Some Fun Changes Over Here!

If things have seemed a little quiet lately, that’s because…well, they have been. I’ve shared about this before, but several years ago I came to a crossroads with Curvy Yoga. My plate was so full — in wonderful ways, but even too much of great things can become too much, and I knew (because I’d been there before!) that I could either quit or drastically change.

So what I did was pull back, try to find the middle ground between overwhelm and quitting (not easy for me!). I assessed the sweet spot between what I thought I did best, what y’all asked for most, and what was of benefit to the most people. Thus you find the streamlined Curvy Yoga experience you see today: teacher training and the online studio.

All of these changes didn’t just happen in the business, though. They also happened in my own life in major ways. I began to more fully realize what was important to me and what I wanted my life to look like. Nic and I have both restructured our work and lives through this process, including moving from Nashville to Portland last fall.

Finding a New Path

If I had to sum up my learning the past few years it would be this: I can trust my own path. What I mean is that once I’d reorganized the business to be less stressful, I had no idea what was next. At first, I was relatively comfortable with that. I thought, “It’s fine! It’s only been a few months. Something will come!” I kept saying that as six months passed, then a year, and then things started to get uncomfortable.

But even though I didn’t always love it, I kept waiting — with varying amounts of patience and existential dread. And listening — to you and myself. And observing — our students and my own practice. And more and more time passed. More than three years. Wayyyyy past my comfort level.

If I had to sum up another of my biggest lessons, this one from nearly 20 years of yoga practice, it would be this: practice is ebb and flow. And so is life. I think I knew that on one level before I nearly burnt out, but I’ve learned it on an entirely new one the past few years — particularly that when one portion of the ebb and flow lasts much (much!) longer than I’m comfortable with, that doesn’t mean that’s where I’ll be for the rest of my life.

So if I put these big lessons together, it would be this: The path is ebb and flow, and I can trust it. Curvy Yoga has its own path, so do I, and so do you. And as things ebb and flow, you need different support.

Introducing: Liz!

That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to Liz Eskridge, our new Curvy Operations Officer! Liz was a student in the very first Yoga Teacher Training I lead back in 2013. Since then, she has assisted and co-taught that program with me five times. She was also the Studio Manager of Curvy Yoga Nashville when we had a local studio. Needless to say, no one knows more about Curvy Yoga — possibly not even me! Those of you who already know her and have spent time with her know what a gem and true light she is. And for the rest of you, I can’t wait for you to get to know her! She is one of my very favorite people, and you can expect to see her popping up here, on social media, and in our programs.

Through all these lessons about path, we’ve realized a few things: (1) Curvy Yoga has grown so much since 2010, and we now have students at all stops along both the yoga and body acceptance paths, (2) That we can do a better job helping you get to the resources you need depending on where you are on your own path, and that (3) We really want to grow the off-the-mat conversations because, I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of much that the world needs more right now than embodied people who have the ability to use the awareness skills of yoga and the listening skills of body acceptance to show up in the world and contribute to making it what they want it to be.

What’s Next

So over the next few months, here’s what you can expect to see from us:

• • An exciting new tool for discovering where you are on your own yoga and body acceptance paths — and Curvy Yoga resources to support you exactly where you are

 

• • A new branch of Curvy Yoga called Curvy Life, where we’ll explore practice off the mat (think blog posts, podcast episodes, social media, and more!)

 

• • Satellite locations for our 200hr Yoga Teacher Training: you’ve been asking for more, and you’re getting it! In the past we’ve only been able to accommodate nine students per year, so we’re thrilled to be able to open the doors to more soon!

 

• • Hearing more from our teachers and their experiences — did you know we have over 400 Curvy Yoga teachers around the world now? Incredible!

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  • And more! I mean, we have to keep some surprises in our back pockets.

 

Liz and I are so excited about this next phase of Curvy Yoga. Whether you’ve been with us for one day or from Day One, I am grateful for you! This community has created something beautiful together, and I know that is just going to continue in both expanded and new forms.

Here’s to all of us grabbing life by the curves and following our own curvy paths (because you know they’re always curvy!).

Xo
Anna & Liz

p.s. The pictures of Liz and I above are from our local studio in Nashville, Curve Camp, and Yoga Teacher Training.  

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