I'm a yoga teacher and artist who loves to talk about yoga, spirituality, meditation, mantra, art, lifestyle, and more. Subscribe to my Lotus Letters to blossom and grow.
It's not a pass or fail
Inside This Lotus Letter 🪷✔ It's not a pass or fail🕉️ Book your private sessions with Angie-Discount & Special Bonus!🌙 Crescent Loon: An evening of Celtic-Style 🎶 🎶 and Migrant Justice Benefit😻 Cat Corner: Mac and Cheese return!📖 Book: StyxHello Reader,I've been trying really hard to change a perfectionist perspective in myself and in others. You see, it's easy for me to skip something entirely if it doesn't fit my mental image of perfection. Like skipping a morning workout because I don't have a full hour. Or missing a daily walk because I only have 15 minutes, and maybe that just isn't good enough. Or thinking I need to wait to sign up for something, like "that training," "that art show," or who knows what–until I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I am completely and totally ready. For me, it's also often doomscrolling for 10 minutes (as my daughters call it, mindlessly scrolling social media) instead of working on my art because ten minutes doesn't feel like enough time, or maybe I'm just not inspired enough. A long time ago, when Ellessia was in kindergarten (now she is 22), I worked as an aide in a third-grade classroom. Something from that time left a strong impression on me. I learned we could get a lot done in small chunks of time. Even in super short 10-minute chunks every day, we could finish entire math lessons because that's 50 minutes by the end of a week. We could read a whole book in a few weeks and finish lengthy writing assignments with only a few minutes between classes. That experience helped me realize that short bursts of time and attention add up to getting something done. It doesn’t have to look perfect, and it doesn’t have to be a huge amount of time. Because the small stuff actually does add up. This perfectionist thinking is ubiquitous in the wellness industry. We have to optimize, maximize, and hack every corner of our lives. The perfect daily routine, the complete balanced meal with zero processed foods or sugars, the most ideal sleep conditions, superior health supplements and ingredients. It's not true that if it's not optimal, it's not worth doing, or that if you eat one packaged food, your health goes down the toilet. Going for that 10-minute walk counts. Sitting in my art studio for 10 or 15 minutes counts. Going to bed 30 minutes earlier counts; eating one completely veggie meal a week counts; taking two minutes to stop and take some deep breaths counts. And if I nosh on some potato chips and a sweet gluten-filled cinnamon bun, it isn’t going to send me into a health frenzy. It’s better to relax into the joy of the moment. I think the truth is much simpler: Life isn't a pass or fail. Our health isn't a pass or fail. Some physical activity is better than none. Eating vegetables is better than not eating them (sorry carnivores, I'm not with you there). Your health and well-being are rarely determined by a single variable anyway. They emerge from patterns across days, months, and years. So if you've been away from yoga for a while, don't worry; try it again. Even just once! If you've been wanting to make art, just grab a pencil and some paper and doodle for a bit. Sit with your journal and write a messy Haiku, or outline your book idea. Who cares if it's a total disaster! I say, it's better than not trying. Let's give ourselves some grace, and let's give other people some grace too. We humans are very messy and imperfect. And honestly, especially considering all the controversy around AI these days, I think I love us better that way anyhow. A Lotus For You 🪷 Angie Words of Imperfection"Have no fear of perfection – you'll never reach it." ~Salvador Dalí "You were born to be real, not to be perfect." ~Ralph Marston “To love another human in all of her splendor and imperfect perfection, it is a magnificent task...tremendous and foolish and human.” ~Louise Erdrich "A diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections." ~Confucius “One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist.....Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.” ~Stephen Hawking Private Yoga Sessions and Mentoring With Angie“I reached out to Angie because I felt a loss of creative motivation and focus... Angie helped me to clarify and engage with my purpose and strength and to open my heart again to the serendipitous world.”— Jane Whittington Immersing in yoga, art, and creativity changes your life. I will show you how.I understand that yoga is a deeply personal and transformative experience. Since 2005, I’ve helped thousands of students on their yoga and art journeys. I know how important it is to have a trusted guide to support your growth. I am here to support and guide you every step of the way. GLOW AND GROW: Now on sale with a special bonus!Attention Yoga Members! Receive $50 off with the coupon GLOW50. This coupon is for current yoga members only.
Unsure if these sessions are right for you? Sign up for a free 15-minute discovery session available here. Reiki Sessions: An Energetic Relaxation, Rest, & Restoration.Are you feeling the need to gather your reserves and rest? I've been bringing Reiki sessions back to my community. Reiki is another beautiful way for us to work together, and for you to rest and restore deeply. Reiki may be just your antidote to the constant rushing of our world. I have made time available for private Reiki Sessions: 50 minutes for $75.00. Sign up here. Upcoming Kirtan EventsCeltic - Sylte Music Event and Benefit Concert-Coming in October:Learn more about this benefit event! Stillness Class Returns in October!Join us for a quiet and still yoga class. In this series, we will explore a few seated yoga postures, mantra, pranayama, and meditation. Folks loved this series in the spring, and I am happy to bring it back to help you find the magic of stillness. This class is included for all yoga members. Not a member? You can use your regular yoga class pass for this series, or drop in to a single class. You can purchase a discounted class pass for JUST these six weeks. This pass is slightly discounted, but it expires at the end of the series. Jai Studios: Yoga Classes, Meditation, Kirtan, & More
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Jai Studios LLC
I'm a yoga teacher and artist who loves to talk about yoga, spirituality, meditation, mantra, art, lifestyle, and more. Subscribe to my Lotus Letters to blossom and grow.
🪷 All Classes- Sign Up HERE Inside This Lotus Letter 🪷 🕉️ What's coming up as we close out 2026 and move into 2027 🌙 Celtic Loon: A migrant benefit event 🧘🏽♀️ A rare and sacred mantra yoga practice workshop 😻 Cat Corner: It's not a cat! 🐶 🌟 Book your private sessions with Angie-Discount & Special Bonus! Hello Reader, I've been experiencing a quiet crisis. It's quiet because I've only discussed it with Josh. It's a crisis because I know I need a change, and change is scary! But it's been...
Two Special Events This Week!!! Moving Into Stillness starts tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 10 AM. This six-week series includes Yin-style and restorative postures, mantra practice, and 20 minutes of deep meditation in each class. Moving into stillness is a balm for the spirit, the nervous system, and the thinking mind. Moving Into Stillness is offered in person AND online. You can use a yoga class pass, drop in to a single session, AND, if you are a yoga member, this series is included...
🪷 All Classes- Sign Up HERE Inside This Lotus Letter 🪷 🙏🏼 Prayer and the little things 🕉️ Chakra Workshop with Aaron 😻 Cat Corner: Judy's Sport 📖 Book: Prayers To The Nature Spirits Hello Reader, I grew up in the shadow of the Catholic Church. I say shadow because rather than a guiding light, it was more of a following presence. Always there, but not in front of me. Both of my parents grew up as Roman Catholics: my dad as a French-Canadian Catholic and my mother, an Italian Catholic. And...