Inside & Out

They're giggling, they're texting, they're fixing each other's hair. They're wearing mis-matched socks and friendship bracelets. They are brave and bold. They are opinionated and impressionable. They are young and beautiful inside and out. They are teenagers and they have no idea that what they're about to experience may make an impact on their lives forever.
When lululemon athletica in Springfield first approached us with this event, Inside & Out: strength.confidence.beauty, I couldn't have been more excited. The layout of the workshop and the topics they presented are the exact reason I started teaching yoga. Along with a fun and heart-warming yoga class, there would be three inspirational women from the community who would share their journey in redefining beauty and confidence...women who have overcome major obstacles in their teens such as cancer, eating disorders, drugs and the everyday teenage transitions. And share they did. As the event began, each stood in front of the gathering of around 50 people, between teenagers and supporters, and spoke their truth. 

In life we are often called to speak our truth. 

They brave ones actually do.

Open, honest, raw stories. Speaking from the heart. Sharing in a way that could impact a life whether they realize it or not. One sentence, one word that comes from the heart can make a difference. And that was the goal of the afternoon. To inspire through stories, to bring hope, to bring strength, to bring healing, to bring together a community of young women in support of one another. In support of themselves. In yoga we challenge our selves on the mat - physically through asana and pranayama and mentally through meditation. We learn how our bodies and our minds deal with these challenges so that when we move off our mats, we can fearlessly face our challenges with a compassionate understanding and an unbelievable strength. 

As we moved into the yoga class lead by Nicole Traum and Anne Britt, you could see genuine openness of the teens shine through. Listening for instruction, listening to their bodies. Moving and breathing the best way they know how. Laughing, connecting, working together with their friends, both new and old. Finding peace in their bodies and in their minds. Knowing they are beautiful just as they are - inside and out.
                               Accepting. Embracing. Being.

I cannot tell you how inspired I was leaving the studio this day. Inspired by ALL the teens that rolled out their mats and opened their hearts. Inspired by Jackie, Jaclyn and Yulady for sharing their stories. Inspired by Nicole, Anne and Lululemon Athletica Springfield Avenue, especially Megan and Eliza, for bringing this event to our community. Inspired to go and share my own story. This is what yoga is all about. This is what fills my heart. This is why we do what we do. We are all so truly blessed. Thank you to all involved. xo

photos by Loida Dorfner Photography 
See more pictures from the event here.

Inside & Out: strength.confidence.beauty.

Calling all teen girls!  

Alluem Yoga and lululemon athlectica are coming together to share in the conversation of self-esteem with teen girls. Inspirational women from our local community share stories & insight of their journey with self-esteem, followed by an incredible yoga class and a chance to lock in all the love with some fun snapshots. Invite your friends, sisters, daughters, students! 
Suggested for age 13-17, this FREE event at Alluem Yoga promises to be a life-changer. 
Saturday, January 12th - 3:00-5:30pm

For more info, visit the Facebook Event Page 
Register online: alluemyoga.com - workshops tab

Small Acts of Kindness Making a BIG Difference!

Thank you to the kids and families who came out to support Snowflakes for Sandy Hook.
After a peaceful snowflake meditation and moving and breathing to find peace in our bodies, the kids and I discussed different ways we can send peace into the world through random acts of kindness. This all inspired by #26Acts - a hash tag that is sweeping the nation. The movement was started to inspire random acts of kindness in honor of the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Time has passed and our lives go on, but the tragedy is still in our minds and the community is still in our hearts. With the help of the Alluem Kids this week and kids across the US, Sandy Hook students will be surprised to come back to thousands of snowflakes filling their hallways and classrooms. Snowflakes filled with love and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
A random act of kindness from one child to another.

Discussing acts of kindness.

Snowflake makers.

Snowflake makers.

Glitter Station!

Winter Schedule

Hey Alluem Kids & Teens! Winter registration is open! 

Sign up online - www.alluemyoga.com - workshops tab

Alluem Teens (ages 12-17): 

 Wednesdays - 4:45-5:45pm - starting 1/23 

 Alluem Tweens (ages 10-12): 

Sundays - 11:15am-12:15pm - starting 1/20

 Mondays - 3:45-4:45pm - starting 1/21 

 Alluem Kids (ages 7-9): 

Sundays - 12:30-1:30pm - starting 1/20 

Thursdays - 3:45-4:45pm - starting 1/24 

 Alluem Little Kids (ages 4-6): 

Sundays - 10:00-11:00am - starting 1/20 

Tuesdays - 3:45-4:45pm - starting 1/29

 NEW - Boys Yoga (ages 8-12): 

Wednesdays - 3:30-4:30pm - starting 1/23 

As requested, we've added a new class just for the guys! 

 Please note: Boys are not exempt from our regular class schedule. 

All fees and packages are non-transferable, non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Any classes not used in the duration assigned are forfeit. Kids may make-up missed classes in another class of their age group only. 

Teens may make-up in any Beginner class on the schedule.

Merry Christmas!

Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary

Broken Hearts, Prayers and Hope

Like the rest of the nation, I am heart broken. 20 children are gone.

Words are hard to find. 

I have no children of my own, but every child that walks into my yoga class leaves a footprint on my heart. And at a time like this, I think of each and every one of them. What are they thinking? Have their eyes and ears wandered over to the news of this tragedy? Are their parents talking to them about this? Are they afraid to go to school? It hasn't yet, but I find myself searching for words and preparing myself for when one of my students brings it up on the mat. I have the need to instill hope in our children's view of humanity and the things that happen in this world. Mr. Roger's mother taught him well...for every bad person that does something, look at all the good people that rush in to help, that come to the rescue, that support in times of need. It doesn't take away the pain of lives lost or the velocity of what has happened, but I like to think it brings a little bit of hope. 

I've been sending prayers to the children - I get nauseous at the thought of what was the last scene their little eyes saw. I've been sending prayers to the families - I can not even fathom what it must be like to bury a child. I've been sending prayers to the teachers who risked their lives - especially 27-year-old teacher Victoria Soto, who in an act of selflessness, was killed while shielding her first-graders from danger. I've been sending prayers to the entire devastated community of
Newton, Connecticut. 

Who I haven't sent prayers to was Adam Lanza until today...

I urge you to read this posting: I am Adam Lanza's Mother

Take a moment to look through the eyes of a mother raising a violent child with a mental illness. I condone her for sharing her story and taking the necessary precautions to keep her child and those around her safe. 

On the intake form, under the question, "What are your expectations for treatment?" I wrote, "I need help."And I do. This problem is too big for me to handle on my own. Sometimes there are no good options. So you just pray for grace and trust that in hindsight, it will all make sense. I am sharing this story because I am Adam Lanza's mother. I am Dylan Klebold's and Eric Harris's mother. I am Jason Holmes's mother. I am Jared Loughner's mother. I am Seung-Hui Cho's mother. And these boys—and their mothers—need help. In the wake of another horrific national tragedy, it's easy to talk about guns. But it's time to talk about mental illness.