Yoga in the Wild
I love discovering the benefits of yoga being talked about—or quietly demonstrated—in everyday life. I call these moments "Yoga in the Wild."
Teaching at the library challenges me to incorporate something informational or resource-oriented into each class, so I'm always on the lookout for inspiration outside of traditional yoga books. I love leaving students feeling as if they learned something new or had time to think differently about something about themselves.
Recently, I found yoga gems in two library books: The RBG Workout by Bryant Johnson and The Spark Factor by Molly Maloof, MD. Even one of my all-time favorite magazines, The Costco Connection, featured yoga-inspired movement and wellness articles in its June and July issues.
The RBG Workout
The RBG Workout by Bryant Johnson includes an hour-long series of stretching and strength-building exercises that were part of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's regular fitness routine.
One idea that immediately stood out in the first few pages was how Johnson describes our muscles: think of them like taffy. If you put taffy in the freezer and try to bend it, it snaps. Leave it out where it's warm, and it becomes pliable and stretchy. Our bodies work much the same way—the more we move, the more resilient and flexible we become. This is supported by study after study, especially the importance of movement as we age both for our body and mind.
The RBG book features several familiar yoga-inspired movements (in how-to instruction format with images), including neck rotations, Butterfly Pose (Baddha Konasana), seated hamstring stretches or seated tree, plank, Bird Dog, and more. It has already inspired multiple classes for me—one built around these movements and another paired with alignment principles from Dr. Maloof's book.
The Spark Factor
The focus of The Spark Factor by Molly Maloof, MD, is using science-backed strategies to help us feel better in our bodies and mind. I'm greatly simplifying her section around alignment, but one concept especially resonated with me: proper alignment helps us breathe more efficiently.
When we practice diaphragmatic breathing—deep breaths that expand the diaphragm rather than shallow chest breathing—we allow our lungs to fully expand and take in more oxygen. Good posture creates the space our breath needs. (And movement such as some of the poses called out from RBG helps to create more space for breath movement. Notice how your breath work changes at the top and end of class.)
On pages 72–73, Dr. Maloof shares several alignment cues. Many will sound familiar if you've taken yoga classes, but understanding why we use them makes them even more meaningful.
Try standing in Mountain Pose (Tadasana) as you read through these cues. As always, remember that every body is different, and what feels right today may feel different tomorrow. Always do what feels best for you - even despite what the teacher suggests!
Some of Dr. Maloof’s cues outlined in this section—and the yoga versions we often hear—include:
"Brace your stomach muscles as if someone were about to punch you." → Draw your belly button gently toward your spine.
"Feet two fists-width apart." → Place your feet about hip-width apart.
"Imagine there is a string attached to the crown of your head." → Lengthen through the crown of your head toward the sky.
"Chin parallel to the ground." → When your spine lengthens, your head naturally follows.
"Avoid slumping and holding your body in curves." → Elongate your spine and stand tall.
"Lift your shoulders up, then move them back and down." → Roll your shoulders up, back, and relax them down.
Yoga in The Costco Connection
I also love reading The Costco Connection magazine. This summer, two health articles highlighted many of the same benefits we experience in yoga. I immediately tore them out to save for future classes. (Magazines offer inspiration—I once used a quote from Chip Gaines in Magnolia Journal to offer as an intention with one of my favorites from the Bhagavad Gita for a practice!)
The June 2026 article, "Super Connector," explored the vagus nerve. Often described as one of the body's communication highways, the vagus nerve begins at the base of the skull and extends through much of the upper body. Stimulating it can promote relaxation and help regulate our stress response.
Some of the suggested ways to stimulate the vagus nerve? Humming, singing, deep breathing—and, of course, movement. (and cold!)
Then, in the July 2026 article, "Move Better, Feel Better," several recommended exercises looked strikingly familiar: Chair Pose, Bridge Pose, Bird Dog, and other movements we regularly practice in yoga. One idea even inspired me to introduce standing on a yoga block beneath the grounded foot while practicing Tree Pose to explore balance in a new way.
According to Perplexity, approximately 15.7 million copies of The Costco Connection were mailed to members each month in 2024, with additional copies distributed in warehouses. That's a lot of people learning about the benefits of movement—and, whether they realize it or not, discovering yoga out in the wild.
Those clipped articles are now tucked safely into my inspiration box, waiting for a future class.
Keep Looking
One of my favorite reminders is that yoga isn't confined to the mat or the studio. It's woven into science, medicine, fitness, books, magazines, and everyday conversations. The more I look for it, the more I find it.
If this inspires you to explore yoga for yourself, I continue to update this blog collecting classes - free and paid around Ft. Hunt.