Peaceful Pines

22/04/2022

07/04/2022

I’ve rarely been practicing yoga in the form of asana (physical postures) lately. Just like everything in our lives, a yoga practice can be cyclical. There will be weeks, months, or years with a consistent practice. A perfect combination of movement, breath, and stillness.

Other periods may be filled with other forms of grounding and mindfulness, or perhaps not.

Whatever the case may be, each day is new. Your mat is a safe place to heal. Whether you match breath to movement in a dynamic practice, or soak in the stillness in savasana.

Movement is medicine.
Breath is medicine.
Stillness is medicine.

You are worthy of the time it takes to care for yourself.

02/04/2022

Come flow with me on Thursday mornings from 9-10am at Climbmax Climbing Gym 💚

I'm excited to ease back into teaching and find grounding with you starting on Thursday April 7th ✨

I'll also be teaching a children's yoga class at Climbmax on April 27th from 4-5pm!

22/10/2021

Sometimes the voice in my head is telling me that I need to take big leaps to make change for myself in challenging times.

But my husband's voice reminds me that small changes, baby steps can have big pay outs too. It's a tough pill to swallow, but a good reminder that changing everything doesn't necessarily fix everything (or anything, for that matter).

Waiting for delayed gratification is tricky when you're in the thick of it. While it's good to have strong internal awareness and conviction, sometimes the calm voice of a loved one can illuminate some of the darkness.

Who is a voice of reason in your life?

06/10/2021

Some days, the small wins are the ones that really count.

Today some of my small wins were:
✨ Getting out of bed early enough to take the dogs for a walk.
✨ Scheduling an IEP meeting with a parent and teacher.
✨ Going to therapy even though I really didn't want to.
✨ Going to the climbing gym for the first time in weeks.

It's okay to celebrate a win, no matter how small. It's okay to consider something a win even if something that is expected of you in your job or your home.

You are worthy of celebration 💚

01/10/2021

Tonight I'm incredibly thankful for the community of friends and family who have donated to support the students in my after school yoga class.

Each student has their own mat (with plenty of extras for new students and next semester's class) that they will take home when class is over. They always get a kick out of their name being written on the bottom!

Each student has their own yoga journal, bound by durable plastic folders that they write in during our class twice each week.

Every student takes ownership of our supplies for yoga class by taking turns helping me bring them across campus to the PE room after school, and back to my classroom after class. Our yoga mats are stored in big, soft baskets with handles for easy carrying.

Tonight I got a delivery of books that completed my set from author , each one focusing on a different facet of mindfulness.

Thank you thank you thank you 💚

15/09/2021

Thank you to everyone to has donated to ensure that each of my after school yoga students has their own yoga mat this year!

If you're considering donating, all contributions serve to fund my ability to provide developmentally appropriate and accessible yoga classes for children (and hopefully families, too!) at my school site. Your donation may support any of the following:

💜 Yoga mats for kids
💜 Yoga and mindfulness books for use in my after school yoga classes
💜 Materials for projects such as calm down bottles
💜 Continuing education for myself as a yoga teacher

Your support is appreciated more than you know.
. .

Venmo:
Zelle: nicolegracepresley@gmail.com
Google Pay: peacefulpines.phx@gmail.com

10/09/2021

Last school year, I was able to purchase a yoga mat for each of the students in my after school yoga class held at the school site where I work as a speech-language pathologist. The kids were so tickled to have a yoga mat to call their own, and took such great care of them throughout the semester.

This year it's likely that I will have double the number of participants from last year, and I would love to be able to provide them with a similar gift.

If you're interested and able, please consider donating any amount to support my students! Taking ownership and responsibility for their own yoga mats were wonderful skills to pair with the mindfulness and movement we learned together 💛

Any amount is welcome! Each yoga mat is $5.

Thank you!

Venmo:
Zelle: nicolegracepresley@gmail.com
Google Pay: peacefulpines.phx@gmail.com

02/06/2021

A new beginning can come whenever it's needed. It might be the first day of a new month, a bright new Monday morning, your birthday, or the beginning of a much needed break.

Or a fresh start may come in a less anticipated moment. It may be during a conversation with a friend, or one evening while writing in your journal.

Your fresh start could be something small, like a promise to yourself to stay hydrated. Or it could be big, like uprooting and replanting yourself where you feel you need to be, even if the future is unclear.

For the past five years, June has represented a new beginning to me in one way or another. Summer has begun, and my birthday is perfectly placed at the end of the month to contemplate what changes (big or small) I want to make.

In June I've taken extended breaks from social media. I've made promises to find ways to move and fuel my body in ways that feel good to me. I've moved into my own home after years of sharing one.

This summer, my resolve is focused on cleansing the clutter (both physical and energetic), filling my cup, and spending time with people I love.

Live yoga classes will be paused until August, although you can always practice with me through classes posted on YouTube (available through the link in my bio).

I will continue to post here through the summer, sharing thoughts that resonate with me during this time.

As always, thank you for choosing to spend your time with me, either on the mat or in thought 💚