Yoga - YogaGlo with Kathryn Budig

Los Angeles is a city that you love to hate. You may have left work an hour early just so you can haul through traffic to a yoga class 25 miles away.

This is not just any yoga class. It is Kathryn Budig's last class at YogaGlo for a while, she is a traveling yogi. I would fight flames to make it to this class.

YogaGlo is a studio that offers free classes to the public because it is filmed on location for online viewers who pay a small amount per month to be able to practice yoga virtually around the world.

www.yogaglo.com

As much as I hate that one hour of travel time to drive a mere 25 miles is really going to be cutting it close, I love that Yoga Glo does their filming in Santa Monica. Of course they do, it's the city of angels where the drive is usually worth it, because you are experiencing something first hand that others will only see on a screen.

Yoga instructors Samantha Beech and Kathryn Budig
Pants from left: lululemon organic cotton wunder unders, teeki activewear, lululemon organic cotton groove pants

I made it to my first YogaGlo/Kathryn Budig class just in time to set up my mat and join in. Power trouble at the studio made it so that we had to start the class over from the beginning. Perfect! Thank you to Samantha Beech for willing the universe to allow me to make it to class on time. Sammy is an up-and-coming instructor who will follow in the footsteps of Kathryn, but with her own twist of course! I am so lucky to know her and watch her grow as a teacher. It was great to be able to turn around in class when the power went out and give her a smile and a wink because she knew that the unlikely situation had coincidently worked out in my favor.

The cameras were rolling and we started again. Knowing that you are on camera does something funny to your practice mentally. For some reason, you are more self conscious knowing that your performance will be recorded for all of time. It also makes you feel like you should at least attempt the asanas that Kathryn demonstrated, like flying pigeon, which I have never done! Part of me just wanted to sit and watch her do the poses since before that I had only seen her do them in photos!

Kathryn was so encouraging during class, cheering me on and exclaiming, "You almost have it!" Me being a bit awestruck, her presence was so cool it almost made me want to fall out of the pose immediately, yet at the same time I wanted to hold it to impress her and make her class that much better. She even moved my necklace out of the way of my face when I was in headstand. She throws so many casual jokes out there during class which make you smile and her teaching style is different than any other that I have experienced. She is like a better version of rainbow bright. With pink highlights perfectly distributed throughout her hair, it encourages me that I could still have a career where just being yourself like that is acceptable.

Kathryn Budig and yoga instructor Kelly Grimes

Kelly recently traveled to New Zealand with Kathryn to scout locations for a future retreat.  I hope that I will be able to join in on that adventure!

Shop Eat Yoga Logo

Custom Intention Jewelry by Chelsea Welch

The Shop Eat Yoga logo was inspired by my favorite mala bead necklace which is made of sandalwood beads and Amethyst stones.

Sandalwood is an aromatic wood that can retain it's fragrance for decades and is used in essential oils.

Amethyst is an extremely powerful and protective stone. It enhances higher states of consciousness and meditation and has strong healing and cleansing powers. Amethyst is very calming and helps one feel less scattered and more focused and in control of life. This stone facilitates decision making, brings common sense and spiritual insights. It enhances memory and improves motivation while balancing out the highs and lows. One of the most spiritual stones, it promotes love of the divine, encouraging selflessness and spiritual wisdom.

essie fiji nailpolish

I love the necklace because it can be worn a couple of different ways. You can wear it long or loop the jewel through the end of the necklace to wear it short. No matter which way I wear this mala, I choose to put it on when I need a bit of an extra boost in my morale. It makes me feel powerful and like I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to.

pura vida bracelet, lululemon rehearsal tank