"Abhyasa vairagyabhyam tan nirodhah” — Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (1.12)
Steadiness comes through consistent practice (abhyasa) and letting go (vairagya).

What do consistency and change have in common? On the surface, they seem like opposites, but in a yoga practice, they are the two pillars that keep us steady. This is the essence of Yoga Sutra 1.12: The mind finds stability through both consistent practice (abhyasa) and non-attachment (vairagya).

As the seasons shift and routines evolve, we are reminded that change is constant. A consistent yoga practice helps you stay grounded through these shifts, but the "non-attachment" piece is just as vital. It means showing up for yourself regularly while letting go of the expectation that your practice must look or feel a certain way every day. And to not get caught up in equating consistency with discipline or progress with goals.

When we allow space for change, acceptance, adaptability and self study we are better able to build a practice based on awareness, resilience, discernment, intuition and well-being. It can feel a bit jarring to our systems to embrace opportunities like this in our busy lives and schedules, but sometimes the inevitability of change prompts us to see things a bit differently, to shift what is not working and explore how we can better serve ourselves (and others) in this lifetime. This is where our practice deepens, and our sense of agency and liberation can grow.

Ultimately this shift in mindset is what can enable our practice to be truly consistent in that we are not attached to the outcome and instead are more curious and open to the process, allowing the experiences to integrate in our own time and on our own terms. This can be hard to navigate on our own, and working with and trusting in someone who can provide guidance is sometimes overlooked. Working with me one-on-one or joining my group classes can provide you with the framework to navigate this journey and to find more balance. I strive to offer practices designed to meet you exactly where you are—whether you need deep movement or total stillness. Or maybe both! I hope in the weeks and months to come you find time to join me and if you are curious about individualized guidance please do not hesitate to reach out with questions and feedback.

I have some upcoming changes to my schedule in April and May and some new opportunities to practice and work with me that are listed below. If there is any confusion please reach out or check my website for clarity. Thank you all for your time and presence and I hope to connect with you all sometime soon on the mat-Be well- Joanne

April News

• There is still space to join me this Sunday, April 12th for either Yoga Nidra at the Vermont Salt Cave or Sunday Reset practice at Whisper Tree Wellness.

  • For Yoga Nidra click here to join (4 spaces remaining): https://www.jmountainyoga.com/offerings/yoga-nidra-at-the-salt-cave

  • For Sunday Reset (1 space remaining) click here: https://www.jmountainyoga.com/offerings/sunday-reset-move-breathe-rest

• There will be no Tuesday and Thursday classes the week of April 21 & 23rd as I will be in my Yoga Therapy week-long intensive, as well as have the privilege to participate in Hotel Vermont’s fourth annual "Check In Night" Mental Health Initiative in partnership with NAMI Vermont (thank you to whoever nominated me to be part of this!).

• Tuesday, April 28th will be my last class at Jay Peak Resort until the fall when class will hopefully resume.

Which is a great segue to announce that on Tuesday mornings (9:30am-10:30am) starting May 5th I will be offering Gentle Yoga at the new Nest Wellness Studio in Newport, VT. This lovely space is having an Open House (see below) on Thursday, April 16th 5pm-7:30pm, and I will be there with information on my class & workshop offerings (and handing out "First Class Free" passes), Yoga Therapy and working with me one-on-one. Stop by to learn more about this space and meet some of the other talented practitioners involved.

You can register for this Tuesday class here: https://www.jmountainyoga.com/offerings/gentle-yoga-in-newport