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
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.
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:Clair currently.
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:I grew up in St.
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: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
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: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.
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:Like I'm not Gumby.
235
:I can't, I have tight hamstrings.
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: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.
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: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
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: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.
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: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.
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:Yeah.
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: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.
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: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.
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:And we'll see you after the break.
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:Are you enjoying this episode?
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:Well, I can tell you
there's a lot more to come.
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: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.
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: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.