Just B Yoga Blog

What really kicked my butt into gear was our president’s call for a “New Era of Responsibility.” This message resonated with me.

“It will take time, but we can bring change to America. We can rebuild that lost trust and confidence. We can restore opportunity and prosperity. And we can bring about a new sense of responsibility among Americans from every walk of life and from every corner of the country.”

I want to take a moment to thank everyone here and those who supported Just B for sharing in this dream. I say dream to reflect this current state, not one I’m seeing off in the future. We are living a dream and creating a dream. This effort is about community and collective energy.  It’s not about me. It’s not about any single person. It’s about us and what we believe we can do together – share yoga, all eight limbs with the entire community on a donation-basis. Make it open and available to the entire community for its health and healing. Pattabhi Jois said, “99% practice, 1% theory.” That wasn’t meant just for asana practice on the mat. It’s meant for the yoga we walk in life.

The Just B studio’s existence is evidence of that.

I had to stop in my tracks on the way to lunch at the Fleetwood Diner recently.

We’ve all found a bumper sticker or two that speak to us, that have just the right (or left) message. I like to call this car a mindful messagemobile. Every one of them is conscious, maybe a little cheeky, but all right on target.

About a week ago Suban Nur Cooley from Capital Gains DM’d me on Twitter about writing an article Capital Gains about Just B. I was stoked. Lansing Area Capital Gains is an online magazine and web site showcasing the growth and investments transforming the Lansing region.

The article came out yesterday: Just B Yoga offering community classes in 650 sq ft REO Town space

I’m happy to be part of the buzz of REO Town lately. It’s nice to be in the latest spot that’s getting attention in Lansing. But I want to clarify a few things.

I didn’t plan this. This space came to me quite by accident or fate or however you want to see it.

Come meet the Just B family and supporters and friends. Meet your neighbors. Play some games. Oct. 31, 4-8 p.m. Trick or Treat. Games. Prizes. Fun, fun, fun!  

This Sunday Just B Yoga welcomed Yogi Narayan to the studio for his Yoga Pranayama class, a new weekly offering from 1-4 p.m. This is an amazing experience. Don’t let the three hours give you pause.

The class does light asana practice (postures) in the beginning for about an hour, then pranayama practices for a little more than an hour, and then meditation and questions.

The depth of his knowledge and the peacefulness of his spirit are a blessing to share.

Tuesday I took a few hours to walk around REO Town to hand out fliers and meet whomever I could meet. I can be really comfortable with putting out a quick blog, sending out a Tweet and updating my Facebook page, but that can give me a false sense of communication. It’s not interaction. It’s not connecting…so, it’s not yoga, right?

Restorative Yoga – This class focuses on relaxing the body in restful postures – it helps calm the nervous system and give your body an opportunity to renew and heal itself! New class starts Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. in Lansing at Just B Yoga, 106 Island Ave.

Yoga is a life practice and philosophy – not a religion (read an excerpt from Georg Feurstein’s “Deeper Dimensions of Yoga” – which I highly recommend). It is rooted as a path for spiritual enlightenment but it isn’t a religion. We are encouraged to find our truest selves, not as it is dictated by any person, group or cultural or religious expectation.

That this practice – whether we focus on the one limb of asana (physical postures) or any of the other seven limbs (i.e. breath control, meditation, the ethical dos and donts)  – can come under attack by someone waving the banner of Christianity is unfortunate. Yoga practice can help enhance one’s spiritual connection in my experience.

Well, Just B Yoga is ready to open its doors on Friday. I can say it’s exciting, scary, and nerveracking all in one bundle. The opening will be “soft” – so, no hoopla. Just start teaching and see who shows up, right? We’ll kick it off with a hip hop power hour on Friday at

I had the honor of visiting two donation-based yoga studios in New York the weekend of Sept. 11. A powerful experience on many levels that served as affirmation for Just B as a donation-based yoga service in Lansing.