After I arrived home to Alaska last week, it was the first time in a long time that I really felt myself settle. I realllly slowed down.

All my trips planned through July are cancelled. My cell phone hotspot wasn't working, so it wasn't worth it to be on the computer. I didn't have anywhere to drive, or food to buy because we're stocked. And without all the things that normally fill my schedule, I found the craziest thing: Space.

And although my mind still runs a million miles an hour, the content within has a different quality — backed by stillness instead of busy-ness. From the depth of my awareness (on a walk with the dogs), a thought popped into my head. 

When we slow down, we can speed up.

Our mind has time to reset, to open up to new possibilities and new ways of thinking. And as I think about all those people on the front lines of this medical nightmare, I pray that everyone has enough time and space to breathe, reflect, and heal as we navigate this new path.
And then it occurred to me that I'm not alone. The media/government reinforces this fact every single minute.

• Worried about paying rent? You're not alone!
• Nervous about how the business will look after COVID-19? You're not the only one!
• Unsure about how a nonprofit will raise enough money next year to make budget? You and everyone else!
• Confused about whether or not you actually need to wear gloves to wipe down your groceries after InstaCart delivers them to your doorstep? You're not alone! (And yes, you should.)

Seriously: this whole fiasco is reinforcing the truth we all know deep inside... we are never alone because we — like the billions of other people on this planet — are going through daily struggles, triumphs, journeys and intensity.

We go through these things during pandemics. We go through these things without pandemics. Despite what we believe in the Facebook feeds, Instagram stories, and highlight reels we scroll through on social media, no one is exempt from the pains of life. And no one is exempt from the joys of life. And right now, no one is exempt from COVID-19. We are all human beings having a human experience, and we're all in this together, whether we like it or not.

The only difference is that now, we're all forced to slllllowwww down and actually see that, and feel that. And grieve that. And grow from this. 

So when you hear the whisper to slow down... to pick up that book... to finish that project... to air-hug your neighbor from a 6 foot distance... to show up to the front lines in your scrubs to care for those who can't care for themselves... pause. Deep breath. You've got this.

And you are not alone. 

Here are Yoga Hive, Blaine (owner of Yoga Hive Colorado and a master teacher for our EMYoga training this summer!) and I have planned a new 21-day program with completely new content to reinforce this fact.

We are proud to co-create and co-lead BeAbundant.

Using virtual group discussion, yoga and meditation practice, we will harness the power of yogic technology to let go of resistance, allow creativity to flow, and see our world as a chain of infinite possibilities over the course of 21-days, and 4 weekly meetings. You will walk away from this experience with new friends who are interested in growth, new habits focused on your wellbeing, and a game plan for how to move forward in your life. The world is not happening TO you. It’s happening for you. 

This entire program will happen once weekly on Zoom starting Tuesday April 7th from 6:30-8pm MST. You will get a recorded weekly yoga/meditation practice to use daily during our program. Never used Zoom online video conferencing? No problem. We'll walk you through it step by step, and the software is free and easy! We will record all meetings, too... so if you can't make it live, you can still join in.

In a nutshell? We gotchu. The standalone 21-day program, which includes four meetings + a virtual manual and day-by-day program instructions + recordings from Zoom to access after the meeting time, is FREE for any autopay monthly unlimited members (reply here and I'll enroll you free of charge), and costs $44 for anyone else. If you want to make a one-time purchase for a month unlimited yoga + the BeAbundant program, you'll get all that for $108. Click here to enroll today!

It's time to rise up and dive deep during this time of cocooning, so that when it's time to emerge from this quarantine chrysalis and re-enter the world, you've got a game plan, a rock solid daily routine and mindset, and bold and beautiful butterfly wings to carry you as fast as you need to move. 

Slow down. Speed up. BeAbundant. 

Interested in seeing what online yoga is like before you commit? Try out a class -- on us. If you haven't attended online classes yet, you're welcome to use the promo code yogahiveonline for a 1-time 100% discount off a Drop-In Pass (with no mat rental!). This code is good through April 14th - 1 per person, please. Tell your friends — join us online this weekend to see what Yoga Hive is all about!

In light,
Mollie

PS - If you don't have the means to pay but need BeAbundant in your life, please reply to this email and fill me in on your situation — I'm ready to help make this happen for as many community members as possible. 

Funny how things change in the course of a week, isn’t it?

And by funny I really mean... life-altering, potentially fear-inducing, and funny-not-funny. 

Now, more than ever, is the time to practice. As the first yoga sutra says, "Now, yoga begins."

The impact of this pandemic on small business promises to be massive across the country, and Yoga Hive is not exempt from this, not by a long shot. But one thing you can always count on from us (and one thing we’ve learned over the last four and a half years) is that we practice yoga like our life depends on it.

In honor of helping to make “social distancing” the catch phrase of our time, we've spent the last five days crafting a plan to support the sustainability of Yoga Hive, and support this community like never before. At the recommendation of Yoga Alliance, Yoga Hive’s physical locations in Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Kalispell are officially closed, effective immediately, for in-person group yoga classes until it’s safe to reopen.

Plus, we’re completely out of toilet paper! 😜

And... here's the fun part. Yoga Hive Montana is proud to offer a full online schedule of LIVE classes starting TODAY on Zoom Video Conferencing (full "how to" directions and FAQs below!)

• 11am - FREE Meditation & Breathwork with Mollie (30 mins)
• 12pm - Hive Flow with Mollie (60 mins)
• 6pm - Honey Flow with Haley (60 mins)
• 7:30pm - $5 Hive Happy Hour with Cat (60 mins)

We have classes every day of the week, and you'll see class times grow and a variety of teachers grow as we get more and more of our friendly faces trained on the system. We have a few new class types as well, so check it out on our schedule and of course, feedback is always welcome! Your passes and the pricing works the same as it did before—and you get a link emailed to you 15 minutes before class to hop into the online meeting room. Easy peasy!

As for the state of our world amidst a pandemic... as someone with so many family members, friends, and colleagues with chronic health conditions... I keep getting asked, “Is this for real?”

In short? Yes. It’s absolutely for real. Whether you're part of the "at risk population" or not, we're all part of the same ecosystem, and this thing moves in ways we can't always anticipate, Chlorox wipes or not.

It’s not something we need to resist, or fear, or turn a blind eye to. As yogis — I told you last week — we respond to the need of the moment. And right now, all over the USA, we are called to physically distance ourselves from others not for our own safety. I’ve been traveling through Alaska, Wisconsin, and now to Montana. I’ve seen the way communities are responding in so many places for the last month, I’ve watched my colleagues in Denver, Miami and beyond boldly take their studios completely online. We can’t sit back and wait for this to become small town Montana’s problem. The time is now, and this concerns everyone.

Deep. Breath. We have nothing to fear!

And yet… fear is there, isn’t it? If it’s not fear, then it’s some other emotion. Denial. Anger. Disappointment. Confusion.

So do we smother it down and deny we’re “having a moment”? No. In times like this, we practice yoga IN ORDER TO have emotions like this bubble to the surface. You heard me right: Yoga brings it all to the surface. That's the sneaky purpose of yoga when you really start practicing in earnest… to bubble things up so we can see them, acknowledge them, and delete them.

What seems sneaky at first becomes a technology we can use to free ourselves from unnecessary suffering.

And even with fear, or denial, or anger on board, those emotions don’t define us even though they might feel all-consuming. Emotions are like tools that give us an indication of what’s happening on the inside. If we recognize where we feel fear in our body (tight hips, clenched jaw, etc.) then we can recognize it and treat the body as it’s happening by doing breath work, meditation, and yoga. The emotion becomes a tool for self-healing.

This moment-to-moment awareness of our emotional state is called emotional intelligence. 
As yogis, we remain vigilant, we tune into what’s happening on the inside through this emotional intelligence, and we practice like our lives depend on it. 

And know for sure: Yoga Hive has you covered. You can count on:

• A regular schedule of virtual classes from our amazing teachers. Our variety of classes will grow and widen as more YH teachers get trained on the system!
• A FREE Yoga Hive Connect Facebook group that offers daily 5-15 minute yoga/meditation videos from the Yoga Hive Leadership Team (Anyone can join — click here to get in!)
• Yoga Hive Connect - coming very soon. This is your online database of classes from your favorite Yoga Hive teachers. Anytime. Anywhere. Free for existing Yoga Hive unlimited members.

So with that arsenal of tools at your disposal, I recommend you download Zoom (super easy and free to do), roll out your mat, sign up for class (at least 15 minutes in advance!) the same way you’re used to through our app or website via MINDBODY, and get yourself to an online yoga class with Yoga Hive. 

In light,
Mollie

Alaskans have a phrase for traveling to the lower 48... it's called “going to the outside.” And I never truly understood that phase quite like I did last week!

After spending the better part of the last few weeks off-the-grid in the Brooks Range prepping for our Far North Northern Lights + Yoga retreat, even returning to mainstream Alaska felt like stepping out of a dream into a harsh reality... it’s a world filled with ongoing news stories, scary updates, and a bit (ok, a mega dose) of mass hysteria.

All I could think was: Where the heck is all the toilet paper?!

In all seriousness, with everything going on from election sagas, to virus watch, to the economy, to toilet paper's disappearing act, I find it hard to pull away from the news sites and my daily news podcast. I find it hard to not worry about the future of... everything.

How do we stay up-to-date in the world without constantly diving into fear? 

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: It all comes down to the unknown, and our relationship with it. And our ability to ask ourselves realistically: What can I do right now?

In fact, this concept is so important that it's the basis of the FIRST yoga sutra — Yoga is now. This is the most important sutra, as they are to be practiced sequentially for maximum benefit!

So we avoid asking What does my future hold? Or How should I have done the past differently?

A yogi will ask: What is this moment asking of me right now? 

Before heading up to Arctic Hive last week (which is our home and igloo above the Arctic Circle... the northernmost yoga studio in America!), Sean and I poured over weather forecasts and tried to prepare ourselves as best we could. 

Needless to say, there were a lot of unknowns. 

Our objective was to ready the property for this April’s retreat by breaking in spring access trails, hauling food and provisions, moving solar panels, shoveling massive amounts of snow from roofs and decks, and packing a dogsledding trail. From afar, we wondered what -30 daytime temps would feel like as we spent our entire days and parts of the evening outside doing physical work, trying not to sweat to avoid hypothermia. We wondered how much firewood we would go through, how long snow-boiling shifts would take to make ample water for our dogs, how to keep our snowmachine and truck oil warm to prevent freezing. We wondered if we had the right layers/boots/socks/gloves/hand warmers... you name it.

We wondered, we researched, and we prepped as best we could. That’s all we could do. That's what the moment was asking of us. And we knew if it weren't so logistically complicated, then surely the village of Wiseman would look quite different. Instead of the 12 souls that live there, year round, off the land (mostly all from the same family) would be more like 1200. Or 12,000.

Having prepared our hearts out, we drove north, 7 hours from Fairbanks into the heart of Alaska’s mighty arctic Brooks Range—the Himalayas of the Arctic. And despite the unknowns of winter, all we could do was walk through the fear of unknown.

A wise yogi named Scott taught me this idea of “walking through fear." I’ll never forget as he described his experience in the armed forces overseas, and how when it comes to fear, you have to face it, walk through it, and let go of the desire to turn around to get one last look at it. A difficult lesson learned for him, I’m sure... and one I didn’t take for granted, and use daily.

The more we step outside our comfort zone into a space of challenge (walking through our fear), the more we find ease in the unknown. The more we sign up for classes that make us a bit squeamish... the more we take trips to wild off grid places... the more we try that yoga pose that pushes our limit... each new experience adds up and prepares us to flex our “uncomfortable” muscles at the drop of a hat. 

So days upon days and nights upon nights  of working outside in temps that ranged from -25 to -47 degrees for hours in a remote and isolated wilderness? Yeah. It was mind-numbing cold.

Was it amazing to push through the intense moments and work side by side with my partner in one of the most incredible places in the world? 

Yep. Totally worth it. Mission accomplished. 

So whatever fear you’re facing at the moment — whether it’s a manageable stressor or it’s a big, hairy, esoteric fear of the unknown for our planet (or somewhere in between), take a step back and assure yourself: The future does not exist.

Say it again, put it on a post-it in shouty capitals, whatever you have to do: THE FUTURE DOES NOT EXIST.

Then ask yourself: What is the moment asking of me, right now?

From there, don’t wait. Prepare, and walk through it, resisting the urge to look in the review mirror. 

You’ve got this!

And, maybe now you feel a pull to spend 5 magical days with us in April and disconnect from the rest of society when daytime temps are likely much more comfortable than -25 degrees... You’ll spend 5 days in and around the comfort of our warm igloo studio and staying in hand-harvested Alaskan log cabins, nourishing yourself and taking time to just... be. And thanks to all the chaos in the world, flights are pretty dang cheap to our launching point in Fairbanks... click here for all the details!

As for Yoga Hive Montana? In this moment, the world is asking everyone to keep clean — which, when you consider all the implications—isn’t a bad idea! We have already increased cleaning overall, and will continue to regularly deep clean the studios and props.

Here are a few things we’d love your help with! 

• Wipe down your yoga mat after every session if you borrow a mat... and if you’ve never cleaned your own mat before (ha!), now is a great time to give our OnGuard spray a try at the studios. 
• Please wipe down blocks if you used them.
• If you’re feeling ill, even a little bit, please stay home as a courtesy to other yogis. Know that we’ve asked our teachers to do the same. If you need an extension on a class pack due to Illness, please reach out and we can help!
• We are lucky to have so many Yoga Hive instructors, but in event we need to cancel a class because we cannot find a sub, you will see it on MINDBODY and we will post on Facebook. We ask in advance for your understanding during this time — we are interested in keeping everyone healthy and happy!
• If you use bolsters in your practice, consider bringing your own towel or blanket to drape over the props. Know that we have also amped up our deep cleaning effort on props, too. 
• For the time being, eye pillows are being retired... so use a hoodie or shawl to drape over your eyes. 
• If you need a natural boost for immunity, reach out— we have tons of resources! We now carry Mountain Song Essential Oil blends in studio, as well as our existing partnership with doTERRA. 
• If you’re ready to just CHILL OUT, and find deep relaxation, consider the two amazing workshops we have coming up this month! A tribute to the Vernal Equinox with Lynn and a magical sound bath the following week with Michelle Berry and Don Caverly. Both promise to send healing energy through your system—and we could all use a little of that, now couldn’t we? 

XO,
Mollie

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