Sun, Yoga, Breath…..ahhhh!
As the days grow longer and the sun begins to linger a little later over the water in Anacortes, many of us naturally feel called back into movement, connection, and renewal.
In yoga, the sun symbolizes far more than light. It represents awareness, energy, transformation, and vitality. Traditional sun salutations—Surya Namaskar—were created as a moving meditation honoring the life-giving force of the sun and the awakening that happens within us when we move intentionally.
But yoga was never meant to stop at movement alone.
At Anacortes Yoga Sanctuary, we believe yoga is not simply about touching your toes or achieving the “perfect” pose. It’s about learning how to live with greater awareness, compassion, balance, and connection—both on and off the mat.
The 8 Limbs of Yoga: A Practice Beyond the Physical
Many people are surprised to learn that the physical poses, or asana, are only one part of yoga.
The ancient yogic system is built around the 8 limbs of yoga, which offer a framework for living more intentionally:
Yamas – how we interact with others through kindness, honesty, and compassion
Niyamas – personal practices like self-discipline, self-study, and gratitude
Asana – the physical movement practice
Pranayama – breathwork and energy regulation
Pratyahara – turning inward and quieting external distractions
Dharana – concentration and focus
Dhyana – meditation and presence
Samadhi – connection, integration, and inner peace
The physical practice is simply the doorway. Yoga ultimately teaches us how to breathe through discomfort, soften self-judgment, cultivate awareness, and move through life with greater steadiness.
Yoga Is for Every Body
One of the most common things we hear is:
“I’m not flexible enough for yoga.”
The truth is, yoga was never created for the already flexible. The practice exists to help us become more connected—to our bodies, our breath, and ourselves—exactly as we are today.
We also want students to know that while we offer heated classes, only part of the studio is heated. Students are always welcome to practice in the non-heated portion of the room if that feels better for their body or nervous system. We want everyone to feel comfortable and supported in their practice.
The goal is not perfection.
The goal is presence.
Bringing the Practice Into Everyday Life
Yoga is ultimately about relationship:
breath and body
mind and nervous system
self and community
effort and surrender
The sun reminds us daily that growth happens gradually. We do not force flowers open—we create the conditions for them to bloom.
The same is true for ourselves.
Whether you join us for a heated class, community yoga, meditation, book club, or your very first time stepping onto a mat, we hope the Sanctuary feels like a place where you can reconnect with yourself—and carry that light into the rest of your life.
New Offerings at the Sanctuary
As our community grows, we’re excited to continue expanding our offerings with classes designed for all experience levels—from grounding restorative practices to mindful flow, meditation, breath-centered movement, and community-centered gatherings.
Yoga is not about performing. It’s about creating space to reconnect—with yourself and with others.
Pilates Flow with Marissa
We’re excited to welcome Pilates Flow to the Sanctuary with instructor Marissa, a certified Pilates Instructor and Personal Trainer with over 7 years of experience. She holds certifications through Balanced Body and NFPT and is passionate about helping people of all ages build strength, confidence, energy, and resilience through movement.
Marissa’s classes focus on:
deep core and pelvic floor strength
posture and alignment
balance and mobility
functional movement for everyday life
What we love most about Pilates at the Sanctuary is how beautifully it complements a yoga practice.
While yoga emphasizes breath, flexibility, mindfulness, and the connection between body and nervous system, Pilates helps build the foundational strength and stability that support movement both on and off the mat. The combination of the two practices creates balance—mobility paired with strength, softness paired with control.
Pilates can help students improve posture, body awareness, core engagement, and alignment, often deepening and supporting their yoga practice in meaningful ways. Together, yoga and Pilates create a well-rounded approach to movement that helps people feel stronger, more connected, and more resilient in everyday life.
Marissa’s teaching style blends intentional movement with breath and mindful control, helping students feel both physically strong and grounded. Expect smooth transitions, steady pacing, and a full-body experience designed to leave you feeling balanced, energized, and refreshed.
Pilates Flow is a contemporary mat Pilates class that supports stability, posture, and long, lean muscle tone while building functional strength you can carry into daily life. Students are welcome to bring ankle weights for added intensity and their own mat for extra cushion.
Beyond the studio, Marissa loves travel and adventure and has lived in Hawaii, Bali, California, and Sydney. In her free time she enjoys hiking, surfing, pickleball, and spending time in nature—bringing a vibrant, uplifting energy into every class she teaches.
You can practice with Marissa 11 am every Friday!
Upcoming Events:
In honor of Nurses Week, we’re excited to offer:
FREE Nurses’ Week Flow & Let Go
Saturday, May 9th | 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
With Heather Baglien
This complimentary class is an opportunity for nurses and healthcare professionals—and anyone needing deep restoration—to slow down, release stress, and reconnect with themselves through mindful movement and breath.
Book Club with Jyothi May 31st at 2 pm
We’re also excited to continue our Book Club gatherings with Jyothi, another opportunity to explore mindfulness, meaningful conversation, and connection in community.
Our current selection is Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler, a deeply human and refreshing exploration of finding joy even when life feels messy, uncertain, or imperfect. Rather than promoting toxic positivity, Bowler reminds us that joy and hardship can coexist—and that moments of beauty, connection, and hope are still available to us even during difficult seasons.
The themes of the book align beautifully with yoga philosophy and the deeper limbs of practice: awareness, compassion, acceptance, self-study, and learning how to stay present through both ease and discomfort.
You do not need to have finished—or even started—the book to attend. Reading is helpful, but being part of the conversation is enough.
Copies are available locally at Watermark Book Company.
p.s. no promises, but there was homemade cake at the last one😉
Community Yoga with Guest Teacher Jhana Shimizu
We’re especially honored to welcome Jhana Shimizu as a guest teacher for Community Yoga, held on 11:30 - 12:30pm Saturday, June 06, 2026.
Community Yoga is donation-based, with a suggested minimum donation of $5, helping us give back to our community. The class decides which nonprofit they would like to support.
Jhana brings more than 30 years of yoga practice and a deeply compassionate approach to teaching. Her background includes:
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training
Memorial Sloan Kettering Yoga for Cancer certification
Kula for Karma Yoga for Mental Health: Trauma and Addiction training
She has taught in Columbia, Maryland, New York City, and Anacortes, working with a diverse range of students including veterans and individuals living with cancer.
Jhana offers a grounded, mindful, and welcoming practice for all levels and believes yoga should be accessible regardless of age, experience, or physical limitations. Her teaching beautifully reflects the deeper limbs of yoga—compassion, awareness, connection, and self-study.
Our Nourish, Flow & Heal Retreat has officially been rescheduled to October 17–18.
We’re excited for the extra time to intentionally create an even more beautiful, restorative, and connected experience for everyone attending.
Sign up today — we hope you’ll join us for a weekend of movement, healing, nourishment, and community. Namaste - amanda
