Abby With The Rods

01/29/2024

One of my goals last year was to make (and upkeep) a YouTube channel dedicated to yoga and mindful, joyful exercise. And I did it! So if you should ever find yourself in need of a quick lil stretchy-stretch, a yoga practice, a fun and often slightly ridiculous workout, or even a quick tutorial on how to do squats or deadlifts or kettlebell swings, you are invited to check out my channel, Abby with the Rods. More videos to come! ♥️🥳

Hi, I'm Abby, and I'm a human first.I am also a yoga teacher, runner, student, dog mom, partner, sister, writer, daughter... and so many other things.But I'm...

11/28/2023

Two years ago, I tried to lift an extremely heavy box into my cart at Lowe’s. In my heart of hearts, I knew it was a stupid idea, but I was in a hurry, and didn’t want to ask anyone for help. “I’m strong,” I thought, “I’ll be fine!”

As soon as I started to lift, I felt everything in my back seize. The world around me came to a screeching halt, and I just stayed there, stuck in a squat, until someone walked by and offered to help.

For days, I could barely move, and I didn’t know what to do. I felt frustrated that my usual yoga and movement practices didn’t help, and embarrassed that I, a yoga teacher who had devoted my life to helping others move mindfully, had injured myself in such a silly way...

Two years ago, I tried to lift an extremely heavy box into my cart at Lowe’s. In my heart of hearts, I knew it was a stupid idea, but I was in a hurry, and didn’t want to ask anyone for help. “I’m strong,” I thought, “I’ll be fine!” As soon as I started to lift, I felt everything in ...

11/22/2023

One year ago, I announced that I was leading my very first solo retreat.

Up until then, I had led 6 retreats, each with the help of a studio and/ or co-teacher. I *loved* each of those retreats, and was (and still am) extremely grateful for those experiences. But last year, I felt the itch to lead my very own - no co-teachers, no studio, just me, a retreat center, and a dream!

I remember posting the announcement on Instagram and immediately gasping. What if no one signed up? Or worse, what if people signed up but had a terrible time? I had no idea what would happen; I just knew that I needed to try...

http://wix.to/gd5jxfF

10/23/2023

Twenty-one years ago, I went under anesthesia and wondered if I would ever wake up.

I remember sitting in a wheelchair, in a scratchy gown and hospital socks, watching the doctors stick me with a needle and ask me to count backwards from 100. I remember getting to 97 before everything went black.

6 hours later, the surgery was over.

24 hours later, I woke up, briefly. They told me the surgery was a success, and I fell promptly back asleep for another 24 hours.

For the next two weeks, I recovered in the hospital room at Beth Israel North. Twice a day, I was instructed to walk around for a few minutes, to keep my body from seizing up, and to speed the healing process. I obliged, even though walking was the last thing I wanted to do. Everything hurt, and everything smelled like rubbing alcohol and dried blood.

My mom, sister, brother-in-law and grandma took turns staying with me, entertaining me in their own ways. They sat with me, read to me, told me stories, rubbed my feet… I don’t remember much of what we said, but I remember feeling so deeply loved, and so deeply grateful to be alive...

Twenty-one years ago today, I went under anesthesia and wondered if I would ever wake up. I remember sitting in a wheelchair, in a scratchy gown and hospital socks, watching the doctors stick me with a needle and ask me to count backwards from 100. I remember getting to 97 before everything went bla...

10/20/2023

For years, every time my therapist asked me how I felt, I would start by saying, “I think…”

I still do it sometimes - especially when my feelings are complicated.

I do it when I’m nervous that my answer won’t make sense - or when I’m afraid that what I’m feeling is too big.

In those moments, my therapist would invite me to pause.

She would ask me to not talk, and to just sit for a moment, and notice my body....

For years, every time my therapist asked me how I felt, I would start by saying, “I think…” I still do it sometimes - especially when my feelings are complicated. I do it when I’m nervous that my answer won’t make sense - or when I’m afraid that what I’m feeling is too big. In those mo...

09/21/2023

We had been staring at each other for three minutes.

And in case you’ve never held sustained eye contact with someone for three minutes, let me assure you: it’s a lot longer than it sounds.

We had started out smiling, faded to comfortable recognition, then spent a few seconds blinking and moving from left eye to right eye before settling into a serious stare. There was a moment of terror when I saw her notice something in my eyes, then another when she saw me notice the same thing in hers. There was another moment when both our eyes started watering...

Ironically, most of us desperately want to be seen and to be paid attention – but once we are, we panic. Our eyes dart, we laugh nervously.

09/15/2023

Today's enewsletter ♥️

My dears: I’ve been to Switzerland and back, and to COVID and back, and now, I’m finally feeling like myself again. If there’s one thing this round of jet lag and corona have taught me, it’s that transitions take time. Nothing good comes from rushing.  Despite my plans to return home and di...

07/24/2023

Last year, I was drinking a mug of chocolate when I had an epiphany.

This is, of course, how I’d like to have all my epiphanies (with chocolate involved) but this one felt especially fitting.

I was in Nicaragua, in the middle of a weeklong retreat I was leading. It was a full moon that night, and in honor of the full moon, the retreat center had offered to lead us in a cacao ceremony...

Last year, I was drinking a mug of chocolate when I had an epiphany. This is, of course, how I’d like to have all my epiphanies (with chocolate involved) but this one felt especially fitting. I was in Nicaragua, in the middle of a weeklong retreat I was leading. It was a full moon that night, and ...

07/17/2023

There is a question that I’ve been asked a dozen times - by fellow business-owners, teachers, mentors, coaches - a question that I have always struggled to answer:

Who is your ideal client?

I’ve struggled with this for a few reasons:

1. I feel like if I think too hard about “who I want to attract,” then my focus becomes more on what I think other people want, and less on sharing what I’m truly passionate about.

2. Describing “an ideal client” feels limiting. I don’t actually know who will resonate with what I’m teaching, and I don’t want to say, “my ideal client is someone with scoliosis/ spinal fusion/ childhood trauma & loss,” because I’ve also had so many wonderful students who don’t have those things. It just doesn’t feel right!

But last week, I had a conversation with my coach about this, and she said something that finally resonated...

There is a question that I’ve been asked a dozen times - by fellow business-owners, teachers, mentors, coaches - a question that I have always struggled to answer: Who is your ideal client? I’ve struggled with this for a few reasons: I feel like if I think too hard about “who I want to attract...

07/14/2023

A few weeks ago, I led a student in a meditation I had never led before.

Like most of my good ideas, it came to me in the moment, when I was relaxed and present. Nothing was rushed or planned; I was just there, sitting with my student, trying to feel into what she needed, and what I could provide. We had been talking about the power of the senses, and about how sometimes, just pausing to really feel our feet on the ground can change our whole perspective. I introduced to her the yogic concept of pratyahara, one of my favorite of the eight limbs...

A few weeks ago, I led a student in a meditation I had never led before. Like most of my good ideas, it came to me in the moment, when I was relaxed and present. Nothing was rushed or planned; I was just there, sitting with my student, trying to feel into what she needed, and what I could provide. W...