This is a very quick email because I have an infant who is napping downstairs, and she doesn’t like napping for more than like 20 minutes at a time these days, so quick, here I go!!

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 26 from 2:30-4pm (and for the following 3 Saturdays) I’m leading a very practical and very chill workshop called Yoga for Everyday Life: The Yamas at The People’s Yoga SE. It will be my first workshop since adding the title “Phoebe’s Mama” to my resume, and I’m feeling extra-excited about sitting around with some good people, talking about how to be good people (or at least, thoughtful ones). Here’s a bit more about the workshop, taken right from the People’s website:

Join Abby Kraai for a 4-week inquiry into the most foundational elements of yoga: the yamas.

Together, the 5 yamas comprise the first limb of the ashtanga (8-limbed) system of yoga. They offer us 5 basic principles to live by: non-harming, truthfulness, non-stealing, wise use of energy, and non-hoarding. Throughout the series, we will examine each principle as it relates to our daily lives, and explore simple practices and exercises that you can take with you, on and off the mat.

While this series will include some gentle movement and meditation practices, it is not primarily an asana class. (But you’re still encouraged to dress comfortably! :))

Learn more!

If you’re around, I’d love to see you! And yes, you can drop in to 1 or 2 or 3 of the sessions — you don’t have to attend the whole series!

Okay, that’s all for now. I’ll be back soon to rattle around in your inbox with more musings on life and love and parenthood and whatever else I’m thinking about…

Love,
Abby

Sometimes, I make good business decisions - like when I prioritize updating my website, advertising my events on Instagram, and writing my Substack posts.

Other times, I do exactly what I encourage my students and mentees not to do: I set my prices too low, I prioritize supporting students over supporting myself, I offer to sub instead of catching up on the boring administrative tasks that I need to catch up on.

And then there are other times when I do my best to make good and smart decisions, but things just don’t go according to plan: signups are lower than I’d budgeted for; hidden or unexpected costs pop up, people cancel their registrations. 

My upcoming retreat is one of these times.

Sure, there is a strong case to be made that I set my prices too low to begin with, but also, if I had gotten the same number of signups as I did last year (or even almost as many), it would have worked out fine. I wouldn’t have made a lot of money, but I would have made enough: about $3000. But as it stands now, with less than half the number of people I budgeted for, I will be losing money: about $3000.

Last month, I started to prepare myself for the fact that this might happen. I did the math again and realized that if I were to cancel the retreat at that point, I would lose $3000 (since it was too late to get a full refund from the retreat center). I figured it was worth risking it, since the most I would lose if I didn’t get any more signups was also $3000. Plus, I thought, there was still time! I was feeling confident that at least a few more people would sign up…

And now here we are, one month later, still with the same number of signups, with registration closing on Tuesday.

I know that this is what running any business typically involves: taking risks, sometimes making money, and sometimes, losing. I don’t love it, but I agree to it every time I decide to try something that isn’t guaranteed (which is, kind of unfortunately, every single event I choose to offer.)

But I also can’t help but wonder: Is this how running a business has to be? Does it always have to be so risky? So isolating? What would happen if I didn’t try to do it all myself? What if I allowed myself to call upon my community, even more directly, and to ask for their help when I needed it?

It feels scary, but I’m pretty sure that’s only because I was raised in a culture that promotes capitalism and competition. In a society that celebrates the “success of the individual,” it is uncomfortable to admit that I actually can’t do it myself.

So here’s my big, bold, and humble ask:

Will you help me not lose $3000 dollars on this retreat?

If the answer is yes, here are a few specific ways you could do it:

1. If you’ve been thinking about coming on the retreat, sign up by Tuesday, Sept 10 (because that’s when the retreat center and caterer need the final headcount).

2. If you know anyone who would like to go but can’t afford it, donate some money to them so they can sign up by Tuesday. (We had a student come to Mexico this way last February - it was extremely heartwarming, and they had the best time! Truly a gift that keeps on giving.)

3. If you can’t come on the retreat/ don’t know anyone who can, consider donating any amount to my Venmo. If you like structure and specificity: $35 is the approximate cost of one yoga session; $210 is the cost of food for one person for the weekend; $700 (almost) covers the cost of one student’s lodging for the weekend.

4. Become a paid subscriber to this very Substack, and then share your favorite post with a friend. Even though this might not feel like you’re directly supporting the retreat, you’d be supporting me, doing what I’m already doing for (almost) free. If you choose this, you could pay $5/ month (which is like paying for the first ~20 min of one drop-in class each month), $50/ year (which is like taking one 2-hr workshop with me per year), or $100/ year (which is like taking two 2-hr workshops per year).*

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I also want to pause here and be clear: I love, love, love my work. I am excited to lead this retreat, even if I lose money. I have accepted that this will probably happen, and I am at peace with it.

Also, I recognize that I cannot keep doing this work indefinitely if the work does not support me, financially. (This is a huge part of the reason I am planning to go back to grad school next fall - so that I can make a better, more predictable income.)

So I hope you can feel that I am asking for your support here, not out of desperation or frustration, but out of curiosity and hope: What would happen if I asked for help when I needed it? Probably the worst thing is that I get a few unsubscribes, and maybe a few people grumbling about money having no place in yoga. That’s fine. I’ll still be here.

As always, I love hearing from you. Especially if you’re a small business owner, or have some thoughts around cultivating community and collaboration in an individualistic culture, I’m all ears. In the meantime, I’ll be thinking, planning, feeling, and writing…

Take good care of yourselves y’all, and each other.

Love,
Abby

*And just as a fun little math equation: If all 674 people on this list subscribed at $50/ year, I’d make ~$23K per year (after taxes) from Substack alone… which would be, like… pretty cool! I’m pretty sure that won’t happen, but I’m also very willing to be proven wrong. ;)

Upcoming events w/ Abby

Hello, again, dear friends,

I’m hopping back in your inbox today because I’m feel generous (or should I say progenerous?!)…

As a special little end-of-summer treat, I am offering to you, my dear readers, 15% OFF MY FALL RETREAT - today only! So if you’ve been thinking about signing up but haven’t yet, today is a most excellent day to do it. The offer expires at midnight tonight.

If this intrigues you, here’s what to do:

• Head over to the retreat page; read the description, just to make sure you’re adequately excited ;)

• If you’re still feelin’ it, select “book now”

• Fill in your info, then hit “book now” again… (don’t worry - you won’t be charged yet!) 

• Click “enter a promo code” (right side) and enter: SURPRISESATURDAYSALE, then click “apply”

• Finish checking out

• Commence Dance of Joy!

Quick note: The code is set up to be used on the full price only. If you’re thinking to yourself, “I want to come and this makes it possible but I still need a payment plan!” I’ve got you. Simply pay the $175 deposit in full and email me that you’d like to apply the discount code to the remaining balance; I’ll set you up. The deadline for this is also 11:59pm tonight.

Any questions, feel free to email or call: 971-258-2107 (or the 585 number you already have for me - but this is my new business number! Because it’s business time…)

Happy weekend, y’all,

Abby

Scenes from Buckhorn Springs…

Hello, dear friends and readers!

I am finally home after nearly a week in my hometown, and I’m still reveling in all the time I got to spend with some of my favorite people, in some of my favorite places. I hope you, too, are feeling nourished and well as we go into this holiday week, and that you’re able to enjoy some time in the sun, with your loved ones.

Before many of us head out of town/ away from our computers, I wanted to send a quick note to remind you of a few things coming up soon:

1. Rooftop Yoga starts this week! Every Wednesday in July, 8-9am, I’ll be leading a vinyasa class on the roof of the Breathe Building. If you’d like to join me, just head to the link above, and sign up as you would for a regular class. Please note: Drop-ins are always welcome, but signing up ahead of time is greatly appreciated!

2. Backyard Yoga is coming next month! We’ll meet every Tuesday in August, 6:30-7:45pm, and each week will be in a different back yard in Portland. Aug 6 and 13 will be in NE, and I’m hoping to host Aug 20 and 27 in SE, but need to confirm a new location. So if you live in SE Portland, have a flat, grassy yard that could fit 10-15 yoga mats, and would be willing to host a few yogis on a Tuesday, please let me know! In the meantime, anyone interested in attending/ being kept in the loop, please RSVP here.

3. Fall Equinox Retreat! We’ve got 9 signed up, and have room for 9 more! Buckhorn Springs is an absolutely beautiful place, and I’m assured that it is especially stunning with autumn leaves. :) And I can’t wait to sneak in one more retreat before this baby comes earth-side… !! Don’t forget: If you’re a public school teacher/ educator (at least in PPS), you may be able to get fully reimbursed for registration… Email me if you need more info!

Okay that’s all for now. I’ll be back with some longer musings next week; in the meantime, enjoy this shortened week! :)

Love,
Abby

Just a quick reminder that if you’re thinking about joining me this Sept 20-22 for my Fall Equinox Retreat, early bird pricing ends TONIGHT at 11:59pm! After tonight, prices go up 15%.

Here’s what’s included:

• Lodging at Buckhorn Springs Resort in Ashland, OR from Fri, Sept 20-Sun, Sept 22 (Ashland is a 5-hr drive south of Portland, OR, or a 5-hr drive north of Sacramento, CA.)

• All meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch

• 4 yoga practices, led by yours truly, ranging from restorative to vinyasa to kirtan!

• Unlimited laughter, friendship, and cherished memories to last a lifetime!

More details here.

Also, if you’ve never been on a retreat with me and want to know a little bit more about me/ my style, you can check out this sweet little video my friend Dillon made after our last retreat. Even though we won’t be among beaches and jungles this time, the vibes will be similar. ;)

It’s shaping up to be a wonderful group so far; your presence would make it even more so!

Let me know if you have any questions, and I hope your weekend is off to a splendid start!
Abby

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Hello, everyone, and happy almost-weekend!

I hope you’re finding time to enjoy some beautiful sunshine, and to rest when you need it. I don’t know about you, but I always find it more difficult to slow down and chill out when it’s sunny. I still have this little voice in my head that says, “Hey! It’s sunny today! Don’t waste it!!” But I’m trying to remind myself that there will always be more sunny days, and that time spent resting is never a waste… (A message my body needs now, more than ever!)

I write you today with a couple things:

1. Solstice Community Kirtan is tomorrow (June 14)! If you’re around, I’d love to see you from 7:30-9pm at Awakenings Wellness Center in Portland. Come for the singing; stay for the tea and friendship! (And yes, I did consider moving it outdoors because the weather’s been so lovely lately, but it looks like there’s a chance of rain tomorrow evening, so I wanted to be sure we were comfortable! There will be more sunny days… ;))

2. Fall Equinox Retreat (Sept 20-22) - If you sign up by 11:59pm this Saturday, June 15, you save 15%! ALSO, hot news if you’re a public school employee/ educator/ work in a place that values mindfulness: Your school/ place of work may be willing to reimburse you the cost of your retreat! Seriously. I had a student on my Mexico retreat who recently informed me that her school reimbursed her the full cost of registration after she provided proof of completion, noting that meditation and mindfulness work were key elements of the retreat. So, it may be worth checking with your place of employment to see if they would do the same for you! (Or even pay for some of it!) Let me know if you want more info on this, and I’d be happy to help, or to connect you with my student. (Also, if you have a friend who this might apply to, feel free to share this email with them!)

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Alrighty, that’s all from me for now… I look forward to singing with some of you tomorrow at Kirtan, retreating with some of you at Buckhorn Springs in September, and connecting with many of you at the studio (or in my inbox!) in between! ;)

Love,
Abby

Hey y’all!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend ahead of you, and that you’re finding time to rest and recoup when you can.

I am about to head out of town for a weekend of sunshine, silliness, and merriment with ~100 of my favorite people (gotta love frisbee tournaments!), but before I go, I wanted to share a few updates about my teaching schedule with y’all, as we head into summer:

1. I will be pausing my Friday Community Practice for the summer. If you’re an online subscriber, don’t worry! I’ll still be updating your Video Library with two practices a month, so you can continue to practice at home, at your leisure.

2. Our last two kirtan events have been such a delight! Thank you so much to everyone who came and sang their hearts out with me! I am very excited to host another one next month: Solstice Community Kirtan, Fri, June 14, 7:30-9pm at Awakenings Wellness Center. As usual, it’ll be very relaxed, beginner-friendly, and you can even bring your kid, if you think they’d enjoy it! (We had a 4-year-old last time and it was truly a blast.)

3. For the month of July, I will be teaching a series of Rooftop Yoga classes at the Breathe Building: every Wednesday, 8-9am. It’s not listed on their online schedule yet, but as we get closer to the dates, you can register through the Breathe Building’s website.

4. For the month of August, I will be offering another series of Backyard Yoga classes (just like last year!). Dates and locations are still being confirmed, but classes will most likely be Tuesdays, 6:30-7:45pm in NE Portland. More details soon… (And if you’d like to host one of these events, holler at me.)

5. FALL RETREAT 2024!!! I am so pumped to return to Buckhorn Springs this Sept 20-22, for what will likely be my last retreat for another year or so… (More on that in my next email.) Registration is open, and prices go up after June 15 - so if you want to save yourself some ducats, sign up before then! (Payment plans available upon request.) **Also: On-site child-care can be made available (for an additional cost) if there is enough interest! If this would be helpful to you, please let me know ASAP.

Alright wonderful people. That’s all the exciting stuff I have for you right now. Thanks for reading, for being part of this community, and for being part of my life! I’ll be back to rattle around in your inbox next week with a more creative and heart-forward piece… ;)

Love,
Abby

I hope you’re staying nourished this week, and finding rest where you can.

From talking to many of my loved ones recently, I know this week as been an especially draining one. If you, too, find yourself barely hanging on, I’m here to say: I hear you, I see you, my heart is with you.

I gotta be honest: Sometimes I feel frustrated by how little impact I have, how hard it is to affect change, how impossible it feels to cultivate peace when there is violence everywhere. I don’t have a good answer, but I suppose none of us does, individually. Maybe that’s where community comes in.

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It’s easy to become annoyed (especially during times of extreme, global unrest) at how ridiculously insignificant my work is: I encourage small groups of people to move and breathe mindfully, and to be present in their bodies. Important work, sure, but sometimes it’s hard to feel like I’m doing enough. I have no direct control over laws or legislation; I do not give inspiring speeches in front of huge crowds; I haven’t published any important books or articles… In the grand scheme of things, my impact is extremely small.

But of course, it’s not about one person’s job, or one person’s impact, alone.

When I think about all the people I have met, however - my yoga community, my frisbee community, my improv people, my family - I am reminded of just how much we mean to each other. I am reminded that to me, all these people are extremely significant.

I remember one of my first yoga teachers saying, “If something hurts, back up, and try again, more gently.” At the time, this was absolutely revolutionary advice.

I remember one of my first improv teachers telling us to, “Be changed by what you hear.” He was talking about the scene we were doing, but I could not help but immediately think how relevant it was to life.

I remember a friend once tell me that I should not confuse an “imperfect” relationship for an “unhealthy” relationship - that perfection is the enemy of connection and presence. Again, revolutionary.

I think about these moments now, and how, in the grand scheme of things, they were so simple, so small, so “insignificant.” But to me, they meant, and still mean, so much. They have impacted the way I practice, the way I teach, the way I communicate, the way I view relationships… There is no doubt that these moments, small though they were, had an extraordinary impact.

So I suppose what I’m saying is this:

If something is meaningful to you, it is meaningful. If something impacts you, it has an impact. And often times, it is the small, simple moments between people that affect us most.

If you are in Portland this weekend, and are in the mood for a small and simple moment, I would love to see you at Community Kirtan. We’ll sit together, sing together, and with any luck, leave feeling just a little more connected than when we arrived. (And if you want to read more about how much I love this practice, you can read this post I wrote.)

We’ll gather at 7:30, sing until 8:30, and then hang out and drink tea until we feel like going home. Feel free to bring a friend or your family (even your kids, if you think they’d enjoy it!). Cost is by donation.

Take good care of yourselves and each other; and don’t forget to let yourself be taken care of, too.

Sending you all so much love,
Abby

Upcoming Events w/ Abby:

Just a real quick note to say: Friday Community Practice is now just an hour: 7:15-8:15am PT! We’ll gather via Zoom, journal for the first 15 min, then move around for the last 45. I’m hopeful this makes it easier for some of you morning-workers to attend. :)

More soon,
Abby

Dear friends:

I just spent the last hour cleaning and tidying up because I’m avoiding writing.

It’s always funny to me, the lengths I will go in order to avoid writing, especially when I have a lot to say. I’m reminded of something my teacher, Bhavani, once said: 

“We often refer to yoga as ‘the middle path,’ as a practice of non-extremes. But yoga is radically non-avoidant.”

Writing is also radically non-avoidant, which is probably why I avoid it - because the only way I can avoid feeling the big feelings that writing brings is to avoid the act of writing altogether! But alas, a life of non-writing is not a sustainable existence for me… 

The thing is, there are so many things I want to tell you about, I don’t know where to begin. I want to begin with tonight’s Kirtan event, but I feel like I should begin by telling you about Mexico. I want to tell you about my subscription platform and all the changes I just made to it, but I feel like it needs more context. I want to tell you about the podcast episode that I recorded last month and still haven’t edited, and who knows when I’ll actually do that, so maybe I should wait until it’s done to tell you about it… (Oops!)

Suffice it to say: There are a lot of things swirling around in my head and I’m feeling anxious.

But you know when I didn’t feel anxious?

When I was in Mexico.

I am so good at planning things, and even better at getting anxious about whether my plans are good enough. I am excellent at anticipating what I might need in the future, what my students might need, and at communicating those things. But at some point, the planning needs to stop, so that I can actually enjoy the thing I’ve been planning for. At some point, it becomes necessary to loosen my grip.

One of the most magical things about the retreat was how natural it felt to be there. Not just in Mexico, but teaching, creating and nurturing and witnessing the community of humans that were there (not to mention the dogs!). Each retreat I’ve hosted, I have felt confident that it would be a wonderful experience, and each time, I have been surprised and delighted by just how wonderful it was. Of course, there is the fact that everyone there is taking time away from work and the responsibilities that tug at them to come practice yoga and be together - how could it not be fabulous?! But still, there is always a part of me that wonders: But will everyone get along? Will they like my teaching? Will they feel satisfied with their experience??

It’s amazing how, even after teaching for 12 years, hosting 4 teacher trainings, and leading 9 retreats, I still get fluttery and nervous. I trust that things will work out, and I know in my bones that it will be beautiful, but that does not always quell the anxiety.

One of my favorite concepts that I learned about in counseling class is that of existential anxiety. Existential anxiety is the sort of fluttery, urgent energy we feel when we recognize how short and uncertain our lives are. In Existential Theory, this is contrasted to neurotic anxiety, which stems from a desire to control, and leads to worry and fear. Unlike neurotic anxiety, existential anxiety animates us, motivates us to do things, helps us to really live, because we know that one day, we will die. Without existential anxiety, we would never wonder what we are doing here in this life, or what our purpose is, let alone attempt to fulfill our purpose… 

When I read the Bhagavad Gita for the first time, I remember being struck by how anxious Arjuna was. Throughout the 18 chapters, Arjuna asks Krishna some variation of, “But what should I do??” over 20 times. He wants so much to do the right thing, the good thing, to live well, to die well… He becomes obsessed. After 16 chapters of Krishna giving advice that ranges from cryptic to hilariously specific, he finally shares with Arjuna the concept of shraddha. While shraddha cannot be directly translated into English, it is something like trust, faith, deep knowing, or, more literally, “what is held in the heart” (Easwaran, p. 243). A person can do all the “good” things, Krishna tells Arjuna, but unless these things are done from a deep and quiet shraddha, they are no good at all; “A person is what his shraddha is” (18.3).

If you think about it, it’s amazing we’re all not totally overwhelmed all the time. With how short life is, how much there is to experience, how many beautiful people there are to know and be with, how many career paths we could have, how many hobbies we could pick up, how many languages we could learn… ! But I think this is actually a great sign. Just like Arjuna’s anxiety made him an eager and willing student, our existential anxiety makes us alive, alert, and ready to experience everything we possibly can in this lifetime! Perhaps the trick to not being completely overwhelmed is to support this existential anxiety with shraddha; to know, deep in our bones, that we will not possibly accomplish everything we want to accomplish in this life, and that is exactly how it should be.

As I settle back into home life, I am trying to remember that I do not need to do everything on my to-do list. 

I am trying to be inspired, excited, enlivened by all the things I could do, rather than overwhelmed and defeated by all the things I should (or didn’t) do. 

I am trying to remember that not everything can be planned, and that without room for spontaneity, I will never be able to follow my intuition, my heart, my inner knowing.

I am trying to remember that life is short, and that one day, I will die, because this helps me to be present.

I cannot wait to sing with many of you tonight. And I cannot wait to share with you (gradually and patiently!), all the changes that are evolving in my business as I continue to evolve. May we remember that life is short, and also, that we have time; we do not need to rush.

Sending you so much love,
Abby

Just a quick note to say…

This Friday, March 22, at 7:30pm, I am hosting my first ever Community Kirtan event!! It will be at Awakenings Wellness Center in Portland, OR (SE 12th & Belmont), and we’ll make music from 7:30-8:30pm, then hang out and drink tea until they kick us out at 9.

Singing/ kirtan/ the harmonium have held a very special spot in my heart over the past several years, and I am beyond thrilled to share this practice with y’all. It’s been a long time in the making!

Happy spring time, and I hope to see your shining face soon,
Abby

Just sending out one more quick note to remind you that you have until midnight tonight to get 25% off the February Mexico retreat! So, if you’ve been thinking of coming, now is an excellent time to sign up. Use code FORAFRIEND at checkout and save yourself between $630 and $690, depending on which accommodations you choose. Read more about it here! (And email or text me if you have any questions!)

Happy, joyful, fabulous and sparkly New Year to you and yours. I can’t wait to practice with you soon!
Abby

P.S. In case you’re wondering just how lovely the beach in Yelapa is, it’s exactly this lovely:

P.P.S. If you’re not seeing this email until Jan 2 and want to sign up and are sad you missed the deadline, email me. I can be flexible for one more day!!

I hope your holiday season is off to a joyful and festive start! :)

Before I don my Christmas onesie and retreat into a weekend of family festivities, I wanted to put a few things out into the ether, in case you’re looking to treat yourself or a loved one to some more yoga & embodiment, come 2024. So, without any further fanfare, here they are:

• Mon, Jan 1, 1-3pm // New Year’s Day Practice at The People’s Yoga SE

• Thursdays, Jan 4-25, 6-7:30pm // Yoga for Beginners at The Breathe Building

• Sat, Feb 24-Mar 2 // Mexico Retreat in Yelapa! **Get 25% off until Jan 1 when you use code FORAFRIEND at checkout! (Scholarships and payment plans also available - just email me!)

Let me know if you have any questions about any of the above (though a heads up that I’ll be mostly off-line from tonight through Sat 12/30). In the meantime, please know how grateful I am for you, and for this community. Thank you for being here, for reading, for coming to class, and for bringing your friends and loved ones to class, too! I could not do this work without you. ♥️

Take good care, and Happy Wintering,
Abby & Wanda

P.S. If you’re looking for a simple yet timeless last minute gift for a loved one, perhaps you’d like to give a gift card for yoga with yours truly!? Gift cards can be used for private sessions (virtual or in-person), workshops, or retreats hosted by Abby (that’s me!).

I just shared a post on my yoga blog about a retreat I’m leading this winter in Yelapa, Mexico. I wanted to link to it here as well, especially as I am in this transition phase between “full-time yoga teacher” and “writer, artist, teacher, counselor, etc…”

So, if you’re into yoga, sunshine, community, and a hearty does of silliness, give it a peek! :)

I’ll be back on Friday, with a more creative post about hands…

Love,
Abby

"If you've seen one... you've seen... one." - My teacher's teacher

You are the expert in your own experience.

Dear humans,

Some of you know that I’ve been taking an Intro to Counseling class at PSU. (!!) There’s more to say about it (and about the impending career pivot I’m exploring), but for now, I just want to share something my teacher said when we were talking about traumatic brain injuries (TBI):

“As my mentor says, ‘If you’ve seen one TBI, you’ve seen… one TBI.’”

Her point (and her mentor’s point) was that everyone’s experience is unique. Even if two people share the same injury, condition, or diagnosis, their experiences will not be exactly the same. And so, as counselors, teachers, caregivers, we must remember: we cannot assume we know someone’s experience, simply because we know their diagnosis.

To me, this is foundational to trauma-informed teaching: Everyone is the expert in their own experience. As teachers, we can offer what we have learned, we can share general guidelines and principles for our students to try out, but we will never know what it’s like to live in their bodies. We have to trust that they know themselves best.

This Saturday, I’m hosting a 2-hr online workshop, Yoga for Back Care. Each time I lead a 2-hr workshop, I am reminded just how short 2 hours is, and how we can’t possibly discuss everything I want to discuss! And so, each time, I try to simplify. I try to highlight what is most interesting and important to me at the moment, and to trust that that is enough.

Right now, what feels most interesting and important is exploring and experiencing. Because, even if everyone in the workshop shares a common experience of “back pain,” the way it manifests for each of us is different. Rather than tell anyone what they “should” do for their specific pain or condition, or attempt to offer a list of definitive “dos” and “don’ts,” I hope to provide a container for students to feel, to experiment, and to feel some more. Above all, I hope to provide a space where each individual can approach their body with curiosity and kindness.

If this sounds fun to you, I’d love to see you there. You don’t need to have a particular diagnosis, or a certain level of chronic pain - just a vested interest in learning about your spine, and all the stuff that surrounds it. If you have a friend who you think might enjoy it too, feel free to invite them! We’ll meet live (via Zoom) this Saturday, Dec 2, 9-11am PT; recordings will also be available (if you want the recording, simply sign up as usual so I have your email address!).

Until then, take care of your bodies, minds, and hearts,
Abby


P.S. If you want to read about one of my recent back injuries, and some things I learned from it, you can check out yesterday’s blog post!

"It is also a victory to know when to retreat." - Erno Paasilinna

Want to go to Mexico with me??

Dearest community of yoga-lovers and friends,

I hope that you all have some fun and relaxing plans lined up for this week, maybe involving family or friends and a lot of delicious food.

As we continue to hurdle into this dark and chilly season, I wanted to remind y’all that there are sunnier days ahead… and that in fact, you don’t have to wait until June to experience them!!

This week, I am re-opening early bird pricing for my Mexico Retreat - so if you sign up between now and 11:59pm on Nov 26, you get to come for 20% less than full price!

And if you want to come but can't pay in full right now, worry not, for I have payment plans! If you’d like to pay with a payment plan, simply pay the deposit and email me by Nov 26 letting me know you’d like a payment plan, and which tier you’d like to purchase.

Also, I have a few partial scholarships available! So if you super-want to come but cost is prohibitive, please feel empowered - nay, encouraged - to email me and inquire.

Seriously, y'all, this is one of my favorite places on earth. Some of my all-time best memories have been made here - not just yoga memories, but memories, period! If you’ve never been on a yoga retreat, trust me when I say that they can really and truly be life-changing. Not because of the yoga we do or because of the cool itinerary I have planned (though that's great, too!), but because of the people you’ll meet, the friendships you’ll cultivate, the laughter, the connection, the break from the everyday business… It is really, really beautiful.

You can read a bunch of details about the retreat (including where to fly into and when, how to get from the airport to the retreat itself, what the accommodations are like, etc.) on my website, but if you have any other questions you don’t see answered there, please do reach out. You can email me at this address, or even call me during regular waking hours: 585-455-1523. I would love to see you there!!!

Con amor,
Abby

"It's the things we need the most that we procrastinate the most." - Bhavani Maki

Why do we procrastinate?

Dear humans:

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started writing and re-writing this e-newsletter. 

I keep thinking of a thing that Bhavani said in one of our sutra workshops: “It’s the things we need the most that we procrastinate the most.”

There are a lot of things I have been procrastinating.

I have been procrastinating setting up my office space - specifically, my art desk, where I intend to paint and draw and bead.

I have been procrastinating finishing the collection of short stories I began writing, three years ago.

I have been procrastinating taking a true, relaxed vacation - no running around to see a million sites, no obligations… just leisure.

And I have been procrastinating sharing everything that’s coming up this fall and winter - including a very new and very cool project I’ve been working on…

But the good thing about procrastination is that I can, at any point, stop. All I have to do is something, even if it’s just a tiny step… 

Last week, I finally dug out my paints and colored pencils, and set up my art desk.

I also opened a new Google Doc and wrote freely for 15 minutes, with no goal other than to put words on page.

I’ve even started looking at my calendar, searching through Airbnb, trying to find a place to go to rest and restore... 

And, here I am, a month after I had originally intended, finally sharing a few big business-related things I’ve been working on for the last few months. It feels good, even though it also feels terrifying.

So without any more procrastination, here are those things, in no particular order:

Abby with the Rods - Subscription Service!
After 2 months of preparations and a lot of help from my dear student and friend, Cindy (you’re the best!!), I am ready to share my new subscription service with y’all! In the feedback I received from y'all after my , accessibility, embodiment and community were concepts that came up again and again. This subscription service is a direct response to these things: I want to lower the barrier to entry - physically, spiritually, and financially. You can read more about it (and try it out for free) here. !!!

Mexico retreat: Feb 24-Mar 2
Many of you joined me and Rachel years ago on our retreat in the jungles of Yelapa, Mexico (some of you even came 3 times!). Yelapa is one of my favorite places on earth, and I have wanted to go back since the moment we left in February 2020. So, I decided that after four years, it’s time! I’ll be teaching solo this time, and am excited to return to a familiar place in a new context, and with a new perspective. Oct 15 is the early bird deadline if you want to save some $$ (payment plans available upon request). Also, if you really want to come and finances are an issue, just talk to me and I’m confident we can figure it out. More info here!

In-person workshops: Oct 15 & Nov 5
Also in response to your requests for more accessibility, embodiment, and community, I've decided to offer monthly in-person workshops, with a little more emphasis on yoga philosophy. So, this fall, I’m leading a mini-series called Living in Alignment, Sundays Oct 15 & Nov 5. Morning sessions will be grounded in the physical body; afternoon sessions will be dedicated to yogic philosophy and self-inquiry. Together, we’ll explore what it means to be a human, living in a body, just trying to feel a little more alive. Read more here.


This Libra season, I am trying to balance my desire to not rush with my desire to release perfectionism and just do. I am trying to remember that it’s okay if I don’t have time to finish something right now - I can at least start. And, if I don’t have time to finish something perfectly, I can still finish it well enough. As my coach said to me a few weeks ago, “Just start, and your community will help you finish.”

Thank you, dear people, for being part of that community. I am infinitely thankful for your support and love over these years, and I am extremely pumped for all the things on the horizon. Let’s keep growing and evolving and trying and failing and trying again - together!

Love,
Abby

"Paying attention in community brings delight in the moment." - David George Haskell

Let's not rush anymore.

My dears:

I’ve been to Switzerland and back, and to COVID and back, and now, I’m finally feeling like myself again.

If there’s one thing this round of jet lag and corona have taught me, it’s that transitions take time. Nothing good comes from rushing. 

Despite my plans to return home and dive right back into work, it was clear that my body needed a moment. And now, as I return to my regular working life, I’m trying to remember this.

Transitions take time.
The body cannot be rushed.

Historically, I've been really good at overbooking myself, and making myself do more! But I’m really, really trying to chill.

I’m trying to rest before the point of exhaustion.

I’m practicing saying, “No, thank you,” when I don’t have the energy.

I’m trying not to panic when things take longer than I’d like.

I’m trying to notice the seasons.


I read an article yesterday that proposed, “sensory experience is about [paying] attention as much as it is about the physiology of our cells.” In other words, even if, say, our hearing isn’t the sharpest, we can hear more when we choose to pay attention.

And I don’t know about you, but I can only pay attention when I’m not rushed.

And it’s far easier to be un-rushed when I’m with people who aren’t rushing, either.

Let’s help each other chill.

Next Saturday, Sept 23, I’m offering my first ever outdoor Partner Yoga & Massage class. It’ll be a casual, fun, silly time, and you can bring any kind of partner you want: your significant other, your best friend, your mom… whoever you want to share the evening with! It’s in my friend Bari’s yard in NE Portland, and there will be shade aplenty, and I’m told the grass is even soft this time of year! I’d love to see you there.

Also, on Sundays, Oct 15 & Nov 5, I’m leading a 2-part series called Living in Alignment. It’ll combine asana alignment and practical philosophy, and I can’t wait! I’d love to see you for one or both days.

And before I sign off, I want to say that I’m so appreciative of everyone who replied to my last email, asking for feedback. In response, I’ll be hosting a few more in-person workshops and mini-series (see above!), and also one more thing I’m quite pumped about, that I’ll announce later this month... But for now, I’ll just say, thank you. Your requests for more community, more philosophy, and greater financial accessibility have been heard!

I’m delighted to be back stateside with my community and friends and students, and am very much looking forward to returning to teaching, face to face. In the meantime, I’m going to do my best to move a little slower, and to pay a little more attention to the things and people, right in front of me.

So much love,
Abby