Seven Oaks Yoga

“Where there is joy, there is creation. Where there is no joy, there is no creation.”
— Chandogya Upanishad

The vast salt flats of Badwater Basin reflect the infinite space within, a physical reminder that the body is a mirror of the universe. In Compass Pose (Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana), the physical form stretches beyond its perceived limits, untying the subtle knots (granthis) of the body to reveal the quiet, luminous awareness underneath.

This asana is a physical invocation of the internal compass, aligning individual consciousness with the sacred geometry of the universe. In Sanskrit, Surya represents the solar, illuminating principle of self-realization, while Yantra is the sacred instrument or portal through which we channel divine energy. As the heart twists toward the sun and the body unfolds into a sacred mandala, we move beyond the physical sheath (Annamaya Kosha) to awaken Prana, expanding our perception to orient toward our true north, Atman.

🧘🏼‍♀️ Compass Pose | परिवृत्त सूर्य यन्त्रासन

📍 Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park
At 282 feet below sea level, this expansive salt flat is the lowest point in North America. The crystalline salt crusts form as ancient lakes evaporate under the desert sun, creating a surreal canvas of natural geometric patterns.


Vedas, Philosophy, travel, 2026, mantra, music, affirmations, Slavic

Namaste. Another day with Shiva me.🧘🏼‍♀️ “Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.” — The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 2, Verse 48)

True stability isn’t a default state - it’s something we actively create through focus, breath, and embracing the wobble. Connecting with the grounding energy of Shiva today and reminding myself that the journey to find balance is exactly why we practice.

Some things are easier said than done, but the effort is always worth it. How is your balance feeling on the mat today? 👇

Rāja Kapotāsana (King Pigeon Pose) (राजकपोतासन)

There comes a moment in every practice when flexibility is no longer the goal. What begins as a physical posture quietly becomes a conversation with yourself. The body opens only as deeply as the heart is willing to soften.

This is why I return to my mat again and again. Not to achieve a pose, but to remember that growth isn’t measured by how far we can bend. It’s measured by our willingness to stay present when life asks us to open.

Perhaps enlightenment isn’t found at the end of the journey. Perhaps it lives in the courage to meet ourselves, exactly as we are, one breath at a time.

“The deepest pilgrimage is not across the earth, but into the heart.”

“Respond to every call that excites your spirit.”
— Rumi
It’s that feeling... when I step on my mat in the morning. And no, honestly, I didn’t get that feeling when I was just starting out, but every Yogi knows what I’m talking about, that unmistakable shift into being fully alive and deeply connected..
What is that feeling you crave? The one that comes as you build your yoga practice? It’s that true sense of unity. The connection with the soul... with something beyond…
I’ve always believed that animals have their own language, their own world that we don’t always fully comprehend. They exist on their own vibration, their own frequency, with their own way of life. Look at these magnificent elephants... they hold an ancient intelligence that is simply part of their nature. They carry a quiet presence.
When you align your energy with nature you can get a glimpse of another world.

What is the feeling you crave the most when you return to your practice? Let me know below

Some songs are meant to be heard. Others are meant to be practiced.

This mantra was created for my yoga practice and inspired by the sacred journey of Kailash and the Kora. Rooted in the timeless vibration of Om Mani Padme Hum, it blends ancient tradition with a modern sound while honoring the wisdom of the path.

As a teacher, my intention is to create music that supports flow, presence, and meditation and something you can move, breathe, and return to again and again throughout 2026 and beyond.

May this music bring you peace, strength, and an open heart. 🙏🏼

My lunge is not as deep as my version of Shiva, but working on it! 😅
For me, Shiva represents the ultimate fusion of both masculine and feminine energy and holding both in perfect harmony within a single form. Seeing myself in this ancient, primal expression of Anjaneyasana (a deep variation of a bound lizard pose) at Mount Kailash carries a much deeper metaphorical meaning.
In ancient symbolism, this deep, bound lunge represents a cosmic hunter, but Shiva isn’t hunting animals; he is hunting down the ego and capturing the untamed mind. By pinning the hips to the earth (the fluid, yielding feminine energy) and fiercely lifting the spine and binding the foot (the structured, focused masculine will), the body becomes a living circuit of power. It is the ultimate balance of fierce grounding and open-hearted devotion.
Back on my mat by the pool, my tabletop is a little more standard, but the intention to balance my own dualities and connect to that inner fire is exactly the same. Yoga is a practice and a journey; there’s never a perfect pose, only endless room to grow, breathe, and evolve.