Category: Teacher Tuesday

#TeacherTuesday- My Little Free Library and Poshmark Platform Unite!
Book Suggestions · Free Little Library · Gift Giving · Teacher Tuesday · Thrifting · Upcycle

#TeacherTuesday- My Little Free Library and Poshmark Platform Unite!

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Dear friends! It is day 56 of Quarantine for us over here in sunny San Diego. I recently became a Free Little Library owner in December, and have been happily collecting books for my library.

In addition to plumping up my own stock, I thoroughly enjoy restocking the other libraries in my community. There are a few popular libraries that are underserved, always emptied and sad before I arrive.

One of the most beautiful observations that I have had with this pandemic is that all of our community libraries are FULL! I truly believe that the community is using their libraries, as I am noticing constant movement and rearranging in my own library, and 2 others that I frequently steward. Yay! And so, I have had an excess of 100 books to donate, sitting in my home.

Let’s segway here, as I remind you all that I am a Poshmark Ambassador! I have been running a cute little online shop for over 5 years now. There are tons of acronyms for poshers and online shoppers alike; are you privy to FWP? Free with Purchase Items are one of my favorite things to offer in my shop. Things that aren’t quite profitable enough to sell, things that are used, damaged, or need a new home. You see, the Poshmark shopper pays for 5lbs of shipping costs NO MATTER WHAT. So, when you buy an Anthropologie polka-dot dress from my closet for $14, you pay $6.99 for 5lbs of Priority Mail. Why not add a few things?!

I want Poshers to be curious about reading! And boy, are the Nicholas Sparks books a hit! It has been so fun to see shoppers buy a trinket for themselves, like Nike running shorts, and add a copy of my favorite book to their order for free.

I think I may be the first person to have a FREE LITTLE LIBRARY in my Poshmark shop! I am deeply inspired to share and would love if anyone wanted to replicate something similar in their own shop.

Are you a Poshmark Seller? This is for you!

There are 2 ways to list FWP items. You can:

-List the item as $3 and instruct the buyer to deduct the price from their offer (in the comments section)

-List as 0 dollars (but then is marked as not for sale, and the customer as to personally reach out to see if the book is available still.

I opted for the first option, in bold! (Items cannot be listed as less than $3 in Poshmark due to the $2.95 seller fee)

Happy Poshing!

Find me https://poshmark.com/closet/kellicorder 🙂

Homemade Easter Baskets for my Elders – #Teacher Tuesday
Craft Queen · Gift Giving · Handmade · Teacher Tuesday · Thrifting · Upcycle

Homemade Easter Baskets for my Elders – #Teacher Tuesday

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I have always been inspired by my grandma!

Earlier this month, we celebrated Easter Sunday in Quarantine. My Catholic grandmother has gone to church every year for Easter since she was born. 78 years or church!

I have so many excellent memories of Easter Sunday as a kid, and this inspires me for today’s TEACHER TUESDAY. I vividly remember my uncle hand-crafting a scavenger hunt on Easter throughout my grandma’s House, with notes hidden in the dryer and in the lemon tree.

Thank you to everyone that makes the holidays so special for all the kids around them! Dyeing eggs, receiving Easter eggs, eating tons of candy and peeps, my favorite, dressing in my Easter best-

Regardless of your religious views, may you find solace in the culture and love that brings community together. I love Spring! Inpsired by my grandma, I realized this is the first year she has NEVER gone to church. Quarantine and pandemic only allows for virtual church, which she partook in, but she admits it isn’t the same.

Touchee, grandma, so here is a handmade basket!

I made her felt flowers and attached them to a thrifted basket; this was a fun project from early Quarantine Days.

Thanks for finding inspiration from my greatest teachers; may your greatest takeaway be to gift-give!

Practice some chair yoga with me!

I did it! Vegan Bucket Listing Over Here with Tofu – #TeacherTuesdays
Teacher Tuesday · Vegan

I did it! Vegan Bucket Listing Over Here with Tofu – #TeacherTuesdays

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Thank you, Anissa, for teaching me how to cook tofu!

Anyone else epically fail multiple times at tofu and give up?! Me too! You aren’t alone. Every time I have tried to fry medium/firm tofu, I have epically failed. I love tofu dishes at my local Vegan restaurant. I order them religiously and have for years. Perhaps it’s this pandemic, or also the fact that tofu is 90% cheaper than BEYOND BEEF, that I have turned to friends for help!

Anissa set me straight and reminded me to DRAIN THE LIQUID. If there are any takeaways from this blog post, it is to PRESS your tofu for 10-15 minutes (if you do not have a tofu press, which you don’t because you’re learning how to cook tofu), and then continuously drain the liquid.

I was apprehensive because I cook in cast iron, and if your pan is not perfectly oiled and coated, foods like tofu and eggs can stick. I greased my cast iron, and pressed my tofu between two cast iron pans for 10 minutes, draining the liquid every 3-4 minutes.

If we were building a sandwich from the bottom up, think:

Plate, Tofu, Plate, Cast Iron Pan like a Cherry on top

I seasoned my tofu with Worcestershire, Sesame Oil, Olive Oil, Tamari Sauce, and Garlic Salt. IT WAS AMAZING.

Cheap eats, great vegan addition, and my skin feels great after. I have been wondering if soy upsets my skin, and so far, no reports 🙂

Teach me your ways,

Kelli

Want to support me and our collective? Practice chair yoga with me, be my friend on Instagram and Facebook, and take care of yourself 🙂 All levels yoga here:

Tarot Teacher Tuesdays- The Tower
All Things Yoga · Card Reading · Healing Modalities · Svadhyaya · Teacher Tuesday

Tarot Teacher Tuesdays- The Tower

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March’s Messenger
My last day at work, March 16th 2020 – I LOVE YOU HAPA YOGA

Greetings OMies! What a post I have today. I started writing it 3 Tuesdays ago, and rescheduled it each Tuesday. Real Talk- I procrastinate on doing things I really want to do, and often postpone until I feel ready and shoved in that direction. Not with everything, but always with something!

About 4 years ago, I heard the call to learn the Tarot. I have been patiently and diligently studying ever since, and have enjoyed it as a hobby. Learning Tarot starts with incredible intimidation, and I have YOGA to thank for noticing this. I felt the same way about learning Tarot as I did about becoming a yoga teacher, and look where I am now! I put the pedal to the metal and began my svadhyaya, self-study.

At first, I was only pulling a full Celtic Spread once very few months. I would write down each card, spend time reading through their various meanings, and revisit my notes as my life would unfold. This process was suggested to me by an incredible Tarot Card Reader, and looking back, I agree. The story unfolding in the Celtic Spread comes in many lengths, and the life questions that I had were long and tedious. As years went by, her musings and predictions came true, falling into place the best way she was able to describe.

I feel empowered knowing where I am and what my next steps can be, and so Tarot works for me. I do pull cards when friends ask me to, and I am working towards being able to pull cards comfortably at any time, to any one. Thank you Yoga! Just like being a yoga teacher, I started with a small population. I only taught friends I knew. It took me years and thousands of hours of practice for me to understand different bodies, limitations, boundaries, perceptions, and myself. Now, I am comfortable that I can serve and support anyone with Yoga needs, and I know that one day I will feel this way about tarot.

My OMie Sabrina and I were sitting on the floor, shooting the shit, having a grand ole time cackling like old hens, when we pulled out my Tarot deck. I learned a new pull, a 7 card set up that speaks to me, and I was explaining to Sabrina how it works and pulled the cards for me. I explained their positioning, I pulled the Tower.

The tower stands out to me because I have never pulled it before! YALL I am serious. Don’t we all have certain cards we just never see?! Especially from the Major Arcana. Side note- I always pull the Hermit. Like, like always. I have it tattooed on my forearm, we have a special relationship, we chat often. The Tower? Never met ’em! I read the description, wondered, and we moved on.

We talked about the Lannister tower, from Game of Thrones. Bran, one of our favorites, would not have his gift of sight to save the world if he didn’t get pushed out of the tower. My insides tighten as I think of this forseeable tower in my life.

Sabrina’s turn! We pull her spread of 7. Same position- that gaddamn tower! We wonder what this tower means and are really glad that we both pulled it together, as if we got leprosy in unison and were in this together.

Our day date was March 7th, and the pandemic hit only a week after. We were both drastically affected in the same way, as we work and practice at the same yoga studio.

Why I am explaining all of this? Each card has a story, and it takes life and understanding to slowly comb through the messages that the cards bring. Listen to them, take time to reflect, and find truly awesome friends and loved ones to set the space with.

Grab your OMie, your furry friend, and a clean slate. Set an altar, try pulling a few cards, and reflect on as much as you can retain. When you know the message isn’t clear, be proud of your awareness.

Last tip? Follow tarot hashtags on Instagram. #fiveofswords keeps me humble when I need it most! Love and light my friends,

K

An Ego-Free Svadhyaya Study – #TeacherTuesday
All Things Yoga · Chair Yoga · Seva · Svadhyaya · Teacher Tuesday · Youtube

An Ego-Free Svadhyaya Study – #TeacherTuesday

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  • Clean your dirty windshield with some yoga!
  • Gentle Flow Yoga in the Desert
  • Cute cover for a video, right?

Featured images have coinciding YouTube videos:

Yin Yang Yoga for Back Relief- 55 Minutes

All Levels Gentle Flow- Strong Core for Post Partum

Chair Yoga in the Desert with my Pupper

Greetings, OMies! What a time to be alive. Quarantined for over 2 weeks, and another 4 weeks tacked on a la president, and I am so incredibly grateful for the gift of social media! Because I am a full time yoga teacher, I have been drastically affected by this shift. While at first, this shift seems negative, I am realizing the beauty that is unfolding before me!

This has been such an excellent catalyst for me to step up my game with a Youtube Channel. I have fantasized about having a channel for sooooo long, I can’t even begin to tell you. Like, Jenna Marbles and Kandee Johnson days. I remember when I first started watching YouTube videos, around the summer of 2009 when I was working at a clothing boutique in San Diego. I wanted to learn how to cut my Tshirts just like Kat Von D does in her television shows. I was elated to find a video of Kat teaching the audience on how she does it! I loved the intimate interaction that happens with what we now call vlogging. Needless to say, I have been recording a lot of yoga content for my current student base. I teach over 12 yoga classes a week, in studios, privates, corporate clients and with family. That’s a lot of YOGA! A lot of faces, a lot of Namastes, and a sacred ritual that seemingly was taken from me…

Until I shifted my drishti.

In our Yoga practice, philosophy, and lifestyle, we turn to the Yamas and Niyamas for inspiration on how to act, handle, and access the self. One of the Niyamas is called Svadhyaya and, long story short, we are learning to self-study, as a collective, in REALTIME. We are in a collective shift of awareness during this pandemic. We are studying ourselves, taking notes and research, and modifying as needed to keep our vessels at a steady ease. Self study can be deep, it can be lighthearted, and it can demand all your attention. Some chapters in life, we get to pick what we self study, and let’s just say we will never take this privilege for granted again! As you might be feeling forced into deep self-study in close quarters, I wanted to provide some of my favorite definitions of SVADHYAYA.

I believe that most Westerners that practice Yoga are familiar with a very privileged form of self-study. We get to choose when we want to self study- applying for grad school, taking on knowledge in forms of hobbies, leisure reading, and on our own time. However, this pandemic has forced self-study. Whether you like it or not, everything about your life has completely changed and we need to adapt and grow accordingly. The first step in adapting? Observation! How have you treated yourself and others during this trying time? Some excel, some drown, and some lose themselves before finding themselves. We accept all forms of expression as we are in this together, as one. How will you look back on your time of self-study?

Here are some of my favorite definitions of self study:

What self-study are you working on? For me, I am working on my confidence and camera presence, as well as how I react to my loved ones, and self, that are riddled with Fear. I am also weaving dream catchers a little differently, 8 weeks strong VEGAN today, and trying how the hell to cook tofu.

As you can see by the hysterical still-frame from my youtube, I have a long way to go. Right now, I have needed to upload content quickly and efficiently, so there are no bells and whistles to my videos.

I really look forward to continue my self study has I take this huge leap of faith and put my MUG all over the internet! All feedback, love, support, and special requests go a long way for me. Cough cough, my love language involves words of affirmation.

Namaste OMies,

K

Meet our Golden Toothed ALOE – Corder Nursery Catalogue addition for #TeacherTuesday
Aloe · Corder Nursery Catalogue · Curb Your Anxiety · Healing Modalities · Teacher Tuesday

Meet our Golden Toothed ALOE – Corder Nursery Catalogue addition for #TeacherTuesday

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cutie patoot!
look at her go! Would you like to see update pics?

Welcome to this week’s Teacher Tuesdays! During this week of quarantine and solitude, we have been enjoying our time playing in the dirt and taking inventory of the plants that we have. Some of our plants are doing amazing during this Spring Equinox! One of our thriving plants this March 2020 is ALOE. We have many different types of Aloe- see our galleries for more pictures!

I am excited to watch this pup grow. She is the biggest of the bunch we have.

Current inventory: 4 Golden Tooth Aloe (with pups)

Aloe nobilis (Golden Toothed Aloe) – An evergreen rosette-forming succulent that suckers profusely, creating a large grouping to 18 inches tall of fleshy green leaves that have a tint of rose color on the tips and yellow to white, sharp but flexible teeth running along the edges with a few in spots on the inside of the leaves.

Note to self: THE TEETH ARE ACTUALLY REALLY SHARP AND YOU WILL CUT YOURSELF ALL WILLY NILLY

Play with dirt and use safe practices! A few hours of organizing soil has uplifted our mood so much. What a great way to curb our anxiety and be creative with the plants that we already have.

Wise Words from a Rainbow Hedgehog- Corder Nursery Catalogue
cacti · Corder Nursery Catalogue · Teacher Tuesday

Wise Words from a Rainbow Hedgehog- Corder Nursery Catalogue

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On this week’s teacher Tuesdays…meet this cutie! Plants are our greatest teachers! Tapping into nature taps us into our intuition. Boy, we have a lot of cacti to feature, so I thought I would start with my favorite of them all, the gorgeously pink Echinocereus rigidissmus.
However, I much prefer the adorable name:
Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus

I found most of my information the old school way – google image browsing ‘pink cactus’. I finally found her!
Plants have such wisdom, and spending time turning soil and weeding the nursery brings peace and resolution to any internal chatter. We see plants as our greatest teachers and are loving the growth rings on our pink rigidissmus. We have had this cactus for over a year, and I am excited to see her flower.

#TeenYoga and the Positive Affects of Moving Meditation- Teacher Tuesday
All Things Yoga · Card Reading · San Diego · Teacher Tuesday · Teen Yoga · Upcycle

#TeenYoga and the Positive Affects of Moving Meditation- Teacher Tuesday

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I love teaching teen yoga! Some days, we practice asana. Some days, we practice meditation and breathing. And some days, we color!

I have ample coloring books at home, and took the time to photocopy the pages that had powerful words of affirmation. Faith, love, and smiles accompanied the coloring pages and pencils that I brought for 90+ teen girls to play with!After a few rounds of breath, intention setting, and card pulling, we had an hour to color. Students were able to decorate the halls with their mandalas, or take them home to gift to loved ones.

Strips of colored (and recycled) construction paper were provided to write letters of gratitude and leave them on windshields, lockers, and purses of loved ones. No one regrets a handwritten note attached to an act of kindness. Moving meditation is powerful. Coloring and connecting with OMies is a great way to team-build, as well as practicing Saucha etiquette of cleanliness and shared tools/space.

I loved coloring with the teens, as well as pulling cards from Thich Nhat Hanh’s EVERYDAY PEACE CARDS. I found this deck at a funky bookstore in Oakland, CA. May you find bliss in the ritual, share it with others, and take time to reflect on why it really matters. This is a great itinerary for a group of 12-18 year olds, lasting us about 65-70 minutes of play. 

Saucha Stewardess Duties – #TeacherTuesdays
All Things Yoga · Aparigraha · Namaste · Saucha · Teacher Tuesday · Teen Yoga · Uncategorized · Upcycle

Saucha Stewardess Duties – #TeacherTuesdays

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Cleanliness is a no brainer when it comes to YOGA!

I am hoping to bridge the gap, connect the disconnect, of life-grooming etiquette that comes with starting a yoga practice. SAUCHA, which is a Sanskrit word and pillar in the foundations of yoga, refers to cleanliness. There are infinite ways to express cleanliness with the body, mind and spirit. While studio classes can lightly dip toes in the concept, I really wanted to dive in for my teen yogis. Cleanliness changed my life! It now brings me such joy.

When teaching at a high school, it was imperative for me to implement the discipline of SAUCHA. Not only does cleanliness align with any and all school principles and values, but it also instills respect. Prior to creating the ZEN DEN, pictured in the photos above, there was a physical disrespect present with their yoga tools. Mats danced with basketballs, volleyball nets, garbage, lost and found items, theater props, HIIT equipment- think, storage closet chaos.

THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE.

Yoga mats and props must be treated with respect, just like you treat the pillow that you rest your head on for a good night’s sleep. I found that it was easy to hold my students accountable to cleanliness for 2 solid reasons:

  1. I instilled SAUCHA STEWARD/ESS into their grade. They received participation points for maintaining the tidiness of the prop area, as well as group participation points for creating YOGA MAT SPRAY, cleaning their mats, and practicing moving meditation. I taught a class on how to use essential oils to clean everything, and at the end of teach week, we clean our mats with tea tree oil and water! We use recycled cleaning spray bottles, decorated with fun Yoga images 🙂
  2.  Cleanliness genuinely brings joy. With only a few weeks of upkeep, the Den can maintain a true level of ZEN. Discipline breeds freedom, and the calming affect of having a clean space is undeniable. When the room is disrespected, it sticks out right away. Most students find motivation in keeping the den clean after practicing cleanliness regularly.

I chose to decorate the ZEN DEN with their coloring pages! Students practiced moving meditation with mandala coloring. Letters of gratitude, and the definition of SAUCHA, are also provided and taped onto the walls.

You know I wanted to stick a Free Little Library in there! 🙂

I loved implementing SAUCHA into the classroom because I was never taught cleanliness in an academic setting.

I had one foundational math teacher in my Catholic high-schooling who was a stickler for handwriting, written formula steps, and cleanliness of our homework assignments. While I loathed her at 17, I adore her at 29, and so I hope to truly empower the meaning of NAMASTE and pass forward the act of cleanliness by example. This takes unique forms, and I love the challenge of applying SAUCHA to all subjects!

UPCYCLE TIP- these bins are all old packing bins I have acquired over the years. I had been meaning to reorganize 6-7 bins that we have stored, and this prompted me to DETACH, clean, organize, and SAUCHA myself. Ah, the student-teacher relationship. Some of these old bins said ‘XMAS’ decorations from my parent’s old shed! I decorated and covered the fronts with what I have and donated them to the cause. PRO TIP- adhere with GLUE GUN instead of tape.

img_7949img_7950

And truly, it’s not that hard to stack your yoga mats in lovely unison! WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO HAVE YOGA IN SCHOOL, to have individual mats you do not have to share, and to have safe place to store them without needing to lug it to and fro. You have it lucky, my loves! 🙂

 

An Advocate for Apartment Yoga – #TeacherTuesdays
All Things Yoga · Healing Modalities · Teacher Tuesday

An Advocate for Apartment Yoga – #TeacherTuesdays

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When I became a Yoga Teacher, I had no idea how many fun and funky opportunities would come my way! I have taught in libraries, gyms, studios, conference rooms, dance studios…but the apartment complex opportunities truly pull a dharma cord with me. 

I believe that Yoga should be accessible, and asana in your home environment is a great step in the right direction. Studios are excellent for many, but not all. The modern Yogi needs more options to supplement their practice! Last year, I began teaching regularly at a private apartment complex in the San Diego area. Students are able to roll out of bed with their coffee in hand, pop downstairs and a yoga chariot awaits! I think of how amazing this is as a perk to residents. I find that one of the greatest motivators that narrates my mind when talking about apartment yoga is I wish I had yoga when I lived in an apartment. 

Some students are regular residents, while others bring their in-laws, moms, best friends and lovers alongside them to Yoga on Saturday mornings. Rain or shine, we have the space to practice. I am so honored to teach in such a unique and sacred space! 
Although I provide music and speakers for all of my private clients (link to my Spotify playlist here), I find that no music works best for my apartment yogis. We embrace the sounds that surround us in the city; I love the hum of busy streets. I have also smelled bacon and coffee every morning I have taught at this complex! Vegans can enjoy crackling bacon smells in savasana, right?
Classes are 60 minutes and all levels are welcome. I typically teach a gentle Vinyasa flow, but love adapting my flow according to my yogis and the company that they keep on the weekends! What a wonderful window to the soul.