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Testimonials
"Practicing with Kim is an oasis in my responsibility-and stress-filled days. She brings light and peace with her into my home, and helps me achieve confidence and happiness in my practice through her articulate instruction, attention to alignment and enthusiastic support of my movement and my journey." Roxanne, 45, public relations executive, mother of two, has it going on
"I have been practicing yoga with Kim for over 5 years now. It began with vinyasa yoga which was a wonderful break from going to the gym. Kim helped me recover from ACL surgery and my husband recover from back surgery with strengthening and stretching sessions that were more therapy than yoga and demonstrated her extensive knowledge of the body. Over the past few years we did pre and post natal yoga through two pregnancies. Over the course of the past 5 years Kim has become a great friend who is always there to listen, offer a new perspective, and give advice on how to better take care of yourself."
Elizabeth, 31, interior design, world class mom
"Kim taught me that it was important to take time out of my busy schedule to breathe. The result was less pain and stress and finally an end to my sleepless nights." Amy, 35, author, artist, Renaissance woman
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Hello Friends,
Who isn't busy these days? My teacher Ethan Nichtern says, sometimes people seem like they're having a contest as to who is busier proceeded by all the apologies for not getting back to an email or a message sooner because, "I was just soooo busy". Well he didn't quite put it that way, I am leaving the toilet humor out. Here is a prime example; I was about to open this greeting with a sorry that this letter is a few days late because, well, I've been sooo busy.
This actually makes me laugh on so many levels:
One - most of you didn't notice .
Two - I have nothing to be sorry for. I didn't break a promise, hurt anyone, hurt myself, or have ill intentions.
Three - I could have had this letter out for the first of May, but I chose not to stress about it.
Take the time to prioritize what is important to you, what you need to do vs. what you like doing. You may find an imbalance you didn't suspect. Time is very valuable and the "busier" you get, the more you realize this. Take the time cultivating what feeds your soul. To what extent are you forgetting to see what's going on around you to even notice all that you have? Please take a look at the gratitude meditation practice I have offered in this newsletter.
It is not every day that a rainbow paints the sky. When you are awake to your life, it is every day you have the opportunity to see the miracles that are right in front of you. Please use the tab on the left (scroll down a bit) to forward this email to your friends. Could one conversation change your life? Find out by scheduling a consultation with me. We will discuss your unique situation in depth and determine how I can help you reach your health and life goals.
With light and love,
 
Please have a look at my fab new website www.kimstetz.com
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Flight Club Learning to Fly
To see rain 3 days in a row is unusual for LA in March. Even though I was on vacation, I didn't mind the rain.
Day 3 of my itinerary looked liked this: yoga, Khalsa (a healer), dinner with my super fun friend, and then ... shall we say ... a nightcap.
I was excited to be me! First thing in the morning, I went to
Yogis Anonymous
to take class with
Krista Cahill.
I had researched her classes and watched on YouTube what I was getting myself into.
I practice yoga, but not this flying stuff I was about to try. Some of these asanas will knock you off your asana. Out I went from Marina Del Rey where I was staying, to Santa Monica in the wind and rain to try and fly. This flying term is something that's been going around for a number of years though I'd never heard of it when I started practicing what seems like 100 years ago. "Flying" kind of looks more like gymnastic, but if you add some pranayama, Lulu Lemon wear, and a yoga mat, then it's called yoga.
About 10 minutes into class, I realized that I needed to work on my handstand game if you will. I can't count on it.* My hands feel like they are glued to the floor. Instead of trying to move my hands to gather balance, I flip over. I came to fly, not flip. Flipping I know all too well.
My handstand feels stagnant and stuck to me. I arrive and descend the same way. I lift one leg at time, left leg then right, try and find balance and then I am tired, and done. I thought I was in the habit of switching my kicking leg to balance out, but I have clearly favored one side for so many years and fatigued before I switched sides that the balance the sides thing out never happened. I do what is easiest and most likely to produce the results I want - a handstand I can hold. Huh, now there's something to look in to. This is why I practice yoga, for the life lessons. In this case I need to investigate what needs balancing in my life. What happens on my mat is what happens in my life off the mat. Lessons are learned on that sweaty, sticky mat. This is very exciting and only something that can be understood and felt by actually doing it.
There is no post yoga affects pill. Thank God!
*Side bar here, I don't need to count on my handstand. It's a handstand. Handstands are fun and playful and fatiguing and juicy and well, the list goes on. I take it in stride.*
I love to have fun in a yoga class. If I fall, I fall. Of course a mindful yogi notices her surroundings before she attempts a pose that has potential for going awry so that she doesn't kick someone in the head. We don't go to yoga class for that - to be kicked or to kick someone. Know you space upside down, too.
Gratitude to Krista Cahill, she has a new fan. The class sequencing flowed even when I floundered, and though the pace was faster than I've experienced in a long time, it felt good. I loved her play list - Led Zep and Bon Iver come to mind. Completely humbled, I went to her class again during my visit. Two great classes, great atmosphere, great teacher, I caught the bug to learn to fly.
Back in NYC where I live, my instincts told me to check out
Kula Yoga Project if I wanted to continue on this journey. Lo and behold on the class schedule I found Raghunath's Flight School. Luckily for me, he teaches classes at a time that works with my schedule. Woo hoo, flight school in the spring! Here I come!
Raghunath said I'd be flying in no time. Even if this isn't true, I am devoted to going to his class. Raghunath has a wonderful energy, makes me laugh and besides we all need a yoga teacher named Raghunath. Did I mention he plays the harmonium throughout class? So fun!!! Total dork yoga class humor here, but a phone was ringing, no less it was coming from his bag and he asked, "Who put their phone in my bag?" Many of the students in class are either teacher trainees or yoga teachers, so we all got a big chuckle out of that. Had to be there???
In learning to fly I've realized that I need to build my upper body strength in a big way. I've had shoulder injuries in the past, so I am being careful as to how I build up strength without reactivating my left rotator cuff injury from 8 years ago (my shoulder actually froze) and right AC joint about a year ago. I am listening carefully to my body and watching my will. Being the restorative yoga junkie that I am, going to flight school is helping me find balance by getting out of the house with my yoga practice, and trying some new poses on for size. The two practices couldn't be more polar and by uniting them, seeking balance, here it comes ... yoga.
I'm having so much fun, even if I'm not actually "flying" in class, I do float out after savasana. I am not yet a frequent flyer of this flight club, but I will be. Um, and this club we can talk about.
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Recipe of the Month: Raw Kale Salad via Jessica Hilton
1 lemon, cut in half and juiced
olive oil
sea salt
1 tablespoon honey (optional)
1 bunch kale, cut into ribbons
1/4 cup almonds, toasted (or your favorite nut raw or toasted)
1 apple, julienned (or mango or raisins)
Mix the lemon juice with several tablespoons of olive oil to make a simple vinaigrette.
Place the kale in a large bowl, sprinkle with sea salt and drizzle with half of the dressing. Using both hands, gently rub the dressing into the kale for about 2 minutes. You will notice that the kale turns deep green and becomes softer. Stir the honey into the remaining dressing. Add the nuts and apples to the kale. Drizzle with the remaining dressing to taste.
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Kula Corner
(kula = community of the heart)
OM Yoga's JOE MILLER Yes, yogis, Joe Miller! 
headstand variation in full lotus
KS: What style yoga do you teach? JM: OM Yoga KS: What pose are you into lately? JM: Urdhva dhanurasana (wheel pose) KS: Favorite retreat place? JM: Breitenbush Hotsprings KS: What did you have for lunch today? JM: Leftover cippino I made a couple days ago; kim chi from the farmer's market at Union Square; cheddar cheese also from the farmer's market KS: What time did you go to bed last night and what did you wear? JM: 11 o'clock and a sleep mask Joe was one of my teachers when I did the 200 hr teacher training program at Om Yoga. He is very much loved and respected by students for his direct but yet nurturing approach to teaching. When you want less chit chat and more yoga, his class is the class to attend. The New York Times gave Joe a shout out in this article, "In Yoga, Touch is for Teaching and Support". Joe is an anatomy pro and he shares his wealth of knowledge in his blog all about the physiology of yoga. If you would like to have the Joe Miller experience, you can find him on the schedule at OM Yoga, NYC. I highly recommend his classes! Namaste Joe! |
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Meditation Practice: Gratitude
yes, you have the time to do this reflection
Find a quiet place where you can sit quietly for 10 or more minutes. Use a timer for your practice. There are many apps available. I use Insight Timer app.
You may sit on a chair with the feet flat on the floor or if you can sit cross-legged on the floor comfortably then try that. It is important to make sure you're not struggling to sit comfortably. Zafu meditation cushions are great to have, sitting on firm pillow or thick sturdy blankets like you find in yoga studios are all good options. When sitting cross-legged, you want to be able to sit up tall, upright but not uptight. The knees slope down from the hips and the hands rest on the thighs with palms up or down. Imagine their is a string in your spine that is being drawn up towards the ceiling lifting the whole spine up. Check to see that you didn't take your shoulders up with you. Allow them to slide down your back on an exhale.
Now that you have taken your seat, check in with your mind. Ask yourself how you are doing in the present moment. Try not to dig too deeply here. You are seeing what the flavor of your mind feels like and leave it at that eg: I am tired, excited, anxious, OK, etc. Spend a few breaths with the flavor of the mind. Let that go and begin the contemplative practice of gratitude. Spend a couple of minutes with each suggested contemplation.
Reflections to contemplate:
1) What place am I grateful for? This could be your home, your bed, a mountain, an ocean. When choosing a place see it's colors and sounds.
2)Think of one person who has been kind to me am I grateful for.
3) What personal attribute about me am I grateful for?
4) The phrase "I am grateful for my beautiful life" or "I am grateful for my precious life"
Notice how you feel after these contemplations before ending your practice.
Generating gratitude towards others and self opens our hearts and minds. You may not feel anything and you may feel strong emotions. If strong emotions arise, bring awareness to where you feel the emotion in your body and breath with it. When it passes, and it will, allow the mind to rest with your breath, following inhale and exhale, feeling the breath in your body. Maybe in your abdomen or the tip of the nose. When the timer rings you may want to acknowledge your practice by placing the hands together at the heart and bowing to self and your teachers. This is an option and an offering for your practice. Meditation is recommended as a daily practice. You have the time.
For more teachings and pod casts on meditation, please check out
The IDProject.org
For establishing a daily practice Sharon Salzberg has written the insightful gift of Real Happiness The Power of Meditation.
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Celebrating Me
Kim Stetz is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, AADP, Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher and meditation teacher.Her dedication to health and wellness comes from her passion for yoga and nutritious food. From the very first time she stepped on a yoga mat in 1992, she knew her life was about to take the path less traveled. Kim received her nutrition training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. Kim's meditation teachings are of Buddhist lineage and studied with The Interdependance Project sangha. Kim has yoga certifications from OM Yoga, Yoga For Two The Barnes Method (pre/postnatal), Relax and Renew Judith Hansen Lasater, and Anatomy Studies For Yoga Teachers with Jason R. Brown. Gravitating towards the healing aspects of yoga from the inside out, Kim teaches Hatha Yoga through a mixture of creative and challenging vinyasas, practiced with flow and grace while bringing mindfulness to alignment and the breath. She has guided many women through their pregnancies in classes, privately, and in couples yoga. Her strong background and training in therapeutics lends diversity to clients who are recovering from injuries or in need of healing. She has been blessed with students for eleven years since moving to NYC from LA in 2000. Her personal practice developed under the guidance of Anthony Benenati City Yoga, LA. Kim is thankful for his guidance and the many other gifted yoga and meditation teachers that have shared their knowledge and courage. Kim believes that yoga is a way of life that can be embraced by getting into the nooks and crannies of your heart, body, and mind. Sit, breathe, smile on the inside and eat your greens! Namaste |
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