About “The Pause”
Hello, hello!
Welcome, friend.
I struggled a bit to find a name for this blog (although I’m well aware I can change it anytime) because I felt like I do such a variety of things that it is difficult to sum it up in a title or just a few words.
This isn’t meant to be just about yoga, meditation, or even about writing. It’s meant to be a space for sharing and connecting with you, and I have learned that I can only properly connect with myself and with others when I pause.
It is when I stop for a moment and pay attention that I can make choices that align with my values.
“The Pause” for me is where the magic happens.
It’s the moment when I get out of my own way and allow myself to flow; whether that’s through writing, teaching yoga, or playing and singing with my ukulele.
The Pause is where I can have challenging conversations with a calm heart…
Because when I pause everything becomes just a bit clearer, and I gain some perspective;
When I pause I can take a deep breath when feeling activated by a situation and not react.
When I pause I will joyfully choose to read a book instead of mindlessly scrolling on Instagram.
When I pause I feel grounded enough to reach out and connect with my friends and my family authentically.
When I pause I find balance and connect to inner harmony with more ease.
When I pause I connect to my creativity and joy.
In this space, I hope to organically share what I am learning along this journey of living and teaching yoga and writing articles and books.
I’ll share with you some of the most accessible techniques, rituals, and lessons that I practice and I’ve learned from mentors, friends, and interactions… but mostly from falling on my face on the daily and getting back up the next morning.
I’ll share not in the hopes to tell you what to do with your life, but as an invitation for you to pause often, breathe, explore, and choose what works for you.
“The Pause” is breathing space for me and you; it’s a moment of presence and self-care.
Welcome :)
Who I am
My name is Laia (like Maya with an L) and I was born and raised in Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
I am an Afro-Catalan yoga teacher (E-RYT500 & YACEP) leading yoga classes, workshops, retreats, and other events mostly in the USA and Europe as well as online.
As a former professional athlete now living with a chronic illness, I have had to learn to adapt my lifestyle to the ebbs and flows of the disease. I continuously learn new ways to slow down, care for myself, and practice self-love and compassion.
I have found mainstream yoga and wellness practices to be ableist and inaccessible to most, and with my writing, classes, and courses I hope to encourage more folks (including yoga teachers) to create yoga and wellness spaces and practices that are accessible and inclusive.
Besides teaching accessible yoga and meditation, as well as working with Olympic and Paralympic athletes in several countries, I am a polyglot storyteller and I write in English, Catalan, and Spanish about yoga, meditation, and wellness.
I also write my own poetry, short stories, and sci-fi, and I hope to share some of that with you as well.
In this space, you’ll get a snippet of it all!
Join the Inner Circle (paid subscribers)
As gratitude for your support, you’ll receive a special something from me once a month if you’re a paid subscriber.
A meditation, themed yoga class, podcast episode (yep, you read that right), journaling exercise, or other practice directly to your inbox for you to use at your convenience.
Thank you for being here, I truly look forward to connecting with you.
