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Classes officially begin January 06, 2025!
Gentle Yoga Flow
Focuses on slow, intentional movements, gentle stretches, and mindful breathing to promote relaxation and flexibility.
Chair Yoga
Perfect for all abilities, offering gentle movements and stretches while using a chair for stability and comfort.
Restorative Yoga
Using bolsters, blankets, blocks, and straps you'll settle into fully supportive poses held for extended periods to promote rest and rejuvenation.
Why journaling?
In all honesty, I resisted any type of journaling practice for over 20 years. I didn't know what I was feeling most of the time, so how was I suppose to write it down? When I would give it a feeble attempt I became so overwhelmed that I would throw the journal down lamenting on how ridiculous a notion it was.
One day I was listening to a podcast, and the host mentioned Julia Cameron and her book The Artist Way. It was essentially a journaling practice, but the way she described it had me intrigued. She said to get up each morning and before you do anything else, sit down and "brain dump" for three pages. She coined it Morning Pages.
Brain dump? I may not be able to journal my feelings, but I could certainly brain dump! I gave it a try and before I knew it I was brain dumping my heart out. I would start my Morning Pages with mundane things like how I slept the night before and what my schedule looked like that day, and inevitably half-way through my glorious brain dumping session something significant would pop onto the page. A feeling I had about a situation I didn't realize I was still holding onto or a solution to a problem that I had given up trying to solve. Those morning writing sessions became the healing tool I never knew I needed.
Writing is a safe, nonjudgmental space to process thoughts and emotions. It allows you to externalize inner struggles, making it easier to understand and manage overwhelming feelings. This act of self-expression helps reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and foster emotional clarity. Journaling also encourages mindfulness, as it requires you to slow down and focus on your present experience, which can bring a sense of calm and perspective.
By allowing time at the end of each class for journaling, my hope is that you will find it a simple, yet transformative tool, along with your yoga practice, for healing and growth.
Core Values
Meet Lori
Lori Crymson offers Restorative Yoga, Chair Yoga, and Gentle Flow Yoga, with time at the end of each practice for reflective journaling. Lori started her yoga journey when she found Adriene Mishler (Yoga with Adriene) on YouTube. The benefits of this daily practice, sometimes just 20 minutes a day, impacted her life so much that she received her 200-Hour Yoga Teaching Certificate in June 2024 and is currently studying Kundalini Yoga under Guru Singh and Brett Larkin. She will receive her 200-Hour Kundalini Teaching Certificate in April 2025. Coming from a massage therapy background, she has always enjoyed helping others achieve wellness. She now does this through group and private yoga sessions via Zoom and in person. She also provides yoga for special events if you are in her neck of the woods in Southern California.
In addition to all the formal stuff, Lori loves to spend time with family and friends, including her fur-baby, Cosmo; travel; cheer on the sidelines as a dedicated soccer mom; dance (mostly to music playing in her head); drink her morning cup of joe; and eat dessert.
She thanks you for taking a peek at her website, which is a true labor of love, and hopes you will stick around for a while!
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be in shape or flexible to get the benefits of yoga?
Yoga is for every BODY regardless of fitness level, size, shape, or flexibility! The beauty of yoga is its adaptability -- it meets you where you are and grows with you. The most important thing is simply showing up with an open mind and a willingness to try.
How is chair yoga beneficial?
Chair yoga offers a wide range of benefits, making it an excellent option for people of all abilities and fitness levels. Some of the key advantages are that it improves flexibility, builds strength, enhances balance, supports joint health, boosts circulation, reduces stress, increases focus, promotes relaxation, and is inclusive and accessible for everyone.
What if I become emotional during a session?
It is completely normal to feel emotional during a yoga session. Yoga works on more than just the physical body – it can release tension, stored energy, and emotions that you might not even realize you’re holding onto. The combination of mindful movement, breathwork, and deep relaxation creates space for these emotions to surface, which is a healthy and natural part of healing and self-discovery. Yoga is as much about emotional and mental well-being as it is about physical health, so trust the process and honor whatever arises.
What you can do if you become emotional:
Acknowledge it without judgement: allow yourself to feel the emotion without trying to suppress or analyze it.
Focus on your breath: deep, steady breathing can help you stay grounded and process what you are experiencing.
Take a pause: if needed, rest in a comfortable position, like Child’s Pose, or take a moment to sit quietly.
Let it flow: tears, laughter, or even frustration and anger can be signs of release. Allow the emotion to move through you without restriction.
Most yoga instructors, myself included, are familiar with this experience and will hold space for you without judgement, creating a safe and supportive environment.
Is yoga a religion?
No, yoga is not a religion. While it has spiritual roots in ancient Indian traditions, yoga itself is a practice focused on connecting the mind, body, and breath. You can approach yoga in whatever way aligns with your personal beliefs, whether as a form of exercise, a mindfulness tool, or a spiritual practice. Yoga is highly adaptable and doesn’t require adherence to any specific faith or philosophy.
What is Kundalini Yoga?
Kundalini Yoga is a dynamic and transformative style of yoga that focuses on awakening and channeling kundalini energy -- the dormant energy believed to reside at the base of the spine. Often referred to as the "yoga of awareness," it combines physical, mental, and spiritual practices to enhance self-awareness and overall well-being.
Key elements of Kundalini Yoga:
Kriya - structured sequences of poses, breathwork, and movements designed to target specific outcomes, such as reducing stress or increasing vitality.
Pranayama (breathwork) - techniques like breath of fire or alternate nostril breathing are used to energize or calm the mind and body.
Mantras - Repeated chanting or sound vibrations (like "Sat Nam") are used to focus the mind and elevate your consciousness.
Mudras - symbolic hand gestures or positions used to direct and enhance energy flow within the body.
Meditation - practices that involve mindfulness, visualization, or mantra repetition to quiet the mind and connect with inner awareness.
Do I have to chant during Kundalini Yoga?
No, you don’t have to chant. If chanting feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable, you can listen or silently repeat the mantra in your mind. Over time, you might find that chanting enhances your experience, but the most important thing is to approach the practice in a way that feels authentic and enjoyable to you. Kundalini Yoga is adaptable, and your journey with it can unfold at your own pace.
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