Jen René Yoga

Not everyone practices yoga the way I think it should be done - and the same is probably true for you. Which is why I get to be selective with who I let influence my teaching and my practice. And so do you.

Selectivity is badass. We get to think for ourselves and do what feels right. We get to choose what (or who) is in alignment with our beliefs. The practice teaches us to watch our own minds and check our own motives. It brings us more in touch with our intuition.

Ultimately, our community decides who to respect as a teacher, whose messages get spread, who we hire to teach in our studios. We get to decide who we tell our friends about, whose content we share, and who we recommend to others. 

One of the four attributes of a spiritual disciple on her path to moksha is viveka, which translates as discernment or discrimination. One of the things that is supposed to happen as we walk along the spiritual path is that we become choosier. Our energy becomes more refined and we become more discerning. 

Being selective is badass. Believe in YOUR powers of discernment more than you believe in someone else’s message.

Those of you who’ve followed me for a long time have seen a lot of content featuring my soul pup, Hampi. And if you’ve practiced with me in person, there’s a good chance you’ve met him too. On Tuesday, after nearly 15 years by my side, Hampi passed away.
Hampi was endlessly good-natured and loved by so many. He was the ultimate shala dog—he joined Mysore every day and was always ready with a perfect savasana assist and a wagging tail. He was enthusiastic about absolutely everything. He loved going to bed early, sleeping in late, and soaking up all the pets he could get. He lived his life assuming everyone was a friend.
He was also a world-class counter-surfer—stealing butter, fish, half-and-half, and even full pies and cakes. He always walked without a leash because there was no way he would ever leave my side. I’ll always remember him squeaking with excitement in the car, ears flying as he leaned into the wind, chest out the window, taking it all in. I’ll remember him bounding down trails, chasing rocks into the water, and grinning as cats chased him. He loved camping, people, other dogs, being chased, giving over-the-top greetings, his stuffed frog, and, mostly, he loved me.
Hampi got me through some of my hardest years. When I felt most alone and isolated, he was always there—my steady, loyal companion. For a long time, it was just the two of us. He welcomed Paul into our lives (after a brief period of jealousy), and ultimately, he stayed by my side long enough to see me into this new chapter, leaving me with another sweet boy to love.
Hampi’s love was the best love. I’ll miss it forever.
At the end, all I could say to him was: thank you, thank you, thank you.

Same shape, different orientation.

If you’re struggling with where you are, go back to where you’ve been and look for clues.

There’s always more to extract from Primary Series.

Check out my free resources to learn about moving from Primary Series to Second Series. Link in bio.

Got problems in yoga? Feelings happen, stuff comes up - that’s actually a good thing! Here are some common feelings and suggestions on how to deal with them.

Want to learn more? Download my free 30 day practice calendar. Link in bio to get yours.

Just for fun! I love me a good handstand - there’s something just fun about it.

First Friday of 2025! Have some fun, friends.

If you’re reinventing your practice this year, check out my free resources. Link in bio!

Staying curious and adaptable is key to a long-term practice.

Ashtanga yoga is firmly grounded in tradition, but it’s the evolution of practice that keeps us inspired. At its core, yoga is about transformation, and that is a beautiful thing. It means you don’t have to practice like you did in 2024. You get to decide what’s right for you, your body, and your practice. You get to evolve and transform, learn and grow from your past experiences.

Cheers to a New Year of practice.

Go to the link in my bio for free trainings and tools to help you kickstart your practice in 2025.

Merry Christmas, yogis!

Join me for 5 Days Intensive Study in Carlsbad, CA

☀️ October 2 - 6, 2024
😎 Daily Mysore Practice
🌊 Pranayama and Vedic Chanting
🤸🏻‍♀️ Asana Theory
👯‍♀️ Community

Space is limited!

https://www.jenrene.com/ashtanga-yoga-renewal-intensive-study