YogaHotDish
Independent Kripalu Yoga Teacher & Retreat Leader
Since 2001
Japanic! 2024 & 2026: "Finding Peace in Chaos Retreat"
TOKYO KAMAKURA
HAKONE HIROSHIMA
KYOTO
Lost your Zen somewhere? Find it here...
WELCOME to Yoga for the 80%
Tired of being lost in the back of large group-exercise posing as Yoga? Lost your Zen somewhere between the quickie-classes, fun-house mirrors, and woo-woo music? Well, BREATHE! Relax, all that's over, You're with friends here. This is real yoga, with roots back to India; real Zen with roots in Japan, all served up Minnesota Nice(r)! Small groups, bro' friendly, no lululemon or tatts required. Just show up as the most sincere version of yourself! Bring a mat if you have one, but we've got you if you don't!
The HotDish Difference: better instruction, better value, smaller classes, zero intimidation.
After 20+ years of teaching, here’s what I’ve learned:
Most yoga is made for the bendiest 20%—the young, hyper-flexible who look great on Instagram. That’s not most people. And that’s not what I teach.
What Makes YogaHotDish Different?
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Thoughtful, real instruction
I don’t just demo a pose and chirp, “Modify if you need.” I walk around and offer hands-on assists. You are my meditation!. -
Longer, smarter classes
No rush. No yoga-as-cardio. You get time to breathe, learn, and actually feel things shift as you cultivate better awareness. -
Made for real bodies
Tight hamstrings? Stiff shoulders? Old injuries? Over 40? This is your kind of class. -
Welcoming to men and non-gymnast types
No mirrors. No intimidation. No need to be flexible Day One.
Not Just Poses—Presence
Hatha Yoga isn’t about the poses. You might say it's mindfulness training disguised as movement.
Want better sleep, sharper focus, more ease in your day? Those are the real benefits of classical yoga.
Most workouts, including gym yoga, leave you glad they’re over.
A proper yoga class leaves you feeling calm throughout.
Just Show Up
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No contracts
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No apps
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No waivers
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No gatekeeping
Just show up. Bring yourself and a mat. Or borrow one.
Drop-ins welcome. Cash or Venmo YogaHotDish.
The hardest part is walking through the door. After that, I’ve got you.
Who This Is For
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First-timers & curious re-starters
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Longtime practitioners tired of fast-paced, showy flows
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Folks who want to feel better—not just look better
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People with real bodies, real lives, and real goals
One Last Thing
All classes are beginner, bro’, and body-type friendly.
Yoga made for the 80%—because that’s where the magic is.
YogaHotDish-by-Numbers
20+ Years Experience
Shaila attended yoga teacher training in residence at Kripalu Yoga Center for Health, Stockbridge, MA in 2001. This was back when the Yoga Alliance required immersion in a residential program for yoga teacher training certification. No cell phones allowed, and no coffee! Collegial in atmosphere, a large staff of full-time teachers was ready to guide you, tell you the truth and kick you in the backside.
5 Disciplines = A Globally Informed Yoga Style
Shaila first studied yoga and Zen meditation while living in Singapore and Japan. Kripalu, and other classical Hatha yoga marinate in a rich Zen sauce. Sprinkle in modern best practices, some Santa Barbara style, and you end up with a slow-cooked…HotDish. That said, this isn't "cook book" yoga where teachers recite memorized "cues" that sound like they're reading an actual cookbook aloud. This is embodied instruction with a sense of humor, based on 25 years of practice, 20+ years of teaching, and 3 continents of living!
6-12 Person Classes for Better Learning
More like a collegiate independent study, less like group exercise, you’ll see the same committed people every week. Newsflash: classes with a revolving door of drop-ins and teachers don’t progress. They give the illusion of mastery through repetitive sequences, but you really don’t understand the concepts or how to apply them.
Zero Woo-Woo = Down to Earth Yoga
Shaila isn’t a Buddhist or a Hindu, just a St. Olaf Grad with Lutheran roots who started studying yoga and meditation while living in Asia. She then trained with leading teachers in California and Massachusetts — and knows how to throw a HotDish together! You won’t find any chanting or new-age assumptions about energy, chakras or astrology. What you will find is peace, quiet, and clarity.
YogaHotDish is well balanced in fundamentals, alignment and philosophy. Shaila is a compassionate, experienced and hilarious instructor.
Dr. Carrie Ann Terrell
Division Director for
ObGyn
The University of Minnesota
Contact Me
Reach out to me for any inquiries or to join my upcoming yoga classes and retreats.
Email: yoga@yogahotdish.com
Phone: 123-456-7890
Address: 123 Zen Garden, Tranquil Street, Zenland
