I was already up the mountain when it hit. Out of nowhere, it came rushing in—dark, gray, ominous clouds. At first, I was hopeful that it would all blow over quickly so that I might enjoy my rendezvous longer. It was noon, and based on my earlier report, the storm wouldn’t approach until 3 pm. But alas, what was now boiling up in the sky was here to stay, and at the first flash of white, I knew I had to get down the mountain to safety. No sense in remaining at what was close to being the highest point. No point in being stagnant. It was either stay or leave, so I retrieved my pack and descended... Read More

The cells in our bodies regenerate at different rates; in our hips, the cells completely regenerate about every seven years. As emotional centers, our hips store a lot of information including feelings, emotions, experiences, and relationships. Seven years. That’s seven years of family meetings. Seven Thanksgivings. Seven years of table time with family or friends. Take that how you will. This could be exciting or concerning news. No matter what the past seven years’ worth of cells in your hips might tell you, you’re always regenerating cells, so you can start creating happy emotional centers... Read More

Very few believe me when I say that I wake up at 5 am each morning to practice yoga. But it’s true. When the alarm sounds, I slowly wake for a couple minutes, drink a glass of water, and then hop onto my mat. I do this with intention, for very specific reasons. Sure, I enjoy going to yoga studios, and still do. Yet my at-home practice is my saving grace. It sets me up for success in the long run for everything that I seek to accomplish. Here’s why: IT CULTIVATES DISCIPLINE AND POSITIVE HABITS Discipline is an art form in and of itself. As with anything worthwhile, it’s difficult at the start.... Read More

  I remember the first time I unrolled a yoga mat. I was eighteen years old, shy, and slightly terrified. This feeling is not uncommon. In fact, it’s quite normal when tackling unfamiliar territory of any kind. Yoga, as a discipline, is made up of several unique layers, with Asana (physical postures) being one of, if not the most popular (alongside meditation: Dhyana). As a multifaceted practice, it may feel overwhelming to know where to begin if you’re a new student. What approach do you take first in order to reap benefits in the long run without hindrance? For the purposes of introducing... Read More

You’ve seen it lurking on the studio schedule. You’ve heard it’s relaxing and can help relieve stress. So why are you avoiding it? Restorative yoga is an ultra-relaxing, “sleepover”-style of yoga that can include lots of props like blankets, bolsters, blocks, straps, and pillows, making it feel like a sleepy slumber party. I’ve heard students say they don’t want to go to restorative yoga classes because they want to go to yoga to workout. True, restorative yoga isn’t much in terms of a workout for your body. However, restorative yoga offers something most of our Western-culture... Read More

  There are many different types of yoga, and it’s about time this particular style gets its due. You don’t have to constantly be sweating in a heated room to reap the same benefits that a more static practice has to offer—calmness, reduced stress, enhanced flexibility (to name a few).  In fact, restorative yoga is the perfect precursor to restful sleep. Through the use of props and seated postures held for at least 10 minutes each (sometimes longer), it’s possible to train the mind into meditative states of relaxation. This, in turn, can make sleep easily accessible. A good night’s... Read More

  I firmly believe that nature is medicine. There is nothing more rejuvenating than unplugging from the world for a few hours, sifting through trees and allowing silence to be your personal tour guide. What is now commonly referred to as forest bathing, the act of immersing yourself in nature while simultaneously being present to your surroundings, can be a moving meditation in and of itself, much like yoga. In fact, both practices strongly correlate with one another. Practicing yoga or meditating out in dense wilderness reaps positive therapeutic benefits. Imagine hiking through the mountains... Read More

I’m no Oprah, but I do have a lot of well-known favorite things: puppies, blankets, parks, mountains, warm food . . . And in a ranking of my favorite things, traveling scores highly, while spending time in airports places very low. The combination of sitting still for a long time, falling asleep in strange and uncomfortable places, eating processed food, feeling the effects of dehydration, and generally feeling greasy makes me want to get out immediately. Airport Yoga Rooms Luckily, some sweet humans have built yoga and meditation rooms in a few airports to help out us uncomfortable travelers.... Read More

Along with petting dogs, hiking mountains, and teaching yoga, one of my favorite things in the whole world is working with veterans. My grandfathers, brother, and dad are all veterans ranging timelines and wars from WWII to Iraq/Afghanistan. While I took the black sheep route and became a yoga instructor instead of enlisting, my family and military roots are extremely important to me. Teaching yoga to veterans became a way to connect my two worlds and give back to the community that has selflessly given so much to all of us. In March 2013, I started a yoga program at the Boulder Veterans Center... Read More

It’s no secret that Boulder is inundated with yoga instructors and studios. If you haven’t been in the yoga scene for long (or at all), this can get overwhelming. What instructor will resonate with me? What kind of class should I try? We’ll talk about different styles of yoga in Boulder later, but for now I’d like to highlight one of my favorite teachers in town, Ashley O’Connor. Ashley is a vinyasa, yin, and hot/hot power fusion instructor at the CorePower Yoga studios in Boulder and Louisville. She is full of light and laughter, knowledge and wisdom. While much of... Read More

“Let’s begin practice by lying on our backs, with our sacrum and legs extending up against the wall.” The class eagerly responded as such. Nestled into position in the cozily lit room of Nederland, Colorado’s Tadasana Mountain Yoga Studio, I began to relax while simultaneously awaiting the next set of instructions. Kim, our teacher for the morning, gently guided us through the hour-and-a-half-long routine. “Breathe deeply and notice your thoughts. Are they ruminating, or are you present in the given moment? As we move throughout today’s practice, I highly encourage you to leave all... Read More

Community and healing: those are the words that come to mind when partaking in your first yoga-music festival. For anybody that’s been to ARISE before, they’ll likely know what I’m talking about. Nestled between the rolling green foothills of Loveland, Colorado is Sunrise Ranch—an ideal location for an event such as this. Whether you come predominately for the yoga or the music alone, you’ll get a wide variety in both realms. From folk, funk, and electronic to vinyasa flow and AcroYoga, there’s a plethora of activities to choose from over the course of three days. What’s unique about... Read More

Wellness methods have, over the past few years, evolved into a booming industry. Several renowned websites and online magazines—such as wellandgood.com, Mantra Wellness Magazine, or mindbodygreen.com, to name a few—take pride in offering news and advice on the latest trends. Thanks to technology and the internet, it seems the do-it-yourself approach to wellness is here to stay. You can find information on practically anything, all within reach of your fingertips and computer screen. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for personal self-care (yep, I’m a millennial), but how do I know what I read... Read More

If you are a federal or bank employee, student or teacher, you’re among the lucky few who get a work holiday on November 11. If you are a veteran who doesn’t hold one of these positions, chances are you’ll be working. So if veterans don’t get the day off on Veterans Day, what is it for? Why do we celebrate Veterans Day? The ceasefire of World War I happened on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. To honor the veterans of this war and remember those we lost, November 11 (Armistice Day) became a national holiday in 1938, and in 1954 Veterans Day became... Read More

What if you could powerfully transform your life by hanging out with friends in paradise? That’s the latest focus of Rachel Zelaya, founder and director of the Adi Shakti Kundalini Yoga Center of Boulder. What is Kundalini?  Kundalini describes the creative, life-force energy powered by the breath and flowing throughout the body. It can be activated by conscious practices designed to maximize your life force. The Kundalini Yoga tradition is one of the most holistic approaches to yoga: it includes asana, mudra, breathwork, meditation and mantra, as well as encompassing lifestyle choices... Read More

With spring springing and summer just around the corner, the pace in Boulder is picking up quickly as Boulderites prepare for a summer filled with fun activities around every corner. For the tech lovers, entrepreneurs, students and investors of all kinds, the beginning of this summer season promises lots of fun and opportunities with Boulder kicking off its sixth Startup Week. Founded in 2010, Boulder Startup Week is five days dedicated to all things entrepreneurial, business and startup, celebrating the incredible startup scene Boulder has to offer.   The five-day event takes place from May... Read More

I’m going to let you in on a little secret…when I first started yoga back in 2000, I hated it. I mean, I really despised it. What the f*#k is a Sun Salutation, and why the f*#k do I have to do so many of them? And why does that guy next to me sound like Darth Vader having an asthma attack? Why are they chanting—do they even know what they’re saying? Are we singing now? Yep, we’re singing—why are we singing? Each time I tried a class or VHS (yep, dating myself here), I finished the practice feeling dissatisfied, and even angry. I’m not sure why I stuck with it. My stubbornness is... Read More

Every year for the Boulder Valley, Biz West recognizes forty professionals under the age of 40 whom they consider to be emerging stars and leaders in the city of Boulder. These young, hardworking individuals are celebrated for their professional successes in the Boulder community. One of these forty people is Kelly Elle Larisey yoga studio owner, Paleo nutritionist and bacon-lover. Kelly is recognized for a range of professional and creative endeavors centering on holistic health; from being managing owner at Boulder’s popular yoga studio, The Little Yoga Studio to life coaching and Paleo coaching,... Read More

“Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.” – B.K.S. Iyengar Boulder, Colorado is one of the most brilliant cities in the United States for yogis. Peppered with studios and filled with world-renowned teachers, beginner and advanced yoga practitioners alike have it made. In the midst of all the wonderful array of studios in the foothills, one studio in particular has my heart and makes me feel at home; Boulder’s own, The Little Yoga Studio LLC. This studio is the perfect place for anyone looking to just... Read More

Many athletes are considered superhuman. How can a baseball player hit a ball 450 feet? How can a basketball player jump over 4 feet high? How can a triathlete run a marathon after biking and swimming so far? Indeed this talent is fairly superhuman, but even for the most impressive athletes, the body needs a break. The offseason is a time to let the body and mind recharge, and time to enjoy a more “normal” life. The problem with triathletes is that most of us are so obsessed with working out that we often don’t give ourselves enough off time because we start to feel lazy after just 2 days... Read More