Yoga and Weights with Ease
I thought I’d never lift a weight that wasn’t my own, my child, or a side of a couch, until our community started nudging me last summer. Mike even bought me a pair of 15 pound weights “just in case” I felt like lifting them a bit, in between yoga sessions. I’d pick them up every once in a while and make a super hero grunt for laughs, but that was about it.
I always associated lifting weights with forcing things while piling on physical and mental stress. But I also was aware of the benefits, especially as we get older. Meanwhile I was getting sleepy during the day, feeling low energy by 10 or 11am, and not being as focused as I would like. I needed something different. But, I wasn’t going to add stress and change my life-way of ease to remedy my issues. So I did what I do best . . . make my own rules, and invite everyone to join the party 🙂
I’m so grateful for our strala community of softness and ease-seekers to be on this journey of strength without stress.
Since last Summer, we practice Yoga and Weights with Ease 2x a week. We start off with a brief, gentle, whole-harmony flow, transition into movements with weights, paying attention to body position every moment along the way. We do what we can do without a panic, and compare notes on how it’s feeling for each of us.
During that first class last summer, I needed a lot of rest and water breaks. The reps felt impossible and I longed for the flows in between. The day after, I could barely walk up stairs and that super-sore feeling lasted days until my next session. But I kept with it and committed to yoga and weights with ease 2x a week since then, and now I feel energized all day long. I’m also stronger than I’ve ever been. My mind feels sharp, creative, and focused, and the best part is, I didn’t add on any of that stress I was worried about.
Some of the benefits of lifting weights with ease are (but not limited to)
Strength without Tension
Building strength while staying relaxed, leading to sustainable power
Better Mobility
Strala focuses on harmonious movement, ensuring you don’t just get stronger, you also stay mobile and open, and avoid stiffness that comes with weight training
Injury Prevention
Moving with good position, posture, harmony, and breath (all the tai chi foundations we use in Strala yoga) reduces joint isolation and over-strain, avoiding injuries common in weight lifting
Mind-Body Connection
Strala works with connection between breath and movement, making strength-building a moving meditation
Strength for Life
Rather than isolating muscles, you engage your whole body together, building strength that supports real-life movement like lifting groceries, kids, and feeling good as you go through your day.
Less Stress, More Energy
Lifting weights with ease boosts energy instead of draining it, so you feel refreshed rather than depleted.
We look forward to practicing together on the Strala Yoga app. Make sure you leave a comment to affirm your accomplishment of practicing for the day, and to support everyone needing a little extra nudge. Being with each other and knowing we are part of a supportive community is such a huge part of wellbeing.
Thank you for being here.
If you are new to the Strala Yoga app, get up in there. We’re waiting for you.
lots of love,
Tara
UPCOMING EVENTS
London, March 21, 2025, Living Softly Workshop in London
We added a new London event! This workshop gives a fist-ever inside look at Living Softly – a special chance for you to shift from the breakdown strategies of stressing and pushing to get things done, into accomplishing far more than you might have dreamed, in a way that’s fully aligned with who you are, and how you want to feel.
London, March 22 – 23, 2025, 20+ Hour Intensive in London,
FULL – join the first to know list
We’re so excited to be back to London and practice moving in harmony and creating calm on and off the mat.
NEW EVENTS
Yoga Sundays in April at the Barns, Troutbeck Estate Hotel, Amenia NY
Join Tara Stiles, co-founder of Strala Yoga and wellness instructor-in-residence at The Barns every Sunday in April for an energizing yoga class in the Tall Barn.
Boost Conference April 29-30, Palm Springs, CA
Join Tara Stiles at the Boost Conference, for Educators in Palm Springs CA for 2 Special Workshops: Softness Break and Yoga Animals
NEW ONLINE 200+Hour Yoga Teacher Training
Online 200+Hour Yoga Teacher Training, with LIVE Zooms from April 2025 – March 2026
You can begin right away with all the instructional sessions, reading, and practices, and the zooms start in April 2025. Just like the instructional sessions and practices, the Zooms will all be saved, so you can go through the whole course all at your own pace, and keep everything as a resource forever.
NEW RETREAT – Yoga and Creative Writing Upstate NY
Award Winning Troutbeck Estate Hotel, Amenia, NY, May 3-May 4, 2025
Join Tara Stiles and Ann Garvin for their second collaboration retreat together for yoga and creative writing, this time at the award-winning estate hotel, Troutbeck, an easy train ride from NYC. We’ll enjoy daily yoga, softness breaks, writing workshop time and access to the Troutbeck spa, sauna, red light room and relaxation areas.
RETREAT – SUMMER IN ICELAND
Iceland Retreat, June 29-July 4, 2025
We’re so excited to return to the magical land of Iceland and enjoy our practice and adventures with you. There is an early bird happening through the beginning of June so save your space early!
200+Hour Training in Rhinebeck
200+Hour Strala Yoga Training in Rhinebeck NY, Sept 20-Sept 26, 2025
Create the ground you need to move easily, confidently and capably through your whole life. And if you’re looking to lead classes in yoga, tai chi, or carry new approaches, skill-sets and practices into your work, it’s also a Leadership Training that provides a 200+Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification.
NEW INTENSIVE YOGA TRAINING
Berlin, October 4-5, 2025, Strala Weekend Intensive Yoga Training
Join for the a weekend of softness, and a celebration of community.
Online Workshops, Intensives and Trainings
Complete your 25+, 100+, 200+ and 500+Hour Trainings right from home. Dive into The Art of Sequencing, Leading Kids, Tai Chi, Yoga and More Special Programs.