"Participating in the 200hr YTT program this year has been a life changing experience. I told myself that this was for me and there didn’t need to be a specific purpose for doing it. When I finally committed to being ALL in… body, mind and spirit… diet, exercise & meditation, the universe opened doors for me that I would have never seen before in my life. The program has helped me to find internal balance, healing and an alternate purpose that aligns with the essence of my being. The more I learn, the more I realize I have to learn. I committed to the 200hr YTT program thinking I would delve deeper into the study of yoga and teaching, what I found was the pathway to my life and my true self.” –Melinda Fletcher

________________________________________________________________

"I met Diana at a Silent Retreat and from there decided to start my YTT200 at Essence. The training has been amazing. I am learning so many things about strengthening my body, managing stress, and what brings me joy. Diana is very dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of yoga, but also making the connection between this and other aspects of life - how your body works, the importance of breathing, and the precision of poses. She works to drive a connection between what you are learning, what is different, and what really matters. The relationship to your classmates is very special, and taking this training during COVID has helped keep me grounded. A very holistic program, I would recommend to others." -Kim Howard

every person’s experience during a yoga class. Whether you are interested in deepening your personal practice, embarking on a health and wellness journey, or seeking to teach yoga to others (perhaps even a combination of all three!) I highly recommend Diana’s 200 YTT program.” –Kelsey Madison Dietrich

To order: Diana.eat.to.live@gmail.com 

Last date to order for this special treat: September 20th.

from The Roasted Root

Click here to Get the Recipe!

This delicious chili combines some of the best fall flavors into one delicious bowl!

~ Diana Spiess, M.S., NBC-HWC, E-RYT500, C-IAHC, AADP

The season of change and transition of fall that is unfolding will, most likely for most of us, be like no other we have experienced before. As we all continue to adjust to and work with all the new ways of working, educating our children, traveling, caring for our families, considering how we go about the holidays and so much more. The fall season brings forth the amazing, natural process of releasing what no longer serves us…just as the trees release their leaves and the plants their fruit. This year, most of us are reevaluating what no longer serves us from a very different perspective and wondering, “What matters most?” as we navigate so much.

In my most recent podcast, I pose this question in many ways: daily activities, weekly planning, our deepest, heartfelt desires, our entire journey. With my health coaching clients, when it comes to making changes for improving their wellness and being presented with choices for foods or drinks that don’t match the goals for the changes they are working toward, I remind them, “The decision you must make always is between what matters now versus what matters most.” At this point in time, many of us are so affected by stressors and decisions that we could not have seen coming. The process of meditation and the practice of yoga both help us learn how to be present in the moment and activate, through the Somatosensory system, the senses and receptors for feedback from all through the body. This, most likely, is the most important for the process of our own, person decision of, “What matters most?” The answers we need are already present. Asking questions, having conversations, noticing the signs that come our way on our journey, or studying are ways for us to gather information but the ultimate decision is ours to own and follow through with. This is why the “expert approach” most often does not work. No matter what someone tells us to do, even if it is a good thing, we will most likely not continue it or see it through until we “own it”.

This fall, as you decide what to stay with and what to release, I encourage you to reflect daily, and in many moments, “What matters most?” Does the decision(s) you are making line-up with and fuel your heart’s desire or does it/they drain it? Are you making the decision(s) because others are or because it lines up with what works for you and your family? Are you making a decision(s) that supports the community/world or does to break-down the community/world?  Are you deciding for short-term gain what will cause long-term suffering? All of these questions really come down to, “What matters most?”  

Mon-Fri 8:30-11:30am • Mon-Thurs 4:30-7:30pm • Sat 7:45am-11:30am