If you have ever taken a yoga class at UPDOG Studios—you have likely heard this statement— it’s usually during the balance sequence when all of us wobble at times, stick our foot down, or maybe touch the wall if it is close by. So, to say “In your shakiness is where you find your strength”—seems to fit in those circumstances—right?… Yes, but that is not what I mean. Not at all. Not even close Students arrive on their yoga mat for so many reasons—sometimes they think they are just going to their hot power yoga class, going to heat their body and stretch out some aches and pains listen to a dope playlist, and boom— they can check their yoga box for the day—ha!—and then…. they arrive into the community and realize the asana is so secondary to why they are there. Students bring their life shakiness and unpack it...Read more

On September 26, 2020, my little brother Eric decided to leave this earth.  It’s been a year since he made what I have termed a bad decision. We all know that there are moments and events that occur in our lives that mark life before that moment, and forever change our life after that moment.  Just five weeks after Eric passed, my mom passed too.  In truth I had been mentally preparing for her to pass, she had decided that she lived a full life (she did), and I think she was ready to see her other 13 siblings, a variety of friends, my dad… and now, yes Eric too.  While I was preparing for the circle of life with my mom, I was completely taken off guard with Eric— I have learned that suicide is a different kind of grief— the sting is still fresh for me, and I...Read more

I was driving out of Annapolis and the sun was setting.  This was not your normal sunset the kind photographers wait for where the sun is that bright fiery orange.  The perfect photo-opp. This sunset, the sun was behind some clouds, and it cast this amazing black, white, and grey sunset in layers that streaked across the sky.  It was so unique and so beautiful, and it was one of the boldest sunsets I had witnessed. It did not look like a storm—it looked like the whole world, or at least the part I could see was black and white— it instantaneously had my attention. The universe had my attention yoga does this to people the awareness of yoga. I was in the throws of renovations of UPDOG Studios—thinking about the website, apps, photos, logos, and how I wanted our brand to land for people— could I build the inspirational...Read more

So, in my personal practice I love to flow, I love the feeling of the fluidity of a vinyasa practice—it takes me back to the days of figure skating, for sure my first love, but also to a simpler time. A time when everything was so easy—but in reality I was too young to know it back then. In skating there are some movements that mirror lots of yoga, but specifically Warrior III—well kinda. A spiral, a camel, a flying camel, and also some transitional foot work. I have told my classes’ lots of times when they are in half moon posture or warrior III or airplane, that it is truly easier to do those movements spinning while wearing ice skates, than barefoot on a yoga mat. At least it seems that way to me. Warrior III is a technically challenging yoga posture but one that can still the mind...Read more