The Journal

Reflections From The Mat.

Essays on technique, philosophy, teaching, and the slow, ordinary work of a devoted practice — written by Barry and the selfLove.Yoga community.

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Jun 27 · 2 min read

Flow State

There's a moment in every class — usually somewhere after the second sun salutation — when the breath and the movement stop being two separate things. Barry unpacks what's actually happening in the nervous system when a student drops into flow state, why some days it arrives in minutes and other days it never shows up at all.

Plus: the handful of small adjustments to breath, gaze, and pacing that make flow more likely to happen on your mat — and why chasing it directly usually backfires.

Every Post

Jun 23 · 3 min

How Barry Rates A Student's Yoga Practice

Spoiler: it isn't about how deep your backbend is. A look at the handful of qualities Barry actually watches for when evaluating progress.

May 26 · 2 min

Your Progress, Your Community, Your Practice

Progress rarely happens in isolation. How weekly live sessions and peer accountability quietly shape how far — and how fast — students grow.

Apr 27 · 2 min

The Investment That Always Returns

Tuition, time, a mat, a little discipline — yoga asks for real investment. Here's why it's one of the few that reliably pays you back.

Mar 23 · 2 min

If You Don't Use It, You Lose It

Flexibility and strength built on the mat fade quickly without consistent practice — a candid reminder about why showing up matters most.

Feb 9 · 2 min

Forward Fold: Hamstring Flexibility Technique

A closer look at Uttanasana and the small technique shift that unlocks real hamstring length without forcing the stretch.

Feb 2 · 2 min

Ardha Chandra Chapasana (Half Moon with Foot Grab)

Half Moon with a foot grab looks impossible until it doesn't. Three teachable stages that make balance, not flexibility, the limiting factor.

Feb 1 · 5 min

The Meaning of Kung Fu

Long before it meant martial arts, "kung fu" described any skill mastered through devoted practice and time — a definition with more to do with your mat than you'd think.

Jan 28 · 1 min

Handstand Practice Using Chairs

No wall, no problem. A simple chair-assisted drill for building the shoulder stability needed to eventually kick up freestanding.

Jan 5 · 2 min

All Levels Welcome

What "all levels welcome" actually means in a Vinyasa classroom — and how the same sequence gets cued differently for every body in the room.

Dec 27 · 5 min

January 2026 Yoga Challenge

A month-long challenge to rebuild the habit after the holidays: one practice a day, tracked simply, with modifications for every level.

Dec 17 · 3 min

Good Vibes Only

"Good vibes only" is a nice slogan but an incomplete practice — a short reflection on what it looks like to actually sit with the hard days.

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