Hey Kids,
Just felt like reaching out and connecting with all the readers here on our growing-like-a-weed Strala blog. Quite an amazing culture has developed around not only the studio in NYC, but around the globe and it’s so exciting to see. This blog has become so special and taken on a life of its own so quickly, but I should get used to that time warp happening. When things are in the flow, time adjusts, and things develop very fast. I’ve experienced this “being in the flow” in the last several years of having the pleasure and amazing opportunities and outlets to share how I know people can change their lives through an easy going approach to yoga and meditation, which spirals into a riduculously happy and healthy lifestyle that is contagious to anyone and everyone you’ll ever be in contact with. Happiness has the ability, power, and potential to spread in the same capacity as hurtful feelings, or harmful viruses. With that in mind, spreading happiness is much more interesting and downright effective for lasting positive change not only in us individually but exponentailly into the people, the planet, and the world.
As science can show us that an object changes as we change the way we perceive it, when we begin to change the way we perceive ourselves for the better, our lives expand accordingly.
This time for me is nothing short of a whirlwind. The NYC studio is growing like a wild weed. Many leaders have stepped in and fulfilled inspiring roles and are so lovely encouraging others to step into their full potential. The people who come for yoga regularly are getting so crazy strong, open, calm, and capable, we have to keep “upping” the sequencing to meet the challenge.
We’re in the process of expansion and growth to other cities and in sports clubs, which will be super exciting to bring Strala to the gym scene on a global level. I’m super proud of our organic growth process, without a marketing team, outside funding, VC, or any trickery. We don’t have assistants, staff, publicists, and we like it that way. Mike, Heidi, the Strala guides, and the people who come to the studio are responsible for this growth. Will Hobbs, part of the family, my agent and friend, is responsible for organizing, strategizing, and putting up with my demanding nature and helping me actualize my vision. With these people we have together created something to be really proud of.
The clothing line I’ve been working on with Reebok, more like a yoga baby, is about ready to be born, and we’re so proud and excited to share with the world. My schedule has shifted from the occasional work-to-shoot-a-yoga-project-trip once a month or so, to becoming more like a ping-pong-happiness-ball on a mission to help as many people as possible connect inward, trust themselves, and get in the flow!
Last weekend we were lucky to be at the Standard in Miami doing yoga, signing books, and having a LOT of pool time with such awesome people. This week I just finished shooting the Reebok campaign for our yoga line. Next week I’m off to Illinois to shoot a documentary of my farm town family doing yoga for LiveStrongWoman. And then I head to LA for a couple TV projects that are secret until they air. From there I get to hang at Strala NYC for a few days until I’m off to the Netherlands for the Dutch translation Tour. Then back for a couple days, off to Reebok headquarters for an event, back to LA for Forbes conference, and then off to London for the UK and German release of This is Yoga, my new DVD series. And then we’ll take Nov and Dec from there until we begin 2013. Deep breaths. Careful what you wish for everyone, it will probably come true.
My concentration is also on finding the ease, not just reminding others to do so. If I can’t be easy, whether the movement is challening or simple, whether the day is frantic, or restuful, then what good am I to anyone else? Not much! My main job is to always practice and live how I guide and instruct others to live, because I believe in the Strala Culture, I see how these ideas help so many, and I want in on the action too!
So tell me, how do you find the ease? How do you see the culture of Strala and how do you fit in?
We’re expanding the blog soon too to a new look so we all can stay more connected and continue to be inspired by each other.
Thanks for sharing your inspirations with me. Much appreciated and lots of love!
xo
p.s. make sure to wear sunscreen! Or just hang out under a bunch of towels while reading your favorite Deepak Chopra book 
Nico and I are so happy to have found Strala through a random internet search
Nothing balances my day like a 4PM Strong! I feel like I have a new mini-family every time I walk in.
Sending love,
Eli (and Nico..somewhere around here!)
Eli! A random internet search? I never knew? awesome. . love you guys! hope you are good! xoxo
LOTS OF LOVE from Marysia SWIM!!! YOu sounds so busy so keep up the good work of staying easy. I find being relaxed helps…and preparing for each day helps tooo but also learning not to stress if it all doesn’t go according to plan…that’s the trick. Hanging out with people like you and others in the Strala community helps to remember to stay easy. xoxo
Marysia
when are you coming back? are you feeling good? you’re looking super cute on instagram!!! and i love my new bikinis from Marysia Swim! xo
Hey Tara!
You are definitely right about the spiraling, ridiculously happy/healthy and contagious lifestyle! Just watching all of your videos with your ‘ping-pong-happiness-ball’ attitude makes me want to jump up and laugh and eat veggies and drink carrot beet juice!
I am so happy for you, and for Strala becoming so successful and expanding (YAY!!)
I find the ease by being calm, yet happy and positive, making myself feel good by eating well and yoga-ing, and by using you as a daily guide to what can be achieved! It is hard to be positive all the time, and when it’s a Blue Day I just have to accept the feelings and remind myself that things are always better and “this too shall pass”
Thank you for being amazing!
Hi Tara,
Just wanted to say that I am so happy for you and the success that you are having! You have definitely been my yoga guide and inspiration (pretty much since you started). I am still hoping to make it to New York one day to take classes with you and Mike. I guess I’ll have to fit it into your schedule
Are you still planning on offering your online version of TT? I am still very interested in that idea!!
You deserve the success that you are having and are truly an inspiration to many, many of us. Congratulations and of course, deep breaths!!
Melanie xo
Hey Tara,
Thank you so much for your refreshing approach to yoga, it has really inspired me to do it every day and experience that positive and extremely happy flow you talk about.
Several years back I became ill with the chronich disease ME and it was almost impossible to excercise or do much at all, thanks to your yoga I am gradually building up strenght and energy which is changeing my life for the better!
So, thank you so much again.
Also, I’m very happy for you things are going so well with Strala and everything else.
Hope to get to meet you in the Netherlands!
Love,
Renate.
Tara and Strala family,
Finding the ease has been a challange for me. I think its my worries that have become the best of me. Since I have begun watching your youtube videos I have had to learn to quit pushing myself so hard to be in each pose. But gradually and with taking deep breaths, EVERYTHING seems to fall in place. Also with meditation Deepak says to repreat “I..(inhale)..am(exhale)..” helps me out a ton!
thanks for all the nice comments guys. i just felt like writing a blog to say hi and thanks to everyone today without a plan on what to say. . so i’m glad i shared! xoxo
Great post, Tara! Discovering Strala was the best thing that’s happened to me. It’s such a fun place to to take class, and the classes and teachers rock! Looking forward to spending more time there when teacher training starts in the fall!
Hello from the Philippines! Yoga has become my ME time. Love how you make the poses seem simple. Headstand is my ultimate goal, one of these days . . . .
Hi Tara,
I must say that you have singlehandedly re-introduced me to my instinctive yoga roots. Instinctive? Yes, I’m now 54 and turned to yoga 2 years ago to solve a hip muscle strain resulting from a snorkeling trip which I took in Hawaii. I pulled something on that trip and it wasn’t getting any better after I returned. Only your first book, and a yoga mat got me back to normal again. It was then that I realized that part of me already knew some of the poses before I even knew what an asana was. I was a rock climber in my 30s and was hitting a climbing gym twice a week as preparation for warm weather trips to the eastern US and Ontario. Before and after every climb I had my own set of “flexibility stretches” and breathing exercises to limber up before some quality “face time” with the rock or gym wall, or the bouldering cave.
It is now that I know these to be some very popular poses such as cobra, pidgeon, triangle, warrior, fire log, cow face, and head to knee forward bend to name a few. I had no yoga training at the time nor exposure to classes – I was just doing what I needed to do to remain flexible and strong for my climbing pursuits.
Thank you so much for reintroducing me to something that has profoundly changed my life for the past 2 years and going forward! You touch lives in a very positive way without creating barriers in the process.
Your service to others is exemplary
Thank you Starla for all of the great posts on this blog and fir all of the videos that are posted. I. Am fairly new to yoga and only been practicing for 3 years but I absolutely love it. One of my recent dreams is to take the train from philly to NYC just to attend one of Stral,s classes!,!!!!!!
THank you Tara and rest of Stral for all of the excellent yoga!!!
Kiki
I wish I lived in yoga so I could take your yoga classes. I have the next best thing, all of your videos. Thank you, Tara for caring so much about people. You’re the best!