The Journey is the Practice
In yoga, it’s often said that it doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you were last on your mat—what matters is that you’ve returned. And it’s true. Your mat never judges you for the time spent rolled up in a corner. Your community welcomes you back with open arms.
But how often do we pause to honor the path that brought us here?
Perhaps it took courage to walk into a new studio or trust a new teacher. Maybe you crossed cities or oceans to find a space that feels like home. Maybe your journey was one of healing, curiosity, or simply carving out time between responsibilities—finding childcare, rearranging your calendar, or choosing yourself for once.
Whatever your path, the steps you took to arrive are just as meaningful as the poses you practice or the peace you find in stillness. Often, it’s in the journey that we grow the most, meet the people who shape us, and gather the stories that stay with us forever.
So next time you step onto your mat, take a breath and honor the road that led you there.
May you always cherish the journey.
With Love – Natalie
The Journey and Power of Crystals
You’ve probably noticed crystals in our studios—or maybe you have a few of your own. But have you ever wondered why they’re so cherished? The use of crystals for healing and spiritual wellness stretches back to ancient civilizations. Today, we admire their beauty, but their journey to becoming the radiant stones we hold dear is nothing short of extraordinary.
Crystals form over countless generations, enduring extreme environments, shifting climates, and intense physical pressures. Deep within the Earth, minerals transform into stunning geometric shapes and vibrant colors. Many believe these stones carry the Earth’s energy, vibrating with frequencies that can support healing, intention-setting, and spiritual connection.
Choosing Your Crystal
So how do you find the crystal that’s right for you? You can start by researching stones that align with your personal intentions or visit a local metaphysical shop to speak with someone knowledgeable. But often, the best guide is your intuition. When you hold a crystal to your heart and feel a sense of connection or peace—that’s your sign.
Cleansing and Connecting
Once you’ve found your crystal, it’s important to cleanse it of any lingering energy. You can do this by placing it near selenite, running it under water, or exposing it to sunlight or moonlight. Burning sage or Palo Santo are also powerful cleansing methods. Afterward, spend time with your crystal—hold it, meditate with it, and infuse it with your intention.
Whether worn, held, or placed around your space, crystals can serve as beautiful, tangible reminders of your inner journey and the energy you wish to cultivate.
Teacher Feature: Suzi Cooper
I first found yoga when my kids were little. I found a tape as well as a book that showed animals in yoga poses! I started doing yoga with my kids and even taught kid’s yoga at their Montessori preschool. I started focusing on my own yoga practice more when I began attending heated classes in Cedar Rapids. I really enjoyed the way it was calming and also felt like I had had a really good work out. Now, it is less about how it makes me look and more about how it makes me feel – strong, confident and just an overall feeling of wellness.
I am also a Physical Therapist. I feel like yoga has helped me be a better practitioner by teaching me how to slow things down and incorporate the breath more. I never really
focused on breathing with my patients in the past and now it is one of the most important things I focus on during treatments. Slowing down has taught me patience! I am not an inherently patient person and yoga has helped me hone that skill.
My combined careers of PT and yoga feels like a perfect fit for me. I have always been an active person – gymnastics and playing tennis as a kid. I always enjoyed science classes, especially biology and physiology. Physical Therapy combined movement, science and helping people.
When I am not in the studio or with clients, I stay active by running and walking my dog, playing tennis and I’ve really gotten into pickleball lately! I have always been an avid reader. I also spend as much time as I can with my family and 9 month old granddaughter.
If you come to one of my classes, you can expect a great flow and some strength training snuck in! We always wrap up with a good recharging savasana.
If you are new to teaching or considering taking your teacher training, my advise is to just go for it! I was very hesitant at first and it took me awhile to get started but now I think, “What was I so nervous about?” Mistakes happen and people are understanding. I was probably too hard on myself and wanted to be the perfect teacher right away, but it takes time to develop your own style.
Garden Haul Veggie Pasta Sauce
This pasta sauce is one of my favorites because it is so easy to customize. It is perfect for this time of the year when your garden may be full of fresh herbs, SO many zucchinis and tomatoes. It’s also a great way to sneak in a ton of veggies for pickier eaters. Sneaky sneaky.. Remember that this amounts are measured by my heart, so feel free to add more or less to meet your tastes.
Ingredients:
3 red bell peppers
3 peeled carrots
1 zucchini or summer squash
5 tomatoes (at least)
2 heads of garlic, top cut off and papery layers peeled away
Olive oil
fresh basil and oregano
salt and pepper
parmesan (optional)
1cup reserved pasta water
Cream (optional)
Directions:
Rough chop veggies and toss with olive oil and seasonings
Roast on foil lined baking sheet at 450F for 30-45 minutes
Allow to cool slightly and add to blender with 1/2 cup pasta water
Squeeze garlic out of skins into blender
Adjust to desired thickness and add cream for desired richness
Adjust seasoning to taste
Pour over pasta, grate fresh parmesan and ENJOY!
Notes: Extra sauce can be frozen for later use. Add cottage cheese to your blender instead of cream to boost your protein.
Green Witch Column with Saloni Thompson
Tips for using the natural magic of herbs, flowers and essential oils.
At Home Sound Healing
If you love sound healing but can’t make it to your favorite class, there are many apps, YouTube channels and even tuning forks that can offer these healing frequencies! Give them a try now.
3 Hz – stimulates deep sleep
174 Hz – pain relief
280 Hz – accelerate metabolism
417 Hz – energy recovery
432 Hz – calming
528 Hz – regeneration of cells
200 Hr Cloud Nine Yoga Teacher Training
If you have ever wondered, ‘Is Yoga Teacher Training for me?’.
The answer is 100% Yes!
Our next session of Cloud Nine Yoga’s 200 Hr Teacher Training will run January thru June 2026. Andrea, Tammy and a handful of other instructors are excited to welcome you on this journey.
Contact Andrea if you’d like more information.
Toula's Kaizen Journey to Busan, South Korea October 17-24, 2025
You’re invited to a very special and rare opportunity to go on a Toula Retreat!
This October we are heading to the home of one of our beloved international teachers, Mindy Sisco, to Busan, South Korea!
We are keeping this group small and will welcome 10 people to join us.
This is your sign! Take the trip.
Sign-up ends August 31st!
Now’s your chance to reserve your space before it fills up!
Check out our new website for a complete list of class offerings, upcoming events, and retreats.
