Call of Leadership

The Call of Leadership

What is Yoga? What are the health benefits? Emilee Hartwig, the owner of Happy Dog Yoga Studios. Emilee shares her unexpected journey from aspiring elementary school teacher to yoga studio owner, including how she stumbled upon yoga as a new mother seeking physical and mental wellness.

Emilee outlines the evolution of Happy Dog Yoga Studios from its inception in Port Huron in 2015, and its expansion to St. Clair, offering a range of services including yoga classes, Reiki, and massage.

The interview delves into the challenges and surprises of running a yoga business, the importance of modifying yoga poses for each individual, and the fundamental role of intentional breathing in yoga practice. Emilee’s story illustrates a personal and professional transformation, underscored by a commitment to bringing yoga’s physical, mental, and spiritual benefits to the community.

Show Notes

00:00 The Unexpected Journey to Yoga Studio Ownership

01:20 Discovering Happy Dog Yoga Studios: A Journey of Growth

04:39 Finding Solace and Strength in Yoga

07:13 The Path to Becoming a Yoga Instructor

12:32 Embracing the Challenges and Surprises of Studio Ownership

16:50 The Transformative Power of Yoga: Beyond the Physical

19:59 Breathing: The Essence of Yoga and Self-Care

25:11 How to Connect with Happy Dog Yoga Studios

Transcript
Emilee Hartwig:

I don't know what I was thinking and that is what led

2

:

me to the actual like signing the

paperwork because it happened so fast.

3

:

So when I called her and

said, just please let me know.

4

:

It wasn't even a week later

and we were talking numbers.

5

:

let's start to transfer some things over.

6

:

Let's meet at the lawyer's

office, let's sign the papers.

7

:

And I didn't really have time for

my, type A brain to really think

8

:

about it and get scared, And all

of a sudden the papers were signed.

9

:

And the keys were handed

over, and that was it.

10

:

They were mine.

11

:

Cliff Duvernois: Hello everyone and

welcome back to Total Michigan where

12

:

we interview ordinary michiganders

doing some pretty extraordinary

13

:

things I'm your host Cliff DuVernois.

14

:

I'm back in Port Huron again

collecting more stories while i'm here.

15

:

And it occurred to me that one of the

things that we've never done is we've

16

:

never talked or covered the topic of yoga.

17

:

Now I like to do yoga

almost every single day.

18

:

It's just a part of the fact that i'm

fighting the battle that we all seem to

19

:

fight and that is we're getting older

20

:

older.

21

:

Muscles don't work

22

:

Muscles don't work

quite like they used to.

23

:

We don't have that flexibility.

24

:

We struggle to do normal

things that we could do in our

25

:

twenties, almost blindfolded.

26

:

So anyways, in doing this, I

came across a pretty unique story

27

:

while I was here in Port Huron.

28

:

And I said, you know what?

29

:

Why don't we have some

conversation about this?

30

:

So please welcome to the show, Emilee

Hartwig of Happy Dog Yoga Studios.

31

:

Emilee, how are you?

32

:

Emilee Hartwig: Good.

33

:

How are you?

34

:

are

35

:

Cliff Duvernois: I'm doing awesome.

36

:

Thank you for asking.

37

:

So, why don't you tell us,

what is Happy Dog Yoga Studios?

38

:

Emilee Hartwig: Happy Dog Yoga Studios.

39

:

Notice the s on the end.

40

:

We have two locations.

41

:

Started off just here

in Port Huron in:

42

:

And then expanded a year later into St.

43

:

Clair.

44

:

So we've pretty much

always been two studios.

45

:

We offer yoga classes at both studios.

46

:

We have about 30 classes a week.

47

:

Some of them are even,

live streamed virtual.

48

:

And we also offer, Reiki,

which is like energy healing.

49

:

We offer massage at both locations.

50

:

We have, more fun things coming.

51

:

I'm not going to say too much.

52

:

But we have more fun things like

that coming on the energy side.

53

:

so yeah, We're just really focused

on fitness, mental health, spiritual

54

:

health, like whatever it is you're

looking for can usually find it

55

:

in yoga, is what we have found.

56

:

You know, All of us personally as teachers

and instructors a and then a lot of

57

:

our, our students say the same thing.

58

:

Cliff Duvernois: you would,

Emilee, tell us, where are you

59

:

from and where did you grow up?

60

:

Emilee Hartwig: I live in St.

61

:

Clair currently.

62

:

I grew up in St.

63

:

Clair.

64

:

haven't really just been here since I

was like very little, like first grade.

65

:

So I've been in the St.

66

:

Clair area, Blue Water area,

my, all that I can remember.

67

:

right?

68

:

Cliff Duvernois: Yeah.

69

:

Excellent.

70

:

And now, what's so you

grew up in the area.

71

:

Did you go to college

72

:

Emilee Hartwig: college?

73

:

I, yeah I did.

74

:

I went to the community college here.

75

:

And then I went to Baker College,

which used to be up here in Port Huron.

76

:

I went to college to be uh

an elementary school teacher.

77

:

So, like, I went for

early childhood education.

78

:Uh,:

I graduated, school, high school,

79

:

wasn't a great time for teachers.

80

:

in the teaching program, the dean

came in and was just like, if this

81

:

isn't something you want to do for

very little money, I you know, Just

82

:

think about it before you continue on.

83

:

Like, that was the Dean of

Education at Baker told us that.

84

:

Uh, Because they were

just laying teachers off.

85

:

It was not good for teachers at the time.

86

:

and so, you know, I took that as my

hint as, Eh, let's just, maybe just

87

:

pause this before I continue on.

88

:

I was getting right into that,

student teaching portion.

89

:

So, the last half of my schooling.

90

:

So, took a break from that.

91

:

Ended up, having kids in the meantime.

92

:

And just doing other things.

93

:

Uh, and then You know started

doing yoga myself teaching yoga.

94

:

So I kind of still stuck with

the teaching thing in the grand

95

:

scheme just not little kids

96

:

Cliff Duvernois: So why did you

decide to go into education?

97

:

Emilee Hartwig: I just always

wanted to be a teacher.

98

:

I liked little kids.

99

:

I didn't want to teach.

100

:

I really didn't have any

interest in teaching adults.

101

:

In the teaching program, that would

be more like high schoolers, right?

102

:

I had no interest in being

a high school teacher.

103

:

But I really enjoyed.

104

:

little kids.

105

:

I enjoyed that three and four year

old, you know, that preschool age

106

:

is that really early childhood.

107

:

To me, that was always

what I wanted to do.

108

:

Never even thought twice

about anything else.

109

:

so yeah, I don't know if it was

just the, I don't know, a maternal

110

:

instinct in me or something.

111

:

But I just like really,

really, enjoyed little kids.

112

:

I was babysat.

113

:

I was a lifeguard in high school.

114

:

Like I did the, Swim lessons with

the little kids like that was

115

:

just always what I was drawn to.

116

:

And then you know Like I said,

I got a little spooked during

117

:

that time and Worked out.

118

:

I'm happy where I am now, but

119

:

Cliff Duvernois: How did

you stumble across yoga?

120

:

Yeah.

121

:

Emilee Hartwig: I had just

had my second daughter.

122

:So this was like:

and I was looking for kind of like get

123

:

back into the groove, just had a baby.

124

:

So you're figuring out like,

what can I do fitness wise?

125

:

Do I want to run?

126

:

Do I want to go to the gym?

127

:

Do I, you know, How do I want to exercise

and take care of my physical body?

128

:

And at the same time, you're

how am I going to take care of

129

:

like my mental self as well?

130

:

I was really young.

131

:

I was like 22, 23 at this time.

132

:

So, trying to figure out that

as well, this young 20 year old,

133

:

taking care of my physical body.

134

:

And then now all of a sudden,

my mental stability, you know, I

135

:

need to, maybe focus on getting

out of the house here and there.

136

:

And so that's when my, at the time,

my boss's wife, you know, invited

137

:

me to come with her to a yoga class.

138

:

There weren't any studios

in the area at that time.

139

:

So we went to a chiropractor's

office, but it was in the basement.

140

:

Cliff Duvernois: So what was

it about yoga that hooked you?

141

:

Emilee Hartwig: I think it was

honestly, it wasn't even necessarily

142

:

the physical, which I think sometimes

that's a lot of people's I feel

143

:

better when I'm done physically.

144

:

And I did.

145

:

But I don't think that was

what grabbed me at first.

146

:

I think it was that hour

of like selfishness.

147

:

You'd feel like as a new mom, Right.

148

:

but you feel a little selfish, right?

149

:

You left your babies at home.

150

:

You went and did this just for you.

151

:

I had no phone on me, right?

152

:

you don't bring phones into the studio.

153

:

It wasn't like I was at the gym

and could still be in contact.

154

:

It was one hour that was like, just mine.

155

:

And that was, I think that was it.

156

:

Because I could never

replicate that at home.

157

:

Like I said, I went home and

tried to find classes on YouTube.

158

:

I never, felt that same feeling.

159

:

Um, So then it was more like, okay, I

need to keep going to these classes.

160

:

Cause when I do it at home, Oh, the

physical part feels really good.

161

:

I'm getting the good stretches.

162

:

And my back feels good.

163

:

But it was like, it

was that part that was,

164

:

Cliff Duvernois: The social part.

165

:

Emilee Hartwig: yeah.

166

:

And it's not even social.

167

:

Cause you're not even

really talking during it.

168

:

It was the like, just me time.

169

:

Even when you're at home doing yoga,

I can still hear the dogs barking.

170

:

Or I can still, the baby monitor if

the baby's napping or, you get down on

171

:

the ground and underneath the couch.

172

:

You're like, I have a vacuum

under here in a while, right?

173

:

So it's like you're still at home

174

:

time.

175

:

So So it's not just your time.

176

:

Where when I would go to a studio

or a chiropractor just anywhere

177

:

else to do yoga, it was like I don't

care what's going on for one hour.

178

:

Like anybody can survive one

hour without me and that was I

179

:

think The selling point for me.

180

:

At the time anyway.

181

:

Cliff Duvernois: Started getting

into yoga, you're loving it, going

182

:

to the studio, taking classes.

183

:

And at some point in time, you

said, I want to be an instructor.

184

:

Emilee Hartwig: So the studio opened

here and then the studio opened

185

:

in st Claire very shortly after

and so I was going it was very

186

:

exciting to have a studio in town.

187

:

Because it was a huge deal.

188

:

Because, and on my yoga journey

of going to basements and doing

189

:

yoga, start finding studios, but

they were like a half hour drive.

190

:

which you'll do, when it's something that

you love to do, but you don't get to go

191

:

as often as you would maybe want, right?

192

:

Because now my one hour class is turning

into a two hour with an hour commute.

193

:

When the studio opened in St.

194

:

Clair, it was just so exciting.

195

:

And even this one, because

it was super close to me.

196

:

It was only like a 15 or 20

minute drive to get here.

197

:

So I was very excited to

have studios in the area.

198

:

And was going to classes there.

199

:

Had class packages.

200

:

And, yeah, then it just, You

know, one day it was like, you

201

:

know, I really, really like it.

202

:

I wonder what you would have to do.

203

:

How do you become a yoga teacher?

204

:

And I just literally Googled that.

205

:

Um, and then, a bunch of yoga

studios that offer teacher trainings

206

:

popped up that were in the area.

207

:

And the closest one at

the time was Rochester.

208

:

a little bit, about an hour away.

209

:

Once I decided, I just signed up and

I was going to Rochester every Sunday,

210

:

all day long, from seven in the morning

until four o'clock in the afternoon.

211

:

And yeah, it's 200 hours is

what you know, you have to do

212

:

to become a yoga instructor.

213

:

So it, in the grand scheme,

it's a very quick process.

214

:

But at the time.

215

:

This is long days.

216

:

Cliff Duvernois: When you're doing

the instructors, because I see this

217

:

all the time with yoga instructors.

218

:

They're like amazingly flexible

doing things that I just

219

:

think are just superhuman.

220

:

you can be honest with me.

221

:

In the instructor class, do

they give you all the shortcuts

222

:

of how to make that happen?

223

:

Uh,

224

:

Emilee Hartwig: Uh, no, no.

225

:

not really.

226

:

No.

227

:

I think, we see the instructors

that are, are like that.

228

:

And it's so cool to see that and what

this pose can eventually look like.

229

:

Eventually I'll be on my head.

230

:

But like I went into it as, um,

like I am not super flexible.

231

:

I am more like just your average

person which I think helps me

232

:

as a teacher because I know

what it's like to be you right?

233

:

You on the mat.

234

:

Like I'm not Gumby.

235

:

I can't, I have tight hamstrings.

236

:

I have injuries.

237

:

I have tears.

238

:

I have things that, I rehab myself

and that I have to be aware of when

239

:

I practice yoga or when I teach yoga.

240

:

For me, going into teacher training

was super intimidating cause there

241

:

were a lot of those superhumans.

242

:

Who were just you walk in and

they're like, on their head and

243

:

you're like, oh my God, am I

ever going to be able to do that?

244

:

For me, it was very cool being able

to see that like, Oh my gosh, maybe

245

:

one day I'll be able to do that.

246

:

And if not, that's fine.

247

:

But like how cool to see all of

these like super skilled people.

248

:

And then, me going in as

just here's what I can do.

249

:

And then, it helps me as a

teacher learn how to modify poses

250

:

and teach modifications, right?

251

:

You know, so it's just

the way you look at it.

252

:

And yoga is all about just

like your personal practice.

253

:

It's not, it's very different

than like a gym mentality.

254

:

So it's not, we don't say I'm

going to be able to do that.

255

:

It's one day, maybe one day

I'll be able to do that.

256

:

Not tomorrow, not in a month.

257

:

Yeah.

258

:

And if I, if it's not something

that ever happens, okay.

259

:

Where it's not like, well, I need

to, I'm going to, I'm going to

260

:

bench press 300 pounds and I'm

going to work my way to that.

261

:

Cause eventually you, anybody probably

could do that with enough practice.

262

:

And there are just some things

that our bodies aren't able to do

263

:

like other people's bodies can.

264

:

And in yoga, we just figure out ways

to replicate a feeling or a stretch.

265

:

I mean, it might not look the same.

266

:

Cliff Duvernois: And I do want to

cover the more about it because you

267

:

you said something very interesting

about modifying the poses.

268

:

And I do want to cover that but

for our audience, we're going

269

:

to take a quick break and thank

our sponsors when we come back.

270

:

We're going to talk a lot more about

especially the health benefits of yoga.

271

:

And we'll see you after the break.

272

:

Are you enjoying this episode?

273

:

Well, I can tell you

there's a lot more to come.

274

:

Jump over to TotalMichigan.

275

:

com, enter your email address,

and get on our mailing list.

276

:

You'll get a list of the top

five episodes for the show.

277

:

Along with that, you'll get

all kinds of behind the scenes

278

:

goodies, as well as upcoming guest

notifications, and so much more.

279

:

Just go over to TotalMichigan.

280

:

com, enter your email address today.

281

:

Hello everyone, welcome back to

Total Michigan where we interview

282

:

ordinary michiganders doing

some pretty extraordinary things

283

:

I'm your host Cliff Duvernois.

284

:

Today, we're talking with Emilee

Hartwig of Happy Dog Yoga Studios.

285

:

And before the break

286

:

You were talking about how the

studios were built here, which

287

:

was kind of like a big thing.

288

:

What I would like to do now is if

you would share with us that journey

289

:

from you being an instructor to

now owning both of both of studios.

290

:

Emilee Hartwig: Yeah, so I became

an instructor here, which was just

291

:

so exciting to have like a teaching

job at studios that were right here

292

:

that I had already been coming to.

293

:

Cliff Duvernois: you're getting paid.

294

:

Right,

295

:

Emilee Hartwig: Also, also a

perk, Free yoga as an instructor.

296

:

So that was cool.

297

:

Yeah, so I taught here for probably

about three years, two, two and a

298

:

half years where I was just teaching

here, which was really cool.

299

:

I get to teach and then go home.

300

:

Don't have to think about

anything else too much.

301

:And then, in, October,:

302

:

caught wind that the owner of the

studios, Rhonda, she had gotten

303

:

to that point where she was ready

to kind of pass the torch on.

304

:

Uh, And that was always her goal.

305

:

She never wanted to own the studios

and make this, like, her career.

306

:

She's very busy.

307

:

She works a full time job.

308

:

And her main thing was bringing

yoga to the Blue Water area.

309

:

And she did that.

310

:

And she felt accomplished in that.

311

:

So as I caught wind

that, maybe it was time.

312

:

She had just kind of mentioned

things to other people.

313

:

And you know how all of us

yoga teachers start chatting.

314

:

And we, you know, so when I caught

wind, I just gave her a call.

315

:

And I just said, when

you're ready, let me know.

316

:

I don't know if it's something I can do.

317

:

I have no idea, but just,

318

:

Cliff Duvernois: got no business training

319

:

Emilee Hartwig: I have, I have

no business owning a business.

320

:

And so I just, I wanted

the phone call first.

321

:

And I just wanted her to know that I

was Interested and invested and cared

322

:

enough about the studios right there.

323

:

And if she chose not to call

me that was fine if she already

324

:

had something worked out.

325

:

That was October and we closed

on the studios in November.

326

:

Right before the weekend

before Thanksgiving

327

:

Cliff Duvernois: So let's go back

and unpack a couple of things here.

328

:

Emilee Hartwig: Right

329

:

Cliff Duvernois: So you had heard

that studios were going out for sale.

330

:

And most people would be like,

Sweet Moses, I better start shopping

331

:

for someplace else to teach.

332

:

But you're thinking, oh,

I could buy this place.

333

:

Emilee Hartwig: I don't know what I was

thinking and and I think that is what

334

:

led me to the actual like signing the

paperwork because it happened so fast.

335

:

So when I called her and

said, just please let me know.

336

:

First again, I have no idea about

any numbers, but just let me know.

337

:

It wasn't even a week later

and we were talking numbers.

338

:

And, from the middle of October to the

middle of November, went very quickly

339

:

with, here's a number, okay, let's

start to transfer some things over.

340

:

Let's meet at the lawyer's

office, let's sign the papers.

341

:

And I didn't really have time for

my, type A brain to really think

342

:

about it and get scared, because I

343

:

Cliff Duvernois: You start problems

344

:

Emilee Hartwig: part of my brain was

just so excited and it was where I

345

:

think if we would have had another

week or two in there, I would have

346

:

been able to manufacture up, Yeah

some problems that could arise.

347

:

And it didn't, we never had the time.

348

:

And all of a sudden

the papers were signed.

349

:

And the keys were handed

over, and that was it.

350

:

They were mine.

351

:

Cliff Duvernois: The train has

left the station you know, you've

352

:

become the owner of the place.

353

:

You're running it.

354

:

Why don't you share with us like

maybe one or two of the like

355

:

really big surprises that all of

a sudden you're like, holy cow.

356

:

I'm the owner.

357

:

I now have to take care of this.

358

:

Emilee Hartwig: oh my gosh.

359

:

It's all the little things that

360

:

The weekend, so the weekend

that I bought the studios.

361

:

It was the weekend before Thanksgiving.

362

:

The toilet here broke.

363

:

Oh, of course.

364

:

Right?

365

:

So, I'm like, I call called Rhonda.

366

:

And she was just like laughing.

367

:

Have fun, you know,

368

:

have dad so I have my

dad up here, you know?

369

:

I haven't even owned them for a

week and we already, you know,

370

:

so it's that kind of stuff.

371

:

I was on vacation a couple years ago.

372

:

And the furnace broke here.

373

:

I'm in Florida trying to navigate getting

somebody here and trying to have a teacher

374

:

here with a key to unlock the door.

375

:

So it's like all of those little

things that you just have.

376

:

You don't think about, even

as a teacher who's here.

377

:

Because if I just work here,

I, just call the owner.

378

:

The furnace isn't working.

379

:

The toilet's not working.

380

:

We're out of this.

381

:

We're out of that.

382

:

And now it's, that's all me.

383

:

Now they're all calling me and telling me.

384

:

It's just those little things

that definitely add up.

385

:

I think that I just, didn't

think about because you're

386

:

like, well, how hard can it be?

387

:

It's just a couple of yoga studios.

388

:

I, the And then the business, the,

just the whole business portion.

389

:

Cause like I said, I, I don't

have any business training.

390

:

I went to school to

teach kids how to color.

391

:

Cliff Duvernois: other stuff.

392

:

Yeah.

393

:

Emilee Hartwig: So that was

definitely a learning process.

394

:

And still is.

395

:

I'm still figuring it

396

:

out.

397

:

Cliff Duvernois: Well, we're

all still figuring that one out.

398

:

It's pretty complicated.

399

:

One of the things I, I do want to

go back and explore, we started

400

:

hitting on this a little bit.

401

:

this is something that

I experienced myself.

402

:

Cause I do watch a lot of yoga on YouTube.

403

:

But you hit on this before.

404

:

And I think this is so intriguing.

405

:

When you talk about like people

coming in, taking the class, how you

406

:

can modify the pose, because that's

something that I can't get from YouTube.

407

:

the lady that I watch on there

is doing stuff that I think

408

:

is just physically impossible.

409

:

impossible.

410

:

I'm, just like a mess on the

floor trying to do what she does.

411

:

She's like in a pretzel.

412

:

and I've got the flexibility

of uncooked spaghetti.

413

:

So talk to us about those advantages

of actually coming in face to

414

:

face for a class versus just,

Oh, I'll just do this on YouTube.

415

:

Emilee Hartwig: I think one of the

important things about Happy Dog that

416

:

I try to instill in our teachers is

that I don't want them practicing

417

:

yoga while they're teaching yoga.

418

:

And once in a while we have

to demo something if it's

419

:

just not making sense, right?

420

:

It's sometimes the best

ways to do it and show them.

421

:

But we are all teaching

in a way that's verbal.

422

:

So that right there takes

a lot of that away, right?

423

:

You're not looking at somebody

and thinking she's doing something

424

:

impossible and I'm uncooked spaghetti.

425

:

When you're just hearing, bring

your nose towards your knees.

426

:

You're going to figure that

out for your body, right?

427

:

Whereas if you were looking at someone.

428

:

You're gonna try to do it

the way he or she did it.

429

:

we try to teach very verbally.

430

:

And that was one of the things in

my teacher training in Rochester,

431

:

was we should be able to get

a blind person into any pose.

432

:

So it was all about how to, yeah, how to

articulate and get somebody into a pose.

433

:

Because, like I said, there

are a lot of poses I can't do.

434

:

But I still teach them.

435

:

Because other people can and should.

436

:

That's number one.

437

:

And then number two is just coming to

any studio, even if the teacher does

438

:

practice with you or demo, coming to

the studio and having a teacher that

439

:

can come and physically assist you

or place her hand on your shoulders

440

:

to bring them away from your ears.

441

:

Or help put a bend in your knees when

you're folding forward really is what

442

:

takes it up that notch from at home

doing, virtual or YouTube to being in the

443

:

studio, not only with people who are doing

something that they enjoy along with you,

444

:

you have that like collective, community.

445

:

But having a teacher there who can make

sure you're doing things safely, right?

446

:

Are your knees being crazy?

447

:

Are we going to blow a shoulder out

if you keep doing something like that.

448

:

And sometimes the adjustments are just to

make something more comfortable, right?

449

:

It's not actually fixing

something that's wrong.

450

:

It's just, if you bend your knees

slightly when you're folding

451

:

forward, that might help take some

of this off of your lower back.

452

:

And then people are like, Oh my gosh.

453

:

I had no idea how simple.

454

:

And then as they learn modifications, you

start to learn how your own body works.

455

:

And you already just know.

456

:

If I keep soft knees, things don't hurt

so much and that's really all that there

457

:

is to it is trying to find that space that

doesn't hurt now and won't hurt tomorrow.

458

:

That's different than being sore,

459

:

than

460

:

we don't want it to hurt.

461

:

Ever.

462

:

Cliff Duvernois: to hurt.

463

:

Ever.

464

:

No.

465

:

You don't.

466

:

And, I guess to have more of a global

question on this one here, What is like

467

:

the overall like health benefits of yoga?

468

:

Emilee Hartwig: To us

469

:

Yeah.

470

:

Big Well, small scale, but what

everybody thinks is that the

471

:

health benefit is in the physical

movement is in the stretching.

472

:

And there is, and are so many benefits

to stretching and moving, right?

473

:

Mindfully moving is

what I would call yoga.

474

:

but any movement, right?

475

:

And like we talked

about, like during COVID.

476

:

It was Like people just stopped moving.

477

:

And so the stretch helps to

make your back feel better.

478

:

And you get up in the morning.

479

:

And you put your socks on

and it doesn't hurt, right?

480

:

And you get up from the couch and

you're not like, Oh, like making

481

:

a physical, like an audible noise.

482

:

Right, right.

483

:

And we all do.

484

:

And yoga helps with that

on a very small scale.

485

:

I think the really big picture of

the health benefit of yoga and why do

486

:

I feel so good after is the breath.

487

:

Is breathing.

488

:

And, you can get into very, crazy if you

want to, like pranayama, which is breath.

489

:

That's the word that we use.

490

:

All these crazy, different

breathing techniques.

491

:

But I think that just focusing

on your breathing, even if

492

:

it's not for the entire hour.

493

:

Cause let's be real.

494

:

You're also saying, you want

me to put my what where?

495

:

I need to do what?

496

:

And you feel like you're

playing Twister, so you're not

497

:

always breathing intentionally.

498

:

But that first few minutes of class

and that last few minutes of class

499

:

when you really are just breathing

500

:

Cliff Duvernois: Yes.

501

:

Emilee Hartwig: That is

where the benefit is.

502

:

Like there is no truer way to help

your nervous system get into that

503

:

rest and digest phase and out of that

fight or flight mode than breathing.

504

:

And It sounds silly because

we're breathing right now

505

:

and you have to breathe.

506

:

But But if you're not breathing

intentionally and mindfully, it's

507

:

just a breath that keeps you alive.

508

:

The same way that, like, you can

blink your eyes intentionally or not.

509

:

They're gonna blink.

510

:

Because otherwise your

eyeballs will fall out, right?

511

:

But if we blink intentionally, it would

have a different effect on our eyes.

512

:

The same way that breathing has a

much different effect on our entire

513

:

body, physical, mental, spiritual,

when we're intentionally doing it.

514

:

Cliff Duvernois: It's interesting you

say that I was thinking back to the

515

:

first time that I took my very first

yoga class And it was an hour long class.

516

:

I was beat up Sweet Moses was I beat up.

517

:

And this little girl upstage was

just didn't even break a sweat

518

:

and I was like This isn't fair.

519

:

But I remembered at the very end she

made all of us lay down on our backs.

520

:

And we just took deep

breaths And we just did it.

521

:

That's all we did.

522

:

We probably did it for

like maybe five minutes.

523

:

But the thing that struck me

was the endorphin rush from it.

524

:

Because like you said I was treating

breathing like eating a Big Mac, right?

525

:

It was just like, okay, I gotta I

gotta breathe because I gotta breathe.

526

:

But when you're intentionally

breathing and taking those big

527

:

deep breaths Holy cow, I was like

where has this been all my life?

528

:

Emilee Hartwig: That's

how every yoga class ends.

529

:

That pose that you were laying in flat

is called shavasana, which just yep.

530

:

It means corpse pose.

531

:

It's as close to, it's as close to

death as you'll ever be is how they

532

:

explain it when we're learning it.

533

:

Um, yeah, but you're doing

nothing but breathing.

534

:

Not scratching our nose, not listening

to those signs from our brain.

535

:

Cause our brain is checking in.

536

:

Like, are we sleeping?

537

:

Are we dead?

538

:

Are we alive?

539

:

And we're ignoring those.

540

:

And we're just going to breathe.

541

:

And that's what makes it

different than going to the gym.

542

:

And I think going to the gym is great.

543

:

But after you go to the gym, there isn't

like a room full of people laying on

544

:

the floor for five minutes not moving.

545

:

They're missing that part, right?

546

:

The breath part.

547

:

And maybe that's not possible in a gym.

548

:

But even if it's maybe sitting in

your car for a few minutes before you

549

:

pull out and just like a couple deep

breaths, I think it really would help.

550

:

Even if yoga is not your thing.

551

:

Cliff Duvernois: Yep.

552

:

Emilee Hartwig: but the breathing,

you can do that anywhere.

553

:

And meditation gets a bad rap

but it doesn't have to be what

554

:

everybody thinks meditation is.

555

:

It can be just a couple

of breaths in your car.

556

:

Or if you have a space just

lay down and just a couple

557

:

deep two minutes, one minute.

558

:

And that's all.

559

:

And you'll feel good.

560

:

Cliff Duvernois: There's so many other

things like I remember seeing a counselor.

561

:

And I was telling her about some

problem I was struggling with And

562

:

that was like the first question.

563

:

She asked me she goes.

564

:

Do you remember breathing?

565

:

And I couldn't.

566

:

Emilee Hartwig: Yeah, I

567

:

Cliff Duvernois: I just couldn't.

568

:

You know, and it's just like

it's like amazing that You

569

:

And I'm glad you say that.

570

:

But yeah, breathing seems

like it's a big part of yoga.

571

:

of yoga.

572

:

Emilee Hartwig: It is.

573

:

That's why it's the big picture.

574

:

We can't always get people in the

door just by advertising breathing.

575

:

We're going to teach you how to breathe.

576

:

And you're going to

feel really good after.

577

:

So that's where the stretching and

the physical is also important.

578

:

Because people see that.

579

:

They want to feel it.

580

:

They want to feel good.

581

:

And then they start to

learn how to breathe.

582

:

Or even just for a short amount of

time, a couple deep breaths, and

583

:

that's when I think they really

get those, the mental benefits.

584

:

And along with physical, but

585

:

Cliff Duvernois: I think

586

:

Emilee Hartwig: think that's where

we get some of that more self care.

587

:

Cliff Duvernois: self care.

588

:

Emilee, if somebody's listening to

this and they want to check out more

589

:

about what it is that you're doing,

maybe check out some yoga classes, get

590

:

some information, out it is, what's

the best way for them to do that?

591

:

Emilee Hartwig: So they can just go

to our website which is Happy Dog

592

:

Studio dot com, no S at the end of

that one cause there was one they can

593

:

also email us which would just be info

like, I N F O at happydogyogastudio.

594

:

com, And that's going to be

the quickest and best way.

595

:

Our website has everything on it.

596

:

Class pricing, class schedule

at both studios, our virtual

597

:

options, any, anything that's

coming up is always on there.

598

:

Cliff Duvernois: there.

599

:

Awesome.

600

:

Emilee, so much for taking

time to chat with us today.

601

:

I've really enjoyed this.

602

:

Emilee Hartwig: Good.

603

:

Cliff Duvernois: For our audience, you

can always roll on over to total michigan.

604

:

com.

605

:

Click on Emilee's interview.

606

:

and get the links that

she mentioned above.

607

:

We'll catch you next time when we

talk to another Michigander doing

608

:

some pretty extraordinary things.

609

:

We'll see you then.