Mariah Sunshine Yoga

Happy holidays, yogis and friends! The darkest night of the year approaches this week during our on 12/21. This day represents a seasonal shift and hardships coming to a blessed end. If you’ve been struggling with seasonal depression, aching under the pressure of holiday traditions, or yearning to find space for wellness amidst all the chaos, I have space for you 💕

In addition to my “not so happy holidays” gentle yoga class on the solstice, I’ll be offering a wellness accountability challenge in the New Year.

This program offers you a chance to jumpstart your wellness after the holidays within a kind community of accountability. Participants will receive 20 sunrise virtual yoga sessions (and recordings) as well chances to win additional supports & prizes 💃 If your heart is calling for that seasonal shift into wellness, comment, DM, or check the link in my bio for more details!

How will you take care of yourself through the end of the year? ⬇️

As the holidays approach I am continuing to offer virtual yin and my upcoming Not-So-Happy Holidays yoga / sound immersion for grief, loss, and trauma this season. See below for a little snippet of last week’s (well attended! 😄) yin practice. I look forward to holding space for all of you and helping you bolster your wellness into the new year ❤️‍🩹 DM for details or check out my website (link in bio)

I’ve got classes scheduled again!! Eeeek! 🤪 I’m so excited that I could practically cry.

This coming week, I’ve got 3 offerings for you:

Virtual Vin to Yin (workout flow to deep stretch) on Sunday at 2:30 PM

Virtual Sunrise Power Flow on Tuesday at 6:00 AM 🫠

& IN PERSON Thanksgiving Gratitude Flow at 9:00 AM on Turkey Day itself! This flow is FREE, though canned good donations for MUST ministries are encouraged.

If you’re ready to sign up, check out my website (link in bio) for pricing and registration. If you’ve got questions feel free to comment below👇 or DM me!

What’s this? It’s a sneak peek of my first video! This specific video is catered to those seeking out a deep, full body stretch while being extra mindful of pre-existing shoulders injuries / nurturing the cervical spine.

This video is just one of many to come as I update my schedule and begin to build my healing video library. I’ll begin offering some virtual classes as soon as next week (and in person classes before the end of the month), so stay tuned!

Is it artsy or does the lighting just suck? (Both 😉) fun hooping sequence with and my Lyra babes this AM. My elbow and knee pits will be purple soon, but my heart will remain full 💪🧘‍♀️

Vulnerable post warning; if you’re not in the mood, keep scrolling.

Do. It. Scared. I’ve had many people tease me about how I’m always “so cheerful” or “so energetic.” What they don’t realize is live most of my life as an exhausted, anxious mess, and I am terrified of most things I do. My motto in life is to “make everybody feel like somebody” because I know how awful it feels to be ignored or berated. After years of being invisible, I decided I’d rather jump headfirst into new and scary adventures than spend one more second feeling like my life didn’t matter. And now I put much of my energy into making others feel seen, appreciated, and valued.

Not many know that I almost quit Lyra several times into starting the sport. It was so so difficult, and I struggled with embracing my heavy imperfections. However, the day that almost broke me involved condescension from others. I took a beginner class that had somehow filled up with advanced students. I couldn’t do some of the moves, and I sought encouragement from my peers. “Guys, this is so hard - will I ever get better at this?” One of my peers responded with a sarcastic “sure.” I then heard the rest of my peers quietly making fun of me and my lack of strength for the rest of class - all while uplifting each other for being so skilled.

I almost never went back after that day - but then I remembered my personal motto, and I reminded myself that true kindness has to start with my treatment of myself.

Today I experienced more of this icy, judgmental treatment. I wish I could say it doesn’t hurt me anymore, but I am a highly sensitive person. However, after years of growth I have decided to use this to light my fire instead of smother it. I will continue to advocate for the voiceless, and I refuse to be an active part of any communities that continually shut me out. We all deserve to be seen, encouraged, valued, and loved - skilled or not, “impressive” or not.

**ktheiropinion

I’ve been struggling with frequent illness lately. I’ve always struggled with stress & sinus issues (they seem to go hand in hand), but it’s been awhile since sinus gunk plagued me so frequently. I am trying so so so hard not to return to previous triggers & unhelpful coping mechanisms. I am trying to appreciate the current moment instead of obsessing over the next one. I won’t lie, it’s been really tough & I still often relapse into an anxious ball of confusion. But I am stronger than this situation.

I see the concrete result of this positive change in my yoga practice. Despite having (very mildly) sprained my ankle, feeling congested & fatigued & generally overwhelmed, I still managed to land my highest flying pigeon yet. When gratitude and surrender collide with asana, beautiful things can happen.

To address Jinx’s recent diagnoses (severe oral infection & a relapse of her malignant breast cancer tumors) I started making her fresh breath treats to go alongside her prescription medications. Check out this vid to see how I made them and watch both my pups enjoy them 🐶

Today has been a rough day for my mental health. I suffered a relapse in some old coping mechanisms, and the consequences of my poor choices very quickly bit me in the butt. I’ve been wanting to open up more about my mental illness and the ways in which it affects my daily life, and I’ve decided today is the day I finally begin to speak out about what my illness really looks like. I know I am only one of many, many others out there who struggle with anxious brains - but I’d also love to share all the positive coping mechanisms I’ve picked up along my journey. You are not alone. 💕

Yesterday I taught -by far- the most unusual yoga class I’ve ever experienced! My husband tested positive for Covid Thursday night but I tested negative (3 times) and didn’t exhibit symptoms. Suddenly, Saturday morning I awoke feeling like I’d been pummeled by a freight train 🚂 I finally tested positive and, with two hours till my Saturday classes, had no idea how to obtain coverage. All our other teachers were (understandably) booked, so our solution was this: put me into a tiny little iPad screen & a loud speaker and see what happens in studio. Several yogis still showed up and completed some outstanding, grounded flows. We even managed to complete the restorative class after!

yogis, I have missed you dearly! I am both saddened and grateful for how hard life has hit me lately - between Easter festivities, the passing of a family friend (and a long overdue need for reconciliation), my trip to Asheville with my amazing sister, & now this illness. Life comes with highs and lows, and all I can do right now is ride out the storm in awe.

I know I promised many of you that I would be in to teach this Monday, I was so looking forward to seeing you all again. Please know there is no other group of yogis that I would do this crazy virtual teaching stunt for, and I can’t wait to see you all again in June! I have cancelled my upcoming trip, so I won’t be out much this summer. ☀️

Also, major kudos to for challenging me to teach without needing to demo. All my students said that (even though they really couldn’t see me) it was just like I was there and it did not inhibit their practices.

Getting groovy at with the amazing and the other L2 babes today! I’m so impressed by this space’s capacity and can’t wait to be back for more. I may even be brave and try soon… 😈