Retreating - How to Begin

A true retreat. An escape from it all. What is it? What would it feel like? Do you ever think about getting away from it all? How often do you allow yourself to do so? Nice dream, but that’s impossible in my world! You might think.  Or…I’m too busy—too many responsibilities and not enough money, ... Read More

Vacations and Retreats - A Necessity - Not a Luxury

In my first article – Retreating-How to Begin, I wrote about the importance of vacations and retreats. In this article, I share a couple of my ‘leap of faith’ vacation retreat stories: The first “real vacation retreat” I took after becoming a single mom was when my daughter Katie graduated from h... Read More

The Difference Between our Yoga Trainings and Retreats

Feathered Pipe Ranch, Montana - Join us June 13-20, 2026 We are honored to have been invited back to lead another Retreat at the Feathered Pipe Ranch, celebrating its 51 st anniversary! One year, when I was hosting a week at Feathered Pipe, I asked the director which week I could take (personally... Read More

Peace of Mind Comes Piece By Piece - Why Soft Yoga?

This is a newly edited article written in 2018. The beauty of Feathered Pipe Ranch in Montana is equally as beautiful as the Mount Shasta area, but the Ranch holds a special magic I have never felt anywhere else, and the people who take care of our every need at us at the Ranch are amazing. Infor... Read More

Can Too Much Movement Be Harmful?

In our movement-obsessed culture, we rarely ask:  Can we move too much, too intensely, without rest? Meet Kathy, one of the many students who spent several years in classes at A Gentle Way Yoga. Kathy arrived at our yoga center in her late sixties. Her history included being a lifelong dancer and... Read More

MIMSY - A Softer Side of Yoga

MIMSY = Meditation in Movement Soft Yoga There is a softer side of yoga that is just as important as an active practice.   We come to yoga to balance the body's masculine and feminine energies, yet many styles and classes devote most of their time to active yang (male) asanas. Learning to “shift ... Read More

The Act of Pausing, Reflecting and Letting Go

The Act of Pausing, Reflecting and Letting Go - by Lanita Varshell Yes, it's been a while since I wrote anything. I realize that my social media posts have been inconsistent. I recognize that I haven't put much effort into filling my Zoom classes or developing new in-person courses or workshops. ... Read More