Union Yoga

As we prepare to open our new physical location, we wanted to take a moment to honor the history of Union Yoga.

Our owner and founder, Rex, came to yoga in times of struggle from addiction and discovered the healing quality of yoga and teaching. After years of teaching in yoga studios throughout San Diego, he noticed that there was little effort to make yoga and wellness accessible to those who struggle with addiction and mental health. He met his then partner who had also struggled with a behavioral health disorder. They, very early in their careers, planted the seed that one day they would make a yoga studio that spoke to this issue. They created a business model for a yoga studio that could serve the populations they knew needed wellness the most.

Over several years, Union Yoga took root into two different physical, business locations as well as many virtual and outdoor locations across the world before settling in Pacific Beach; where Rex’s yoga journey first began.

Our story is the foundation for why we do what we do. We can’t wait to share our growth with you!

We have a huge announcement to share with you all...

We will be opening our new location in Pacific Beach at 2710 Garnet Ave.

We are so excited to continue to practice trauma sensitive yoga in our new, physical location. Although there are many new things in the works at Union Yoga, our mission still remains the same: to bring high quality yoga and further yoga education at a tiered and fair price.

Stay tuned for more information regarding our new physical location, reopening date, and membership.

We can’t wait to share our practice with you.

Something amazing about yoga is that it is created for EVERY body. The same pose can look very different in each person, yet the benefits are powerful in all.

This gets to be an art and science that is unique to you, yet still unifying. Isn’t that amazing?

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Happy Halloween! 🎃

Did you sit a lot today? Work on a computer? Text? Drive?

Give yourself a few breaths in a heart opener and allow the gentle motion of spinal extension to counteract the negative effects of common day-to-day activities.

What is your favorite heart opener?

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In a world where we are receiving devastating news so quickly and so often, don’t forget to be kind — you never know what someone else is going through or trying to process. And you—don’t forget about you. You deserve your kindness, compassion, and love too.

If you need support reach out to friends and family, or use the crisis hotline by calling or texting 988 OR using their online chat 🙏🏽 You don’t have to process life alone 💙

Ragdoll, a variation of Uttanasana (forward fold) is so good for releasing tension in the low back, lengthening the spine, relaxing into the neck and shoulders, and is an overall calming posture.

Next time you’re in class hanging in a forward fold, acknowledge the myriad of benefits that comes with it!

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A study found on the National Library of Medicine shared their findings that those who practiced yoga regularly had better sleep quality, took less time to fall asleep, less use of sleep medications, and were generally more rested and energetic in the morning upon waking!

Good quality sleep is a, if not the, foundation of a healthy and balanced life. Try one of our yin yoga classes from the comforts of your home (they are livestreamed) to begin to feel the effects!

Happy Monday!

3 tips to start the week off strong:
1. Move your body
2. Drink plenty of water (it’s officially hot in SD!)
3. Smile at a stranger

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Feels like a good day to open the hips and open the heart! This pose demonstrated by is a beautiful asana to expand into the body after a long day of sitting, working, driving, texting, reading…anything really 🤩

Who else absolutely loves this pose?

The Yoga Sutras are a foundational text in understanding the practice of yoga at its roots.

The very first yoga sutra states: atha yoga-anuśāsanam

Atha – now

Υοga – union, from the root yuj meaning to join or to integrate

Anu – within or following a tradition

Shasanam – discipline, training, instruction, practice

Bringing us to: “Now the Teachings of Yoga Begin.”

An extremely simple and powerful sentence to begin this beautifully straightforward text. "Atha" also has the meaning of an auspicious beginning. Even more powerful!

What does this sutra encourage you to do personally?

There are many lessons in the yoga sutras...should we explore more of them together?

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And Rex's #3 tool to help with stressful times: Yin Yoga Front Line Openers!

"I am quite an anxious person, and when I am met with more anxiety I tend to run away and seclude. I tend to curl up and hunch over. This makes it difficult to breathe and my intercostal muscles become tight. I stop looking up at peoples faces, because it becomes both physically and emotionally vulnerable. This is where I consciously try to open more my front line fascia, (Tom Myers , Anatomy Trains), which runs from your tongue, down to the tops of your feet. It includes your throat, heart, lungs, belly, psoas, quad, and shin muscles.
It's the front of myself that unconsciously starts to close off, and so when I am by myself, alone in my home, my asana practices tend to Yin Yoga for my front line."

Our teachers are currently offering Yin Yoga virtually. This is a great way to try out this powerful practice from the comfort of your own home. Let us know how it makes you feel!

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Continuing with Rex's 3 favorite practices to release stress, we've got #2: Hot Sauna Baths!

Rex shares that "in Japan sauna bathing is ubiquitous. I don't think I've even met a Japanese person who does not sauna bathe. It is speculated that it's why the overall Japanese health and life longevity is how it is. Famously well, and long into the 100s."

One of Rex's goals with Union Yoga is to have a sauna to incorporate into the wellness routine of our members. It will happen!

Who shares the same love of saunas as Rex?!

Feeling a little anxious or overwhelmed lately? We caught up with Rex and asked him for a few of his favorite practices in times of stress. Over the next few posts we will share his go-to practices to find balance and peace amidst whatever life throws.

"I am quite an anxious person. My favorite practice that I do to rebalance my nervous system [is Bhramari's Breath]. Both in emergency pinches, from stuck in traffic to grieving a death. I also supplement it to asana practice, and teach it regularly before, during, and after asana. Because of the long exhale it stimulates our parasympathetic nervous system, the side of our nervous system that calms us down and allows rest and grounding."

Bhramari Breath, or humming bees breath, uses a unique hand placement to internalize the humming and vibrations of your exhale, and sloooow your exhales. Have you ever tried it?

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“Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

This is your reminder to be here, now 🙏🏽

Hello friends! Rex wanted to share some updates and say hello to everyone on here, and remind you that we are so thankful for you 🙏🏽

"It has been some time and a lot has happened. Our new yoga studio on 5th Ave has been under repairs, and to say that I am sad is an understatement.
But new opportunities are on the horizon and we're excited to get back in studio soon.

The majority of my time the past 2 months has been dedicated to doing my due diligence in a legal matter. The rest I have been searching for our new yoga home in case this one does not reopen. I can't say too much about it now, but I can say there are amazing spaces that are available.

I have been also working with an incredible lady named Joann. The owner of OG yoga. I am to apprentice under her for the next two years and learn how she built her business. I haven't had a meeting with Joann yet where I have not felt emotionally cracked open and have teared up. In some meetings I have full blown cried. I am feeling so fortunate to have connected with her, and It's been a long time coming. Look out for new connections between Union Yoga and OG Yoga very soon. We have some fun plans ;)

Many don't know that I have been personally training my body since I was 17, lifting weights, and practicing calisthenics.
In the past 6 years, since I'd started rock climbing, I got more serious about lifting and have become educated on the latest literature and research on weight lifting and calisthenics.
Along with my usual yoga teaching and practice, I have been really very much enjoying hitting new personal records on lifts. My body is changing a lot. And it's helping my stay grounded and dispell a lot of anxiety from this challenging time for Union Yoga.

My yoga classes have felt amazing this summer. The jokes are flying, the sun is shining, and it is jovial and exciting outside.
I love teaching yoga now as much as I ever have. I feel my words ringing true, and my breath connected with my students.

Please come see me at the beach! Come see me on your phone or computer!

You'll hear from me again soon. And I hope with a BIG update on our physical yoga studio.

A Harvard Health article shared that yoga is not just good for mental health, but but it can actually help make your brain work better!

Studies have shown improved cognitive skills, memory, awareness, mood, and even some relief from PTSD symptoms in those regularly practicing yoga!

Yoga and meditation are proving more and more to be wonderful add-on practices to traditional mental health treatments.

If these topics interest you, try out a class! Or join Rex for his weekly YTT inquiry meetings Sundays at 1:30pm on Zoom. You can sign up for classes or Sunday meetings on MBO (link in bio), or email [email protected] 🙏🏽

Classes on Tuesday, 4th of July, are cancelled! Regular scheduled programming on all the other days 🤩 Have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend 🙏🏽

Save this to refer to when looking for our outdoor classes! Link to register in our bio 🔆

As you begin to get more busy during the summer, keep up with your yoga practice with all of our online options! Practice with us from anywhere 🙌🏽 Check our schedule for all our virtual offerings, and pre-register to receive the link!

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Happy International Day of Yoga & Summer Solstice ☀️ We wish you a beautiful and abundant season ahead!

The sun is reintroducing itself these days, and it’s bringing a new excitement to our outdoor classes!

Come outside and join us at a variety of parks throughout SD — check out schedule to see where we are 🙂

For those times when someone says yoga is “just stretching” 🤪.

The body benefits a lot from our asana practice, but the depths of yoga go far beyond that.

Do you agree?!

While our physical indoor space is currently not able to be used, we are feeling more connected to our mission than ever before 🤩.

Our goal is to bring inclusive and trauma-sensitive yoga to the community, and also to hospitals, rehab centers, schools, and more. Our sights have always been bigger than our studio space, and we stay committed to seeing that through.

Thank you to those joining us for park classes in our humbling endless winter in San Diego 😆! Now with the sun peeking through on occasion we are excited for warmer days and great flows with you all!

Is there a park you’d like to see us at? Leave a comment and let us know!

If your mind feels a little cluttered today…

Stop scrolling and take a deep breath.

As you inhale, think “this is my inhale…”

And as you exhale, think “this is my exhale…”

Continue slowly, and repeat as needed to quiet down your mind and find some ease within your body 🙏🏽

Ytt info session every Sunday 1:30pm!

Yoga Teacher Training is not just a training to learn to teach. It is a place you create life long friendships, a supportive environment where you work on yourself and process what has led you here.

Union’s teacher training combines science and spirituality, and uniquely shares this practice through a trauma-sensitive lens.

Sign up for our virtual info session every Sunday, or reach out to [email protected]

Thank you and .in for this graphic!

Even though mental health awareness month is only May, this is an every day journey for many.

Save these reminders for a rainy day 🙏🏽

May is and this week specifically is

Check in on your friends and know that someone’s struggles are not always visible in a way you’d expect. Be a compassionate human and remember that you never know what someone else is going through 💚

Thank you for these graphics!!

A google search of “free mental health services” and “mental health hotline San Diego” will connect you with phone numbers and resources to reach out to receive immediate care 🙏🏽

A unique and powerful 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training led by Rex Villena and supporting staff members will begin this summer! If you’ve ever thought about taking a YTT, send an email to [email protected] to inquire if our program is the right fit for you 🙂

“We all are so deeply interconnected; we have no option but to love all." - Amit Ray

In times of peace and balance and contentment, this can be an easy concept to grasp. It is in times of hardship, conflict, and sadness that our practice really begs us to do just that ... practice it.

It doesn't need to mean being passive and taking 💩 from others, but rather acknowledging that we are at different places in our practice. That we are still a part of the web of life together, but we are in different stages of learning our lessons. From there we can approach resolution with our hearts open and our minds compassionate.

It is all a practice. You do your best until you know better, and then you do better. In the end we are all in this together, and together we will go so much farther than alone.

How are you feeling today?

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