by Tara Stiles | May 31, 2013 | Blog
Question It seems like people around my yoga studio are always talking some ancient text or the other, from the Sutras to the Gita. They call these books "sacred." I'm an avid reader, but I've never been much into mythology. Am I missing something here? Answer I haven't seen a correlation between study of ancient texts or languages, and the ability to feel great and live a capable life. Around Strala, we don't see ancient texts as sacred; we see you as sacred! If you see something outside you as sacred, you'll following something outside you. If you… 
by Tara Stiles | May 27, 2013 | Blog
We all spend some time considering what we want and how to get there. We plan, meditate, and take action. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we wobble, but hopefully we get back on the good foot and keep on doing our thing. I came across this post I wrote a few years back on HuffPo. Looking through my mindset back just a couple years ago, I've softened quite a bit as a person and as a business person, and it's changed how I approach my life dramatically. I no longer consider working hard and creating new doors where there aren't any… by Tara Stiles | May 26, 2013 | Blog
Question Dear Strala, I'm on an uphill stretch with my yoga and could use your help. I get everything you're saying about yoga having little to do with perfect posing. I believe you're right about moving and finding your own way, rather than following gurus or rules. I've been lucky enough to take classes with Tara and Mike whenever I visit NYC. In nearly 30 years of yoga, I've found my way into classes with pretty much all the prominent teachers. I've never seen anyone who could move like Mike or inspire like Tara. You guys really are… 
by Tara Stiles | May 24, 2013 | Blog
Question I understand yoga should be helping not hurting, but the more I practice the more my wrists hurt. Help! Answer Yoga should help, and there's no need for it to hurt. But the fact is, a wide array of injuries are happening in yoga. Yoga teachers in particular are getting shoulder, hip and knee replacements right and left, while wrist pain is considered a mark of "advanced" practice. Of course, this is silly, and preventable! Prevention First, let's look at prevention. Two simple guidelines can help here: 1. Stop pushing, forcing, jumping and otherwise struggling… 
by Tara Stiles | May 21, 2013 | Blog, Strala Training
Hi Friends, You are a space maker. Every inhale creates more room and space inside. Every exhale moves you right into that new space. The deeper you breathe the more space opens up. Everyone likes the feeling of having space around. Space to move. Space to breathe. Space to live. Meditation can happen through many forms. Seated meditation, moving meditation (yoga), gardening, walking, running, and one of my favorite meditative practices, knitting! I discovered knitting several years ago when I was writing Slim Calm Sexy Yoga and was out on a writing break walk around the neighborhood. I walked by…