Written on the plane home from Ireland

I'm writing this on the plane home from Ireland (Carrie Bradshaw voice, if Carrie traded Manhattan for a sheep field lol). I’m trying to get all my thoughts down before we land and life goes back to normal.

We spent the week at a lodge in County Clare with an ocean view near the Cliffs of Moher. About 25 of us with rain that changed its mind every hour. Cows in the field next door. I mainly went as the person to help with logistics and guest experience and somewhere in the middle of the week I remembered I'm also a person in Ireland with an opportunity to connect with myself.

Midweek Emily Byrd taught Breath and Beat, our signature breathwork class, and most of the room ended up in tears. Me included. I’ve been scared to open back up to Holotropic breathwork knowing how powerful it is and what might come up. When I shared afterward, what came out of my mouth surprised me. Since Quinn was born I don't think I'd had one stretch of time where I was fully away and able to come all the way back home to myself. Not a nap. Not a night out and dirty martinis with friends. An actual return. And it didn't feel dramatic it just felt like setting down something I didn't even realize I'd been carrying.

Some questions that had been heavy on me for months got quiet over there. A few got answered. Distance will do that when you finally give it room.

My mornings looked different too. At home Quinn and I walk to Yellow Dog for coffee which is our ritual and my favorite part of everyday.  In Ireland I walked down to the water alone with coffee that I poured instead of ordered, stopping to pet cows and horses on the way.. honestly felt like I was in some sort of farm girl fantasy. Same ritual though just an ocean away. I didn't know how much I needed the alone version until I had it.

I'm landing on me and Brian's anniversary and I wrote his card on this flight. The whole thing basically turned into a big thank you. The week I’m sure was busy (a toddler will do that) and he never once made me feel guilty for being gone. He didn't babysit his own daughter, he’s her dad. I’m going to be coming home full instead of depleted, which is honestly the entire point of a wellness retreat. And the entire point of Dose.

So… this is the first post. I'm not teaching a full schedule anymore and I've been looking for a way to stay connected with this community so writing it is. A space to chat about the studios, motherhood, yoga, wellness, places I and (we) travel, and insights. Because Dose was never meant to be just hot yoga classes. It's a place to come back to yourself.Ireland just reminded me.

xo,
Emily