SOL Yoga Arvada Teacher Mimi Morales

Her Yoga Journey - Savasana - Corpose Pose

I will always remember the pose that made me I fall in love with this practice - savasana. After putting my body through a challenging yoga class, nothing else felt as uniquely satisfying as existing in stillness. It's where I discovered a simple bliss that I couldn't find anywhere else, and I kept returning to the mat in search of the sweet taste of inner peace I would experience by the end of class.

My yoga journey began in 2004 when I replaced my chiropractor appointments with yoga classes after recovering from a breast reduction surgery. My doctor recommended yoga as a postoperative way to develop core strength, relieve my chronic back pain, and manage the overall health of my spine. So originally I turned to yoga for the physiological benefits which were nothing short of drastic - I lost 40 pounds, grew 2 inches taller, and I was completely free from the back pain I had been suffering for years. But something unexpected happened that was equally monumental. Yoga began to strengthen my ability to navigate through my complex mental health issues, and I continued to seek out classes to maintain the inner calm that I found when I committed to a regular practice.

Looking back over the past 14 years, it is unmistakable that yoga has been the north star consistently guiding the direction of my life. The periods of time where I felt the most lost and walked through my deepest inner darkness were unsurprisingly the only times I didn't have an established self-care routine. And yoga was the singular thing I would faithfully turn to, providing a vessel for me to tap into my dormant inner strength. This is the reason why I have now devoted my life to this practice of mindful living, and I have made the commitment to arrive on the mat every single day, regardless of how I feel. On the days where I'm on top of the world, I'll do a dozen Surya Namaskar Bs. Other days when I feel like crawling into a hole, I'll simply lie in Savasana and just breathe. My practice is constantly changing, but my steadfast devotional love of yoga is the reservoir from where I draw my strength.

I view myself first as a yoga student, and a yoga instructor second. My teaching style is an homage to the lineage of yoga teachers that all came before me and it is my mission to uphold sacred traditions that were passed down to me. I am immeasurably privileged to share and experience the benefits of yoga with other students, and feel honored to be a member of the beautiful community here at Sol Yoga.

Jan Jungwirth - August 2021

His Yoga Journey - Utkatasana - Awkward Pose A

First time I tried yoga was in 2015 in Czech Republic. At that time I was still living there. I did very few classes hence I wasn’t deep into it. Back then I was focused on working out in the gym. I liked to move and felt good when I exercised. Once I moved to Colorado I started having back and joint pain. In February 2021 I did research and found Sol Yoga. I did not expect what came after the first week of practicing. Pain was leaving my body and my sleeping habit was improved. As the months have gone by, yoga has become an essential part of my life. My body has been balanced overall. Also my mind has become more calm and sharper. I try to practice 3 times a week more or less. No matter the style I love being connected to my body and appreciate the moment with every inhale and exhale. My favorite pose is savasana. During the final resting pose I feel light coming through my breath. I’m grateful to finish every class more integrated and open.

Ani Moore - July 2021

Her Yoga Journey - Sirsasana - Headstand

I tried yoga for the first time when I was fifteen. I did not enjoy it. At the time, I was more into active and competitive sports(if any sports at all :D!). Since then, I slowly have learned to appreciate yoga much more. About four years ago, I took my first vinyasa class. I practiced for a couple of months and then stopped, and this continued for quite some time. In September of 2020, my husband and I moved to Arvada. I found out how close Sol Yoga studio is to my house, so I decided to visit the studio and see if I will be more consistent this time. Well, it has been more than eight months, and I still have not stopped practicing. I average between four and five classes a week. I tried different types of yoga at the studio, and they all are exceptional and can give you a lot, but my favorites are Upside Down Foundations and Vinyasa. My goal by the end of the year is to be able to do a handstand. I am sure with Lucy's help and mentorship, I will succeed in this!

Jake Ferguson - June 2021

His Yoga Journey - Vasisthasana - Side Plank Pose

I had practiced yoga a few times throughout my life before joining Sol Yoga, either by taking a college course or learning stretches at the martial arts studio I attend, but I never really established a solid routine. Every time I did do yoga though I took note of the calm yet energized state it would put me in after a session of practice, this state was something I would occasionally try to recreate by picking up a yoga manual of some kind and trying my best to mimic the poses and sequences shown, this paired with the occasional Youtube video I was able to get what I thought at the time was a somewhat passable yoga practice, however I would inevitably fall out of it.

I have now been practicing at Sol Yoga since the last week of 2020, and I wish I could go back to tell that guy trying to construct a teacher out of internet videos and books to just take all that effort and put it into learning under the amazing teachers at Sol Yoga. I learned more in one month at Sol Yoga than the entirety of my previous yoga experiences.

Being a martial arts instructor has many physical demands; from being hip tossed by angsty adolescents, keeping up with excited children or being fireman kicked by full grown adults. My practice at Sol Yoga has been invaluable to my health. Keeping me loose so as not to pull or strain something, improving my balance to help demonstrate proper form and strengthening my body to make me a more durable training dummy.

Whether it's Lucy Gong off handedly blowing your mind with a simple tweak that improves your whole practice or Laura Leathers giving you “I told you so” face while you discover you are in a pose you initially thought impossible. You will quickly discover the value of studying under these lovely people.

Andrea Nozykowski - May 2021

Her yoga Journey - Pincha Mayurasana - Forearm Stand

Andrea Nozykowski, 200RYT, 150RYT Yoga for Cancer Survivors instructor, and Yoga Nidra Instructor. Andrea has been teaching yoga for nearly 20 years. Her style and training is rooted in the Ashtanga Vinyasa lineage and teaching basic kindness- starting with how to be kind to ourselves. She began practicing yoga to help her through her mom’s breast cancer diagnosis and working a high-stress marketing job in Chicago. She was hooked after one class and was amazed by how much it noticeably reduced her stress and changed her perspective on life. She moved to San Diego, where she spent nearly a decade teaching yoga at the beach, training professional ballerinas to international jiu-jitsu champions. Although most of her training is rooted in a physical asana practice, she loves incorporating chakra education, meditation and pranayama in her classes. She also loves teaching her students how to take their yoga off the mat, creating deeper relationships, managing stress and living life to its fullest!

Mandy Laura - April 2021

Her Yoga Journey - Eka Pada Vasisthasana One Legged Side Plank Pose

My yoga journey has been so fulfilling for so many reasons. I first started yoga at a fitness club when I was 19. Not knowing it at the time, I stubbled upon one of the best teachers in the world IMO. She had a presence about her that I had never experienced before. She was calm, nurturing, graceful, humble, and genuine. She looked at me as though she loved me, and I think I needed that more than I knew. I went to all of her classes as often as I could. Mostly to be in her presence. But also because she was teaching classical yoga; yoga with lineage to Krishnamacharya Hatha, Patabhi Jois Ashtanga Vinyasa, and B.K.S. Iyengar yoga. She was the real deal and I could feel it. She taught me the foundations of yoga and her sequencing, knowledge, guidance, and presence left me feeling whole. After about a year of studying with her she asked me to start subbing her classes. Before I knew it, I found myself teaching at local studios, fitness centers, CSU, an alternative high school in town. I taught about 8 classes a week.

I developed a daily home practice at a young age. I did a lot of self-study and was interested in Eastern philosophy, especially yoga philosophy. My asana practice was steady and advanced quickly. I understood how to tweak the slightest position of a finger or a toe and get a different effect or energy. I was blessed with body awareness even as a child. I was a gymnast. As time went on, I moved to Denver and finally got my yoga certification after already teaching for 8 years. Then I started studying at an Iyengar studio for 14 years with a teacher who was known for going off the beaten path when it came to the Iyengar tradition. He took me under his wing and I got regular informal teacher training from him in every class. That was where I learned about the energies of the subtle bodies, body mechanics, and how to use props like a boss. I gained knowledge from watching other peoples’ bodies: posture, breath, face, energy, alignment, etc. He also taught me how to adjust people and make yoga accessible and individualized for each aspirant. I was so fortunate to have these 2 teachers, Jane Houck and Kevin Durkin, take me in the way they did.

Even with 20+ years of asana and pranayama practice, I still lean on other tools too, for healing and balance. The practice of the yamas and niyamas, the 8 limbs of yoga, mindfulness, therapy, self-care rituals, and asking for help are other practices that I need for a balanced life - which I strive for and no, have not, mastered. I’ve learned that I can no longer depend solely on my physical practice to feel connected at a deeper level. But, this is where yoga starts and this is how I stay physically healthy, sense my emotions, and manage stress.

In March, 2021 I received my 300 hr teaching certification, giving me the 500 hr credentials. This recent training, and the downtime of the pandemic, allowed me to go much deeper in my practice. I utilize many styles of yoga, mantras, and philosophy. I’ve realized that if I have a strong attraction or aversion to any one style, person, action, or thing then there is a lesson there to further explore. I use this technique often in life. It’s how I stay committed to growing as a student and teacher. I believe that you don’t have to commit to any one style, or any one teacher in order to experience the depth of what yoga has to offer. It is about self-discovery, self-awareness, and realizing that everything you are searching for is already inside of you.

My wish is that any and everyone who is drawn to yoga sticks with it so they may experience how it can transform their lives. There is something for everyone and your yoga changes as you do. It is an art and science, and you don’t have to conceptualize it or label it for it to work. Your work is to show up with an open mind, stay curious, and allow the yoga to do the work. It’s a gift to be drawn to yoga. It’s a gift to seek and find deeper meaning in life. That is what I want for my students.

Jenny Warchesik - March 2021

Her Yoga Journey - Utthita Trikonasana Extened Triangle Pose

March Student and teacher of the month - Jenny Warchesik It’s hard to tell you my yoga story without telling you my life, as the two have become very intermingled and fairly inseparable. I started taking yoga classes in my early 20’s after being in a car accident led to pain in my low back. I continued taking classes for the stress relief from a demanding job in Human Resources and life in general. I found my first yoga home when I stumbled upon a small and humble studio at the end of a strip mall in Golden. The door from the street opened right into the classroom. As life unfolds many changes occurred personally, professionally and physically, but my yoga practice remained. Yoga has helped me navigate the constant changes life brings and learn to accept there are things in this life that just cannot be controlled or directed no matter how much we want them. We can not control our external environment (including others) the only thing we can control is our perception, our way of reacting to and dealing with what is happening around us. Yoga has also taught me it’s OK to make mistakes. Practicing through injuries, I have learned that just because I could move my physical self into a posture, did not automatically mean that I should. It has helped me through physical and emotional difficulties, and always meets me exactly where I am. I completed my 200 hour Hatha training at my yoga home, Asana Studio in 2012, from five amazing mentors. I am still teaching the very first class I was gifted, with most of the same students attending! I also got to teach at my first yoga home. What an amazing feeling, to lead a class where I had taken so many. I have also completed a training in Yoga Nidra by Sri Devidas. My goal when I teach is to always leave my students feeling better off after taking my class than they did when they walked in. This might be physically, mentally, emotionally or holistically better. I lean toward the gentler side of yoga, that sometimes less is more. I encourage students to always take care of themselves and listen to their own internal guidance.

Laura Leathers - Feb 2021

Her Yoga Journey - Astavakrasana - Eight Angle Pose

My journey with yoga began in 2016 in Montanita, Ecuador with Authentic Yoga Teacher Training. I was fortunate enough to study under teachers who were not only skilled at teaching how to sequence a class, but more importantly impart the history and philosophy of yoga.

In hopes of honoring my teachers, I try to thread pieces of yoga philosophy into each class that I teach. And while I’m thoroughly convinced that yoga is much more of a mental practice than a physical one, I still jump for joy when I see a student reach a new depth in a posture.

Mostly though, I hope that the students who practice with me, see that like them, I am also a student on the same journey. I am here to share my experience and equally excited to learn from all the wonderful individuals who have trusted and allowed me to guide their practice for however short or long the period of time.

Lucy Gong - January 2021

Her Yoga Journey - Garudasana - Eagle Pose

The first time I practice yoga was in 2007 in a gym in Shanghai. But back then it was not attractive to me. Therefore yoga practice did not become my regular routine. In 2016, I started my regular hot yoga practice after I moved to my new home in Vancouver Washington. In June 2018, I was honored to receive my first 200 RYT in Hot 26 and 2019 I received my second 200 RYT in hot Vinyasa. This was a life changing event I cherish forever. I believe through my training and experience I have gained more insight into yoga and proper alignment. Also in 2019, I went back to Shanghai and stayed 2 months to practice more yoga which made me realize the way they teach yoga in Asia are very different compare to US. I am happy to bring my knowledge back to the United States and help my students to explore different yoga postures.

If you have taken my class before, you may notice some difference in the execution of the postures. There are always postures you haven't tried before. Even the same postures you have done so many times , you will feel it is harder and more challenging in my class. But you are also building your strengthen very quickly. You will see your improvement in your own practice every day.

My teaching style is more focused on alignment and proper muscle group engagement. Then bringing all those together to a whole mind body connection. I am extremely excited and encouraged by the therapeutic benefits of yoga. The benefits of yoga on the knee's, back , joint, and shoulder pain are measurable. I personally suffered from excruciating shoulder pain that lasted for years. That's why you probably noticed in my class, I focus on our shoulders a lot.

It gives me great joy to be in front of my students watching them strive and grow. I appreciate the diversity of students all with very different capabilities and needs. This ensures a rewarding and stimulating class environment.

I'm looking forward to seeing the continued growth of our yoga community. The first time I practice yoga was in 2007 in a gym in Shanghai. But back then it was not attractive to me. Therefore yoga practice did not become my regular routine. In 2016, I started my regular hot yoga practice after I moved to my new home in Vancouver Washington. In June 2018, I was honored to receive my first 200 RYT in Hot 26 and 2019 I received my second 200 RYT in hot Vinyasa. This was a life changing event I cherish forever. I believe through my training and experience I have gained more insight into yoga and proper alignment. Also in 2019, I went back to Shanghai and stayed 2 months to practice more yoga which made me realize the way they teach yoga in Asia are very different compare to US. I am happy to bring my knowledge back to the United States and help my students to explore different yoga postures.

I'm looking forward to seeing the continued growth of our yoga community.

Terri O'sullivan - December 2020

Her Yoga Journey - Camatkarasana - Wild Thing Pose

The first time I practiced yoga was 10 to 12 years ago. I had been wanting to try it for a while and finally connected with my first teacher. I do believe the saying, "when the student is ready the teacher will come", is true.

I was hooked from the very first class. Yoga felt familiar to me from the beginning and someone once told me that "I took to it like a fish to water". And that is what it felt like to me, that I returned to something I had known and cared deeply about before.

I practiced pretty regularly for a couple of years and then kind of drifted away for a time. I returned to a full-time yoga practice about 4 and 1/2 to 5 years ago and I'm now a daily practitioner.

The more I practice yoga and the more I learn, the more I love it and the more I want practice it. 😁 It is an awesome addiction!😉

I love to practice in studio because I like the feeling of the class building energy together as a whole and in that way each individual is more supported; we each put something in and we each derive something even larger in return in the form of increased Zen and energy flow!

My home studio of the last 5 years recently went out of business and finding myself without a home studio for the first time in some years was an unpleasant and dissociative feeling, especially given the very close community that we had there.

I continued my practice online at home, like everybody else did at the start of Covid-19, but once things started to open back up again, I began searching for a new yoga home.

After taking several studios for a "test drive", I found Sol Yoga, owned by the sweet, amazing, Lucy Gong. My first interaction with Sol was with Laura (Leathers) and in that first interaction I felt a connection as Laura was very warm, friendly and welcoming. 💜

I took my first class @ Sol with Laura and I am now an addict for Laura's classes which are always challenging, however, they are also always uplifting as well as informational (many thx for the Sanskrit, Laura)😉❤and I smile frequently in each class because Laura has a great sense of humor as well. She is a very thoughtful and contemplative teacher with a questioning mind who seeks to broaden and deepen each student's knowledge and overall yoga practice with LOTS of encouragement for all.

After my first class with Laura, I had the great pleasure of meeting Sol owner and studio vision holder, Lucy Gong, who was also so welcoming and just so genuinely nice and that fabulous smile! 😁

Lucy's classes are phenomenal! If you want to build strength quickly as well as endurance and stamina and get to have poses broken down to their very foundation, as well as have the opportunity to practice poses that you might never have seen or heard of before, come to Lucy's classes! Be prepared to work hard and enjoy doing it! Lucy possesses a WEALTH of yoga knowledge and is truly an amazing teacher.

My favorite style of yoga, if I can only pick one, is Vinyasa, because I love the union of the breath and the movement within the flow. There are moments when I am doing Vinyasa where I feel truly free and that is priceless.❤🕉

Sol Yoga is now my new yoga home and I am very grateful to have found it and the wonderful community that we are building there!

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. Translation: (May all beings everywhere be happy and free). Namaste.

Craig Stoflet - November 2020

His Yoga Journey - Eka Pada Urdhva Dhanurasana One Legged Wheel Pose

I was first introduced to yoga around ten years ago, most likely through a girlfriend at the time, however I did not continue my yoga practice on a regular basis. More recently, I started practicing yoga approx. once a week, however I never viewed yoga as my primary form of exercise and considered it more of a side dish.

From approx. March 2020 thru July 2020 I was unable to practice yoga due to coronavirus until I found Sol Yoga. After my first practice with Lucy I can not recall a time my body felt so good and so sore the following day. Initially, I started coming to Sol Yoga more frequently in order to try and offset my power lifting routine, although soon I truly felt the majority of my strength gains were coming from my yoga practice. Currently, I'm in the studio approx. 4 times a week for the past three months and still after every practice my body is so sore but in such a great way.

Like most yogis, I always enjoy practicing what I consider myself good at, but very much appreciate the class dynamic at Sol Yoga. I feel most confident doing/demonstrating back and shoulder flexibility, as well as some inversion techniques. I'm excited to continue my yoga practice and to continue my path toward total body strength and flexibility, hopefully one day mastering the grueling toe squat!

Paul De Leon - October 2020

His Yoga Journey - Utthita Parsvakonasana Extended Side Angle Pose

I first tried yoga a couple a year's ago because I was having back problems, but I completely fell off after short time. Fast forward to 2020 and I continue to have back and joint pain so I build some courage and made it to one of the classes here at SOL yoga and fell in love with it all. I enjoy coming in to the studio and learning from the teachers and my community, on how to work on my self thru breathing stretching and meditation. Ying yang if definitely one of my favorite styles, it's the best of both worlds. Warrior II is my favorite pose it makes me feel strong and fearless while working on my foundation. I attend class 3 or 4 times a week more or less. At the end of the day I'm glad I found yoga, it really helps me stay calm and healthy in my fast pace life. I look forward to my endless journey in yoga! I'm happy I can teach my daughter all this!

Katie Summerfield - September 2020

Her Yoga Journey - Surya Yantrasana - Compass Pose

I first started my yoga journey because I wanted to try to calm my mind and my body and I thought that yoga would be a great place to start. Once I started I fell in love with yoga and kept practicing from there. I have noticed a huge difference in how calm I have become. One of my favorite things about yoga is how my practice on the mat translates into my every day Life off the mat. Yoga has taught me to process information about my body and to respond without judgement instead of reacting. Yoga has also taught me to always breath no matter what! I try to practice 5 times a week or as much as my schedule allows. My favorite yoga class is Vinyasa, but my appreciation for Yin yoga has really grown as I learn to breath more. I am very grateful for this studio and hope to see everyone in class!

Nancy Sells - August 2020

Her Yoga Journey - Ardha Chandrasana - Half Moon Pose

I am a breast cancer survivor and like many, I found yoga after chemo and radiation to assist with healing. A whole new world opened up for me!

The practice of yoga has taught me 3 key things (and many more but let’s keep it to three for now):

-patience (really needed that as a single mom of 2 girls)

-how to breath (pranayama) which is my cure for all

-how to listen.

This picture, taken at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel CA, exemplifies all three of the above. Half Moon requires patience (go in to it slowly) and deep breathing (which promotes no judgment of how I am doing in the pose) and listening (behind me were dolphins in the Pacific Ocean below - and they were talking to me!)

Yoga offers peace and changes my energy with each practice. I like setting a sankalpa at the start of each class. My goal is to practice at least 3 times per week (always morning) no matter who the teacher is and no matter the style of class. I finish refreshed, restored and renewed.

michaela martinez - July 2020

Her Yoga Journey - Utthita Hasta Padangustasana Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose

The first time I practiced yoga was a Jivamukti class in 2003 in the Denver area. I loved the combination of music (like, the Beatles and Led Zeppelin!) with the practice of asana and meditation with chanting. I practiced many types of yoga for about seven years and then life caught up and I eventually stopped going. After a major life event and more anxiety and stress than I could handle, I decided to start practicing regularly again in April of 2019. I gained a significant amount of weight with all of the stress, chronic health issues, age, and life at that time and needed to work hard to get myself back to a place I felt comfortable with. In the beginning, I practiced sometimes seven days a week while walking four miles a day for cardio exercise and grounding. Since my journey back started, I have lost 42 pounds and have a stronger practice than I ever had before. It is one that is more "inward" focused. Yoga has always settled my nervous system in a way that nothing else could. I needed it in my life more than I ever knew. Now I understand how important it is for me and my physical and mental health. Since I began practicing regularly again last year, I have managed to keep doing yoga 4-5 days a week (even in the pandemic) and have found strength I never thought I could feel again. Mentally and physically! My relationship with my mind and body have grown significantly.

Being able to practice in community (safely from six feet away from my peers and teachers!) brings a level of intimacy with my practice that I can't explain. There is nothing like community support from peers and teachers! I love to practice Vinyasa classes with a few not-so-common poses in there to challenge me each time. My favorite relaxing pose is Baddha Konasana (Cobbler's Pose) and my favorite hard poses usually come from any balance pose to remind me that I will always have a new challenge each time I practice. Nothing stays the same. I am grateful to practice in community again with like-minded individuals and plan to see you in class!