Insights, resources & invitations
Insights, resources, & invitations is a monthly journal intended to be read slowly, encourage contemplation, and provide inspiration to the muddy community.
Insights
Until further notice, celebrate everything
Seven years ago today we held our first classes in the studio. I remember being nervous, but not scared. I simply didn’t know what I didn’t know. This was probably a blessing if I’m being honest. My first year of studio ownership I worked full-time at the school district, taught around 13 yoga and barre classes a week, and was mothering a two year old. Looking back, I don’t remember that time being chaotic (even thought I’m certain it was). I was immersed in and doing something that I truly love: a state of flow — bliss.
I’ll keep this short and sweet: thank you. These years have been filled with so much learning and love. All I’ve ever hoped was to create a space for people to feel like they belong, to be able to breathe and move and sweat and cry and laugh. We’ve done all of that in these years, and I hope, God willing, that this is just in many ways the beginning.
Please join us in celebrating #7yearsofmuddy by attending as many classes as you can between May 1-May 10 and attending our free class under the bridge on May 10th followed by food and social (with giveaways!)
On an enjoyable motherhood
April feels like the right time to welcome a new baby. Both of my girls are April babies, so maybe I’m biased. I got to hold a 2 day old baby the other day before a barre class (welcome baby Luca!). All of me forgot how to hold eight pounds of perfect. I would do almost anything to go back to those newborn snuggles for even a day. I think back to that stage and how engulfing and all-encompassing that stage of motherhood felt, in the most beautiful and exhausting of ways.
There was one thing I knew when I became a mom, and that was that I was going to enjoy it. We can become martyrs to the cause forgetting we were a person before and will be a person after our children no longer need us for survival. I can get consumed with the idea of creating a memorable childhood for my kids, filling the voids of my own or keeping up with what feels relevant. Beyond the endless calendar of pick ups and drop offs and what will we have for dinner is the opportunity to continue to live for myself too. At times that means they’re wildly a part of all of it and other times it means traveling alone or going for a walk without needing to keep a watchful eye.
On running a marathon
Last year in May I ran a marathon, my first and most likely my last. You know how many times I’ve ran since May 20, 2023?
Zero.
I swear to you.
At first, I just couldn’t even think about running without wanting to throw up.
Then, I kind of missed it, but not really.
And now, I realize I don’t really like running.
…
I’ll probably run again.
Someday.
Maybe?
On the ripple effect
You never know what can happen as a result of one decision, one pebble tossed.
We had a student this past year sign up for our scholarship program (the first ripple), came to her first class (a class for MWMF on the levee, another ripple), kept coming and coming and coming to class (ripple and ripple and ripple), decided to keep committing after scholarship and signed up for yoga teacher training (big ripple!), and graduated this past month from the program (a ripple that will continue beyond what can even be known).
All because of one decision.
This becomes a continual reminder to me to never underestimate the power one decision that creates one action that changes everything.
On proving, perfecting, producing
This month came an awareness that so much of what I’ve agreed to in my life has been in search of these 3 things: proving I can do it (whatever it is), chasing an illusion of perfection (always leaves me chasing), and immersed in a cycle of producing (an endless cycle at that).
What if (I, we, you)…
Create for the sake of creation.
Teach for the love of teaching.
Write for the love of expression.
There’s not the way, there’s a way
If you’re at all familiar with the sciences of Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurveda, you know that there’s a deep belief in living in alignment with nature. We are nature: wild, unruly, ever-changing, intelligent, and wise.
We are not robots.
What is needed today, might not be needed tomorrow.
What is good for one person, might not be good for another person.
There is not one way, there is only a way.
The practices of yoga are a continual unveiling of your nature.
The macro mirrors the micro. The micro mirrors the macro.
We are never one thing.
The first part of every class, as eyes soften and awareness begins to move inward, is pure gold for the practitioner.
Who am I today? What do I need today? What is the weather like today?
Resources
Masterclass I’m not sure there’s a better feeling than that of being inspired. If you’re looking to learn something new, this is such a great resource.
Speaking of inspiration, Pinterest’s algorithm is spot on for me lately. If you’ve ever done our trainings, you know we start with core values. I’ve been working to create visual representations of each of my values, and it’s been so fun.
On Being Alex Elle — Self Care as Generational Healing Self-care as Community care, for me, is the filling up of self so that we can pour into others and not be depleted… I don’t want to pour into anyone with my last drop and then have nothing left for myself, because then when it comes time to give again, I’ll have nothing. So essentially, it’s this refueling. It’s this reconnecting and realigning with the self so that we can show up intentionally.
RAD Roller
We’ll be carrying some of these amazing myofascial tools in the studio soon. My intention is to work more 1:1 with clients starting this summer using some of these tools and the intelligence of the meridian system to help alleviate pain and imbalance in the body. I’m going to have super limited books, so if you’re interested in private sessions, send me a message here and I’ll let you know when my calendar opens for bookings.
Invitations
Come to as many classes between May 1 - May 10 Every class you come to = 5 entry points
Share a favorite memory you have of Muddy Waters Every memory you share = 1 entry point
+For every memory you share, we’ll donate $5 do our scholarship fund
Share on your social media and tag @muddywatersyogastudio
Send us an email
Join us on May 10th for a #MUDDYPARTY
Free class to celebrate seven years of muddy