Monthly Archives: February 2018

#NotYoga

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I avoid political topics on my blog like the plague.  But ever since I saw this video yesterday–which was taken at this weekend’s  Northwest Yoga Conference in Seattle–I haven’t been able to repress a growing feeling of nausea.  So much so, that I’m posting this blog article one day early. I have to do something.

In this video, Savitri accepts a reward on behalf of her husband, Aadil, who was sick with pneumonia.   I do not know Savitri or Melissa (the other woman in this video, who was one of the conference organizers). I have, however, met Aadil.  We were on a yoga teacher training panel together many years ago.  Aadil is a yoga master with four times my years of experience. We come from different lineages, so I often disagreed with what he was saying, and vice versa.   In spite of my junior status to him, he listened to me and treated me with great respect.

Much more respect than was shown his wife this weekend.  To see what I mean, please fast forward or listen past the first five minutes.

https://www.facebook.com/Zinkleberry/videos/pcb.1595616180553017/1595612777220024/

Savitri is a yoga master in her own right, and, of course, a human deserving of respect.  There is obviously a backstory here, and I have no idea what it is.  As of this writing, the conference has declined to comment and has deleted any negative comments about the incident on social media. What I do know is that this was handled atrociously.  At the very best, they overreacted to a person who was less than one minute over her allocated time.  At the worst? Well, I don’t want to think about the worst.

Even though I’ve made my living teaching yoga and training yoga teachers for 17 years, I’ve never felt part of the “yoga community” in Seattle.  Instead, I’ve created community with my students. I’ve been wondering lately if that was a mistake.  Honestly, I’m still not sure.  Watching this, however, I’m convinced  that the issue holding me back is real.  Yoga is losing it’s ethics, it’s roots, and it’s power.  Yoga was never about trendy fashion, competitive stretching, or perfecting your handstand.  It’s about finding clarity, personal balance, and fostering active compassion.

May we get back to that soon.

Tracy Weber

Life, Change, and Embracing a New Career

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Whole Life Yoga is Under New Leadership!

After over sixteen years in business, I recently sold the studio portion of Whole Life Yoga to the truly lovely Kim Tull-Esterbrook.  Kim has been my studio assistant and a teacher at Whole Life Yoga for years. She is also a graduate of my advanced yoga teacher training and a dear friend.  There is no one I trust to carry on my legacy more than Kim.

I still own Whole Life Yoga’s teacher training program.  In addition to leading yoga teacher training at the studio, I plan to expand my private yoga therapy practice and teach more specialized classes, starting with Yoga for Anxiety next week http://wholelifeyoga.com/anxiety.html.  And I will still maintain my weekly blog about yoga, dogs and writing.  In other words, I’m not going anywhere!

Many things will stay the same in this transition:

  • The studio will remain in the same location.
  • Your class passes will all be honored.
  • The studio will remain dedicated to Viniyoga.
  • You will still have the same great teachers.

And many things will get better:

  • The front room, web site, and newsletter will all get much-needed upgrades.
  • Fun new workshops and classes will be added.
  • There will be an enhanced emphasis on building community.

In short, this is fabulous news!  Please join me in supporting Kim and helping the studio thrive for the next sixteen years.

On a fun side note, I am pursuing certification to become an applied animal behaviorist.  I’ve wanted to work with animals my entire life, and I am delighted to finally have time to go after that dream.  If you need a dog trainer or a consultant for problem behaviors, keep me and my new dog training business, Peaceful Pups, in mind!

If you would like to stay in contact and hear about my yoga classes, animal behavior work, and writing, please e-mail me at Tr***@********er.net and I will add you to my personal mailing list.

A Note from Whole Life Yoga’s New Owner, Kim!

Dear Whole Life Yoga Community,

I am so excited and honored to be taking on this new role and helping to guide Whole Life into its future. This has been my yoga home for almost 10 years now and the teachings that have been passed down to me from Tracy, have transformed my life. I vow to continue to honor those teachings and the space that Whole Life provides for all of us to deepen our connection and dedication to those teachings.

There will be some surface changes – a freshening of the look, updating registration systems as planned, and some additional class offerings, geared towards deepening our sense of community. The yoga tools, however, remain the same! I hope that you will continue to bring the power of your presence to the studio!

I feel confident in taking this on because Tracy will still be here teaching, guiding and supporting me. I know many of you, but for those in the community I have not had the chance to meet, I hope that we can practice together soon! I value you, and this opportunity that has come into my life. I know that together we can keep this community strong and vibrant.

Namaste,

Tracy and Kim!

My newest Downward Dog Mystery, Pre-Meditated Murder is available now  in e-book and paper back copies everywhere! Check this link for some local ideas. http://tracyweberauthor.com/buy_premeditated.html

Visit Me at Killer Characters

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Hi all. I’m still one-handed, so this will be short and sweet. This week I’m blogging at Killer Characters. Actually, I should say that Michael Massey’s sister Shannon is there, talking about the mess her brother’s gotten into in my latest book, Pre-Meditated Murder. Check it out!

http://www.killercharacters.com/2018/02/my-baby-brothers-been-arrested-for.html

Tracy

PS–Want your very own copy of Pre-Meditated Murder?It’s available now  in e-book and paper back copies everywhere! Check this link for some local ideas. http://tracyweberauthor.com/buy_premeditated.html

Book Signings and One-Armed Margaritas!

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Hi everyone. I’m still living life one handed, but I wanted to share a couple of quick photos from my book signing at the Edmonds Bookshop on Saturday. This little jewel of a store has always been good to me, so even though I didn’t do signings anywhere else this year, I couldn’t skip them. If you haven’t ever gone into the store, please do. Local bookstores need all of our help to continue surviving and hopefully thriving.

I’ll never get used to the thrill of seeing my name on a chalkboard outside of a bookstore.

This is me chatting with members of my audience before I started reading. I travel with a host of pillows these days. The pink pillow in the photo supports my elbow.

By the time I started reading, the chairs were filled, and people were standing in the back. We sold all but one copy of my newest, Pre-Meditated Murder, and sold out of much of my backstock. Many of the people in the audience came as a result of the article in the Seattle Times.

No reading would be complete without a post-celebratory margarita. Thanks to friends Rene, Sheryl, and Anna, who joined me for a few snacks. The handsome man in the photo next to me is my husband Marc.

Thanks everyone who supports me in every way. Please continue to send bone-knitting energy. I’ve still got eight days before I can have a repeat x-ray, and it is likely I’ll be in the sling for awhile after that. But every day that passes is a day closer to when all of this will be behind me.

Tracy

PS–Want your very own copy of Pre-Meditated Murder?It’s available now  in e-book and paper back copies everywhere! Check this link for some local ideas. http://tracyweberauthor.com/buy_premeditated.html