This and that

Hi students,

Thank you all for continuing to practice with me, grow with me, and work towards healing our inner and outer landscapes. I’m blown away. Thanks to my good friends at Lil’ Dove Cafe for hosting me last week, we raised a nice chunk of change in support of National Network of Abortion Funds!

I was recently scanning through an old notebook from a past mentorship in which this particular scribble stood out to me:

How can I take excessive suffering and make it something new? How can I become the one who can see suffering and choose to help?

I have been teaching yoga for 6 years and in about a week or so it will have been exactly one year since transitioning into hustling it solo. In this past year I’ve moved in with a friend, gotten kicked out of that spot, moved into my own place, almost been evicted, then been sued, been in love and also with the idea of being in love, COVID, gone on food stamps, lost food stamps, mounting bills, insufficient fees, lost heat, then lived in an AC-less apt with a dog, gone into therapy, ditched therapy, vivid dreams reliving childhood traumas, in and out of addictions, really could keep going! All while teaching you all yoga basically everyday. On the flip studied with my favorite teachers and gotten opportunities I’ve dreamed about for years, everyday I arrive at an experience or feeling beyond my wildest dreams. It is easy for people to tell you they’re happy you’re doing well without asking if you’re doing well. Someone messaged me recently expressing how happy he is for me, since ‘I seem to have really turned it around.’ Even though this person is genuine and speaking without malice an old pattern of bitterness started to seep in. I thought, if you only knew.
Yoga has given me the framework for how I want to live but it’s also shown me that it’s up to me to create that. I’ve had friends ask why I teach so much and it’s really because it has saved me and I see how it impacts homeless people and Tribeca moms in the same ways. Being vulnerable isn’t a weakness and it’s also not a cry for help. I actually like myself now so it’s easier to let go. Healing isn’t just sobbing and being in misery. It can be joy, it can be having a cup of coffee and white rice for two weeks straight. Things are not happening to us but rather for us - we are here to co create and exist in harmony. I am sending love to everyone who has taken care of me without expecting anything in return and even those that do. If I owe you I’ll get you soon. I will say that walking down the street and seeing people you’ve known forever that now can’t look you in the eyes or formulate sentences is liberating!! Lately I’m surrounded by tons of rich people with rich people problems telling me how I should feel or to be grateful. I grew up with a lot and then severely without (not just financially). Sometimes you can’t depend on your family or your friends but the deli man has got you. Sharing for anyone who is scrolling and idolizing people and places that they’ll never see or understand… none of this is real, but some of it is…

regularly scheduled classes this week(ish) with a few additions..

Monday
12p at SKY TING - this class is now available as a hybrid livestream for Sky Ting TV members
8p at POWERFLOW YOGA in JERSEY CITY

Tuesday
8:15a at LIVE THE PROCESS - register through sky ting
12p at SKY TING

Thursday
9:30a at SKY TING

Friday
8:30a at RIVERVIEW FISK PARK in Jersey City Heights.
This is a FREE offering provided by my friends at SOL SPIRIT JC. Please register in advance.

Saturday
I’m returning to my favorite park in the city Elizabeth Street Garden. 10:30a - Bring a mat, no pre-registration required, Venmo me directly @Chillee.

Sunday
9a POWERFLOW YOGA in Hoboken
11:30a at Surya Yoga in Jersey City

The support from those that offer is seen and reflected. When you tell me I’m saving your life or making your day, it’s because you’re saving mine too.

xo