A little about Me + The Gratitude Practice

Hi :) 
It's so nice to have you here! I think it would be good to start out with a little introduction. 

I’m Janae (she/her/hers)

RYT 500, TCTSY-F, & Current B.S Behavioral Health Student 

And I feel passionate about bringing the mental health and yoga communities together through trauma-informed yoga classes

Why? Because I have personally felt the benefits of combining the somatic movement practice of yoga along with therapy and mindfulness. 

 When I first became a yoga teacher it was easy to get caught up in the physical movement and exertion of the practice. However, as I put in more time on the mat I found other changes in my life begin to unfold. While struggling through a divorce and big health problems around my autoimmune disease and chronic pain I turned to yoga. I found more mental calm and ease day to day and found big emotional releases happening in the middle of class or right after shavasana. At the time this felt odd and concerning but, now I understand the direct connection between the body and the mind and our tendency to leave unseen emotions stored up in the body. 2019 brought me to Australia to participate in a training course on trauma yoga from the Center of Trauma and Embodiment. This new found education brought me my mission, to help others move through trauma and mental health struggles through yoga and mindfulness. I am a firm believer that yoga is for everybody and every body and became an online ambassador for Yoga For All after graduating from their course. I now feel confident to help all body types and levels of experience have a fulfilling yoga practice. Yoga or any type of movement practice should not be exclusionary and is a gift I feel passionate about sharing with all people.

 So if you would like to experience the emotional and mental benefits a trauma and body-positive yoga practice can have on your life I am your teacher. 

The start of a New Journey

The Gratitude Practice studio space has been a long-time dream finally come to fruition. I have always wanted to open my own studio space where classes are focused on integrating mental health, physical health, and a shared community mindset of acceptance. Why 'The Gratitude Practice'? Well if you have ever joined me for a yoga practice you will know I always end my classes with a few moments to connect to yourself and say thank you to whatever in your life you would like to express gratitude towards. This started from my very first teaching experience and is something I have carried through into every practice. I find it grounds the mind and the heart and reminds us why we are here.

It's a Practice:

Because as I have learned more and more about yoga, mindfulness, or mental health tools they are all practiced.

It is never a one and done type of deal (as much as we would like it to be). And instead is a constant journey of progression and regression which we are all navigating. And when you are in practice with me we are navigating through it together. (Don't worry I've got your every step of the way.)

Learning new ways to train your brain for mindfulness, shame resiliency, and breathing for stress management are all tools which need to be practiced in the small moments so they can be implemented in the big moments (where sh*t hits the fan) and you need those tools.