Yoga & Breath Guidance
MINDFUL MAMA
Restorative Breathwork is a guided meditation practice that focuses on cultivating an attentive awareness of the breath. This quality of awareness invites us to be mindful of the breath while simultaneously modifying the breath to open up its natural movements. It requires the presence of listening, opening oneself to being the “receiver” of the breath. In attending to the flow of the breath, we soon become aware that there is an innate wisdom, or intelligence, within our natural breath. We call this our “innate breath.”
When we begin to cultivate an attentive awareness of our breath, many of us notice that we are unable to breathe fully and that our breathing is labored and erratic. Most irregularities in our breath grow out of breathing habits caused by chronic stress and suppressed emotions. These tensions in the breath eventually block or impair the functioning of the innate breath; although still present, it now exists in a quiescent state. As we open up the breath's natural movements, old patterns of tension and gripping are gently released. In unraveling tensions in the breath, we awaken the innate breath from its suspended state, encouraging it to unfold its potential to revitalize and transform all levels of being—mind, body, and spirit.
Carmen began practicing yoga in 2004 while attending the Cayce/Reilly School of Massage. Immediately she felt more connected, peaceful, and resilient and continued to practice many different styles of yoga in many settings. Carmen enrolled in Hatha Yoga Teacher Training in 2010 to deepen her understanding of what was happening both on and off the mat as a result of yoga. She is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Instructor with specialty training in Breathwork, Prenatal Yoga, Restorative & Yin Yoga.
Yoga continues to help Carmen see life with clarity and enables her to remain an observer in the midst of a hectic life. Yoga helps her let go and let the change come, to bend and not break. It was a guiding light during & after her pregnancies as well.
She loves to see the courage it takes to be on the mat and fully present, and the compassion it takes to be exactly where you are and how you are. Carmen’s classes cultivate self-awareness by encouraging her students to step into the powerful position of an observer, which allows us to remain calm and neutral, acting rather than reacting in our life. Carmen’s intention as a teacher is to inspire and guide students in a compassionate and nurturing environment to encourage gentle inner exploration.
Carmen believes yoga is the path to greater self-awareness and healing. She is honored to share yoga and its benefits with others. She also loves being present for her two young sons as they discover their place in this world, reading, spending time in nature & reaching for the next level of awareness.
