NEWEST INSTRUCTOR: MABEL MODRONO

We couldn't be more excited to welcome our newest Barre instructor - MABEL MODRONO! Mabel’s love of barre started while performing on Broadway, and has been teaching barre for over 7 years, even through the birth of her baby! Check out her interview below and sign up - don't miss her first class THIS MONDAY May 8 @ 6pm!

How did you get into Barre fitness? 
I was recovering from an injury, and I saw an advertisement of a barre class in the newspaper. I went and took it, and was very sore, and I must say hooked from then on!! It gave me a strength to return back to dance.

What’s your background?
I was born in Havana, Cuba. I started dancing when I was 10 with my twin sister. My background is dance, having had a professional dancing career of 25 years.

Why Barre?
Because it uses the muscles dancers use, and even though I don't dance anymore, this workout makes me feel as if I do.

Any comments to your future students?
Take my class, and your posture will improve because you will find your core, your muscles throughout your body will take shape. You'll feel at least an inch taller, and all the stronger for it!! I'll guide you with the grace and energy that has led me to become a principal ballerina.

New Barre Teacher: Diane Finkelday

Diane has been teaching group fitness and barre for a long time! She has experienced all types of students with different fitness levels, ages, shapes and sizes. She loves the way barre acts as physical therapy for herself and her clients. Check out her video interview about why she loves barre! 

New Teacher: Kiara Mignone

How exciting to start off as a student at Soul Flyte and work your way up to a teacher! Kiara has done just that. She is now a registered yoga teacher and AntiGravity teacher as well! She's excited to get you flying high starting Sunday 4/23 at 11am. Join her then!

How did you get into AG yoga and fitness?

The name Soul Flyte called to me in a time of my life that I was looking to elevate my soul and mental state. Enter Soul Flyte, a warm studio filled with amazing hammocks, amazing instructors, and an amazing community to go along with it. After practicing for a while, I decided the next step in my practice was to learn how to teach others how to fly, and to share the joy that is AntiGravity and Soul Flyte with others.

What’s your background?

I am a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher, an artist, and a singer.

Why AntiGravity®?

AntiGravity is such a warm and loving group of people.  This community is filled to the brim with love, knowledge, and acceptance. This is what I align with through my journey throughout life - it makes complete sense why AntiGravity stood out above the rest. The "real McCoy" shines bright.

Any comments to your future students?

Meet yourself where you are, Soul Flyte is a warm loving space, that will help you through your exciting aerial journey. I will be there to assist you in flight, making sure you are kept safe, and given the tools to shine as brightly as you can!! "Be safe, Have fun, kick ass- in that order!" - Christopher Harrison.  Fly High! 

Spring Clean Your Mind, Body & Surroundings

Written by: Katie Stritmater

One of my favorite things to talk about is how the use of essential oils can help support the body and mind. I have been working with essential oils for 2 ½ years now and I still love teaching about oils and learning new ways to use them! There is something really cool about using nature to help your body find balance to do all the amazing things it was meant to do.

Let’s start with a little background information. Essential oils are the aromatic compounds found in plants; if you have ever smelled the scent of an orange peel, you have experienced the aromatic quality of essential oils! There are 3 main ways to use essential oils; aromatically, topically and internally. Quality and sourcing matters and it is important you are using a brand that is tested and certified as pure, potent, and authentic.

Spring is a time of year where everything begins again - it represents resiliency and strength. Essential oils have the power to renew and refresh not only your home but your body too! Let’s look at the oils that you can use to help spring-clean all aspects of your life.

Spring-Clean Your Allergies

When spring blooms, so do allergies for many people. Not to worry! There are certain oils that can help protect the body against seasonal and environmental elements. Lemon, lavender and peppermint are a power trio when it comes to allergies. These can help by placing 1 drop of each under the tongue, in a glass of water, or in an empty veggie capsule. This trio can be put into a diffuser to be experienced aromatically as it purifies the air. The trio can also be placed on the bottoms of the feet, forehead or chest. Lemon decongests and reduces mucus, Lavender has anti-histamine properties and calms irritation, and peppermint breaks up phlegm and reduces inflammation. Eucalyptus is another good oil choice for allergies as it helps to maintain clear breathing and open airways. This works well diluted with fractionated coconut oil and rubbed on the chest. I also like to put a few drops on the edge of the shower so that I can inhale deeply as the steam rises.

Spring-Clean the House

Essential oils can help you clean your physical space without adding toxicity to your world. Most cleaning can be done simply with baking soda, vinegar, maybe some castile soap, and essential oils.

Take the toilet bowl for example. Remember that erupting volcano science project present at every science fair? Well, use the same properties to clean the toilet. Put ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup white vinegar and 10 drops of melaleuca (I also add some lemon for freshness) into the toilet bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes and watch the bubbles erupt. Scrub, then flush. Easy, inexpensive and non-toxic!

To clean the tub with a homemade soft scrub, simply add 1cup baking soda, ¼ cup liquid castile soap, and 10 drops each of lemon, lime, and wild orange to form a paste.

For an all-purpose cleaning spray, add 2 cups white vinegar, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon natural dish soap (not castile), 30 drops of melaleuca and 20 drops of lemon to a quart-sized glass spray bottle.

Spring-Clean the Body

To clean the body is to help it gently detox. Essential oils affect you on a cellular level. When excess toxins overwhelm the body, it stores those toxins in the fat cells to keep harmful substances away from organs. Essential oils can help release these toxins from fat cells, break them down and help flush them from the body. Citrus oils are particularly good for cleansing the body. Grapefruit and Lemon are great detoxifiers. A good boost to your morning routine is a glass (important that it is glass, not plastic) of warm water combined with 1tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, 2 drops lemon, 2 drops ginger, and 1 drop cinnamon.

Spring-Clean the Mind

As the weather gets warmer, I find myself craving all the beautiful smells of the citrus oils. Perhaps this is because my body is ready to get out of hibernation and start moving more again and needs something clean and fresh.

If you’d like to feel uplifted, go to your citrus oils; bergamot, lemon, and grapefruit for example. My favorite combination in the diffuser is doTERRA’s joyful blend and lemon. It is so clean and instantly lifts my mood. Simply place a drop or two in your hands, gently run together, cup in front of you face, close your eyes and inhale the aroma. Whatever I have left on my hands I like to rub on the back of my neck or my chest. This is a great mood changing practice.

To feel calm and relaxed, find your earthy oils like lavender, frankincense, and vetiver. These are good in times of high stress and to help combat sleepless nights. To get the benefits here you can place a drop of the oil on the bottoms of each foot and gently massage before bed or when you feel overwhelmed.

I hope you use essential oils as a way to find balance in your world and create a sense of calm to start a new season. Whether you are cleaning your surroundings, your body, or your mind, the idea of starting with a blank slate is exciting. Allow yourself to begin anew with a fresh canvas, and fill it only with positivity.

Katie Stritmater is an essential oil lover, teacher and avid user. She teaches workshops at Soul Flyte so look out for her next one to learn even more about the magic of these oils.

Couchmaggedon 2017: how I naturally healed my cold

My couch buddy every.single.day!

I just came off of a terrible cold, which I named: couchmaggedon 2017. I literally couldn’t get off the couch for 1 whole week. The following week I was still very low energy and still had to take it easy. Now I’m left with an annoying cough that’s slowly getting better day-by-day. I didn’t use medication… so what did I do?!

First things first, I didn’t freak out. I succumbed to the fact that I had a bad cold, needed to rest and cancelled my schedule. I had a really bad throat ache so I was monitoring it because if I thought I had strep for any second I would have gone to the Dr. I didn’t see any dots on the back of my throat though, so I was in the clear to go about my natural ways.

Everyday I woke up and boiled a pot of peppermint tea. I made a tent over my head with a towel and breathed in the steam from the peppermint tea. This helped to open my sinuses and clear congestion. Gross stuff would come up, which was good! I also used peppermint essential oil all over my sinuses, your eyes will tear so do this while lying down. Then I made myself tea with lemon, lots of grated ginger and manuka honey. I drank that all day. Even though I felt like crap, I went outside everyday for some fresh air.

Drink chicken soup/broth everyday! On the day that felt the worst, I felt like it was never ending and that I would never feel better – Chad looked in one of our natural healing books and read about bee propolis for the throat. I remember my mom used to give this to me when I was a kid and had an ear or throat ache. We had some at home so I tried it. Since propolis coats the throat, I literally felt relief right away. I continued to take one full dropper every hour for the whole day. That was my savior. 

I used the neti pot, which apparently ended up making things worse. I later found out that if you put too much salt in, it could actually dry you out too much and hurt your sinuses even more! Ouch… I got a toothache, which I thought was weird. SO I asked my dentist Uncle if it’s possible to get a toothache from coughing too much – he said yes, that sinuses are also related and that I should stop using the neti pot. So I gargled with salt water instead. The next day I felt better! What a journey…

Every night before bed I took a hot bath with salts, put tiger balm on my chest to help break up my cough and an immune essential oil roller bottle on my feet with socks. The essential oils in it are: rosemary, orange, clove, cinnamon & eucalyptus.

I also took different herbal remedies. Specifically Urban Moonshine throat spray, Wellness formula, cold and flu formula and throat syrup: elderberry with thyme and another one: wild cherry bark syrup. At night to help me sleep sometimes I took Tylenol with codeine to suppress the cough. If you can’t sleep, you can’t heal. Sleep is the most important thing when you’re sick - find any way to make it happen.

Hope you can use some of these tips when you’re sick. Western medicine sure is a miracle, but studies show it prolongs your cold and doesn’t heal you. Think of it more as a band aid. Use herbs, teas, etc. to actually heal you faster, your immune system will get stronger this way.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: WEN LIN

Meet Wen Lin— our student spotlight for this month! She started flying with us November 2015 and hasn't stopped since! Congratulations, Wen, on attending almost 200 classes at Soul Flyte! Read more about Wen and how she has learned to shine brightly in her Antigravity yoga practice!

How did you find out about Soul Flyte?
I first learned about Antigravity yoga when a friend of mine posted on Facebook. I was very intrigued and started looking for something closer to home & found SF in Nyack.
 
What’s something you can't live without?
There’s so much I can think of that I can’t live without! If I really must choose I guess I will have to choose health & peace of mind, you can’t have any quality of life if you lack those.
 
What brought you to try your first class at SF?
SF is perfectly located in the heart of Nyack & the new student special was such a great deal so I knew I had to give it a try.
 
What’s your favorite time of day?
My favorite time of the day is right before bedtime when I get to unwind with my bae Jojo (the fabulous toy poodle) and catch up on some Netflix.
 
Do you have a favorite pose at SF?
I love Antigravity so much I can’t possibly pick just one pose! I love all poses that strengthen my grip, core and flexibility.
 
What’s the best meal you've eaten?
My mom’s home cooking=) I don't get to see her too often so whenever we get to spend time together she would cook up a storm!
 
Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte?
I love learning new poses, feeling stronger and seeing the progress. Most of all, I love the positive energy all the instructors & students brought in with them.
 
Would you recommend it to others?
110%! I brought my daughter with me after a few classes now she’s hooked too=)
 
Favorite/best place you've traveled to:
One of my favorite places is when my family & I went on a trip to Gili Islands in Indonesia. The islands are so beautiful & unadulterated; people are very friendly & the beaches are amazing. You can walk from one end of the island to the other within hours.
The most memorable part of the trip was we arrived there “survivor style”. When we were close to the island they literally had to drop us in the water because the boat cannot get too close the land. And we got stranded on the island a few days longer because of a hurricane.
I’d love to go back again if I have the chance.
 
What's your favorite book? Movie?
I’m a sucker for movies that touch your heart. One of my favorites is “About Time” by Richard Curtis. It’s a British romantic comedy film about a young man who can travel back in time to fix things. At first glance you think the movie is about how he use his ability to make the girl fall in love with him but the heart of the movie is actually about his relationship between him and his father and the greatest gift you can give to your loved ones- time.
 
What's the craziest thing you've ever done?
A few years back when I went hiking with my family and found a lake beneath the cliff, my husband egged me to jump in. After some hesitation, I jumped. Good thing he was already in the water to save me.
 
Anything else you want to share?
I’m so glad that I decided to give Antigravity yoga a try & I’m even more grateful that I found the community in SF. For someone who's not athletic & tries every excuse to not exercise, this is perfect. Antigravity is fun, and challenging. This is a workout I can totally stick with and will be for a very long time!

Running For a Cause

This past weekend I taught a fundraiser yoga class at Soul Flyte in Nyack for a woman named Genevieve who is running a ½ marathon for Crohns and Colitis in New Orleans in two weeks! I was impressed by this young woman’s story – She’s able to push through her disease and run for those that can’t. I’m inspired to say the least. They set up the cutest picnic with tea, gluten free goodies such as muffins, scones, “magic bars” and lots of yummy fruit! What a cute way to support a great cause. I feel honored that I was able to be a part of it and glad to help out in any way that I can.

After Yoga Picnic!

The Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) holds a special place in my heart – they’re the ones who put on Camp Oasis, which is this incredible camp for kids who have these diseases. Most of the counselors all have it too. It’s a special place where the kids appreciate the fact that they’re healthy enough to actually be at camp enjoying their time there. For 6 days in the summer I volunteer my time to be a bunk counselor and teach yoga & meditation to kids of all ages. The best part is how receptive they are to it. They always want more, whether it’s learning about essential oils and how calming they can be, or different breathing exercises they can do to help themselves in times of stress.

If you have any fundraiser ideas, send them my way! Happy to help in any way that I can!

Xo,

Shira

What Kind of Potions do I Use?

All the potions...

Green Goodness!

Everyday I choose to take care of myself. I wake up, take some deep breaths, stretch and head to the kitchen. I make hot water with lemon to fuel my digestive system – it works like a charm!! Then I make eggs with ghee, sometimes I add spinach and sometimes I make avocado gluten free toast. I do the dishes, then I continue on by making my daily green smoothie. I drink this for my “second breakfast” around 10-11am. What do I put in? Check it out below:

Everything is organic:

2 cups Coconut water

splash Kefir

1 Banana

handful Frozen blueberries

1 inch Cucumber

scoop of avocado

handful Spinach

1 tablespoon Chia seeds

1 tablespoonFlax seeds

1 tablespoonHemp seeds

1 teaspoon Reishi mushroom powder

1 teaspoon Ashwagandha powder

1 teaspoon Shatvari powder

1 tablespoon Collagen

1 tablespoon Spirulina

Sometimes a dash of coconut oil

A handful of nuts if I remember

Blend extremely well otherwise you’ll get the seeds / nuts pieces.

Coconut water – Nature’s form of electrolytes. In emergency situations, people have used fresh coconut water as an IV to replenish electrolytes. https://draxe.com/is-coconut-water-good-for-you/

Kefir – is a delicious yogurt drink that’s lactose free! It has friendly bacteria to help your gut digest food properly. https://draxe.com/kefir-benefits/

Banana – Full of potassium and makes your smoothie creamy and a little sweet.

Blueberries – High in antioxidants and lots of vitamins. I like that they don’t have seeds and are easy to blend (and not bother my belly).

Cucumber – an alkaline vegetable that is cooling, delicious and full water!

Avocado – A fruit that’s high in over 20 vitamins and minerals! They’re also high in fat, monounsaturated fat, which is good because it helps to lower bad cholesterol and keeps you feeling full longer. A little bit goes a long way. AND it makes your smoothie nice and creamy

Spinach – has so many health benefits, I wouldn’t be able to name them all. The great news is that you literally don’t taste it in your smoothie.

Chia Seeds – Rich in fiber, omega-3 fats, protein and various vitamins and minerals. 1 tablespoon goes far enough, otherwise they make your smoothie too thick. https://draxe.com/chia-seeds-benefits-side-effects/

Flax Seeds – Also high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein, iron, potassium. Great for healthy skin & hair. https://draxe.com/10-flax-seed-benefits-nutrition-facts/

Hemp Seeds – Great balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which promotes cardiovascular health. Full of protein, calcium, iron, magnesium and many more vitamins & minerals. https://draxe.com/7-hemp-seed-benefits-nutrition-profile/

Reishi Mushrooms- Helps boost the immune system, aids in inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, autoimmune disorders. There’s so much more – check this out for more info: https://draxe.com/reishi-mushroom/

Ashwagandha – An adaptagenic herb known to help improve thyroid function and adrenal fatigue. https://draxe.com/ashwagandha-proven-to-heal-thyroid-and-adrenals/

Shatvari – An ayurvedic herb known to support the reproductive and digestive systems. Learn more: https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/herbs/shatavari/

Collagen – Improves skin and hair, repairs joints, helps you keep your youth – in terms of wrinkles and cellulite. https://draxe.com/what-is-collagen/

Spirulina – this blue-green algae grows in Hawaii – detoxes heavy metals, eliminates candida, prevents cancer, lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol and so much more! https://draxe.com/spirulina-benefits/

Ready To Fly?

It’s no surprise that we are creatures of habit. We take the same way to work, sit in the same place at school, work or business meeting. You even do the same workouts over and over again – doesn’t it get boring? Well, we’re here to spice things up at Soul Flyte! For those who haven’t been to our studio yet, we totally understand, it might be daunting to think about practicing aerial yoga - with your feet off the ground, swinging and simply, trying something new. I’m here to tell you that once you take that first leap of faith by signing up for a class, you’ll see, it’s not all that scary! No need to sweat about it, you will most definitely have fun while working out with us!

Anyway, I’m here to remind you that it’s OK to try something new, take a new way to work, change your habits and routine every once in a while. If you get caught doing the same things over and over again, you might get stuck in a trap, bored and stagnant. Not good. Open your horizons, breathe and don’t stress, everything’s going to be ok.

Greatness and change come from stepping outside of your comfort zone. Test yourself and grow. Can’t wait for all the greatness coming your way from us in Nyack for 2017. I’m grateful that we’re on this journey together. Let's Fly!

How You Can Stay Sane This New Year

Dreaming about this red sand beach in Hana, Maui

Happy New Year Friends!

It’s about 1 week and 1 day after the start of the New Year, how’s it going so far? Are you kicking yourself because you still haven’t gotten into a workout routine that you planned to be in by now? Or are you rocking it out, going everyday and feeling fab?

Either way, take a breath...

Yes, the holidays may have been rough on your physical and emotional state, but here’s where you get to detox all that crap. Even if you aren’t working out everyday be grateful that you made it out alive! The holidays can be hard on people with family drama, present buying and disagreements on whatever the topic – enough of that now. Get back into your routine, or better yet, start one that makes you feel even better then you did last year.

Ask yourself: what soothes my soul? For me, it’s yoga, it always has been. When things get rough, I step onto my mat or into my aerial yoga hammock and everything feels ok again. It’s that moment where I can breathe again, feel my body and remind myself that everything is going to be ok. There’s been a lot going on for me lately, especially with the construction of our new studio space. I wake up every day and take 5-10 deep belly breaths, stretch and remind myself that: today, everything is going to be ok (this is all before I even step out of bed!)

Find a routine, even if it’s a small one to give you that boost.

If you want to give aerial yoga a try, come to Nyack, we would be so excited to have you! Check our schedule HERE

Cheers to YOUR health,

Shira

When The Going Gets Tough: Go Inside

Sometimes people come to me telling me about all sorts of things: a belly ache, a weird bump on their arm, a pain in the neck, or eczema, etc. and the reason they’re coming to me is because they’ve gone to their doctor and nothing came of it. There was nothing “clinically” wrong with them. But clearly something is happening since they have this bump, pain or whatever else it might be.

I always turn to what’s going on inside. Lots of times doctors will focus on the immediate issue, for example if you have eczema they’ll give you a topical cream – but between you and me, it’s more of an internal issue and most of the time doctors won’t tell you that.

My first few questions are the obvious, have you changed anything in your diet recently, laundry detergent, soap, household items? Foods? If the answer is no then we start looking at what’s going on in their life. Are they more stressed then usual? Typically the answer is yes and then we have something to work with.

I always recommend watching everything that goes into their mouth for a while (because that’s something you CAN control) - since inflammatory foods won’t help the situation. Then we add more greens, drink lots of water, flush out the system – maybe even add wheat grass, green juices, green smoothies, bone broth, and some other awesome tid bits that I’ll touch on in another post.

The point of this post today is to tell you to look at the bigger picture. With whatever is going on for you – belly pain, neck pain, bumps – many times it’s the same situation. The body is overly stressed and is pushing out the negativity in it’s own funny way. Work on de-stressing with yoga, meditation, hanging upside in an aerial yoga class, whatever floats your boat!

I know how intense the holidays can be for many people. Please take care of yourself. More then anything in the world, that’s the most important.

With so much love from your friend in Nyack,

Shira 

Your Guide to Nyack Restaurants + Shops

Cocooning in the middle of Nyack Street Fair

Why did I choose Nyack to open Soul Flyte? Because it’s AWESOME! Nyack is a cute river town with lots of amazing local shops, restaurants, yoga and aerial yoga studios – why wouldn’t we start here? Here are some of my favorite places in town. If you haven’t visited yet, what are ya waiting for? There’s even a cute new boutique hotel that recently opened called The Time Hotel, so if you’re an out-of-towner then you won’t have to worry about where to stay.

Art Café: a cute Israeli café serving up delicious, organic breakfast, lunch and even dinner too! I Love their space and if it’s warm out – sitting outside is a real treat. They have good coffee and tea, since I don’t drink coffee - and if you eat pastries, then yep, they have those too!

Soul Flyte: My pride and joy! We’ll have an awesome boutique very soon for you to come check out! Stay tuned for more on this and about the new classes we'll be adding soon!

8 North Broadway: Local, farm to table type of restaurant serving lunch and dinner daily and brunch on the weekends. The food is yummy. If they have it on the menu, try the branzino, it’s delicious! They change the menu with the seasons so definitely give it a try.

True Foods: A great place to grab organic breakfast, lunch or dinner. They have hot food to go, which comes in handy when there isn’t enough time in the day to cook dinner. It’s more low key then the others but the food is quality and I heard they just opened a market next door! Worth checking out.

Sweat Peas: It’s a health food store that also has hot food and soups for lunch as well as a cold section, juices and smoothies. There’s a little sitting area up front so that you can grab your food and stay for a while. They have yummy kombucha and good yogurts if that’s your type of thing.

OD’S Tavern: This used to be a local watering hole and is now turned into an organic, gluten free friendly, paleo friendly restaurant with a bar too of course! The owner, Diane is super sweet and the food is full of comfort and deliciousness.

65main: A new restaurant serving up tapas style dinner items. Not sure if they offer lunch yet because I’ve only been there once so far, it was tasty though. There’s typically live music playing, which is a huge plus!

Casa Del Sol: Mexican restaurant that’s yummy! They have live music many nights of the week, check their website for more info.

Nyack Library: I love to go here when I want some quiet time but don’t want to be in my house. In the old section there’s a room that feels like an office, but anyone can go into it to do work – I just love it! It feels like my own private office – I hate to give away my secret….. but happy if it can help someone else. There’s wifi too!

Saffron: An adorable store featuring items from around the globe. They have amazing furniture with a rustic, Indian, Indonesian feel. I love this place! Don’t miss it.

Maria Luisa: Another cute shop with women’s clothing, shoes and also a little kids section. Worth checking out if you’re in the area.

Crystals On The Rocks: A crystal shop with knowledgeable staff, bracelets, gemstones, incense and so much more. It’s really fun to browse in there.

Sanctuary: They have women’s clothing as well as other knick knacks like dream catchers, incense, candles, books, etc.

There are lots of other stores in town to check out, but I can’t name them all here! This post would be way too long! Come visit – even in the wintertime! If you bundle up you can go on a hike nearby or walk around the huge mall that’s super close. One thing to keep in mind, most stores in Nyack are CLOSED on Mondays year round. See you soon!

Xo, Shira

Dream Big: How I got into Antigravity

Searching for rainbows

Sometimes I get the question of how I got into AntiGravity – well, I fell in love a few years back when my mom introduced me to the method. She was getting certified as an instructor and needless to say, I was intrigued! The first time I took a class, front belt was…. Let’s just say painful…! For those that know front belt you’ll definitely understand what I mean - and for those that don’t know what I mean, come try it, you’ll learn to love it! Currently I crave front belt! That first time though, I walked away from class saying to myself…. Hm I’m not sure this is for me…!

Fast-forward and a few years later here I am, owner of an AntiGravity yoga/fitness studio in Nyack! Who would’ve ever thought that Soul Flyte would exist? Since the day I got certified as a yoga instructor I knew I wanted to own my own thing. See, I come from a long line of entrepreneurs, although it wasn’t so trendy in their time like it is now, they still grabbed the bull by the horns and went for their dreams.

My grandparents escaped the Holocaust and came to the USA from Germany with nothing... literally nothing. My grandfather taught himself numerous trades: tuning pianos, fixing things and eventually he borrowed enough money to buy a Laundromat in New York City. They worked their butts off every single day to make a living.

My parents are both private practice psychotherapists, my uncle is a private practice dentist, my sister is a massage therapist and yoga teacher, my brother in law is a slight of hand artist and my husband owns an e-commerce business AND a software business. Phew…. Now you see where I’ve come from? I guess you can say we don’t follow the typical 9-5 work experience, we hustle and work our tails off daily. It’s hard, challenging and super rewarding all at the same time. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Whatever your daily work experience is: embrace it, love it, dream big and HUSTLE. See you at the studio!

xo, Shira 

Blog Take Over

Let's roll: Blogger for life

Thank you for your support throughout these past couple of years! Soul Flyte has grown to a point where we can no longer fit into our small studio. In a few months we will be moving into a larger space with 2 studios, a boutique and a couple of treatment rooms. The possibilities are endless for our new space and we are ECSTATIC!

I’ve worked so hard at making our community the best one around town, and I know it’s paid off. I’ve witnessed our students becoming life long friends together, how magical.

As many of you know, I suffer from ulcerative colitis (UC) for many years now and I’ve found a way to cope so that I don’t need to take medication on a daily basis. It hasn’t been easy - there have been hiccups and flare ups, but ultimately I am healthy. Yoga, meditation, diet and AntiGravity have been a huge help for me. I wrote a blog for many years about UC, diet, recipes and other happenings in my life at: shiraturkl.com and now I’m taking over the Soul Flyte blog. Here you’ll find lots of posts not only about the studio, but also about my life, our instructors lives and things happening around Nyack. Looking forward to sharing with you!

Cheers to your health,

Shira

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: JESSICA FEYGIN

Our student spotlight of the month this month is Jessica Feygin! We love watching the progression of her flexibility and strength, and the bliss she feels and exudes after each class! Read our interview with her below:

How did you find out about Soul Flyte?
I found out about Soul Flyte from my friend Angela, in the spring of 2015!

What’s something you can't live without?
My two dogs, Bebe and Teddy!

What brought you to try your first class at SF?
I had tried Aerial Yoga in a different studio, but my friend was going on the day of a street fair and I joined her!

What’s your favorite time of day?
I love the early evening, especially during the sunset. It's also my favorite time for aerial classes!

Do you have a favorite pose at SF?
I love Bomber! It makes me feel so strong.

What’s the best meal you've eaten?
At 'Le Petite Bouchon' in Saint Martin. The owner was so creative and passionate. For dessert he even served a baked tomato with ice cream!

Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte?
I love the friends that I have made at Soul Flyte! Everyone is so warm and welcoming, and the instructors are so inspiring and motivating. The changes in my strength while having a great time is such a plus!

Would you recommend it to others?
Absolutely! I love bringing my friends with me! Especially those who always see me posting pictures and videos.

Favorite/best place you've traveled to:
Tuscany! We stayed in a castle for 9 days. We spent days at wineries and in Florence. Everyday we went to different cities in Italy. I fell in love with San Gimignano.

What's your favorite book? Movie?
I love all of Anthony Bourdain's books! My favorite movie is 'Everything's Illuminated'.

What's the craziest thing you've ever done?
A few years ago I took a stunt class! They taught us the tricks of movies and even made us jump from 4 stories onto a massive air bag.

Anything else you want to share?
I'm so thankful for Soul Flyte. I never thought walking in the first day of class that I would end up being so involved and attached! Now I can't wait to move forward with Antigravity Yoga!

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: ASHLEY MOSGROVE

We are excited to announce Ashley Mosgrove as our student spotlight this month! Ashley has shown a real dedication to her AntiGravity® yoga practice and experienced the growth and change in her life since practicing at the studio. Recently, we interviewed Ashley to find out a little bit more about her and her experience at Soul Flyte - check it out!

How did you find out about Soul Flyte?
I was looking for something new and different to try, so I did a google search for aerial yoga in Nyack and found Soul Flyte.  The "new student special" was such a great deal.  I asked a friend to try it with me and the rest is history.  I think I've been attending Soul Flyte 3-4x a week for about 4 months now.

What’s something you can't live without?
I love nature, music, my human and non-human companions, and chocolate.  Also, I'm at the point where I start to get antsy when I haven't been to a Soul Flyte class in a few days.

What brought you to try your first class at SF?
I was in a slump and really wasn't exercising a whole lot but knew that I needed to be more active.  My mantra for this year has been to be "brave" so I decided that I wouldn't let anxiety get in the way of trying something new.

What’s your favorite time of day?
Morning, for sure.  To me, the sunrise is a beautiful reminder of the gift of life.  It symbolizes hope and new beginnings.

Do you have a favorite pose at SF?
I love bell and chandelier.  I sit a lot at work so backbends help stretch out my lower back.  Also, the poses are really aesthetically pleasing.

What’s the best meal you've eaten?
I can tell you that I will always welcome fresh guacamole and ice cream.  That would probably be my perfect meal.

Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte?
It is my place to do my own thing, to relax, and to feel accomplished.  The instructors have created such a laid back and playful environment that allows for the building of skill and confidence while simultaneously challenging us to step outside of our comfort zone.  I always feel stronger and more centered when I leave.

Would you recommend it to others?
YES.  In fact, I have brought a handful of friends and family members already.

Favorite/best place you've traveled to:
I just recently went to Mexico, which was beautiful.  However, I think my all-time favorite vacation is Folly Beach, SC in the early fall.  It has been a family vacation destination for the past three years.  It's a smaller beach town where houses line the ocean.   During this time of the year, the beach is so peaceful and there aren't really many people around, the water is super warm, and the heat from the sun is more bearable.  It's perfect.

What's your favorite book? Movie?
I often return to pages of Be Here Now by Ram Dass not only for the words but for the illustrations.  I'm currently reading Love Warrior: A Memoir by Glennon Doyle Melton which is incredibly powerful.

What's the craziest thing you've ever done?
I once rappelled down a waterfall.  I'm afraid of heights and not really much of a thrill seeker, so that was a pretty crazy thing for me.

Anything else you want to share?
I am in the midst of an MSW program, my first year internship, and I work full-time.  With all that I have going on, I look forward to carving out some me time and making it to a Soul Flyte class.  I don't see it as a chore but as a privilege.  I thought maybe that I just really liked aerial yoga but I attended a studio while I was out of state and it was not the same.  In my opinion, there is something special about Soul Flyte in particular. I think it might be a combination of the wide range of classes that they offer and each instructors unique talents and personalities.  I am probably biased, though.

Newest Instructor: Nicole Kropp

August is bringing many exciting changes to The Studio including an awesome, expanded schedule and a BRAND NEW instructor! Without further ado, we'd like to introduce you to Nicole Kropp. She is so excited to be joining our team and will be teaching AntiGravity® Fundamentals on Sunday evenings at 5:30pm. Check out Nicole's interview below and don't miss her 1st class this Sunday, August 14th!

How did you get into AG yoga and fitness?
I got in AntiGravity yoga and fitness through word of mouth. I had just finished my 200-hour yoga teacher training and had heard a friend of mine got certified in and started teaching AntiGravity! Eventually I connected with Shira and took a few classes with her. I immediately knew that this was something totally different than anything I'd experienced before. My spine felt incredible and the many knots in my back from arm balancing in yoga were starting to get smaller and less painful!

What’s your background?
I am a soon-to-be 500-hour certified yoga instructor. I practice all types of yoga but particularly love hot yoga and Ashtanga vinyasa. I'm also an avid spinner, jogger, and enjoy practicing martial arts as well. I came to AntiGravity because of its ties to the yoga world, but stayed because of the unique system it provides for healing the body.

Why AntiGravity®?
I have only experienced aerial yoga and fitness via AntiGravity certified instructors, and knowing the creator, Christopher Harrison is the originator, I knew I wanted to stay with the purest form of aerial. I was so incredibly impressed during my training by how complete this practice is and my eyes were opened to all the ways the body can heal from it. I also fell in love with all my teachers and the staff at Christopher Harrison’s AntiGravity LAB in NYC where I completed my training.

Any comments to your future students?
I would tell my future students to keep an open mind and playful attitude coming into AntiGravity!

Newest Instructor: Laurie Miller-Donnis

We couldn't be more excited to welcome the talented Laurie into the Soul Flyte teaching community! To start, she'll be teaching Fundamentals on Wednesday's at 9:15am. She officially starts on August 10th! She's a rockstar (literally and figuratively!), so don't miss the opportunity to take her class - sign up and show her some love! Check out our interview with her below:

How did you get into AG yoga and fitness?
A friend of mine took me to my first AntiGravity class at Soul Flyte in 2015. I was hooked the moment I attempted my very first inversion, which was Spiderman. I couldn’t stop smiling during the entire class, and as I drove home I couldn’t wait to get back in the hammock. I started taking more classes at Soul Flyte over the following year and received my CAGI (Certified AntiGravity Instructor) Level 1 Certification in 2016. I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of the awesome Soul Flyte team and global AntiGravity community!

What’s your background?
I’ve always been attracted to movement and music. I started dancing when I was four years old and continued to perform as a dancer, singer and actress through high school and college.  I discovered yoga for the first time when I was in college - taking the occasional class here and there - and then started practicing regularly in 2010 after my children were born. Yoga really resonated with me; I spent the next few years discovering my practice and eventually earned my RYT-200 (Registered Yoga Teacher) certification through Yoga Alliance and Mandy Grant of Juluka Yoga in 2015.  I currently teach adults and children at several yoga studios in Bergen County, NJ.

In my spare time, I perform in a local classic rock cover band with my husband, serve as a co-leader for my daughter’s Girl Scout troop, and participate in the parent-teacher association at my children’s school. (And I still love to go out dancing from time to time!) 

Why AntiGravity®?
Besides the countless health benefits, I love AntiGravity because it makes me feel like a kid again! Whether teaching a class or taking one, I always feel an incredible sense of well-being, happiness and confidence when I’m in the hammock. AntiGravity proves that fitness can (and should) always be fun and productive.

Any comments to your future students?
Trust yourself - you can totally do this! 
(And you’re going to have an absolute blast when you do!) 

Student Spotlight: Wanda Acosta

Meet Wanda Acosta — our student spotlight for this month! Wanda started flying with us March of this year and hasn't stopped since! Seems like she's got the Soul Flyte bug and is officially hooked! We are constantly impressed with Wanda’s attitude, dedication and hard work towards her practice. Here is a bit more about her — check it out: 

How did you find out about Soul Flyte?
I was introduced to Soul Flyte by my girlfriend, Annie.

What’s something you can't live without? 
I don't think I could live without books.  I love reading.  I'll take a good book over a TV any day. 

What brought you to try your first class at SF? 
Back pain is what brought me to SF.  I’ve suffered from back pain and plantar fasciitis for years now and found that most forms of exercise only caused me more pain.  Being able to decompress my spine by hanging upside down has helped me so much.  I am getting stronger with each class.

What’s your favorite time of day?
Mornings are my favorite time of day because I get to spend quiet time in prayer and reflection.  It’s my ME time.

Do you have a favorite pose at SF?
My favorite pose is front belt.  The first time I did it I couldn't wait for it to be over but now I look forward to it. I LOVE IT!!!

What’s the best meal you've eaten? 
My favorite meal was in Sorrento, Italy last year at a place called Il Bucco.  We had the most delicious fish and pasta dishes I've ever tasted.

Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte?
My favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte is that I have so much fun while working out. I actually look forward to coming to class. The instructors are amazing and they encourage and motivate you along the way.

Would you recommend it to others? 
Yes, absolutely. It’s a fun way to work out.

Favorite/best place you've traveled to: 
My favorite place would have to be Positano, a small town in the Amalfi Coast in Italy.  The views are spectacular, the people friendly and lively.

What's your favorite book? Movie?
Favorite book would have to be The Notebook and favorite movie is a classic called Imitation of Life.  I cried my eyes out during both. 

What's the craziest thing you've ever done? 
When I was a teenager in Puerto Rico, my cousin dared me to ride a bike with no brakes down a steep hill while wearing a dress.  I was lucky I walked away with only cuts and bruises after taking a nasty fall mid-hill.  I still have the scars to prove it.

Student Spotlight: Kiara Mignone

Our student spotlight of the month this month is Kiara Mignone! Kiara started flying with us January of this year and hasn't stopped since! We love watching the progression of her flexibility and strength, and the bliss she feels and exudes after each class! Read our interview with her below:

How did you find out about Soul Flyte?
I did a web search for yoga places in my area and the name "Soul Flyte" stood out from all the rest and gave me such a good feeling.

What’s something you can't live without?
I would die if I couldn't create art.

What brought you to try your first class at SF?
To be honest, a panic attack.

What’s your favorite time of day?
Depends on the day, but during the week, I am looking forward to running to Soul Flyte and spending time practicing aerial yoga!!

Do you have a favorite pose at SF?
Queen bee! <333 🐝

What’s the best meal you've eaten?
I love me some gluten free pasta with chopped up sun dried tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, spinach, red pepper, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. 😍 Chicken Francais though...

Favorite thing about coming to Soul Flyte?
There are really too many things to name! Swinging in the hammock, stretching out and watching the progression of flexibility and strength, and of course, the bliss I feel after the class is over.

Would you recommend it to others?
105% yes!!!!!!!!

Favorite/best place you've traveled to:
I really enjoyed Arizona. But I love Vegas for the sole purpose of EDC Las Vegas, which is an incredible music festival, Electric Daisy Carnival!!!! 

What's your favorite book? Movie?
Four agreements by Miguel Ruiz. This book is a game changer and should be a required read for all.
Big fish. Whimsical story. Great cinematography. Wonderful actors. Tim Burton. Enough said.

What's the craziest thing you've ever done?
Traveled by myself to a state I've never been to before and just winged it!

Anything else you want to share?
The sense of community at Soul Flyte is amazing. It really is one big family, very welcoming, non-judgemental, and the teachers are patient and willing to work with you to help you along your own aerial yoga journey! Each and every class is different and wonderful in its own way, thanks to the lovely strong women who lead them! I <3 Soul Flyte.
*~Namaste~*