Although we are loving these long hot summer days, we all know that winter in Scranton will be here soon enough and can challenge even the most upbeat among us. If even just the thought of those cloudy days of winter are bringing you down, we may have the solution! Check out this new Redfin article that features SHY founder Lara Alexiou as an expert on how to find those silver linings when those cloudy days come calling:  The 10 Cloudiest Cities in the US, Ranked ..read more

If a new year means out with the old and in with the new, then for me, new year’s resolutions are going out with the old and I’m breathing new life into how I’m energizing any plans for 2022. I used to enjoy crafting a list of New Year’s Resolutions. The process helped me a create plan for the year with concrete goals on which to focus, plus it nurtured an inner feeling of being a go-getter, as someone who’s got it together. But not anymore. I realize now that my resolutions stemmed from the of the feeling attached to them; I liked the idea of the person I believed accomplishing said resolutio ..read more

Dear SHY Friends, Please join in my excitement: my book, Become the Architect of your Body, Mind, and Soul, was picked up by Athenian Science Publisher and the greek translation was released summer of 2021! As a self-published author, being recognized and accepted by a publishing house is a dream-come-true. I’ll be attending the book opening in Athens, Greece this September. The Greek Book Opening Invitation Originally released in 2017, Become the Architect of you Body, Mind, and Soul is a collection of insights imparted to me over the years through my experience with MS, yoga, and from so ma ..read more

Summer Solstice refers to a three day period when the sun appears to stand still in the sky, resulting in the longest daylight hours and the shortest nights. This happens in June in the Northern Hemisphere and in December in the Southern Hemisphere. Summer Solstice also marks the official beginning of Summer. Cultures across time and the globe have marked this season with celebrations that gather together family, friends, and communities, in fertility rituals, marriages, religious worship, bonfires, harvest and planting festivals, and even olympic games. All of these festivals shared the commo ..read more

Do you know about our new Loyalty Rewards Program? Through our new app, you can easily earn points every time you check in for class, leave a review of your class, refer a friend and more! Right now, when you redeem 500 points, get a featured tank of your choice! Women’s Cut Beauty to Beast Tank comes in 4 color options. Unisex SHY Logo Tank in Charcoal Learn all the ways to earn points: Once you are logged into your app, click on your photo icon at the top right of the home screen. This brings you to your account menu page. Click “Rewards” Click "Earn Points" See all the ways you ..read more

Winter Solstice marks the return of the sun and the seasonal shift from autumn into winter. From late September’s Fall Equinox until Winter Solstice, on or around Dec 21, the days fall shorter while the hours of night and darkness quietly grow longer. In acknowledgment of this seasonal truth, many holidays and rituals across cultures at this time of year incorporate themes of light (such as Hanukkah, Diwali, Lantern Festivals, Christmas, Winter Solstice, and New Years). In Taoist Yoga Practice, winter, the season of the Water Element, both represents and supports the very heart ..read more

I’ve been having a blast on my Mindbody Radio show, Alchemy360 Yoga with Lara Alexiou. In this 5 week limited series, each episode explores one aspect of the multifaceted practice of yoga. Below is the podcast replay for episode 1, where I share the 5 essential core elements of a yoga practice, why they are important, and how they play defining roles in your practice: Water - A willingness to invite in change and transformation Wood - Intention Fire - Physical practice  Earth - Tapping into Root Power to reach your next level and overcome practice plateaus Metal - Simplify ..read more

Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just getting started in your practice, everyone agrees that for the most part, the more often you attend class, the better you feel. But what about those days that making it into the studio just doesn’t fit into your schedule and some tightness and maybe even discomfort starts to set into your body? Here is an all levels home practice designed by First for Women Magazine with posture demos by Lara Alexiou. You can unroll a mat in your living room, bedroom, or just practice on the carpet! The sequence is easy to follow and is designed to help improve posture an ..read more

Hi Yogis, So many of us have a solid and consistent practice… But we all hit plateaus and need new ways to continuously access those innermost personal depths to grow, which is why I am launching a new program, Alchemy360. In 2020, I’m committing to a personal mission to bring the immersion and experience back into yoga through workshops, retreats, special guest teachers, and a few secret surprises. Alchemy360 will help you embody your practice from a deeper level, with a clearer “third eye,” where together, we will all deepen the magic on the mat and beyond! To learn more, take a listen to m ..read more

Today marks a completion of one full cycle of the Chinese  Zodiac for SHY: 12 years. On this day, 12 years ago, I opened the doors to the first class. 4 people showed up. It was miraculous. Every year of the Chinese Zodiac is assigned an animal with attributes to bring luck, good fortune, and prosperity to those who pay attention, and maybe also to teach a lesson and provide guidance in difficult times.  Here are a few of my lessons from building the studio these past 12 years: 2007: We opened in the final months of the year of the Pig, whose overwhelming attribute is a kindness that ..read more