The Anusara Sadhana: Stepping Into Spring

seadhna Treacy
21 hours ago
5 min read

Journey Together:

Stepping Into Spring

The Thread of Community

Written by Jacalyn Prete,

Experienced Certified Anusara Trainer

iIn the spring of 1979, I arrived in New York City with a suitcase and a dream. Like so many others who migrate from the Midwest to the bustling streets of Manhattan, I was seeking a new life. I was an actress and a singer, chasing the spotlight and the "dopamine hit" of landing the next big role.

But beneath the dream, there was a quiet, persistent longing for something I couldn’t quite name yet. I was looking for a feeling of belonging—a community of the spirit. I wanted to find people who were willing to explore the unknown together, to grow, and to discover the true nature of who we are when the costumes come off and the stage lights dim.

In the theater world, each show was like a mini family gathering. We spent every waking hour together, bonded by the intensity of rehearsals and the magic of performance. But there was always a heartbreak at the end. After the final cast party, the family would dissolve. The next morning, we were all back on the pavement, auditioning and seeking a new "family" to fill the void. It was a cycle of connection and loss that left my heart feeling hungry.

After eleven years of pounding the pavement, I transitioned into the fitness industry. It was the early 80s, and I found a different kind of family there. I left behind the life of a starving actress and became a successful aerobics instructor and personal trainer. I loved the energy, but something was still missing.

In 1990, my mentor practically dragged me to my first yoga class. I remember walking into that space and feeling as though an inner doorway had been revealed. I never looked back. As I moved through the poses, I realized I had finally come home.

Even after this awakening, that deeper longing to belong remained. I was teaching yoga in high-end gyms to people who could afford pricey memberships, but I wanted more than just a class—I wanted a kula, a community.

I started simply. I began inviting my students to brunch after our Saturday morning classes. We would hang out, share stories, and connect as human beings, not just as teacher and student. From those weekly brunches, something sacred began to take shape. I felt like I arrived home and the sense of belonging to a real community was born.

Eventually, we moved from the brunch table to the forest. I started leading annual retreats at a monastery on a gorgeous lake upstate. It was heavenly to come out of savasana (final relaxation) to the sound of birdsong and rustling leaves instead of the loud techno beat of a gym soundtrack. Our bonds deepened as we shared our hearts, our teaching tales, and our laughter. This community became the soil in which my teaching career truly began to bloom.

In 1999, my journey took a pivotal turn when I met the Anusara yoga community. I became a certified teacher in 2001, and suddenly, my "little family" expanded across the globe. I was invited to lead workshops and immersions in Japan, China, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Belgium.

I discovered that my "superpower" was creating community wherever I went. Whether I was in a studio in Tokyo or a village in Italy, I saw the same longing for connection that had brought me to NYC decades earlier. I found myself gravitating toward other community leaders—teachers like Courtney in Belgium and Sabine Freitag in Germany—who nurtured their students and created space for new voices to rise.

For over 25 years, this global kula has held me. They have been my foundation through joy and growth, but also through loss and pain. They taught me that the true practice isn't just about the poses or the philosophy—it’s the willingness to walk the path together.

As my sense of community grew, so did my understanding of what it means to truly care for ourselves. In 2004, I met Cate Stillman, an Ayurvedic practitioner and former Anusara Certified Teacher. At the time, I didn't realize how much I would need her wisdom. She gave me an Ayurvedic consultation and suggested self-massage practices to help loosen dense tissue in my body. She saw imbalances long before I was diagnosed with breast cancer four years later.

It took me time to fully return to those studies, but over the last 14 years, Cate mentored me to become a certified health and wellness coach. The skills I learned through Ayurveda literally saved my life. In 2016, I suffered a serious bike accident. My recovery was a miracle, fueled by the integration of Anusara yoga, non-dual Tantra, and the rhythmic living of Ayurveda.

I learned that we cannot separate our spiritual practice from our physical health. Today, I use that experience to guide others through a "Vibrant Living" journey—a year-long exploration of how to eat, move, and breathe in rhythm with nature

This brings us to where we are today. Spring is nature’s invitation to begin again.

After the cold, dark winter, stagnation often accumulates in our joints, our tissues, and our minds. We might feel a "winter hangover"—a bit of sluggishness, mental fog, or stiffness in the body. But look around: the sap is rising in the trees, the earth is softening, and the butterflies are preparing to emerge from their cocoons.

In Ayurveda, spring is the most potent time to cleanse. But a "cleanse" doesn't have to mean deprivation. It’s about gently clearing what has built up so your system can function with ease.

The deeper purpose of a spring reset isn’t to become someone new. It’s to return to a clearer, more aligned version of yourself. When your body is lighter and your mind is clearer, you are better prepared to show up for your family, your work, and your community.

My journey from a lonely actress in 1979 to a global yoga teacher today has taught me one thing above all else: we are not meant to do this alone.

The circle is open. Whether you are feeling vibrant or a little "stuck" in the winter blues, you are welcome here. Let’s release what no longer serves us, simplify our lives, and begin again.

Come as you are. Step into the circle. Let’s walk this path—together.

“Click your heels 3 times…there is no place like home.”

-“The Wizard of Oz” Book written by Frank Baum

And this is the practice.

Not only the poses.

Not only the teachings.

But the willingness to walk together.

Jacalyn shares with us some tips to step into Spring and a short 9 mins practice to begin our day rooted into the potential of our bodies.

How to Step Into Spring:

Move Your Body:

On the mat, we use twists and breath-led flows to stimulate circulation. Our tissues need hydration—not just from water, but through movement, electrolytes, and fresh juices.

Eat with the Season:

Spring brings us bitter greens that help detoxify the liver. Practice eating in rhythm with the sun, perhaps trying intermittent fasting to give your digestion a rest.

Clear the Mind:

Through daily meditation, we begin to see our thoughts as particles of matter floating across a screen. We stop identifying so strongly with our "stories" and start connecting to the vast, boundless presence at our core.

Regulate the Nervous System:

Use pranayama (breathwork), chanting, or even cold showers to shift your body from "stress mode" into a grounded, balanced state.

Declutter Your Space:

Your home is a reflection of your inner world. When you clear your physical space—your desk, your closet, your calendar—you create room for clarity and creativity to grow.