Athlete in Balance Relaunch

A Yoga Plan to help you meet your fitness goals year round.

Welcome to the Athlete in Balance relaunch.

A newsletter of essays, challenges and inspiration on creating a home yoga practice along with tales from swimming, biking, running and nature trails. As you build your home yoga practice, remember that it’s not just about the physical postures, but about how you bring your awareness into every moment. Whether you're flowing through a practice on your mat, running through a forest trail, or swimming in a lake, nature is always providing lessons in balance, breath, and connection. The practice is not bound by a studio or a class schedule—it is a continuous thread woven through every movement, every step, every breath.

Running offers a sense of freedom, while yoga provides the nourishment to support and sustain that passion.

A yoga practice that maps with your annual fitness goals and training plans. Emphasizing the balance of strength and ease in each pose is key—it's all about tuning into your body and understanding its needs. The combination of running and yoga creates a harmonious blend of physical strength and mental clarity. As an Embodied Yoga Coach, I'm here to guide you on this journey toward balance and well-being.

Many athletes experience changes as they age, but incorporating yoga and strength training can really help maintain performance. Yoga enhances flexibility, balance, and mental focus, while strength training supports muscle mass and bone density. Together, they can contribute to longevity in sports and overall physical health. It’s inspiring to see athletes embrace these practices to continue thriving in their sports well into their later years!

Become a Free Subscriber

Get full access to my newsletter and never miss an update! Each edition is filled with insightful essays on creating a home yoga practice, overcoming challenges, and applying yoga off the mat. Plus, enjoy tales from my adventures in swimming, biking, running, and exploring nature trails. Join our community and embark on this journey of movement and mindfulness together!

What to Expect as a Paid Subscriber

As a paid subscriber, you’ll have access to the annual yoga plan which includes:

• A Yearly Yoga Plan for Endurance Athletes: Tailored to support endurance periodization training phase—base, build, peak, taper, race, and recovery.

  Base Training Phase (Winter), Build Phase (Early Spring), Peak Phase (Late Spring/Summer), Taper & Race (Fall) then transition to Recovery Phase (Late Fall).

• Community Chat: Join our vibrant community for Q&A, motivation, and encouragement from fellow athletes.

• Additional Newsletters: Dive into topics related to strength training and nutrition, specifically designed to fuel your endurance training.

Unlock the tools to support and thrive in your athletic journey!

Become a Founding Member

What to Expect When You Upgrade!

In addition to the above newsletters, chat and yoga plan, you will have a weekly invitation to a live class. Online class is each Monday morning at 7:30am CT (excluding US holidays). Sessions are held on Zoom for 45 minutes. Recordings are available after class each week. Start your week off with movement and stretches that make you feel alive.

Founding Membership also includes:

• Video Library: Access a collection of videos each month that complement your training and enhance your practice.

• Live Yoga class weekly

Please note that before joining, you’ll need to complete a brief self-assessment and waiver form to activate your Founding membership. This form will be emailed to you once you subscribe.

My Story

My love for sports and fitness has been lifelong, but by age 40, I found myself sitting more than moving. I set a challenge for myself: to run a mile for my 40th birthday. I did it, and that sparked my journey into running a 5K, which eventually led to a sprint triathlon. From there, my passion for running, swimming, triathlons, and climbing mountains blossomed. Over the past 17 years, I’ve completed race distances from 5K to 110 miles, participated in triathlons ranging from sprint to full Ironman distances, and tackled numerous mountain trail races. Year 2024 marks 10 years participating in ultra running on nature trails.

Years ago, I dabbled in yoga for relief from aches and pains, but I struggled to focus long enough to complete a full class. In 2018, seeking relief from major stress, severe rosacea flare-ups, and aching joints, I turned to yoga for stress relief. Initially unsure how yoga could help me off the mat, I began exploring podcasts on the subject. This led me to yoga teacher Brett Larkin and her Uplifted Yoga YTT program, which offers exceptional online teacher training.

Eager to deepen my understanding of yoga and establish my own personal practice, I dove in and completed certifications with the RYT 500-hour and Embodied Yoga Life Coach trainings with Uplifted Yoga. Since then, I’ve been teaching yoga both in person and online since January 2020. My goal is to help others discover the benefits of yoga so they can feel great and continue engaging in the sports and activities that make them feel alive!

My Vision

I envision a world filled with empowered athletes, especially those aged 50 and older, thriving in sports and embracing their passions. Through my writing, coaching, and motivation, I strive to inspire individuals of all ages to chase their dreams, play sports, and stay active. My heartfelt desire is to see participation among older athletes grow, as we uplift and inspire each other on this journey.

Be part of a community of people who share your interests.

Testimonials

I instantly felt a deep connection with Jill during our coaching session. She has the kind of presence that makes you feel supported, like she truly has your back. I especially appreciated the breath work she guided me through—it helped regulate my emotions and brought me back to a calm, balanced state. Her support and gentle guidance made the session incredibly grounding and restorative. Jackie M.

Jill was able to help me zero in on exactly what I needed to focus on and drew my attention to what really mattered in my life and business. Her approach was so supportive and gentle, it was exactly what I needed as I was guided to a place of ease and away from overthinking. Taylor L.

The Monday classes are a great way to stretch, increase mobility, and recover from long weekend runs and strength training during the week. Yoga also provides opportunities to work on balance, which is important for those of us over 60. Karen P.