, Austin, Texas.

Although I had been practicing yoga in the RV since we hit the road, Bardstown, Kentucky was the first place I took an actual class. We were staying very close to town anyway (My Old Kentucky Home) and the local studio was only a few miles down the road, so I had no excuse. Besides, with a name like Pink Elephant Yoga I couldn’t resist!

Feeling fantastic after a class at Pink Elephant Yoga!

I happened to attend a Monday evening class in May. Little did I know that the owner/instructor, Jennifer Hurst, was out of town at a teacher training in Asheville, N.C. at the time. Yay for teachers who continue learning!! My instructor was Craig Faulkner, one of Jennifer’s students and fellow yoga lover.

Somewhere on top of Granite Peak (9050′) at the Norcal Tough Mudder Squaw Valley, Ca.

The studio is situated on 3rd Street, which is the cool ‘downtown’ area. Although small I was able to find an open spot up near the front of the room, made little small talk (there were a few people talking about doing a Tough Mudder event, something I proudly completed before we left California) and settled into my breath. Craig kept the class focused as we moved through some warm ups followed by a nice strengthening flow that actually got me sweating! While it didn’t exactly challenge me beyond my current level a lot of energy and great vibes were shared throughout the class.

Jennifer is now offering prenatal and children’s yoga classes thanks to the teacher training she was away on that May. Included in her training was yoga for seniors, something I would love to offer one day (hopefully I can get my teacher training completed before I become the senior).

If you’re in the area definitely stop in and take a class (and tell Jennifer that Tales From the Mutiny says “hi”). You can’t beat the drop in price of only $8! For those of us living this lifestyle, traveling around the country (or world) we have a unique opportunity to experience the diversity out there and what better way to do so than to move our bodies!

Scorpion Pose at the Civil War Museum, Bardstown, Kentucky.

Stag Leg Headstand, Bardstown, Ky.