Retreat to India THIS Fall!

Interested in traveling to India this year? We’re going to Kerala, which is in South India! We will travel together, eat delicious food together, practice yoga and meditation together and experience the amazing culture that India has to offer. Learn more about our trip below:

Journey to Kerala, South India: Tour + Yoga

(Cochin – Munnar – Periyar – Kumarakom – Kovalam -Trivandram)

October 28th – November 8th, 2015

Sample Tour Itinerary:

Oct 28th – Airport pickup at Cochin, stay 2 nights in Fort Cochin at Casino Hotel

Oct 29th – Morning yoga. Visit the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue and St. Francis Church. Stroll the streets lined with spices and antiques. See a kathakali traditional dance.

Oct 30th – Drive to Munnar, surrounded by tea plantations, stay 3 nights at Mountain Club

Oct 31st – Morning yoga. Explore national park, tea museum, tea factory

Nov 1st – Morning Yoga. Day of leisure and enjoy a walk through the tea and spice plantations

Nov 2nd – Drive to Periyar, spice country and India’s best-known nature reserve, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Stay 2 nights at Poetree Resort. Enjoy an elephant ride through the plantation and a walk through the spice garden.

Nov 3rd – Morning Yoga. Enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Periyar searching for wild elephants, bisons, sambar deer and more!

Nov 4th- Drive to Kumarakom and stay overnight on an air-conditioned, deluxe houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala, All meals included when on houseboat.

Nov 5th – Drive to Kovalam and relax on the beautiful island for 3 nights at Poovar Island Resort.

Nov 6th – Morning yoga. Relax, leisure at resort, or enjoy Kovalam beach

Nov 7th - Morning yoga. Relax, leisure at resort, or enjoy Kovalam beach

Nov 8th – Last day to relax and leave for airport.

Tour to Kerala Includes:

- 4 Star Hotel Accommodations

- Transportation in and around India including airport pickup/dropoff in India

- Wonderful English speaking tour guide

- Yoga/meditation classes with Shira

- Daily vegetarian breakfast & dinner

- Overnight on a houseboat

- Kathakali traditional dance show

- Elephant safari

- Spice plantation visit

- Boat ride on Lake Periyar

- Entrances and national parks, museums and monuments

Tour Excludes:

- International round-trip airfare to Cochin
- Visa for India
- Tips for Indian guides, drivers, porters etc.
- Camera entry fees for tourist attractions
- Laundry services

- Transportation costs which are outside of the tour activities
- Any activities or items not mentioned in the itinerary
Please note: All meals served will be vegetarian. If you wish to eat meat, poultry, eggs, fish or drink alcohol this expense will not be covered by the tour.

Cost per person 12 Days, 11 Nights:

Double Occupancy: 2,550

Single Occupancy: 3,250

$500 deposit to hold your spot. For a more detailed itinerary please email: shira@soulflyte.com

Student Spotlight: Cristina Konior

This month our student spotlight is Crissy Konior. She's been coming to Soul Flyte since January and is about to hit her 100th visit! She's getting stronger in every class and is such a pleasure to be around! See her interview below:

How did you find out about Soul Flyte?

My amazing friend Jenni told me about soulflyte back in the Fall while we were in Puerto Rico. I was intrigued because she was doing all these crazy yoga poses in our hotel room and on the beach and I was like "where'd you learn that?"

What’s something you can't live without? 

This is a tough one, if I had to pick one thing I'd have to say music, because no matter what kind of mood I'm in, I can listen to music and either chill myself out or get energized. That was kind of deep. I also think I'd throw a fit if Chapstick didn't exist.

What brought you to try your first class at SF? 

While out to dinner on New Year's Eve, my friends Jenni (who told me about SF) and Melissa told me to try it as my New Year's Resolution. We all signed up for a Restorative Class together later that week and I can honestly say I've actually kept my resolution this year!!

What’s your favorite time of day?

I am certainly NOT a morning person, but I'd say late afternoon or evening depending on the time of year.

Do you have a favorite pose at SF?
I have a few! I love Chandelier, and recently I've learned this super fun flying comet, star swinging combo in Flying Fitness. 

What’s the best meal you've eaten? 
Anything related to Pizza or Tacos.

Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte?
Challenging myself everyday in class to push myself harder, seeing myself getting stronger, and of course, the awesome flygirls and Instructors I've met in class.

Would you recommend it to others? 

Absolutely

Favorite/best place you've traveled to: 

No matter where I've been there's no place like NYC.

What's your favorite book? Movie?

Don't laugh, my favorite movie is Twister, yes the one from 1997. My favorite book, I would have to say is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson.

What's the craziest thing you've ever done? 

Run into a burning building (I was a volunteer firefighter for a few years).

Anything else you want to share?

If you've been thinking about trying Soulflyte and haven't yet, it's definitely worth it, for so many reasons you can't even imagine.

Your Dream Body - Redefine Your Goals: by Kim Jordan

Your “dream body”—the word “dream” suggests aspiration, motivation, and ambition; A dream is something pleasurable, which brings joy. Yet why does the idea of one’s “dream body” conjure up so much negativity? Self-improvement is a positive thing, and is something we work on throughout our lives. Yet all too often, we lose touch with reality, aiming for immediate perfection that simply cannot be achieved. We become so wrapped up in aesthetic goals that we emphasize the wrong things, neglecting what truly matters. We fail to acknowledge the progress we have made, and instead concentrate on what we have not done—or in this case, what we do not look like. We dread the onset of gorgeous, warm weather because of something so silly as how we look. How can we fix this? How can we healthily achieve our dream bodies for summer, and most importantly, year round? Should the goal really be to look good in a bikini, or should being healthy, happy, and confident be the goal? Can we have both? Of course. But it requires a shift in focus.

Firstly, we need to think about the idea of the “dream body” more holistically. A dream body would function the way it should, not fight against you—it would feel revitalized in the morning, maintain a healthy weight without struggle, and feel strong and capable, allowing us to do the things we love. A dream body would be energetic, vibrant, and effortlessly beautiful because it is healthy (Notice no mention here of six-pack abs or a thigh gap). Secondly, we need to stop focusing on outward appearance, and instead focus on health. Why? Well first of all, what’s the point in looking the way you want to look, but feeling like crap? And secondly, internal health precedes and creates vibrant external self. Our bodies are programmed to be healthy and resilient—we simply need to give them what is necessary to make this happen every day: nourishment (good food), activity (exercise and movement), and stress-management (quality sleep and time to unwind, relax, and rejuvenate). It’s that simple.

Give your body what it needs to be healthy, and you will achieve your dream body. Let your outward appearance be a reflection of inward health and vitality by keeping the following in mind: 

1)    Get rid of the idea of “diet” as a short-term, restrictive plan. Instead, think of it as its true definition: the way you eat… or even better, my favorite: “habitual nourishment.”

2)    Eat a variety of real wholesome food, not just edible “products.” The less man-manipulated a food, the more nutrition present. The more nutrition your body gets, the better it can function (more on that in Part II!)

3)    Listen to your body. When you’re hungry, eat. When you’re not, don’t. Your body knows what you need.

4)    Learn the difference between hunger and cravings. True hunger is a sign from your body that it needs fuel. Cravings are specific—you need a certain food and you need it now.

5)    Focus on quality over quantity. Stop restricting the amount of food you eat; instead, think of food as your means of nourishing your body.

6)    Return to the tradition of meal-time: Sit down to eat actual meals, prepared by someone who put time and effort into creating that meal, and focus on enjoying your food and your company!

7)    Banish negativity and restriction. Think of what you are giving to your body instead of thinking about what you’re taking away. And remember to treat yourself once in a while and enjoy it!

8)    Move, often. Be active simply because it benefits you as a person—not just physically, but also emotionally, spiritually, and even socially!

Is it wrong to have aesthetic goals? Absolutely not. But focusing only on the end result, without emphasis on the journey to get there isn’t only less than healthy, but it isn’t very fun, nor successful most of the time. Your “dream body” will never be your dream body unless you feel great in it. So instead of obsessing over a number on the scale or certain dress size, let’s turn the focus to creating the right internal environments, and let our bodies be an outward, vibrant manifestation of our health. Instead of depriving ourselves to reach a desired physical appearance, let’s instead give positive attention to nourishing our bodies and giving them what they need! Instead of hating our bodies, nitpicking our physical imperfections, and punishing ourselves, let’s pay more attention to our strengths, work on our weaknesses, and love our bodies for all they do—regardless of how they may or may not look. The rest—whatever physical goal you have for yourself-- will take care of itself once the internal stuff is worked out. I promise.

---

Meet the author:  Kim Jordan is a health educator, nutritionist, and co-owner of Hippie Healing, currently completing her Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) certification. Sharing her passions for real food, functional fitness, and natural products, Kim aims to prove to others that we are meant to thrive, and that the lifestyle we choose to lead is the foundation to achieving our full potential. Her goal is to help others uncover the root causes of their health challenges, and use food as a tool to become their happiest, healthiest selves. She sees clients one-on-one, and teaches nutrition workshops throughout the area. For more information, visit http://www.eatingtothrive.net/ and follow her on Instagram @kim.jordan.

If you’re interested in more personalized nutrition guidance, contact Kim at KJordan.wellness@gmail.com 

Student Spotlight: Samantha Rivera

How did you find out about Soul Flyte?

I discovered Soul Flyte through an online search for AntiGravity yoga in Rockland County. I don’t know what led me to choose Soul Flyte over the other studios listed in the search results, but I am so glad I did!

What’s something you can't live without? 

I would have to say my pets, specifically my two cats. They have been with me through my hardest times, and they still love me.  (As long as I feed them on time.)

What brought you to try your first class at SF? 

I have been wanting to try AntiGravity yoga for a while, and the range of classes available sounded exciting. 

What’s your favorite time of day?

Noon is by far my favorite, especially on a gorgeous sunny day!

Do you have a favorite pose at SF?

 I feel like I'm constantly changing my mind on this one, but at the moment it's the Harrison Handstand.

What’s the best meal you've eaten? 

My dad’s homemade manicotti with his incredible pasta sauce

Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte?

I've met such incredible people by coming to Soul Flyte.  The instructors and fellow students have an awesome range of personalities that add a great vibe to each class.

Would you recommend it to others? 

I already have!

Favorite/best place you've traveled to: 

Canterbury, England. I hope to go back some day!

What's your favorite book? Movie?

My favorite book is Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk.  My favorite movie is actually a bizarre tie between “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” and “Unbroken”.

What's the craziest thing you've ever done? 

Do my college years in general count as an answer? I'm going with that.

Anything else you want to share?

Becoming a student at Soul Flyte has seriously changed my life for the better. I have scoliosis and an autoimmune disorder (yay, genetics!); both of which were so bad that I was in constant pain, inactive, and just plain miserable. I feel like a different person now, thanks to the physical and mental aspects of practicing AntiGravity yoga with Shira, Leigh, and Emyli as my instructors.  (Hopefully I'll get to have a class with Jenevieve, Robyn and Ruth someday soon!) I'm healthier than I have ever been before, and I am so thankful that I made Soul Flyte part of my life!

Newest Instructor: Robyn Corujo

We couldn't be more excited to welcome Robyn into the Soul Flyte team! She's got some incredible spunk that's contagious and has anyone who comes into contact with her laughing and working their butt off! Check out her classes, she officially starts the second week of April! Check out her interview:

How did you get into fitness: I got into fitness completely by accident. I was taking Cardio Kickboxing classes at a Karate studio and the owner said to me, "You're really good at this. You should think about teaching!" And I was like, "Um... ok, sure!" And so I did :)

What’s your background? I am a certified Group Fitness Instructor through the Aerobics And Fitness Association Of America and I also have specialty certifications in Turbo Kick, PiYo, TRX Suspension Training and Booty Barre. I am also an actress by trade so I really enjoy the theatrical aspects of being a Group Fitness Instructor. In a lot of ways, it's like performing. 

Why AntiGravity®? AntiGravity is so different and out of the box and because of that, it's right up my alley. I also enjoy the many health benefits of the practice.  It's good for the body as well as the mind.

Any comments to your future students? We are all capable of so much more than we even realize. Step out of your comfort zone and try something new. You never know where it can lead.

Mother Ganga, The River

In my travels to India this month – I had the joy and honor of bathing in the Ganges River. At the foothills of the Himalayas lies this beautiful, light green, freezing cold river that is said to be holy by Hindus from all around the world. People come from near and far to bathe in its sacred waters. I had the privilege of seeing it everyday for 5 days and I even purchased mala beads (meditation beads) that I dipped in the river. As I washed the malas in the river, I chanted positive affirmations to charge them – making them even more powerful.

This experience was beautiful and I wouldn't have passed it up for anything. I feel grateful and honored to have had this opportunity and I can't wait to go back!

If you would like to have a piece of the Ganga, come to the studio and purchase your own mala beads today! See you soon.

Lunar Magic by Jenevieve

As the snow continues to, once again, come down, I can't help but feel the excitement of warmer weather around the corner. This month's "Worm" moon, (that was full at 1:05pm today) symbolizes the ground thawing and earthworm casts reappearing thus inviting the return of robins and... spring! The magic of the moon is a beautiful thing, creating the ebb and flow of the oceans and tides and much more. All life forms have cycles of birth, growth, death, and renewal that mirror the lunar cycles.

Month after month women's menstrual cycles mimic the moon cycle "coincidentally" lasting 28 days. If you are like me, you tend to feel a little crazier around the full moon. When the moonlight is at it's fullest we tend to be more prone to accidents and injuries, so it's a good idea to take it slow and be gentle with ourselves and others. The full moon, by nature, rules feminine aspects such as our emotional self, allowing us to shed layers that are no longer serving us. Finally! moving forward into spring, It's good to try and release any part of you that feels heavy or is not benefiting you anymore.

In honor of today's lunar magic, try to become aware of the energy that's building and transform it positively. 

Written by Jenevieve Louise, Soul Flyte Staff

Newest Instructor: Leigh LaBrake!

We are beyond excited to welcome the lovely Leigh LaBrake into our teaching community. She will be starting to teach in March, so please look for her name and check out her classes soon! To start, she'll be teaching Soul Flow on Wednesday's at 4pm and Fundamentals on Sunday's at 4pm. Check out our interview with her below:

 How did you get into AG yoga and fitness:

I had seen other people trying it, and when I learned there was a place in Nyack, Soul Flyte, I had to try it. I went just hoping to have fun, but ended up finding that it helped my chronic back pain. I left with my back feeling absolutely wonderful. Knowing that I had a blast and that it was having such a positive effect, I kept trying out different classes at Soul Flyte. I was hooked!

What’s your background?

I grew up playing softball, field hockey, and skiing/snowboarding. While in grad school for Art Education, I found roller derby and shortly after CrossFit. I am a high school art teacher, a certified Level 1 and CrossFit Kids trainer, a 200 Hour RYT and now an AntiGravity trained instructor! I love staying active and finding new ways to keep my body moving.

 Why AntiGravity®?

I love practicing inversions, but having the zero compression that AntiGravity provides allows my spine to really decompress. I love the feeling of flying and being suspended in the air. The variety of ways to use the hammock, the poses, and the benefits you receive from adding an AntiGravity practice has been incredible for my body and my peace of mind.

 Any comments to your future students?

Trust yourself and the hammock and have the courage to try something new, because you will more often than not surprise yourself. Come "hang" out!

Meditate, Just Do It

To me, meditation is my quiet time. Once I made the commitment to sit every single day, a shift was made in my mind and body. We’re all busy, we all have hectic schedules – kids, work, school, family, pets, babies and the list continues on. Even though those things do exist, it doesn’t give you the excuse not to take 15 minutes for yourself every single day to breathe, to listen and to feel. You will need to be flexible with your practice, maybe it isn’t the same routine every single day because circumstances do come up, but there’s always 15 minutes in another part of your day. To quiet and focus your mind is to create peace inside but also outside. It effects every part of your day with yourself and others, just by sitting for a few minutes. Even if your mind is wandering the whole time, at least you sat. The more you practice, the easier it will be for your mind to get quieter.

There are all different types of meditation practices – this Sunday we have Anna Antaneis coming to offer guided meditation. She’s absolutely fabulous at what she does and I know you’ll learn a ton about how you can practice this at home. I highly suggest that you come to class on Sunday at 4pm. You can signup HERE.

Meditation has made a huge impact in my life and I know it can effect yours too. Let this be your chance to make a positive change.

“Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It is a way of entering into the quiet that is already there, buried under the 50,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day.” – Deepak Chopra

Student Spotlight: Jenni Salomon

This month our student spotlight of the month is Jenni Salomon. Jenni has been coming to the studio since the beginning of October. The strength, confidence and excitement she shares each time she shows up to class is just the best. When she nails a pose, she's excited and always ready for more. We interviewed her below, check it out: 

How did you find out about Soul Flyte?
The Facebook. 

What’s something you can't live without? 
My calendar, not on my phone - its old school.  I'd probably get fired and not have any friends if I couldn't keep track of my schedule. 

What brought you to try your first class at SF? 
My car :)

What’s your favorite time of day?
Evening. 

Do you have a favorite pose at SF?
Handstands! 

What’s the best meal you've eaten? 
The cheese plate at The Hop in Beacon, NY. Super local cheeses and Matt, (the chef) makes this mustard seed "caviar" that is served with it and it’s off the hook. 

Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte?
I feel so strong! (And my Instagram has become way more interesting too!) 

Would you recommend it to others? 
I have!!

Favorite/best place you've traveled to: 
Africa

What's your favorite book? Movie?
The Little Prince.  Its a children's book. 
Cool Runnings - the Disney movie about the Jamaican bobsled team. 

What's the craziest thing you've ever done? 
Delivered someone else's baby.  Seriously, it’s an insane and amazing experience.  

Anything else you want to share?
This place and its people are awesome and I’m constantly excited and grateful to be a part of it!

Soul Flyte is Hiring!

So you want to be an instructor at Soul Flyte? Now’s the chance! We’re looking for passionate, positive, service-oriented, hard-working, enthusiastic, caring and soulful yoga and fitness enthusiasts. It’s a plus if you’re already certified to teach yoga, dance, or other fitness classes.

Soul Flyte is revolutionizing Nyack by bringing AntiGravity yoga and fitness to town, connecting the mind, body and soul. If you’ve been to our classes you already know how fantastic you feel during and afterwards. We’re a unique, boutique studio with A LOT of soul and we’re growing quickly. Instructors are crucial to our vibe and we NEED more powerful and motivating leaders to join our team. 

We can’t wait to hear from you! Please email us with your resume and a blurb explaining a bit about you and why you’re interested in teaching AntiGravity® yoga and fitness: shira@soulflyte.com

#Juicingfor30

Hi Folks! We're happy to announce that here at Soul Flyte we’re teaming up with our local massage therapist crew: Nenriki Therapy to commit to a 30-day juice challenge and we want YOU to join us! What does that mean? Well, We know that it’s been a tough holiday season with drinking, eating, sugar, dessert, ETC. because we’re right there with ya. We’ve collectively decided that to get back on our health bandwagon we need to make a commitment – hence our 30-day juice challenge: #juicingfor30

What is it? Every day starting on January 1st-January 31st we’re committing to drinking one fresh pressed juice every single day for 30 days. That means you can buy a juice at your local health food store or juice bar or you can make it at home using a juicer, either way works for us.

This isn’t a juice fast or diet, it’s simply adding in the good stuff into your already healthy diet! What’s a healthy diet, oh please….. you know what’s healthy and what isn’t… not too many carbs, minimize your sugar intake and eat your colors. If everything on your plate is brownish or white in color then you’ve got to start eating more colorfully. Be creative. If you’re eating a bagel for breakfast then drink a fresh juice to wash it down.

Here’s what doesn’t count as juice for this challenge. If it comes in a bottle like apple juice, orange juice, Odwalla juice, Naked juice, etc. – that doesn’t count! We’re talking real vegetables that you watch go into the juicer. Here are some of our favorite juices:

Carrot, beet

Kale, romaine, celery, cucumber, lemon, ginger, green apple

Carrot, apple, ginger

Spinach, cucumber, kale, celery, carrot, lemon

Cucumber, apple

***This challenge is about experimenting with recipes. If we tell you exact numbers it won’t come out right because every vegetable is a different size! Play with it until it tastes good to you.

You can make any juice work - use what you have on hand or buy what you like.  Who’s with us? Let’s commit to feeling our best selves starting January 1st. We’re in, are you? If so, then all you have to do is take a photo of your juice everyday and post it to your social media platform with #juicingfor30

Cheers to YOUR health.

Love,

The Soul Flyte and Nenriki Therapy Teams

AIRBarre Has Arrived!!

We have some VERY exciting news to share with you! We’re adding AIRBarre onto our schedule! It’s the newest class to come out of the AntiGravity® Lab and we’re beyond thrilled to start offering it!

Schedule:

Discount December Monday December 8th at 7:30pm

And Saturday’s at 12:30pm starting on December 13th.

AIRBarre is a fusion of dance, barre, pilates, yoga and the aerial arts. Since it’s AntiGravity® of course there will be inversions. You’ll feel like you’re at the ballet bar at times getting an amazing toning workout for your legs, butt, thighs, core and arms! It’s an all in one class. Please make sure to check it out and sign up now!

See you at the “barre” a.k.a. the Harrison Hammock!

Flying Children at Soul Flyte!

Do you have a child between the ages of 11-15? Know someone who does? Have they been dreaming of being able to fly?!!? Well this is the time to make it happen! We’re hosting 3 FREE demo classes THIS coming Sunday 12/7. All classes are 30 minutes long and offer a taste of what we’ll be doing in weekly classes together. The times are:

1:30-2pm

2:30-3pm

3:30-4pm

Please email Shira to signup: shira@soulflyte.com. Can’t wait to fly with your child soon! Help spread the word by sharing this post with everyone you know!

Thanks and see you soon in the hammock.

Shira & The Soul Flyte Team

Discount December Monday’s

Just because it’s the holiday season doesn’t mean your workouts should dwindle! In fact, you should be upping them due to all the parties, drinking and desserts that we’ll all be indulging in - you know you’re guilty of it! We know the banter in your head… this little cookie won’t hurt... maybe not, but if you say that everyday, that’s when the problem starts! We’re here to help at Soul Flyte! Keep your workouts in check by coming to any class on Monday’s for $10!! It’s our way to help you keep yourself fit over the holidays.

We know you’ll thank us! Sign up now between December 1st-29th and it’s $10.

**If you’ve purchased a class package then this doesn’t apply - but you can always purchase a $10 class separately from your package. See you soon!

Student Spotlight: Michele

Our student spotlight of the month this month is Michele Rodriguez. She started flying with us in September and hasn't stopped since! Seems like she's got the Soul Flyte bug and is officially hooked! Read our interview with her below:

How did you find out about Soul Flyte?

I found out about Soul Flyte through a flyer that was posted on the bulletin board at the kickboxing studio I go to.  I checked out Soul Flyte's website and waited for the grand opening. Took my first class and I've been hooked ever since :)

What’s something you can't live without?

I can't live without reading a Paulo Coelho novel.
 

What brought you to try your first class at SF? 

Being in a 200HR teacher training program, I told myself I'd try every type of yoga class accessible to me, not to mention how beautiful it looks as well.
 

What’s your favorite time of day? 

My favorite time of the day is definitely the early morning.  I have all the energy then. 

Do you have a favorite pose at SF? 

It's a toss up between chandelier and dew drop.

What’s the best meal you've eaten? 

Any traditional Filipino food my mom makes!!

Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte?

How incredibly welcoming, supportive and empowering the instructors and fellow Soul Flyte flyers are!

Would you recommend it to others? 

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!!!!!
 

Favorite/best place you've traveled to: 

That's definitely a tough one.  It's another toss up between Costa Rica and Ireland.  

What's your favorite book? Movie?

My favorite book changes depending on  where I am at in my life.  It tends to go back and forth between The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. 

My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley.  Who can resist Mr. Darcy?!? 
 

What's the craziest thing you've ever done? 

I've been told that the craziest thing I've ever done is get my motorcycle license!

Anything else you want to share?

Yes, I wanted to thank Shira for opening up her beautiful studio for everyone to enjoy and share in.  

Community is Key!

Since opening Soul Flyte – the most important thing I’ve learned so far is how important community is. Not only the supportive community of our students, but also as instructors. Once per month we hold staff meetings where we problem solve, talk about any issues that have come up, support each other and most importantly we play on the hammocks so we can learn from one other. I can’t explain how helpful it’s been to create a community with our instructors right off the bat. We are completely there for one another, not jealous, not spiteful, we just want each other to thrive. I am honored to be a part of this teaching community at Soul Flyte and can’t wait for a couple more teachers to join us soon! Community is the biggest and best part about a yoga studio. If there’s no community, there’s no studio. I thank each and every one of you who have stepped through our doors, supported us on social media, written us reviews and wished us well. Thanks to Emyli, Ruth and Jenevieve for making this such a special place. I am honored and grateful to be on your team. See you all soon! Love, Shira

Student Spotlight: Isa

This month we’re spotlighting Isa Wooster who has built an incredible amount of strength in the 6 weeks that she’s been coming to Soul Flyte. Read her interview with us below:

How did you find out about Soul Flyte?

I found a flyer at one of my favorite spots in Nyack - Sweet Pea's. I had just completed a 21-day yoga challenge, and one of the things that came up was my desire to do aerial yoga and eventually graduate to silks. I had been talking about it for almost ten years already! When I saw the flyer I knew it was finally time to cross something else off that bucket list!

What’s something you can't live without? 

YOGA! And the ocean. And music. And dancing. Let's not ignore coffee and red wine here, they deserve a mention. 

What brought you to try your first class at SF?

First class free? Who could resist that offer?!? I wasn't even half way through the class when I decided to purchase a monthly membership.

What’s your favorite time of day? 

Depends on where I am and what I am doing. On the Pacific side of things I live for sunset. When I am at the beach with my family on the Atlantic side, it is sunrise. Sometimes I like to wake up super early, when it is still dark and everyone else is sleeping. Watch the world come alive...

Do you have a favorite pose at SF? 

Twisted Sister was super fun! But I must say I am hooked on Vetruvian (sp?) Man into Dew Drop and also Chaps into that crazy flip down move. I also love Yoda and Bell. Poses that are so much more difficult when on the ground suddenly become available when you remove that hard surface, that wall of resistance.

What’s the best meal you've eaten? 

When I was in Nicaragua I got to visit the island of Ometepe. A tiny island with two volcanoes. My friend and I stayed at this awesome hostel, The Lazy Crab, and met a local ex-pat who sent us to this restaurant under strict instructions - only dine there if the husband is cooking. We were starving and when we arrived the wife was there. Too hungry to go anywhere else, we decided to try it anyway. Within ten minutes of us ordering, the husband showed up. Peter Luger's has NOTHING on the delicious steak we ate that night. I cleared my plate and my friend had the audacity to leave three bites on hers...so I ate that too!

Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte?

Everything. It changes my day everyday.

Would you recommend it to others? 

I would require it of others if I could.

Favorite/best place you've traveled to: 

Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Can't pick between the two, they both hold magic for me.

What's your favorite book? Movie?

House of The Spirits by Isabella Allende. The Princess Bride. (I am now reading the book and loving it!)

What's the craziest thing you've ever done? 

Cancelled my return ticket from Costa Rica this past winter. Despite the sh*t storm of backlash it caused, it was the craziest and best thing I ever did for myself. Going on the trapeze is also pretty high up on that list.

Anything else you want to share?

I spent most of my life living in fear. Fear that had been instilled in me, and my own fears I developed. When I finally started facing these fears I amazed myself at what I could accomplish. Fear is the most poisonous venom, the heaviest thing you can ever carry. PUT IT DOWN! And watch yourself fly...

Student Spotlight: Ashley

This month we’re doing a spotlight on one of our regulars at Soul Flyte, Ashley. She has been to the studio a bunch of times and we thought she’d be a perfect fit to answer some of our questions. See her short interview below. If you’d like to be in the spotlight at Soul Flyte – firstly come to class and secondly let us know you want to be featured!

How did you find out about Soul Flyte? I found out about Soul Flyte through Instagram believe it or not just searching yoga poses!

What’s something you can't live without? The ability to capture memories - I love anything that will take a good picture (& family and friends, of course!)

What brought you to try your first class at SF? After seeing the first picture and then exploring your Instagram and website, I just knew it was something I wanted to try. It looked like a blast!

What’s your favorite time of day? I'm a morning person, for sure; but sunsets never cease to amaze me!

Do you have a favorite pose at SF? I love all inversions - anything where I can hang upside down makes me happy! Spider-Man, Dew drop, etc.

What’s the best meal you've eaten? Grilled chicken with balsamic glaze, pureed cauliflower & asparagus… Yum! 

Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte? The atmosphere is great and it gets me out of my mind and allows me to focus on the present and myself for an hour or so.

Would you recommend it to others? YES, yes and YES!!!

Favorite/best place you've traveled to: That's a toss up between Italy and Costa Rica; both places are amazing in their own ways! <3

Anything else you want to share? Both teachers at SF are absolute sweethearts and the studio is cozy and welcoming!

First Time At Soul Flyte? AWESOME!

Lately we’ve gotten some inquiries about beginner classes at Soul Flyte. Our response is always the same: since we are a brand new studio, and this yoga/fitness technique is quite new, mostly everyone stepping through our door is a beginner! So, with that being said, all of our classes are suitable for first timers! YAY! If you’re looking for something with a bit of a slower pace, then try our restorative classes on Monday and Friday nights at 5:45pm. We are always happy to help with any questions that you might have – but we thought we’d address this question since it’s been coming up a lot lately. Hope this helps and we look forward to flying with you soon. Don’t forget, if you refer a friend to us make sure to tell us since we’ll offer you a class for free as a thank you.

Cheers!