Yoga with watch wonder bloom
I am grateful to be a yoga teacher today because of the joy I find in helping people realize every body can find belonging in yoga. Yoga is thousands of years old and thousands of years wise and can be adapted for all of us - and it is an honor to strive to help people see that when they step onto their mats! From awesome climbers to tiny, wiggly kiddos to grandparents and new parents, I love guiding people through playful, intentional asana practices that foster down regulation, sustainable movement patterns, breath awareness, and mindfulness.
My yoga journey started with me doing downward facing dog under my mom as she did a yoga video back in the early 1990s. I found my way back to yoga in high school to complement dance and deepened my practice in college as I realized that yoga both helped me cross train AND find calm in the hullaballoo of student teaching and being a young adult :). I began teaching yoga to fellow students when we studied at a small field station and I realized how much I had to learn - so shortly after college I went to Asheville Yoga Center for my first yoga training. Since then, I've taught in college gyms, military housing offices, school classrooms, libraries, breweries, studios, community offices, and climbing gyms. I have continued to grow as a yoga teacher by studying trauma-informed yoga practices, kids' yoga, pranayama, and more.
In my classes, you'll often see a lot of moving with our breath followed by down-regulating gentle inversions, folds, and twists. We move, move, move, then stay in a posture to build awareness in our own bodies - offering each yoga participant the opportunity to make choices about how they find effort and ease in different postures. We practice today so we can (and want t0) practice tomorrow.
I love to blend my research and work in Learning Sciences with my love for yoga in Family and Story Time Yoga classes. In these classes, you'll find that children develop emergent literacy skills through word play and comprehension strategies while moving their bodies. I measure success in classes with kiddos not by the number of participants or the ability to hold a balance pose, but if we can shift from BIG energy use to focus on our breath, from moving rhythmically to slowing down, and what truly makes me feel like class is serving our kiddos and families well is when we can rest well in savasana at the end of our practice. Wiggles are always welcome (regardless of age really :).
The skills we practice in yoga can carry us through so much in life. I am grateful that my consistent practice helped me enjoy all the changes that came with pregnancy and motherhood; and as a military spouse, the non-attachment we learn to practice in yoga when we let go of an expression of a pose that is past our edge has slowly taught me to thrive in the rollercoaster of moving every three years (or fewer). There is so much more to yoga than what happens on our mats - yoga is lived and practiced; it grows with us; and what a joy that is!
*Read more about classes below!*
Class Descriptions
Build an online yoga community with me!
We'll practice asana virtually on Zoom, take time to chat about yoga texts and podcasts, and more!
I am currently teaching at Latitude Virginia Beach on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm.
Join me for Back to Basics and Climbers' Reset!
I also teach on some Fridays.
I currently teach Family Yoga during the school year at Latitude Virginia Beach on alternating Thursdays.
For kids age 2-8and their caregivers - Join us to shake our wiggles out, share a story, play with words and questions, and to act out the week's story with yoga poses. We'll end with relaxation.
Adults should plan to participate WITH their children as much as you are able. When we role model healthy habits, they stick! And yoga is beneficial for physical and emotional health! So please, come ready and willing to practice with us!
Scheduled at your convenience
I love to offer yoga workshops for community heroes. These workshops focus on self-care, movement, mindfulness, and institutional goals.
Costs to expect: Average prices range from $75-300 based on size, time, and kind of organization. Free services are offered on occasion, so reach out!
Email me to request! mallory@watchwonderbloom.com
Class Details:
Class location: I currently teach at Latitude Virginia Beach.
Running late? Please join us anyways! If we are jumping around, take time to do a few simple stretches first.
Need to leave early? Please leave during the final few poses of class to avoid disturbing people in relaxation mode.
A note on electronics: Please silence all electronics. If you are expecting emergency phone calls, please silence your phone and watch and place your phone at the front edge of your mat so you can see notifications. Use your time at yoga to connect to your mind, breath, body, and community in the room.
Children attending classes:
Due to the large age range of children invited to attend Story Time Yoga, kiddos will engage in yoga in different ways. Some we will hold, some will wander and make noise (I'll have some activities for them to do), and some will begin to try to copy us. However your kiddo engages on a day is wonderful and welcome. Please do not feel the need to leave if your child is in a rambunctious or noisy mood.
Please make sure that your children are healthy if attending Story Time Yoga or Family Flow Yoga. We may have babies present who are too young to be vaccinated and need to strive to keep our littlest friends healthy!
Please keep in mind that children cannot attend ALL Levels Flow Classes. These are designed to provide a relaxing and invigorating time for adults and childcare is not provided. Older teens (14ish+) who are interested in yoga are most welcome to attend with a caregiver!
I want more yoga! I missed a class! Do you have resources? Two of my favorite resources are Do Yoga with Me and Cosmic Kids Yoga. Enjoy!
We cannot wait to practice yoga with you and your family and to #watchwonderbloom as you refine your practice or try something brand new!