I could tell you a lot of things about me, but probably the most important thing I can share with you is that I feel really at ease in my own skin, and it wasn't always like that. I've been practicing yoga since my senior year at Barnard College. I used to struggle with anxiety, depression, debilitating migraines and body image issues. I used to be attracted to people who couldn't love me in a way that felt good. I used to be attached to stories about how things should be, or how people should behave or what other people should do, say, want, need or feel. Life is not like that anymore. Yoga is not a magic bullet, it's a process of discovering what is really true about you, and a letting go of anything that isn't. It's an art form that teaches you how to listen deeply not just to your own intuition, but to the people in your life, without gripping the steering wheel with your sticky fingers, white-knuckling your way through it all. It's an acceptance of the impermanence of everything, in a way that inspires you to live each day fully and to love with your whole heart. Not everything in my life is perfect. I have faced some real heartbreak along the way, as we all have. I've lived enough and seen enough to know better than to use phrases like, "everything happens for a reason." Some things just happen, and our job is to rise up and grow beauty from whatever it is life puts in our path, and sometimes that is really, really hard. Everything good, real and true in my life, everything that flows and is fulfilling and rewarding comes directly out of my yoga practice, and it is one of my greatest joys to share the tools, ideas and practices that have helped me create a life I love. I'm a mom with two kids and an amazing husband. This site is my third child, and I'm thrilled you've joined me and this incredible group of teachers I'm so privileged to know and share with you. Every teacher on this site is passionate, down-to-earth and committed to her and his yoga practice. Everyone here wants to share, support you and inspire you to keep unrolling your mat, even on the days when it's tough. Especially on those days! If you like some reading along with your asana practice, I've written two books, "Open Randomly: Fortune Cookies for the Soul" and "Yoga's Healing Power: Looking Inward for Change, Growth and Peace", both available on Amazon, Book Depository, and wherever books are sold. If things go well, my third book will be finished soon. I'm very hands-on with the site, and if you have any questions, need some guidance, or simply want to connect with me, please reach out!
By Ally Hamilton on Apr 25, 2024
Join me for a full-body awakening flow with some fun twists and turns so you can practice for them off the mat as well ;) Plenty of hip, hamstring and shoulder opening along with core strengthening so we can play with arm balances like koundinyasana 1 and dwi pada, and inversions including tripod headstand and handstand variations. The theme is listening to your body and your intuition, the best guides when you're dealing with twists and turns!
By Ally Hamilton on Apr 15, 2024
If you're looking for a delicious all-over feel-good flow, you've come to the right place. Lots of shoulder, hip, hamstring and heart-opening along with core strengthening and time to play upside down. Long holds in pigeon and variations on pigeon, and a nice wide straddle forward fold. Deep, mindful breath and movement to soothe what ails you, and a very sweet savasana to send you gliding into your day.
By Ally Hamilton on Apr 8, 2024
Hello friends! This is a practice for times when you really want to slow down, breathe consciously, and open every major muscle group deeply. The pace is slow and steady. This is not a heat-building class, it's a class that's about grounding, calming the nervous system and feeling really good in your body. If you've had a tough day and/or if you're struggling with anxiety or insomnia, or you need something during your cycle, this is for you. Enjoy xx
By Ally Hamilton on Apr 2, 2024
Friends, this is a dynamic, nonstop flow full of heat-building and deep breathing, standing balance, arm balances, inversions, backbends, core strengthening and lots of long, stretchy, juicy holds so we can use all that heat to open deeply. If you want to flow and glow, this is for you. Enjoy!
By Ally Hamilton on Mar 25, 2024
Do you ever feel like a flow that just feels good everywhere? That's what I was in the mood for, so that's the class I taught :) Delicious hip, hamstring and shoulder opening, active or restorative backbends depending on your energy level, just the right amount of meaningful core work, and options for legs-up-the-wall or handstand variations. You decide what you need! Plenty of options to turn the heat up or down. Whichever way you go, it's gonna feel good. Enjoy, my yogis!
By Ally Hamilton on Mar 18, 2024
Do you ever think about what it would feel like to be a grasshopper with no thoughts about growth mindset? You'd just be hopping along as your little grasshopper self, and your biggest concern would be enjoying your next leaf. We humans could take a page or two out of the grasshopper school of life manual, and if you join me for this class we'll talk about the sickness of constant comparing and contrasting, and the calm that ensues when you learn to find contentment through the little things. Grab a couple of blocks in case you want them!
By Ally Hamilton on Mar 6, 2024
Hello yogis! You know those days when you feel totally depleted, either physically or mentally or sometimes both? Yeah, this practice is for those days! If you need to decompress, soothe your nervous system, breathe deeply and get a nice deep stretch, this is for you. This is also a great evening practice, or post-run or hike. The only moment of "work" here is some very deep core engagement (with or without a resistance band) and I do mean just a moment. I felt the need for that deep strengthening with a lot of chill around it :) Hope you enjoy.
By Ally Hamilton on Feb 27, 2024
We get to the heat-building early and once we're warm we use the heat to deeply open the hips and hamstrings. Have no fear because your core is also going to get attention, along with your shoulders so we can play with twisty arm balances like koundinyasana 1 and dwi pada if you're feeling frisky. Two blocks and an open mind are all you need! Enjoy, yogis.
By Ally Hamilton on Feb 20, 2024
Oh hi friends! This is an all-over feel-good flow where we build some nice heat throughout. I even snuck in a little yogasculpt so please have two blocks handy! The hips, hamstrings and shoulders get lots of love. You'll find targeted core work as well. We will use the heat and the strong core to play with some twists, arm balances and inversions, including a step-by-step guide to tripod headstand if you're ready for it. Enjoy the heat, the fun, and the sweet rest at the end :)
By Ally Hamilton on Feb 12, 2024
Hello friends! This is a practice I filmed when I was feeling a teeny tiny bit run down, which is the Type A way of saying exhausted. It was the end of a long (but good) week and I wanted something that felt like a hug. We do some heat-building on the front end, there is core strengthening and a sweet flow, but we get to the deep stretchy stuff on the early side and complement it with long holds and deep breathing. It's great when you need to be kind to yourself, it's a delicious evening flow, but you can really do it anytime you need a little comfort. Lots of love xx
