A Winter Blessing from Us to You
As December comes to a close, may you find a moment to pause and reflect on the year behind you. Let yourself remember the simple acts of kindness you witnessed, the intentions you planted, and the many paths you’ve walked.
May you take joy in the lessons gathered along the way, and in the friends and communities who have held you, challenged you, and grown beside you.
As the new year approaches, may you step toward it with an open heart, a curious mind, and a cup overflowing with compassion—for yourself and for those who matter most.
And in these long winter evenings, may you discover stillness. May you remember that if the sun can rest, so can you.
With Love and Peace,
Toula
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Teacher Feature: Steffani Mesch
I started my yoga practice back in the early 2000’s. It was just something I was going to try at the gym I went to. I fell in love with how yoga mixes the physical and mental aspects of life. Yoga has helped me get through many things in life just by reminding me to take a pause and breathe when things get heavy. I decided I wanted to become a yoga teacher after I started to go to a class at Toula. The teacher always had a great message, and I found that class helped me with different things I had going on in my life. I thought I’d like to be able to help others through their own practices and my messages. In fact, my most memorable moment from my teaching journey is when one of my
students decided to go through teacher training for themselves. I keep coming back to my mat because it is time to focus on myself. As a mother of 2 teens my life is busy, and it is a time I can carve out just for myself. It is nice to just take a moment of the day and reset. My favorite styles to teach is Hatha or slow flow. I like to hold poses a little longer and mix the two styles. People that come to my class can expect to take some time to center themselves before we start doing some movements. I try each week to come up with a meaningful theme and asana practice. We end each class with the best part savasana. My classes are very welcoming for all ages and experience levels. I would say to anyone who wanted to try yoga for the first time: Please come to a class! Yoga is more than the poses. It is such a wonderful community to be a part of. Yoga has so many benefits both physically and mentally. It will for sure improve your life.
When I am not teaching yoga I enjoy spending time with my husband and kids. I love to watch my kids play their individual sports that they love. I also really like to read, and I enjoy traveling and spending time with friends.
Please join me on Sundays at 9:30am. It is a Hatha 1-2 class. Everyone is welcome. I have a great group of students who are fun and welcoming.
Easy Chex Mix
This month’s recipe is a simple, holiday staple that has been a tradition in the Duryea household for decades. Welcome to my holiday guilty pleasure! From Thanksgiving to New Years, we like to indulge in this salty treat perhaps a bit too much. This recipe is adjusted to be gluten free. We also make our own seasoning salt at home, but Lawry’s is a good option if you are not concerned about GF.
For the Chex Mix:
2 (heaping)cups Rice Chex
2 (heaping)cups Corn Chex
2 cups GF pretzel sticks
1 cup Cheerios
1 stick of butter (can be plant based for a DF option)
4 tbsp Worcestershire (Lea and Perrins is GF) add more for tangier flavor
2-3 tbsp seasoning salt
Ingredients for Seasoning Salt:
1/4 cup salt
4 tsp sugar
1.5 tsp corn starch
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp garlic
1.5 tsp onion powder
1 tsp turmeric
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 250 degrees
- Place stick of butter in a 9×13 cake pan and place in oven to melt while preheating
- When butter is melted, add in Worcestershire and seasoning salt and stir
- Add all other ingredients and gently stir to cover all pieces in buttery goodness.
- Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Add more seasoning or Worcestershire as you go. I encourage you to taste test all pieces that fall out while stirring!
- Store in airtight container, but let’s face it, it won’t last that long.
Green Witch Column
Tips for using the natural magic of herbs, flowers and essential oils
Winter Solstice and New Year Simmer Pot
Orange slices (sun energy, abundance)
Cinnamon Sticks (protection, warmth)
Cloves (prosperity, purification)
Pine needles or sprigs (renewal, resilience)
Star anise (magic, protection)
While setting an intention of renewal, hope, warmth and rebirth in the new year, place the ingredients in a pot of water and bring to a gentle boil. Focusing your mind’s eye on the return of the sun, the renewal of your inner light and the warmth and abundance of a new year filling your space.
200 Hr Cloud Nine Yoga Teacher Training January - May 2026
