I had the pleasure of being invited to the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Weaverville, NC today to teach some of the staff a yoga class this morning. What an amazing place this is and the work they are doing is incredible. The center works with shelters around the country and with dogs who would normally be euthanized as they have issues that prevent them from being adopted. These dogs are being rehabilitated as they are severely fearful and unadoptable. Many of these dogs were rescued from puppy mills, or dog fighting situations, or hoarding situations. The ASPCA is amazing and when they introduced the pilot program years ago in NJ, they were hopeful for a 50% success rate in rehabilitating the dogs. They have had an astonishing 87% success rate! So they built this amazing facility and are working diligently to help heal these beautiful dogs so they can be adopted and showered with the love they deserve. I am honored to now be the centers personal yoga teacher and we are all hoping to slowly introduce dogs into the practice and show them not all humans are bad! Lulu is the pretty pooch who got to practice today and she by far had the best down dog in the room! I got to tour the kennels and give each pup a treat and hope as the center grows, that I can volunteer to work with the dogs to help socialize them. #jillphoenixyoga #downdog #yogaislove #aspca #aspcanc #dogsrule #yogadogs #savethedogs #myheartisfull #weavervillenc #yogainspiration #iloveyoga #yogini #wecanmakeadifference #whocanbemeantoadog#ilovedogs
I come from a strong maternal history of breast cancer survivors. My great grandmother, grandmother, aunt and mother. I’ve been getting mammograms for 10 years and at now at age 41, the technology is finally available in 3D. Breast cancer is no joke and I won’t lie, I’m not a huge western medicine fan, although I believe it serves its purpose and has its place. Screening is important, especially if you’re a dense and lumpy lady like me. Just yesterday I had a client tell me she was just diagnosed, and had it not been for the 3D screening, they wouldn’t have found it.. yet. Who knows how large the lump would have had to grow before it’s discovery? Ironic she tells me the day before my appointment. Universe, I hear you. Ladies (and gents! You’re not immune to breast cancer either!) I encourage you to do your self exams and get your breasts checked by 3D imaging. What you decide to do after if they find something,be it traditional western approaches or alternative treatment, is up to you. Too important to ignore. Now, to wait for the results...#jillphoenixyoga #mammogram #mammogramsaintfunbuttheyarenecessary#breastcancerawareness #breastcancermonthiseverymonth#ashevilleyoga #yogaeverydamnday
Oh boy, here goes: I said I would never do this. Posting yoga pics of me half naked. I have a real aversion to yogis who do this on social media. So many consistently post pictures of themselves either half or completely naked with their flawless bodies doing impossible sequences or poses. I get it: to be “successful” you have to get thousands of followers and endless approval from people they don’t know. My mission on here is to spread love and awareness that everyone can do yoga. Your shape and size and limitations don’t matter; we modify for our injuries and bodies. The last six or so months I have been struggling with my body and the changes happening. I just turned 41 and it’s noticeable. My ego has gotten the best of me and we are still in a daily dance of who can get the best of each other today. It’s tough. I look on here and have to unfollow people daily who are flaunting themselves. Not because of what I “think” they are doing, but because it’s fucking with my head, my ego, my self esteem. Even posting these, and hell, even having my man take these is embarrassing and hard. Not many know this, but I have long suffered from anorexia(“remission” for 25 years) and self image issues (daily). I can literally rip myself apart picture by picture. I’m white as hell, can see every dimple, I’m not as tone as I’d like to be, can’t “nail” every pose perfectly- granted sand is hard to pose on!-but, this is REAL. I’m real. I’m doing yoga to the best of my ability. I have injuries; carpal tunnel in both wrists, had whiplash 7 times etc. My point is, Yoga truly is for everyone. EVERYONE! Regardless of if you think you’re too fat, too old, too inflexible, not strong enough etc. Yoga and meditation have literally saved my life. Helped me learn to love what’s inside, what I truly am. This body is impermanent and will continue to age and change. Perfection doesn’t last externally, what matters is what’s inside. Service for others. Spreading love and being the kindest and most authentic person I can be. And damn, you know what? That feels better than if my ass weren’t so big and was tighter, or if I could land a handstand. Or if my legs were perfect.
