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 Nov 27, 2023
Hello friends! If you're looking for a full-body flow in a shorter amount of time with extra love for your hips, look no further! The hamstrings and shoulders get lets of attention, too, and we fire up the core nicely. You'll walk away from your mat feeling grounded and open. Hip Happy Day to You!
By Ally Hamilton on Nov 20, 2023
If you're looking for a deep reset right now, look no further. This practice begins with grounding and centering techniques and a short talk about the power of your inner voice and why it matters. We move into a flow that targets deep opening for the hips, shoulders, hamstrings and quads. There's core strengthening (but of course) and inversion playtime on your mat or at the wall. Building blocks for moving into handstand with two legs, and exploration of the wide straddle in your handstand are also included. We end with Yoga Nidra in Savasana. Take a little time to come back to center, we could all use that right now <3
By Ally Hamilton on Nov 13, 2023
A classic 90-minute flow where we go deep into the hips, hamstrings, quadriceps and shoulders. Peak poses include monkey pose, a variation of one-legged king-pigeon, and forearm stand. Lots of grounding and breath-work throughout. Yoga Nidra in savasana.
By Ally Hamilton on Nov 4, 2023
Hello yogis! If you're looking for a classic 90-minute flow where we go deep and open up, look no further! The hips, hamstrings, shoulders and core get a lot of attention! This is an energizing flow where we're going to build lots of heat and play with some arm balances and inversions including bhujapidasana, firefly pose and wide-straddle handstand. As always, I will offer tons of options and building blocks so everyone will have choices. The theme of this class is cultivating kindness. We need that desperately right now. Please make that your priority along with deep breathing, and let the rest of it unfold.
By Ally Hamilton on Oct 30, 2023
We start with grounding techniques and breath-work and you might think you're heading into a slow and steady class, but you are not! This is a flow intended to energize and open you once you're grounded, awake and present. We'll be doing chaturanga push-ups, standing frog reps, core work, fallen-triangle to flipped-out dog sequences and so much more. Arm balances and inversions and backbends, and then some nice hip-and-hamstring poses with longer holds to use the heat to release tension. If you want something fun and powerful in under an hour that is both grounding and energizing, here you go!
By Ally Hamilton on Oct 27, 2023
A classic, 90-minute practice where we have the time to go deep. Grounding at the beginning of practice, breath work, and a steady mix of intensity alongside long holds throughout the practice. You'll experience sequences that raise your heart rate (think yoga sculpt) and sequences where we use the heat to deeply open, breathe and feel our feelings. There is core work and we do play with inversions. There are froggy hop drills you can practice at the wall. I really wanted to juxtapose grounding and flying throughout the practice so it becomes clear if you want to fly, you have to have a very strong foundation. Enjoy, yogis!
By Ally Hamilton on Oct 22, 2023
Hello friends, if you are craving a practice that will deeply open your shoulders, chest, upper back and quadriceps so you can find freedom in those areas and explore backbends...along with some deep hip-and-hamstring opening once you're warm, this is for you! You can count on core strengthening and inversions as well, along with mindful breathing and grounding.
By Ally Hamilton on Oct 11, 2023
A practice that's perfect for days when you feel challenged. We begin with alternate nostril breathing and 4-7-8 breathing and a very short talk about working with your nervous system throughout the day when you need to. We move mindfully through this practice, focused on grounding poses and the breath. This is a practice where you will build enough heat to open deeply, but the focus is on mindful movement, breath, and a calm and open mind and heart. Great for anytime you need grounding, and also lovely as an evening practice.
By Ally Hamilton on Oct 7, 2023
Hello friends! This is a classic 90-minute practice with Yoga Nidra in savasana. If you're looking for a deep dive, you've found it. We do lots of shoulder, hip and hamstring opening, as well as the upper back and chest -no stone is left unturned. Once we're nice and warm we'll spend some time playing with inversions. As ever, I will give you tons of options so if you aren't comfortable on your hands or on your head, I'll give you some building blocks to play with! I do break down traditional headstand and how to lift (not kick! please don't kick your legs up into headstand) your legs up, which is what we want. But even if you don't want to go upside down today, this is a deep and thorough practice and I hope you enjoy.
By Ally Hamilton on Oct 2, 2023
A full-body bonanza in an hour with a lot of grounding at the beginning and extra deep love and attention for your hips and hamstrings at the end. In between, shoulder, hip and hamstring opening, standing balance, arm balances, core strengthening and inversions. A very sweet savasana - and all of this around the theme of deeply connecting to yourself in order to deeply connect with the world around you. Enjoy beautiful yogis!
