Hattie Speaks!
I sure hope you got to meet Hattie in person. She taught at Bluestem from June 2021, when we opened, through March 2023, when she set off to live the nomadic #jeeplife. If you never met Hattie, you’ll still enjoy reading her comments on yoga and the Bluestem community. And if you stay in touch with Bluestem, you’ll hear when Hattie returns to teach a workshop or something else wonderful!
Here are some excerpts from Hattie’s responses. You can read all of Hattie’s responses below.
“You're not going to find a place that will be more gentle with you and your experience than Bluestem.”
“The regular students in my classes…are a community of people wanting to connect and take good care of themselves. They're in it for the long run and not interested in aesthetics of a pose but instead, how it can help support the rest of their life outside of their practice.”
“No matter if you're new to yoga or have been doing it for years, the grounded nature of Bluestem is sure to leave you with valuable lessons and perspectives to take with you out of the studio for a true experience of what Yoga is - a way of living.”
Does any of this speak to you? Come to a Bluestem class, workshop, or sound bath! This webpage is a great starting point.
Bluesketeers, want to share your yoga/Bluestem story? We’d love that! You can answer as few or as many questions as you’d like. There’s an easy-peasy form here.
Hattie Talks about Bluestem
What do you do besides yoga, Hattie B? Hike, camp, road trip, social media management, pet puppies, scope out cool coffee shops and outdoor bars, cook, spend quality time with friends and family.
What drew you to Bluestem? Bluestem stood out to me as a new Lawrence resident looking to build a yoga community. I could tell from the start that Sandy had fantastic ideas and intentions regarding the way she wanted to run the studio. She was realistic with her structure, took care of us as teachers and successfully filled the gap of an un-heated accessible studio with varying class styles in Lawrence. I was and am excited about being a part of that addition to the yoga community.
What kept you teaching at Bluestem? Bluestem students have always been so willing to explore, get creative and learn together. As a teacher, I needed this more than I could have realized. I truly think I learned as much if not more than the students (friends) I had in my classes each week as a result of their openness.
How do you feel during a Bluestem class? The studio feels low key and homey. Nothing is high stakes. I feel completely comfortable to follow the teacher's instruction while also being encouraged to explore and find my own way during a class.
How would you describe the Bluestem community? The regular students in my classes ping me more as friends. They're a community of people wanting to connect and take good care of themselves. They're in it for the long run and not interested in aesthetics of a pose but instead, how it can help support the rest of their life outside of their practice.
What five words would you use to describe Bluestem classes, the Bluestem community, or your experiences at Bluestem? Open, kind, nuanced, accessible, empowering
Do you have any advice for people who are on the fence about trying yoga or coming to Bluestem? You're not going to find a place that will be more gentle with you and your experience than Bluestem. Especially to people who haven't done much yoga before, Bluestem is a fantastic way to ensure you won't get put off while trying something new.
Is there anything else you'd like to share? Bluestem is a wonderfully supportive community. The classes offered here are accessible and wide-spread with intelligent teachers who create a full experience in each class. Students are encouraged to explore during practice while still having a well put-together class to follow if structure is desired. No matter if you're new to yoga or have been doing it for years, the grounded nature of Bluestem is sure to leave you with valuable lessons and perspectives to take with you out of the studio for a true experience of what Yoga is - a way of living.