Happenings
Catch up & soft launch into 2026
The last quarter of 2025 was filled with incredible moments of being recognized, as well as opportunities to put work into the world in a bigger way. Behind the scenes, I’ve been working towards extending more yoga into the world with a better technical platform, a load of work in a variety of ways, and the pursuit of some investment funding. What this has looked like has been meetings, conferences, galas, becoming skillful with generative AI, and doing all of this between creating a few hundred centerpieces and bouquets.
While listening to Led Zeppelin at 33,000 feet, I was reflecting on how powerful it is to Do The Thing day after day after day with consistency, a commitment to excellence and community, and a desire to put good things into the world without being bridled by fear of failure or attachment to outcome. Turns out that showing up and building what I’ve decided is Work actually becomes meaningful to people (including myself) over time.
Recently I led a group of women and femmes of color through integrative practices of release and rest in the form of somatic movement, breath work, and yoga nidra. As this was the final session of a conference, it became clear that I needed to aid in connecting a through line of all the topics while giving folks tools they could use as they move about the world as female-bodied professionals. I say it that way, because the set of assumptions on the female-presenting body are coded with relationship between privilege and proximity to power, roles enshrined in a patriarchal society, and the stories we hold of others’ stuff (stuff = stories, needs, trauma-dumping, familial obligations, etc. ad nauseam), and we do all of this while trying to continue to educate ourselves, be great romantic partners, participate in integral ways in our community, and pay MF bills… while democracy is failing. Where do we expect all of that to go if not the body? This is the reason why movement practices are essential. Yes, we do the work of self study and surrender, we commit to the work of collective liberation, possibly, and we become advocates for ourselves, our families, and our communities, but when the fuck do we rest and lay all of that down? And is it rest or is it dissociation? Can we rest with awareness and can our rest be skillful?
I decided to start my session by reminding me of why I do what I do.
“Hi, I’m Tamika Caston-Miller and I’m democratizing wellness.”
I just recently figured out that’s what I’m doing. LOL. I went on to talk about the distance between who appears to have access to wellness and who doesn’t, and why seeing ourselves rested and well in others is essential in remembering our own wellness because believing you can rest — even rest from oppression — needs to be modeled behavior. Who modeled that for you? Is it possible that not having a model is why we fight like hell to Do The Thing without taking time for ourselves? No, we cannot meditate away oppression, but we can be more skillful in how we respond to it.
And..
It’s not easy.
But it’s important.
And it’s easier with strategically integrating rest in life until it no longer is a strategy — it’s a foregone conclusion.
I’ve been oscillating between vacation, intentional rest, and a reduced work schedule since November 24, and am finally eking my way back into more work, but not at a horse’s pace until Spring. I invite you to consider how much slowing down you’re doing this winter. What could hibernation look like for you? Mind you, it might take some work to prepare and let go, but it’s worthy work.
And if you’ve been considering doing some yoga that’s guided by good people who are learned teachers and are holding space for your rest while offering up thoughtful and appropriate movement for winter, we’d love to have you as a member of Ashe Yoga Collective.
Here are the engagements, workshops, trainings, and retreats that are upcoming and on the horizon that I’m excited about.
January:
8 | The Teachers’ Lab 300 HR Bridge to RYT500 begins
10-11, 22, 24-25 | Advanced Yin Yoga Teacher Training
March:
21-22 | Trauma-Informed Rest Practices, part 1: Restorative Yoga Teacher Training II (live + on demand)
April:
2 | Yoga for Larger Bodies Training with Accessible Yoga
4 | Yoga for Larger Bodies Training with Ashe Yoga Collective
11-13 | Trauma-Informed Rest Practices, part 2: Yoga Nidra Guide Training II (live + on demand )
23-26 | Sedona Yoga Festival Presenter (3 sessions)
May:
WorldFest Film Festival Wellness engagements (dates, TBD)
4-10 | Ojai Retreat & The Teachers’ Lab Mentorship + Immersion
June:
Pride & World Cup Engagements All Month
27 - July 3 | Big Magic in the Sacred Valley Retreat, Cusco, Peru
As of right now, I’m holding intentional spaciousness for the second half of the year as we have our own changes that I’ll let you know about soon. Until then, know that…
