GOOD News!

Thank you for your feedback! I have revised our Registration Page for the Rasayana Yoga Retreat in January 2026 and made it easier to navigate!

If you have missed this so far, there is still time to join in and be a part of a joyful and holistic experience to start next year off with!

We have four suite styles for your to choose from starting at $2781!!!

Ocean View Suites

Garden View Suites

Guest Room Suites

Dorm Style (up to 4 persons)

IF you wish to travel SOLO, please register as a Single and click on the Single Room Button in your preferred Suite style.

IF you are traveling as a COUPLE, two people sharing a bed or in two separate beds, please register on the Double Room Button, in your preferred Suite style. Fee is per person.

ALL of the YOGA (twice a day and some evening gatherings), ALL Organic meals daily, plenty of snacks, teas, coffee, and filtered clean water is completely included. Airport Transport is not included but, we will arrange it for you and cost accordingly to how many are in your van.

Loads of fun adventures are available for you to partake in outside of our daily schedule.

Register NOW, Select Your Suite Choice and either pay the deposit or in full and you will know you put this on your calendar and may rest assured you have already made a fantastic and healthy decision to begin 2026!

Corinne and I are so very excited to welcome you not only into 2026, and into this nourishing and relaxing experience. We are planning intimately curated classes, just for our group, please join us!

Reach out with absolutely any questions denise@divinelightyoga.com

REGISTER NOW! Then relax and enjoy your summer!!!

Thank you for putting some heartfelt thought into this, and we hope to see you there! Meantime, see me online or in class starting

June 11th, 2025 @Santa Cruz Yoga! Wednesdays, Yin Restorative with the Gong Sound Healing, 7:15pm.

Life Changes, So Do You

What are you up to my friends? Besides attempting to retain a sense of calm and safety in the storm, how do we retain our vibrancy when it feels like what has held us is shifting so fast? What we may have depended on for that safe container of our family, community and work may have changed over these past 5 years since Covid and more. Change can be destabilizing and chaos creates a deep sense of fear and instability. It depletes our vibrancy without a strong platform within and without a connection to our personal relevancy and Spirit, we may loose our footing. What can we do individually, intimately, to calm the chaos and stabilize the unstable parts of ourselves? How can we find our footing again and have change be our friend not a foe?

Mar de Jade Retreat Center

Well, I have a couple of ideas for you:).

Shake it up and come on a fantastical and healing Yoga retreat in January 2026! Corinne LeBlanc and I are thrilled to collaborate to bring you this 7 day journey into a fully renewed and restored sense of calm, JOY and vibrancy.

Imagine once January arrives, this year is behind us all and we are ready to embark to heal, balance and dance our hearts out.

Reserve your room now with your deposit and your final payment is not due until August. Just do it for yourself, bring a friend and know that come post holiday season, you will be more than ready to head to a sunny beach and find your way home back to your tender hearts, healthy body and calm mind.

We have a superb week planned, see all the details here, and register now to get that special room that you want!! Register now.

Since 2007 I have LOVED leading yoga retreats. What a gift to gather away from our daily demands and sink into our bliss! Some past retreat comments: “You touched my heart, opened it up and inspired me so much this week. Thank you for creating this amazing gathering.” Read More!

Let’s Embrace Change and Stop Bracing Against it

Change is the only constant that does not change, it is always here with us. Our perspective is what we can control, our outlook and “inner looking”. Shifting our relationship to change is where we can learn to thrive and move beyond surviving. Embracing change as a constant instead of pushing back against it gives us more physical, mental and emotional energy to place in the areas we want to focus on. Some practices I do remind me that, the basics are there because they work. You know them, eat balanced meals at regular times, eliminate snacking, rise and sleep at regular times, get out into nature, notice the smallest of creatures and remember you are all of that which is, always was and always will be. Here are some soft reminders.

Gratitude for Mother Nature

Use your 5 Senses to keep balanced:

• Eyes guide feet: Stay Active: Regular exercise is essential for maintaining physical and mental well-being. Consider activities like walking, swimming, yoga, and dancing.

• Tongue and taste: Healthy Eating: Pay attention to the quality and taste of your food. Seasonal, fresh, fragrant and chemical free foods bring more pleasure. Include plenty of organic fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains in your meals.

• Touch and feel: Explore New Hobbies: Discover or rediscover your passions. Whether it's painting, gardening, playing a musical instrument, or learning a new language, engaging in hobbies can bring excitement and creativity into your life.

• Ears and Speech: Socialize: Maintain an active social life. Spend time with friends and family, join clubs or organizations, and engage in community activities. Social connections can bring joy and a sense of belonging. Come to yoga class!

• Smell and scent: Spend Time in Nature: Nature has a rejuvenating effect on the mind and body. Spend time outdoors, whether it's hiking, gardening, or simply taking leisurely walks in a park, notice the smells of nature.

• Overall: Laugh and Have Fun: Keep your sense of humor alive. Laughter is a great way to boost your mood and add vibrancy to your life. And one day, we will look back.

NEW exciting LIVE in person classes! I am finally back in the classroom at Santa Cruz Yoga (all classes are also Live Streamed).

Check out my new schedule including some fun summer subbing AND two courses that you can add to your library on line when you cannot get in to class.

NEW SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND COURSES

300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training is on going and virtual for your convenient learning. If you are local, the Mentoring hours can be in person in my home studio. If you live away, I welcome you on Zoom for Live Mentoring.

Beyond a typical advanced training, this course carries you into and through one of your most extraordinary journeys to find your deepest wisdom, your clearest voice and strongest connection within. Every graduate has shared their life changing stories and has lived their Heroine’s Journey to the fullest. I invite you to look into it, whether you are a teacher or eternal student wishing to deepen into your own Self Mastery, this is a doorway.

Look into the doorway, what will you find?

Friends, Thank you for your loving support, comforting words and genuine presence in my life. When I hear from you and remember who I am from your reflecting words and care, I feel better. I hope you know how grateful I am for you! Be well, stay steady on the path.

Love, Denise  

What is Embodied Healing and Meaningful Self Discovery?

200 Hour Yoga Training Course begins September 12th, ONE SPOT left!

NEW: Fall Classes coming, stay tuned!

NEW: Trauma Informed Yoga Classes starting early 2025!

Benefits of Chanting the Sacred Mother of all Mantras:

The Gayatri Mantra

Would you try 1000 Days? How about at least 40? this Mantra continually awakens and amazes me with her frequency, opening in my heart and deep relaxation. My favorite recording is by Deva Premal, find her on Spotify and You Tube, and enjoy.

Embodied Healing and Meaningful Self Discovery is a way of being, less doing, learning to be with yourself and feel a certainty within.

Yogic teachings reveal the root cause of suffering is not knowing the truth of who you are, of being disconnected from that knowingness, and feeling lost, uncertain and seeking relevance outside ourselves. When one gains awareness of one’s true nature, that clarity allows distance from the suffering. Clarity of knowing relaxes one’s entire being, it is the truest Homecoming, moving towards connection within, that Sadhana, your daily practice remains steadfast and roots one into their natural loving and JOYFUL nature. It is a matter of deciding, do you want to feel that, a steadfast rooted connection to your own natural JOYFUL nature? If you feel a YES, join our cohort for the 200 Hour Divine Light Yoga Teacher Training, we start September 12th, we have ONE SPOT left, just for you!

Yoga Teacher Training hands you tools to understand your emotions, integrate body/mind divisions, release and rectify mental turbulence and most of all, to meet all the parts of you that keep you in self doubt. It reminds you of a deep purpose that has always been inside of you. It feels so good, and it opens you to the authentic JOY that is who you authentically are.

You are JOY, you are an ocean of infinite possibilities and things can ride over this and we might forget that about ourselves. We can remember and learn how to maintain balance, in the heights of storms.

What I love the most about this path of Yoga, is that once it is awakened, no one can take it away from us. We carry it like a glowing jewel inside of us and that will sustain us.

If you are on the fence, if you are still wondering if you want this or how to do this, or is there still time??? YES, there is, call me, email me, ask me anything so any doubts can be removed and you can join us! We begin September 12th, on this remarkable journey of embodied healing and meaningful self discovery, I really hope you will give yourself the gift, that honestly, will keep on giving for the rest of your life!

One scholarship left, one spot left. Are you the one?

Sign Up NOW! Everything you need to know or reach out directly to me, the sooner the better!

From the Bhagavad Gita:

Arjuna said: “The mind is restless, unsteady, turbulent, wild, stubborn: truly it seems to me as hard to master as the wind.”

Krishna replied: “You are right Arjuna: the mind is restless and hard to master; but by constant practice and detachment it can be mastered in the end. Yoga is indeed hard for those who lack self-restraint; but if you keep striving earnestly, in the right way, you CAN reach it.”

Reach out to me, let’s get you on board, denise@divinelightyoga.com

Can you actually change your Brain?

NEW 200 Hour Yoga Teacher training early bird deadline extended to Friday, July 19th!!! Enroll Now!

Change your Brain, Improve your Life? Are Yoga and Neuroscience related?

Neuroscience and yoga have a fascinating relationship that has gained increasing attention in recent years. Yoga, an ancient practice combining physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), meditation (Dhyana and Dharana) and ethical principles (Yamas and Niyamas), does indeed have powerful effects on the brain and nervous system, which can be explored through the lens of neuroscience. Here are some ways neuroscience intersects with yoga and definitively changes your life:

• Neuroplasticity and Brain Changes:

• Yoga practices like mindfulness meditation (awareness practices and learning to be in the present moment) have been shown to induce neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to reorganize and adapt by forming new neural connections. Regular practice (Sadhana, daily practice) leads to changes in brain structure and function, particularly in areas related to attention, emotional regulation, and self-awareness.

• Stress Reduction:

• Yoga practices, including breathing exercises and meditation, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation and counters the effects of the sympathetic nervous system (the "fight or flight" response). This can lead to reduced stress and improved overall well-being. We change our relationship to stress by realizing our role in the amping up of it.

• Mind-Body Connection:

• Yoga emphasizes the connection between the mind and body. Neuroscientific research supports the idea that practices like mindfulness meditation can strengthen this connection, leading to better awareness of bodily sensations, emotions, and thoughts. We call this interception, learning how to relate what we feel with what we are thinking. With awareness of our thoughts the body responds.

• Cortisol Regulation:

• Yoga has been linked to reduced cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress. Regular practice can help regulate the body's stress response and promote a sense of calm. Simple breathing practices will reduce inflammation and the release of aging elements.

• GABA Boost:

• Some studies suggest that yoga practices may increase the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps regulate anxiety and stress. Brain chemicals play an enormous role in our ability to feel steady, calm, hopeful and joyful.

• Dopamine Release:

• Yoga asanas trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This can contribute to feelings of happiness and contentment after a yoga session and taken in regular practice, these effects are cumulative.

• Default Mode Network (DMN):

• The DMN is a network of brain regions associated with self-referential thinking and mind-wandering. Mindfulness meditation, a key aspect of yoga, has been found to modulate the DMN, leading to reduced rumination and increased present-moment awareness.

• Emotional Regulation:

• Yoga practices can enhance emotional regulation by influencing areas of the brain responsible for emotional processing, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. This can lead to better control over emotional reactions.

• Focus and Attention:

• Yoga can improve attention and concentration by promoting sustained focus on the present moment. Neuroimaging studies show changes in brain regions associated with attention and cognitive control.

• Anxiety and Depression Relief:

• Yoga has been found to have beneficial effects on individuals with anxiety and depression. Brain scans have shown alterations in brain activity and connectivity patterns that correlate with symptom reduction.

The ancients knew this and put forth practices for centuries on this information. The sacred texts of yoga show the benefits, now, current science is catching up with peer reviewed studies to validate the knowledge.

You can benefit right now from this powerful lifestyle practice and immediately experience changes in your brain, moods, well-being and even your gut! Why not learn how to deepen your practice and even teach these phenomenal tools to others? Are you ready to go deeper in a 7 month course? Enroll Now!!

It's important to note that the effects of yoga on the brain can vary among individuals and depend on factors like the type of yoga practiced, the frequency of practice, and an individual's physiological and psychological makeup. Research in this field is ongoing, and the integration of neuroscience with yoga offers valuable insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the positive effects of yoga on mental and physical well-being.

Considering exploring a course to deepen your practice and understanding of these tools provides a new stability, depth and compassion for yourself and others, possibly unknown to you before. Consider the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, training the teacher in you for you first and foremost!

All ages, stages and abilities welcomed!

Enroll now!

Contact me today with any questions and see the entire Course Outline and fill out the application to join us in this transformative journey! denise@divinelightyoga.com

NEW 8 WEEK On line Class Begins Monday, July 8th

Contemplation in Nature

Hello friend!

I hope you will join me in a new Summer Class on Line Session that returns us to inner stability with a renewal of our practice of the 8 limbs of yoga. Each week we will gently explore how YOU can apply the 8 Limbs of Yoga to your sacred daily practice.

Even if you don’t practice daily, weaving these 8 Limbs into your life gives you a strong and stable position to ground into, to come back to and to remember your inner heart quietude. When things outside are stressful, this can become your comfort.

NEW CLASSES ON LINE

8 Classes, Live on Zoom

A Somatic Yin & Restorative

Practice for Resiliency and Therapeutic Recovery from Stress

Based on the 8 Limbed Path of Yoga

These NEW classes will focus on ways to rebound you from long and short term stressors, balance your nervous system and settle your worries. Perfect for anyone who feels any anxiety, depression, ruminating thoughts, and just is over it all! Here are practices that will stay with you and you will retain the video classes for repeat sessions!

Feel a renewed sense of lasting peace, attainable joy and the beauty of being at ease in yourself.

Suggested Reading for the 8 Limbs of Yoga: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

July 8th: Yamas/ How We Relate to Others in the World

July 15th: Niyamas/ How We Relate to Ourselves in the Daily Life

July 22nd: Asana/ How We Relate to Our Body in Postures

July 29th: Pranayama/ How We Relate to Our Breath Moment to Moment

August 5th: Pratyahara/ How We Relate to our Sense Organs with What We Take In

August 12th: Dharana/ How We Relate to Our Mind in Thoughts, Words and Deeds

August 19th: Dhyana/ How We Move Beyond Our Mind, We are Not Our Mind

August 26th: Samadhi/ Inner Union and Deep Lasting Peace

Mondays:: 4:30 pm PST - 5:45 pm PST

$150 for the session, Please follow payment button below, Zoom Link will be emailed to you

July 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, August 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th, 2024!

Please email me for any Scholarship needs, I want this to be available to all who seek it. denise@divinelightyoga.com

IF you miss a class, no problem! All are recorded and you will receive the recording to do in your own time, over and over!

Note: I am so excited to see you soon!!! contact me with any questions, denise@divinelightyoga.com

Sign up Now and Zoom Link For Summer Classes will be sent to you! We begin Monday !

NEW 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Begins September 12, In Person!

What questions are holding you back from diving into this deeply transformative exploration? Whether you wish to teach yoga or crave to deepen your understanding and practice, this course gives you the phenomenal tools you need right now to reorient towards a sustainable and joyful lifestyle! I will be on zoom Monday evening for your questions!

Info Session for the NEW 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Monday, July 8th 7:30 pm