Please Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself

And the lessons that shaped me, saved me and set me free.

I've decided to dub this season of my life a “Surprise Sabbatical”. If you're unfamiliar with the term, a sabbatical is essentially an extended break from work. But what sets it apart from a vacation or sick leave is it’s purpose—time taken for personal and/or professional growth

A sabbatical is usually intentional—planned months or even years in advance. Mine arrived unannounced, at 7 a.m. on a random Monday. It wasn’t expected, and it certainly wasn’t welcomed, but that didn’t change the outcome. I was pulled from the familiar rhythms of my daily life and thrown headfirst into some kind of twisted vision quest—left wondering if someone had laced my lunch. I couldn’t believe my life had taken such a drastic turn.

14 weeks later—after a whole lot of heartache, false starts, and more than my fair share of mistakes—I finally feel myself shifting out of survival mode. My confidence and courage are slowly returning, beckoning me back into the land of the living.

Looking back, I can see how this time has shaped me, both professionally and personally. The woman who woke up that fateful morning feels like a different person from the one sitting here now. I know it’s cliché, but it truly feels like a lifetime ago. This has been a season of rapid transformation—at times, I felt like a sullen teenager, made volatile by growing pains and a desperate need to rest as my mind, body, and spirit matured.

Transformation always comes at a price. For me, it meant letting go of outdated beliefs—about myself, my relationships, and the world around me.

I have been humbled by the lesson that nothing, and I mean nothing, inoculates a person from pain. I understood this before, at least intellectually. Of course, I knew that people die, disasters happen, and life can turn upside down in an instant. But now, I know it in my blood and in the marrow of my bones. I can see how, subconsciously, I had been holding onto the belief that my sobriety, daily yoga practice, and attempts at "right living" might somehow protect me from devastation.

I genuinely believed the hardest days of my life were behind me. I had survived eating disorders, addiction, mental illness, and a million other battles—surely, nothing that dark or difficult could come for me again…right?

In hindsight, that was obviously an incredibly naive worldview, “rainbows and unicorns” as my friends like to say.

No, life is going to life. You can meditate daily, practice kindness, give generously, and check every box of being a “good person”—and you will still be required to face life on life’s terms. There are no free passes.

What I can tell you with absolute certainty is this: the things I’ve worked so hard to weave into my life—sobriety, sadhana & spiritual growth—don’t prevent the storms. They are the life rafts that carry me through them. They are the difference between being tossed around in ten-foot waves or sailing skillfully over them.

The ride is rough either way, but I’d rather be steady and dry than cold, wet and struggling for air, any day of the week.

This whole experience has reminded me of why I do what I do. I feel a renewed passion for my mission and a clearer understanding of my message. More than anything, I see the importance of showing up—even when I feel vulnerable, exposed and afraid. Because I know the power of these practices. And if I can help even one person cultivate a home yoga practice that steadies them, preparing them to not just survive, but weather life’s storms with grace—then every moment of doubt, every stretch outside my comfort zone, is worth it.

So, please allow me to re-introduce myself: My name is Jenny. I’m an Alaskan yoga teacher, wife, mother, auntie and friend. I am an unapologetic lover of dark, raunchy humor. A freelance writer, Kenaitze Indian, book worm, and curator of all things yoga.

I’ve been told I’m too wild, too energetic, too enthusiastic, too loud, too forthcoming…you name it. Just too damn much.

But I don’t care. I am a ball of fucking sunshine. I love hard, laugh freely, and refuse to shrink. I am enough, exactly as I am. I’m here to share everything that has given me the freedom to be fully, unapologetically myself. Everything that has shaped me, saved me and set me free.

Guided Alternate Nostril Breathing Meditation (Nadi Shodhana) | Feeling Healing

6 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

Alternate Nostril Breathing is one of the most effective tools I’ve found to diffuse intense emotional overwhelm—AKA emotional flooding.

There are many ways to approach the practice. In moments of exhaustion, when I couldn’t even hold my hand up to block my nostrils, I simply leaned back, closed my eyes, and imagined the breath moving through each nostril. It worked beautifully, helping me settle into a more relaxed state every time.

The video above offered a whole new way to experience the practice. I tried it on a day when my mind was in overdrive, and the visual cues gave me something to focus on. By the end, I felt completely calm—like a magic pill for an overstimulated brain. I was amazed!

Be Here Now | 20 Minute Embodied Slow Flow To Explore Your Presence

22 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

Wow. This class was incredible.

I’ve done hundreds—maybe thousands—of YouTube yoga classes, and it’s rare for one to really knock my socks off. But this one did.

The movement sequence was unique and felt amazing in my still-sleepy 7 a.m. body, but the cueing was what really stood out. Again and again, I was gently guided back into my body, revealing just how often my mind wandered—thinking about family, the day ahead, even the Nidra I planned to do next.

It also gave me a fresh perspective on my mindset. I realized I’ve been treating movement as a means to an end—preparing for Nidra—rather than appreciating it as its own practice. This class brought me fully into the moment, and for that, I’m grateful.

Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music

One of my main goals with Root&Rise is to demonstrate that yoga begins on the mat—but it doesn’t stay there. Our practice is about more than flexibility or strength; it expands into every part of life, deepening our capacity to experience and enjoy it fully

With that in mind, I wanted to share a documentary that brought me SO MUCH joy this week.

Fun Fact: I’ve been a Saturday Night Live superfan since childhood. It all started with a Best of Steve Martin special and grew from there. Like most fans, I’m partial to the casts of my formative years—Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Tim Meadows, Chris Kattan—but I think all 50 seasons have been special in their own way.

Questlove, the creative genius behind this film, watched every single SNL episode and spent nearly a year crafting the mind-blowing seven-minute opening montage. Here’s an article about his process: Quest Love's insane SNL Music Doc Montage Took a Year to Make

Some of you may remember that I once had a Root&Rise Instagram page—a space where I promoted this newsletter, shared my personal practice, and expressed my creativity. I poured a lot of love into that account and enjoyed having another way to spread the word about home yoga

A few months ago, I deleted it to protect my privacy. Having a public account that felt so personal left me feeling too exposed during an especially tender, turbulent time.

After months of laying low, keeping to a private account for close friends and family, I took a leap of faith this week and relaunched Root&Rise on Instagram. Right now, I’m finding my footing again, so there’s not much there yet—but I’m excited to see how it grows. Instagram is a whole different vibe and I have a lot of fun sharing my work there.

I won’t lie—just announcing this feels scary. Stepping back into the spotlight, where anyone who wants to look can see, is uncomfortable. I still feel raw and vulnerable. But I can’t hide forever. It’s time to take my life back.

So…If you’re interested in following me there, here’s a link and my user name:

See you next Sunday….or maybe sooner on the gram. :)