Lila is lululemon's Studio of the Month!
Check it out! Lila is lululemon's studio of the month. Swing by their storefront in the old port, check out their great yoga and running gear, and get yourself a free pass to Lila!! What a deal! All month long lululemon invites you to join all of us at Lila East End Yoga for complimentary yoga classes. There will be two classes offered every Saturday and you will have your choice of either: an 8:00-9:00 AM Expanding class or a 9:30-10:30 AM Foundations class with Genell. Simply go to the showroom prior to the class (sometime before Saturday) to pick up your class pass!
Below is an interview I had with lulu.
Who are you and how did you find yourself here in Portland with Lila East End Yoga?
I am passionate for the change of seasons, feeling the sun on my face and for connecting with people in meaningful ways. I love kale, ripe mangos in tropical places, and smelling the salty air near the rocky coast. I love moving, playing hard, and seeing others smile. And, most recently, I am a soon to be momma.
I first moved to Portland from Mount Desert Island for a job focused on youth development. Within weeks of moving to Portland, I was led to The Yoga Exchange on Exchange Street. I kept up with youth development work for over 5 years, eventually moving on to start the very first all girls wilderness camp for The Chewonki Foundation. All along, yoga remained a staple in my life, and The Yoga Exchange a refuge. It was just last year that I began having conversations with the owner of The Yoga Exchange and learned of her move and want to pass on the torch. With much gratitude for the offering, I took the leap of faith and make a big transition to a become studio owner.
The practice of yoga has been inspiring my life for over a decade through movement, intention, focus, awareness, reflection, and bliss. I was naturally drawn to Anusara Yoga, a heart centered practice that offers a playful, uplifting, and alignment focused asana. I’ve studied with awe inspiring Anusara certified teachers Desiree Rumbaugh, Mitchel Bleier, Sienna Sherman, Marc St. Pierre, Noah Mazé, Sue Elkind, and founder John Friend.
In 2006 I completed a 200 hour registered Yoga Alliance Teacher Training course at Saraswati’s Yoga Joint, in Norwalk, Connecticut, organized and led by internationally known teacher, Mitchel Bleier, and studio owners Donna Jackson and Tracy Bleier. This training resonated with my teaching philosophy, embracing the idea that we learn best when we understand the reason why. The training focused on giving teachers the skills to think, act, and respond to what is being presented in front of them, teaching in a way that honors the students needs in the room. To do this, teachers are asked to be accountable, aware of alignment, and really understand the foundations and actions of each asana. Through this delicate and detailed understanding, I was able to watch my own practice, and those around me, grow to new levels.
Yoga has provided a platform to futher explore my relationship with myself, my community, and the natural world around. I believe in the practice involving and evolving into more than just asanas (physical postures). The keen awareness, appreciation, joy, and respect that is cultivated through the poses and meditation is carried with me off my mat. Whether it is exploring the wilderness, surfing on the coast, biking on a brilliant sunny day, or planting in my garden, I see the beauty in the natural gifts that surround us and embrace life with zeal. I am thrilled to be able to continue to offer the Portland community a space to practice and collectively celebrate our innate, playful, spirited selves, through movement.
What was the inspiration behind your space?
As a student practicing in the space, I felt such a deep sense of growth, support, and community, and I wanted that feeling to be shared with everyone as the studio evolved. Through the transition, I found it important to have the space come together with a collective vision. With the support and visioning of a phenomenal team of teachers, we came up with the following vision for the space.
We are rooted in these beliefs:
We are all whole
We are all connected by the breath; the breath is our life force
Yoga is for everyone; we all deserve to feel ultimate health and bliss
The practice of yoga has healing, therapeutic values
Yoga from the inside out; moving into asanas begins with awareness and attitude from the inside
Proper alignment leads t o ultimate expansion & long term health of the mind, body, and spirit
We are all students, continually growing and evolving
Practicing and living with intention both on and off our mats leads to a deeper experience
Recognition of our own inner beauty allows us to recognize beauty in all that surrounds us
The practice of yoga in community is fun, playful, and supportive
Joy is contagious
These words are posted in the studio on a painted blackboard up in the front of the space, helping to hold the vision alive.
In addition, I also wanted to be sure that the studio functioned in a way that really reflected the practice of yoga and its interconnectedness to all living things and life. That translated to me to run at business that is environmentally responsible, drawing the lessons of yoga off the mat. Here is the message that is posted on our website about being living responsibly.
Eco-friendly Roots:
We are committed to supporting a yoga community where the practice of yoga is intentional both on and off our mats. We care about your health, the health of future generations, and the health of our planet. Our walls are covered with no-emission paint, our cleaning products are non-toxic, our paper materials are made of recycled materials, and all our props are purchased from Manduka, whose Green mission and eco-conscious products align with Lila’s intention to support a healthy, sustainable community.
What type of yoga do you teach at Lila?
Lila’s classes are offered in a supportive and creative environment that combines clear and refined instructions with an upbeat, balanced, and safely challenging vinyasa flow. The key term vinyasa literally means to intentionally place oneself in a special way through the linking of movement with breath. We welcome and encourage all levels of students to listen to their own inner voice and practice at their own pace.
Our teachers instruct with authenticity and come with a variety of rich yoga traditions. The classes offer intelligent alignment for a safe, playful, and empowering practice; we believe optimal foundation leads to optimal expansion.
What kinds of classes do you have on your schedule?
Our class schedule consists of three main types of classes: Foundations (beginners), Mixed Flow (all levels welcome), Expanding (intermediate/advanced). In addition, we also have pre and post natal offerings and special workshop offerings.
Foundations: Our Foundations class is for beginner and ongoing students who would like to focus on refining basic postures and breath work while building strength, flexibility, and awareness. In this class you will learn proper and intelligent alignment in the basic foundation of postures. From this foundation, you will learn to cultivate both inner and outer expansiveness, and find the joy in movement. We believe everyone can benefit from learning proper alignment as it leads to ultimate expansion.
Mixed Flow: This upbeat practice allows a fluid flow of movement linked with breath. The vinyasa practice becomes a moving meditation that creates strength, freedom and fluidity in the body and mind. All levels are welcome to join this vigorous, playful, and reflective practice. Some prior yoga experience is recommended, though options for modifying postures are given to allow everyone to work at their own ability level.
Expanding: Students in this class will dive deeper into the bliss of practice with more advanced poses that require more strength, focus, control of breath, and flexibility. Postures may include: backbends, inversions, arm balances, and deeper twists. For your safety, we encourage you to check in with the teacher if you are new to joining us in this practice.
Do you have to be flexible to come to yoga classes that aren't heated?
No, you do not have to be flexible. Though we are not a “heated” studio, we do have heatJ And, our bodies create quite a bit of their own heat once we get moving. It is not long before all students are stripping down to t.shirts and tank tops.
How much heat you experience is somewhat left up to you in your own practice… it becomes a personal question of engagement. With muscle energy and hugging in, your body naturally creates the heat it needs to safely open, loosen, and stretch your muscles.
We welcome all levels of students… even if you can’t touch your toes.
How should you prepare for your first yoga class? (Food, water, stretching)
First is to acknowledge that we all were beginners at one time or another, and, start with giving yourself a pat on the back for your willingness to try something new.
Since there is a lot of movement, especially movement of the head moving below the heart, it is advised to not eat anything an hour or so before the class as well as stay hydrated throughout the day before coming to class.
What to Expect at the studio:
Each class and each teacher is unique, however, there are common class protocols for all classes.
Arrive about 5-10 minutes early to sign in, take off your shoes off and settle in by setting up your mat and collecting any props (blocks, blankets, straps or pillows), if needed. We encourage you to connect with your neighbors and get to know the yoga community. Most teachers start with a centering to prepare you mentally for the practice and to set the tone of the class.
Your teacher will give the class general instructions about a pose, and they may also give you individual instructions to enhance your practice. They may even physically adjust your body while you are in the pose, to help you better understand the actions and movements of the pose.
The classes usually end with a brief period of relaxation or meditation.
What should you wear to a class at your studio?
Wear something that you feel comfortable in… clothing with stretch is advisable. Leggings or shorts, t.shirts, tank tops. The studio temperature is set at 80 degrees in the winter months, but, can take a bit of time to get up to that temp. I would suggest wearing layers so that you can find the perfect temperature for your body.
If you could have dinner with one Yogi in the world, who would it be and why?
My first Anusara teacher, Mary Kate Murray, to thank her for her guidance. She inspired me towards this heart-centered practice (Anusara Yoga), led me to The Yoga Exchange, and continues to leave an imprint when I think of those teachers who have helped shape my practice.
What is your personal favorite way to sweat?
Long distance trail running in the fall.
What is your favorite song to sweat to? (If you like to listen to music when you sweat/practice)
An all time favorite, one that helped inspire the longest hold in handstand – Hide & Seek by Imogen Heap. A steady sweat favorite – Sweet Tides by Thievery Corporation.