Bay Area Yoga Teacher Highlight: Yvette Racines McLaughlin
Name: Yvette Racines McLaughlin
City: I live in Petaluma but my studio is in Cotati.
Practice with me at: The Center for Vital Living, 1818 LaPlaza, Suite 106, Cotati.
How long I’ve been practicing Yoga: 11 years.
How long I’ve been teaching Yoga: 7 years.
What kind of Yoga I teach: Yoga Therapy.
My mantra these days: I trust in the process of life and the process of life trusts me.
A posture that has been resonating with me lately is: Savasana.
How I like to practice yoga off the mat: I take my pranayama practice into every day life. When I feel like I'm slipping away from center I use Nadi Shodnana. When I'm focusing on a task I use a soft Ujjayi. If I'm sitting in my car waiting for my son to get out of school I practice Ratio breathing. I use the teachings of Yoga as a mirror to how I approach and accept my life. Life off the mat is my real Yoga practice. When I'm on the mat, it's like a mini-retreat!
My sign: My western astrology sign is Capricorn BUT according to Vedic astrology the planets most influential are Moon - Receptivity, Sensitivity, AND Venus - Affection, Harmony, Gracefulness.
The last book I read was: These days I have about 5 books that I'm reading in parts cause they take time to digest but the last book I read all the way through is a book my husband just finished writing called, Not to Touch the Earth.....available to the public soon!
Favorite local juice/tea spot: Home.....I make my daily tea at home.
Where I go for a nourishing meal: Home.....I love to cook and because I'm so picky about freshness & ingredients, home is where I get my most nourishing meals. However, Shangri La Himalayan Cafe in Cotati (right across the street from Sonoma State) is my favorite spot to get a delicious, healthy, nourishing meal when I'm on the go.
What’s on your yoga playlist right now: Absolutely LOVE Nipun Aggarwal chants.
A few of my favorite yoga teachers are: Kaya Mindlin of Yoga with Kaya-Spinal Release Yoga, Pam Maldonado of Renew, Lynn Weinberger-ViniYoga Senior Teacher.
A ritual I love: Daily self-massage with lots of warm Coconut Oil
What I am letting go of this year: The need to do it all.
What I am embracing this year: Self-Rejuvenation.
My website: www.thecenterforvitalliving.com.
My Instagram: @vitallivingyoga.
My Facebook: Vital Living.
