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Humans have always had a complicated relationship with weather. Ancient cultures prayed and made offerings to gods in hopes of receiving conditions conducive to growing crops. Adverse weather, then, w…
Humans have always h…
Humans have always had a complicated relationship with weather. Ancient cultures prayed and made offerings to gods in hopes of receiving conditions conducive to growing crops. Adverse weather, then, was often interpreted as displeasure on behalf of those same beings—a punishment for failing to observe proper rituals. It doesn’t take a history scholar to understand this impulse. Weather, now as then, is both an enemy and ally. On one hand, it provides everything from the raw material for food—sunlight driving photosynthesis, wind the primary method of plants spreading their seeds—to …
Sometimes, writing about art and theater feels a lot like falling down the proverbial rabbit hole as I try to find the angle to write about wandering through a haunted-theater immersive experience, ge…
Sometimes, writing a…
Sometimes, writing about art and theater feels a lot like falling down the proverbial rabbit hole as I try to find the angle to write about wandering through a haunted-theater immersive experience, getting splashed in a Halloween horror show in the basement of a spaghetti emporium, sweating through a DIY D&D in a comic shop, savoring (har har!) Sweeney Todd’s enraged high notes, and trying to quiet my howling dog in a public house. I’ve found myself in some odd and awkward scenarios. To update the metaphor, writing this column is a lot like drunk-clicking through an endless algorithm o…
Jessie Hanson
January 8, 2020
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 te…
I remember…
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…
Amanda Cruz
November 8, 2023
It’s almost that time of year. Tiny hints of autumn are already in the air. With cooler weather on its way, so is the (hopeful) promise of a strong snow season. I say this with great enthu…
It’s alm…
It’s almost that time of year. Tiny hints of autumn are already in the air. With cooler weather on its way, so is the (hopeful) promise of a strong snow season. I say this with great enthusiasm; I’m a snowboarder. Winter sports are my favorite, and nothing complements my yoga practice more than strapping into bindings and cutting through moguls like butter. A moving meditation in and of itself, snowboarding is a great activity for building patience and resilience. It goes hand-in-hand with yoga in terms of physical endurance. If you’ve already established a strong yoga pra…
Amanda Cruz
October 30, 2023
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 …
Very few believe me …
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…
Amanda Cruz
September 21, 2022
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…
There are …
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…
Amanda Cruz
February 9, 2022
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…
I firmly b…
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…
Amanda Cruz
October 2, 2020
It’s 6 a.m., and slivers of sunlight peep through the large, elongated windows of Brett Mehlman’s Denver-based studio apartment, greeting him as he begins his morning. A fresh glass of water is th…
It’s 6 a.m., and s…
It’s 6 a.m., and slivers of sunlight peep through the large, elongated windows of Brett Mehlman’s Denver-based studio apartment, greeting him as he begins his morning. A fresh glass of water is the first thing on his mind, followed by a guided meditation. As a busy yoga instructor, an established morning ritual is key for Brett. Preparing for his first client of the day, he concocts a blend of ginger, turmeric, black pepper, and skullcap for tea. “The trick here, is to add coconut milk,” he says with a grin, walking across the plant-lined floor to the kitchen cupboard. “Coconut mi…
Amanda Cruz
October 2, 2020
“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 N…
“Let’s begin pra…
“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 …
Amanda Cruz
September 27, 2019
September is known as National Yoga Month. All throughout the Boulder-Denver areas, there will be several yoga-related activities taking place within the next few weeks. If you’re looking to add ext…
September is known a…
September is known as National Yoga Month. All throughout the Boulder-Denver areas, there will be several yoga-related activities taking place within the next few weeks. If you’re looking to add extra flare to your already-existing practice or didn’t get the opportunity to participate in any yoga-music festivals this summer, not to worry! There’s still time to partake in some truly exceptional yoga gatherings scattered across the Front Range. Enhance and celebrate your practice with friends, family, and fellow yogis at one of these upcoming events. VINYASA AND VINO Date: September 6th …
Amanda Cruz
September 3, 2019
They stand, side by side, towering 300 feet over practitioners below. The iconic red sandstone walls ricocheting sound from the front of the stage where the DJ is playing, as more than 2,000 people ra…
They stand, side by …
They stand, side by side, towering 300 feet over practitioners below. The iconic red sandstone walls ricocheting sound from the front of the stage where the DJ is playing, as more than 2,000 people raise their hands above their heads before bowing to fold forward. With the early morning sun rising, slowly warming the amphitheater, students eagerly follow commands from the instructor—the conductor of the experience. “Inhale to upward dog, exhale to downward dog. Step to the front of the mat. Inhale to halfway lift, exhale to fold. Repeat.” It’s a steady mixture of sweat, breathing, a…
Amanda Cruz
August 16, 2019
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…
Community and healin…
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 un…
Amanda Cruz
August 9, 2019
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.co…
Wellness methods hav…
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 r…
Amanda Cruz
June 21, 2019
I’m a yoga junkie. It’s safe to say that this personal practice has changed my life for the better—both mentally and physically. As a practitioner of 8 years, I began my journey back in high sch…
I’m a yoga junkie.…
I’m a yoga junkie. It’s safe to say that this personal practice has changed my life for the better—both mentally and physically. As a practitioner of 8 years, I began my journey back in high school as a shy 18-year-old. It wasn’t until I moved to Boulder, Colorado for college that my yoga journey really evolved, taking me completely out of my shell, all thanks to the plethora of studios scattered across town. With its free-spirited hippie past, Boulder is a renowned haven for yoga. You can’t throw a stone down the street without hitting a practitioner or instructor; seriously, it’s…
Amanda Cruz
June 21, 2019
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