Yoga & Movement | The Light You Cast

Compression + Composure =
Optimal Health and Healing

All health and healing begins in and through the body.

The core of optimal health and well-being - physically, mentally, and emotionally - is one's ability to meet compression (stress) with composure (breath).

In every TLYC Yoga and Movement experience, we train our capacity to maintain calm in our nervous system and composure in our minds while we learn and integrate core principles from The Light You Cast™ curriculum.

Stress is a necessary catalyst that promotes health, growth, strength, and resilience. Through The Light You Cast™ Yoga and Movement experiences, we strategically create healthy stress in the body so to

strengthen the nervous system's relaxation response

diminish stress hormones

alleviate anxiety and overwhelm

enhance concentration and mental clarity

nurture mind-body connection

discharge difficult emotions

increase mobility and flexibility in joints

detox the issues in our tissues

lower the risk of heart dis-ease

boost endorphins that improve mood

Yeah. You cannot get this in pill form.

Meet with Dr. Jen to Learn More

Scientific Benefits
of Breathing & Moving

Scientists have found that regular participation in movement-based exercises has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-esteem. Even five minutes of mindful movement and focusing on the breath can stimulate anti-anxiety effects.

Studies show that mindful movement is very effective at reducing fatigue, re-energizing your system, improving alertness and concentration, enhancing overall cognitive function, and soothing an over-active nervous system.

We know that "when stress affects the brain, with its many nerve connections, the rest of the body feels the impact as well. So, it stands to reason that if your body feels better, so does your mind. Physical activity produces endorphins—chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers—and also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress.” Anxiety and Depression Association of American (ADAA)

Scientific evidence indicates that mindful movements, like yoga, that combine breath with movement can be effective for helping reduce depressive symptoms because it strategically boosts emotional mood and mental health at the same time. Mindful movement exercises increases blood circulation to the brain, especially the amygdala and hippocampus — which both have roles in controlling motivation, mood and response to stress.

Site-Based
Mindful Movement

Imagine engaging courageous conversations, strategic planning sessions, curriculum development days, or data dives meetings AFTER everyone has calmed their bodies, energized their systems, cleared their heads, and reconnected with their purpose?

A little guided mental health/concentration/body scan exercise or a short, invigorating sequence of movement poses is a perfect way energize your leadership team and staff before, during, or after their "work" day.

Each session designed for all bodies, and all are welcome.

Every body is guided into their body in their own unique way.

No experience, mats, or special clothing required!

We love to use our chairs as the perfect platform to assist our minds and bodies in stretching and stressing our systems in energizing ways. Jen has mats and support blocks she can bring to your site if you so desire.

We keep it secular.

Secular, by definition, means not pertaining to or connected with religion. Yoga, mindfulness, and mindful movement are secular; meaning there is no intent within the practices to practice any religion or instill a particular set of religious beliefs or content. The "content" of our movement practices is the body's wisdom and information. These introspective mind/body practices are based on explicit, empirical evidence and are intended to diminish the onset or exacerbation of dis-ease in the body and mind.

I became a certified yoga teacher in 2013, and my area of expertise is the restorative practice of yin yoga. I have been an avid yoga and mindfulness practitioner since 2007. Yoga and mindfulness is what buoyed me as a new mom after my three daughters were born. I started practicing yoga because of the recommendation by my therapist when I was struggling with postpartum depression.

I have brought classes on mindfulness and yoga to promote on-site staff wellbeing and mental health for the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota, Lifetime Fitness, the University of Minnesota College of Education + Human Development and Carlson School of Management, and Target Corporation.

I bring somatic-based, restorative practices like mindful walking, guided mindfulness mental health meditations, and yoga/movement experiences to school districts (over 25 to date), local public health organizations throughout Minnesota, and to annual conferences where caregivers gather to connect.

Jen is a 200 hour CYT

(certified yoga teacher)

Create a Customized Experience

Choose your experience LENGTH

Brain & Body Boost | 30 minutes
Stoke the System | 60 minutes
Sink and Settle In | 90 minute

Choose your experience TIME OF DAY

Morning | Before the work day begins to energize
Mid-Day | During the day to sustain energy
Afternoon |After the work day to detox and destress

Choose your experience FREQUENCY

One Time Event
Monthly
Weekly
To compliment a specific in-person training series

Choose your experience DELIVERY MODEL

In-person
Zoom
On-demand | Engage the series of (8) 15 minute mindful movement videos in the The Light You Cast™ self-paced, online curriculum

Session Sequence of Embodied Experiences

Every Yoga | Mindful Movement session includes an engagement of the The Light You Cast™ signature 3 R's of caregiver mindbodysoul health

REST

Healing Pillar

Regulate Nervous System

We start every and all sessions with a RELAXING BODY SCAN so that you can feel how your attention relieves tension in parts of your body where it likes to hold stress. During our opening practice, we also integrate a core perspective of The Light You Cast™ curriculum.

RESTORATION

Healing Pillar

Process energy in the body through stress and breath

You will be guided to strategically engage a SERIES OF POSES to get into your body as you concentrate on your breath. Each pose is designed to create a low load of safe stress on your muscles, joints, connective tissue, and ligaments. When we release each pose, you will experience the benefits of the "squeeze and soak" phenomenon when oxygen rich blood flushes the area we stressed which results in increased strength, flexibility, mobility, and resilience.

REVITALIZATION

Healing Pillar

Create space for the mind and body to integrate energy and grow stronger

We know that the cells in our bodies are listening to the thoughts in our heads, so we close every session with a MENTAL HEALTH VISUALIZATION that allows the body the time and space it needs to actively recover and build strength from the stress it endured. We discuss a "take-home" mental health practice from The Light You Cast™ curriculum.