As a teacher and practitioner, I am constantly on the go. There’s a rhythm to the teaching schedule—the energy of classes, the planning, the travel, the trainings. It’s a dynamic and beautiful existence, but it’s also one that can easily lean into over-effort and burnout if you’re not listening. I’ve learned firsthand that the most profound yoga isn’t always found in a powerful flow; sometimes, it’s found in stillness, in the conscious act of stepping away.

My yoga journey, much like my dance background, has taught me a lot about the balance of yin and yang. We focus so much on the yang—the strength, the action, the dynamic movement. But the yin—the surrender, the stillness, the quiet—is equally, if not more, essential. A summer break is my way of leaning into the yin. It’s my time to let go of the “doing” and simply focus on the “being.”

After a year of pouring my energy into my teaching and my own practice, a break is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. It’s an act of Ahimsa, of non-harm towards myself. It’s a vital period where I can disconnect from the digital world, step away from the schedule, and allow my body and mind to completely rest and reset. I’ve found that it’s in these moments of quiet that I can truly reconnect with myself and rediscover the simple joys that fill my cup.

I am reminded that my practice extends far beyond the mat. It’s in the quiet moments with family and friends, in the unhurried exploration of a new place, and in the simple joy of having no agenda. This time away allows me to return to my teaching with renewed passion, fresh inspiration, and a full heart. My summer break isn’t a hiatus from my yoga journey; it’s an integral part of it—a reminder that in order to show up fully for others, I must first show up fully for myself.