Friends of AK YogaBliss, 
JULY is two days away:) and with it comes more SUN  (*we hope), summer energy and NEW classes at AK YogaBliss at the Flip Zone, 6609 OH 73, Wilmington, Ohio 45177 !

I am hoping our new class times will give you some opportunity to add a habit in to your life that can not only build strength and tone muscle, but improve the quality of your emotional and mental health.

Our Monday morning 6:00am class will provide an opportunity to begin your work week off right.  Feel an overwhelming "blah" sort of feeling on Mondays? The feeling I term the "Monday Blues?"  Try adding a yoga class to your Monday morning and see for yourself how yoga can transform the energy in your body to a more blissful calm self, allowing you to attack your Monday with a more positive attitude and a longer fuse.

As a former fourth grade teacher, I am excited to be offering classes for teens/tweens and kids age 8 and up on Mondays at 11:15am-12pm.  These classes will be adapted for the students in attendance.  Classes are great for athletes who are interested in building strength, stamina, flexibility, concentration and focus.  They are also wonderful for kids who suffer with anxiety or need access to self confidence in order to boost their self esteem.   Meditation advice and sports counseling will be incorporated into the classes. 

Wednesday 7:15pm class is a midweek "Reset Button," a chance to check in with your body and reconnect with that life giving energy and breath.

Saturdays 9:30 am(July 4, July 11) and 7:45am (July 18 and July 25) are our Community Yoga Days where we come together to reset, recharge and reconnect with ourselves and our yoga community.

Kids classes are 45 minutes and cost $10 per class or buy a 10 class punch card for $85.

The rest of the weeks classes are 1 hour in length.  Cost for each class is $10. 
We do offer are 5 class pass punch cards $50 and 10 class pass punch cards $100.  Cash or Check only.


I am so blessed to have the opportunity to teach yoga in the Clinton-County Community.  Flip Zone is easily accessible to Blanchester, Sabina, Wilmington, Morrow,  Oregonia, South Lebanon, Waynesville.  

Please feel free to forward this message on to a friend you think may benefit from increased physical strength and flexibility, mental and emotional guidance and support, and overall enhanced quality of life.

Be sure to Like us on FACEBOOK AKYogaBliss LLC or check our website with calendar etc. on akyogabliss.weebly.com

See you soon,


Amy Kreider

Ahimsa (Sanskrit: अहिंसा; IAST: ahiṃsā, Pāli:[1] avihiṃsā) is a term meaning 'not to injure'. The word is derived from the Sanskrit roothiṃs – to strike; hiṃsā is injury or harm, a-hiṃsā is the opposite of this, i.e. cause no injury, do no harm.[2][3] Ahimsa is also referred to as nonviolence, and it applies to all living beings - including all animals - according to many Indian religions. Wikipedia


Too much running and not enough stretching the week before, a long road trip on Saturday and Sunday, a stressful transitional moving day on Monday, coupled with strikingly cooler weather for June made for a perfect storm for a back injury.   By Monday evening I was uncomfortable, by Tuesday morning I had difficulty getting out of bed. 

Often though, the most meaningful learning experiences in life come from times of intense turmoil. I've been calling the past month or so of my life "the muddy waters" (after listening to one of my favorite yoga teachers describe the lotus flowers growth in muddy waters.)  As to reinforce this symbol has also showed up a number of times in the past week or so,  I received a beautiful Alex and Ani Lotus bracelet as an end of the year gift from a dear friend and student and another dear student presented me with a Chinese paper cut beautifully inscribed with Mandarin Ducks among Lotus flowers- blessings for a healthful and happy life and family. 

I am surrounded by Lotuses but am up to my neck in transition and turmoil.  

So this week's muddy waters challenge- beginning a teacher summer with an injury. A painful, sleep interrupting, constant painful reminder every time I move.  To compound the injury, my husband happened to flare up a herniated disc on the exact same day.  We were a pair.

Life goes on though, on Tuesday I had to teach a yoga class.  The students are exceptional at the studio and would have done completely fine with verbal cues from me, however I was so stiff on Tuesday I was worried I wouldn't even be able to stand in the room and teach. I felt depression start to loom over my head, fearing this injury would be a lasting one, an enduring painful existence, possibly keeping me from doing what I love the most.  

I had the idea to attend the hot yoga class right before my class in hopes that, at least the heat would loosen me up enough to not cringe in pain while I taught that evening.  So that was my intention: to lie in heat in order to heal myself somewhat.  I had been doing yoga for a long time.  I had cried through enough pigeons, felt overwhelming peace when surrendering in child's pose,  opened my heart in many camels, but what I was about to experience changes everything.

The class I attended is called SLOW, FLOW, STRENGTH, I was pretty confident I'd be slow. I was not very confident I'd be able to flow in my body's current state of affairs. And I definitely did not feel strong. But, I stuck to my intention, decidedly taking two blocks off the shelf, as I had once watched a video on how to use them to help transition a foot forward into a lunge (I knew my lower back would scream at this movement as I could barely stand up from a chair, let alone the floor.) And I came to my mat.

In child's pose I began to breathe, yoga breath- slow and smooth. And as the teacher began to instruct, I stayed in child's pose and I kept breathing.  When she told us to lift our legs and come into down dog, I bent my knees and on all fours, and kept breathing.  When she invited us into a forward fold, I stood up slowly, pressing down on my blocks for help, and placed my forearms on my thighs.  

I did not look like the other students. I did not feel like the other students.  There were plenty of people in the room that knew I was a yoga teacher.  I was cognizant that they probably had some expectation that my practice should look different than it does.  My ego was aware of this, and it was a struggle to continue to remind myself of my intention, Ahmisa non- harm, but even more than that- compassion, deep healing compassion, the kind  I dish out to everyone else, sometimes forgetting to take some for my own plate. 

At one time during the practice, I stopped for a moment and taking a deep breath realized, I could not have done this four years ago.  Four years ago I would have ignored the injury, gone on a long run, turned on some Insanity- pushed the injury to the point of self-induced immobility.  Over the past four years, my practice of yoga and its teachings especially of Ahmisa, focus on awareness of ego and its harmful affects, as well as, my developing sense of self worthiness and mantra- "would I treat a friend as I am treating myself?", had allowed me to be open enough at this moment to listen to my body, stay in stillness and breathe.   As I watched the class come into Eka Pada Koundinyasana (a more challenging arm balance), I felt a surge of pride for not "going for it" even though, (my ego) really wanted to show I could do it.  

As the week went on I chose Ahmisa over and over again. Each time I practiced active healing I felt better and better. I chose time away from running, meditated more, moved into slower restorative yoga poses or just stillness and breath, drank lots of water over other beverages, and made time for rest.  

And although not living in the moment and not paying attention to my body, and stuffing my feelings in order to appear stoic, got me into the injury-     at least it didn't keep me there.   

Movement- pride. The beauty of notes dancing in air, as my daughter's arms  command the bow of her violin.   My son clutching a football and exploding down the field quickly out of reach of defenders at his heels. 

Movement-beauty. The captivating way the bodies of my yoga students form a synchronize wave from Updog to Downdog, or the blissful result that ensues as the surge of sweat drops from the brow of the determined yogi as her feet lift off the ground, perching herself for the first time in crow and the smile that follows. The exaggerated sigh of exasperation from the teasing yoga practitioner as we finish an abdominal series.  

Movement-transformation. The tearful hiccup in my sister's voice when she tells me she just finished her first marathon. The sync of our steps and hearts on Sunday morning runs alongside my sister n law and my best friend. In this movement, and a time for pouring over our troubles and take turns making each other laugh. 

Movement. 
I'm in love with movement and so grateful for what it changes, what it soothes, what it solves.  

All sorts of movement, from my feet pushing against the peddles occasionally looking up from the handlebars to reveal sheer joy on the faces of fellow bicyclists passing by. 
Then, my feet landing on freshly fallen cedar needles in a soft walk through the woods. 
Or, the pleasure of my feet leaving the ground lifting into an inversion that took years to master. 

Even movement in the stillness.  The rise and fall of my chest in breath in the stillness of the night.  The pulsing of the tips of your fingers or toes as you lie in Shavasana.  

All of it. 

I love that all people, regardless their mobility can move. Inhale and watch the wave of breath flow from the abdomen, into the chest, through the throat and into the crown of the head. Watch the wave of the exhale from the crown of the head, back down through the neck and thoracic cavity and down through the abdomen. 
The beautiful wave of the body's most complex, life giving movement.  Movement giving life to all other movement.  

Breathe,  Move, Empower- or STRUT, it's BLISS

In the words of Lenny Kravitz...

You are a freak of nature by the way you move
Just be yourself, you got nothing to prove

Baby strut
Let me see you walk, strut
Let your body talk, strut
Show me how you work

*"Strut" by Lenny Kravitz

I recently read the book Healthy, Happy, Sexy by Katie Silcox.  This book helps to explain the "life science", "sister science of yoga" - Aryuveda.

Here's the back story- I've been enamored with Katie since I met her four years ago at a workshop held at YogaHome in Symmes. Katie came in the room wearing a two piece bathing suit, and claiming she still wondered why people would want to do HOT yoga. She told us, the heat is unnecessary, yoga naturally builds heat, the Ujjayi breath naturally builds heat in the body- so why would we add more? She made us "massage" our livers, we felt our kidneys, and at the end of class, she persuaded us to spend 30 seconds on opening our knees out and then back in on Supta Baddha Konasana. Crazy- but the true me, loved it!

Her body had woman's curves, (what I know now after reading the book a Kapha body type) not like what I was used to seeing in my yoga classes. And her self acceptance and self confidence made her even that much more beautiful to me.  

Her book does not disappoint! It is just as voluptuous and down to earth and as open and in your face with it all as she is.

So since I've read the book, I've taken more time for meditation - even if just 5 minutes a day- especially when I first wake up.  I count my breaths or repeat the mantra SO Ohm (SO on the in breath, HuM on the out breath), I drink warm lemon water (1/2 juice of a lemon in a warm mug of water) first thing every morning, and I take time to do some of the meditations she includes in the SEXY part of the book. (I'll leave the book to explain those to you.)

I have found these small changes in my routines to be very healthful and health building.  

I'm trying to live more consciously: 
1. workout without the radio blaring in my ears so I can feel what my body is experiencing and truly be with the experience, 
2. take mental pictures of each moment with my children and spouse knowing once we're in that moment- it's over (if I'm not present in that moment my heart won't own it), 
3. acknowledging that success comes when I live life free of judgement- judgement of others, but especially judgement of myself and my abilities.  

All in all, I'm trying to be a best friend to myself, or at least as kind and loving and accepting as I am to all my best friends.  

And, most of the time, it's working for me. 

Hope this helps you.

before you're brought to your knees.


I am huddled in a corner- almost literally in a ball. It's the second weekend of yoga teacher training and I am again, at my wits end.

I've had a week... OK...  maybe I've had quite a year. 

Straddling two jobs (one new full time job as a fourth grade teacher,  one almost full time job as a high school and a middle school soccer coach), plus yoga training almost every weekend, all weekend-  and did I forget to mention, two small children,  and a husband who are all waiting for their time- in the midst of the chaos I've created, 

And here comes the wisdom- "Amy, you'll need to come to your knees before you're brought to your knees."

I'll be honest, at the time, my instructor's words and the link between the Asana (movement) in the yoga practice, (I'd only been practicing yoga for about a year and the comparison of life/yoga had not yet reached me) and my life were not quite clear and processed.  But the metaphor could not be more clear in my emotion and the overwhelming feeling of depression in my body. 


My own inexperience/ignorance in listening to my body,  had brought me to this place.  The overwhelming responsibilities I had strapped on myself, as well as my inability to put my health first, in order to balance my role as a mother, my own human needs, and not to mention my own inherent- never stop, always reach for more tendency,  coupled with my inability to say no to anything, had brought me to this huddled, lifeless position in the corner of the room- and more gratefully into this yoga space. 

And "here" (THANK GOD, or the UNIVERSE) was exactly where the universe wanted me. 

Because in this room were fifteen other wonderful human beings that had either experienced being brought down on their knees, were in the process of coming to their knees. or in the need of the experience of finding their surrender.  

And together in practice, We came into child's pose.  

And, I was now literally on my knees.  

In pause, in surrender, I gave my body the time to begin a discussion.   

The practice that day had been nearly two hours long. My feet had left the floor. My pigeon had brought me to tears. And now resting in child's pose, the truest embodiment of surrender, the real tears came from the deepest part of my being- the part that in the chaos I had not often heard. 

And in this silence,  a moment to wonder- Why was I crying? 

I'll be honest, in a time of life I seemed to be able to rationalize or explain anything....this time I truly didn't know- because my mind wasn't talking. 

What I know now in hindsight, is my mind has a tendency to fear and then over commit. 

But at the time, I knew only that my body was weeping- and someday, I may want to know more about why.

And every time I come to my mat, I leave time to uncover just a little bit more. 

In a word from the instructor, in a pose, in a moment of silence. 

 I uncover.  

Just a piece of the full picture of my life.

My body/mind/soul connection is enlightening on my mat, not all at once, but if I'm patient with the journey-

That balance posture becomes the metaphor for the lack of balance of pleasure and hard work in my life.  

My pigeon pose reveals a release of something not serving me.  

The sweat-  my body's tears from over work and need of rest.  

The heart opener reveals a space I didn't know exist, but I've been longing for.

And in more obvious ways, that anxiety I felt before- exists on a lesser level.  The craving for alcohol or the salty food eases just a bit.  The breath in a hard moment with my boss, or the calmness and anchor to my center in a career change- all come into fruition. 

And especially the intention of bliss I brought forth on my mat, becomes a little more tangible in life.

It's all a journey.  

Four years later, I am still committing time to more than I should. 
I am still struggling to find that balance.
But every time I practice, envision, let go on my mat, I'm a little closer to what I need in my life.  
 I am empowered and committed to make the changes I need to become more of myself.

Where your intention lies, is where energy is guided. Set your intention today, whether on your mat or in your life.  Ask yourself, what is it that I need? Ask your body, what do I need? And let whatever answer comes- be the answer. Set it as your intention, reflect on it throughout the day.  Let it move you in a yoga practice- and watch patiently as it arrives in your life. 

Have you had those moments, where you're so filled with anxiety, are so worried about life events, you feel filled to the very top of your being with worry?

This morning I awoke, with "stuff" on my mind...I had a to do list, had to get to it and it involved email and work, and worries:(

SO I got right to it, started sending emails, started adding to my list of worries, and inside my body I could feel the heavy.

I got through enough to feel somewhat accomplished, and got on my treadmill to run some of the heavy out.

As I ran, my mind must have sensed something was wrong, so it decided to "save" me.  

My mind  started to race to "help out"-  thoughts ran off in all directions in an attempt to do what minds have done since the beginning of time-  keep us alive in stress.  I started into a trail of thought that just got heavier and heavier. You know, "what if this..., what if that..." And worse scenarios after worse scenarios started to arrive on my mind.

When I stopped.  The thought then came to my mind, "why go there?" 

What does this trail of worry leave me with? Solutions? More problems? More worry? 

And I kept moving, kept breathing, used what my yoga instructors have told me in meditation before- "Don't follow those thoughts, allow them to be, name them, and then let them go."

And I did.  I named those thoughts...
"That's my to do list, those are my worries, I'm afraid of the future. I'm saddened by what's out of my control." 

But in this moment, I'm ok. 

And, I felt lighter, and even for just a little bit- I felt better.

And I'm reminded, it is within my power to make myself feel better.  I can use the techniques I've learned in yoga/meditation for life off the mat.

I can't change my circumstances necessarily. I can't make every event in my life blissful.  But it is within my power to center myself and find peace through breath and pause. 

Don't let your thoughts define you.   

Take a moment to pause, find some big deep breaths in and out.  In those moments, allow thoughts to come in but don't follow them.  Let them trail away, telling yourself, you are OK.  Let the feeling of calm come over you and acknowledge what it feels like. 

As a classroom teacher and a yoga instructor, I am again and again overwhelmed with pride for how often young people are willing to take a challenge, “sweat” it out and succeed. 

Side note:This year, I've been blessed to have the opportunity to teach my own child.  

Last night as my son and I were reviewing for a Greek/Latin Root Word quiz I was giving to my class the next day, my husband (Math Teacher) was listening from the kitchen.  When my son left the room after studying, my husband tip-toed in and whispered-  “That’s hard!” with wide eyes. “I’m not sure I could do that!” (my husband is very humble, I’m sure if he studied he could. :)

But I do know, this Greek and Latin word study work we are doing in class is designed to challenge each student.

This morning, my son woke up “beaming” with pride over the fact he could say every word for his quiz without pausing and claimed he knew he was ready (last week was a different story, yes I let him learn the hard way). 

Then, on the way to school he told me he never believed studying every night would truly make a difference.  But it does, (score one for mom :) He hadn't studied every night last week and had not performed well on the quiz. 

What I’m learning from all my students (and my own son)-  we can embrace challenges.  And when at first we don't succeed, we don't need to "punish" ourselves or beat ourselves up for it. We cannot back down and quit when we are faced with opportunities to become better at something.   We shouldn't turn away if at first we don't succeed. 

Kids are the best at embracing challenges and allowing themselves to sometimes fall and get back up!  

Life provides these opportunities for growth in this way, and if we can avoid harsh judgment or punishment (of ourselves or others) when at first we don't succeed- we can be open to the greatness that can be achieved through hard work, perseverance and renewed self confidence. 

I am so blessed to be in the company of the students I teach on and off the mat. 

And, although it is hard for a mother (teacher) to watch her child struggle sometimes.  I do recognize that it is in struggle that we learn.  

When it is OK to fall down and get back up- we grow.  

I’m glad for our family, we are learning this as our children are younger- hope it will prepare us for the future.

Are you afraid to embrace a challenge? What's the worst that can happen? If you fall, will you get back up?

Try a yoga class. When exploring what it is about a great yoga class does for me recently, I realized, it allows me the opportunity to try and fail. To play like a child with my balance and flexibility, getting my feet over my head or just simply laying in "child's" pose.  I've literally fallen on my face and gotten back up only to hear my yoga instructor remind me, everybody does it, now get back up and try it again.  Your mat is your support, your safe place.  Why not give it a try?