…have yoga mat will travel

Yoga Bhoga

Yoga Bhoga

We knew we were in for a most excellent night as we headed over to Yoga Bhoga, the original studio of Denise Payne who, “for those blog followin’ yogis” know, has expanded this super impressive studio to a second location, the “ One Song” yoga studio. As we entered, we felt the signature surroundings of this guru yogi. A sky-high curved wood ceiling, deep northwest colors, mood music playin’ and a community of yogis gently swayin’.

Lila Donnolo

The “lucky Yoyo’s” teacher tonight was Lila Donnolo who invited the all levels, filled to capacity class to ask for what they needed from their yoga practice. The YoYos were pretty sure the yogis in this studio had been sitting’ a bit too long behind their MAC’s, as the YoYos identified with the beggin’ for shoulder and hip poses, which Lila promised to concentrate on. Lila’s soothing voice alone could have taken all tension away, but her beautiful tone and perfect diction were just the beginning, as she brought unusual imagination to her artistic flow. The gentle guidance, soft music, dim lighting, and even pace added to the soothing atmosphere the Yoga Bhoga yogis needed to release before going deeper as Lila encouraged everyone to create their own unique practice. Savasana was never sweeter as Lila, with her rich vocal instrument actually sang the YoYos to sleep…aaaaahhhhhh……

James Pintado & Lila Donnolo

On the way out of class, the YoYos got a peek at the “hot off the press” photo gallery of Lila and her amazin’ partner doin’ the most inspired, unimaginable AcroYoga poses ever witnessed! Was that really James Pintado, the James part of James and Sarah, the YoYos cherished teachers, the instigators of their “lovin’” yoga life, in those amazin’ photos? We knew our “even the YoYo’s don’t have words for” Yoga teacher was not of this planet. What we didn’t know was that Lila was his “out of this world” partner… How Serendipitous!

We also didn’t know that Lila was the premiere AcroYoga teacher in Portland. How sad the YoYos were to have to leave before Sunday’s AcroYoga class to learn those anti-gravity, hangin’ every which way, flyin’ through space moves. Next time in Portland… fallin’ on our butt, or fallin’ for AcroYoga, we will definitely give this a go!