I tried yoga for the first time 14 years ago.  Being a fitness instructor for 15 years, I just wanted something to “cool my jets,” and to be honest, the first few yoga classes that I attended I found to be incredibly boring. But still, I kept going back, always rolling up my mat early and skipping the relaxation/meditation part.  I really had no desire to be still and be alone with my thoughts,though eventually I realized that the slow down was what I needed the most in my life. I needed to slow down, to make time for stillness and INVITE the sweet whisper of my Creator and completely surrender to His grace.  That’s when things got messy.  And messy — messy is good. Messy is where the magic happens.  It’s in this void, this emptiness where we realize that we are broken.  And in this state of brokenness, we can either reach for our Creator (or in some cases, let Him reach for us) or we can deny Him.  I’ve done both.

Thank goodness we have a relentless GOD, and He pursues each of us with a fierceness that penetrates the darkness of this world, and he will meet us wherever we are. I knew I couldn’t keep this to myself, and so the birth of Studio 4:8 unfolded;

Studio 4:8 in name and mission strives to deliver classes with the intention of tuning out the world’s frequency, and tuning into God’s frequency.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

** Bonnie is the founder of Studio 4:8 yoga located in Lincoln, NE and is the director of training/lead instructor for Studio 4:8 School of Yoga: Lincoln’s only Christ-Centered Yoga teacher training program. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in ministry and leadership from Grace Bible College.

Places/focus of study include: Shoshoni Ashram- Colorado, “Jesus at the Core” through Holy Yoga – New York, Therapeutic Touch Training, through Holy Yoga – Irvine, CA, 200hr RYT-Yoga Alliance-Lincoln, Ne, Restorative Yoga Certification through Bhadra Yoga in Omaha. 300-hour through Holy Yoga, 500-hr Masters-HYI Holy Yoga, Yin Yoga-True Nature School of Yoga, San Diego, CA, Restorative Yoga: Bhadra Yoga, Omaha, NE, Thai Yoga), Trauma Informed Yoga Certification through the Prison Yoga Project/ San Diego California, and Holy Yoga Touch Therapy:  Holy Yoga, Irvine, CA,

When Laura walked into her first yoga class over 16 years ago, she had no idea where the journey would take her. Now Laura truly loves yoga and how it enriches her life. As a healthcare professional for over 20 years, Laura finds that teaching yoga is just another extension of how she can help people reach their true potential.

Laura is a licensed 200 level certified yoga instructor.

“As a yoga instructor I want people to feel accepted, welcomed and loved. My style of yoga is Vinyasa flow and I love inversions, leg balancing and victorious asanas that leave you feeling strong both physically and mentally.”  Laura also enjoys creative freedom in her practice.

Laura lives in Lincoln with her husband Kristian and their five children. She loves music, reading, traveling and Jesus Christ.

My yoga journey began in 2014. Yoga fell into my lap when my life was wasteful, fleeting, and broken. In short, Jesus met me on the mat and paved a way to a happier, healthier, more sustainable life. Since completing my teacher training through Studio 4:8, yoga has become an integral part of my life and relationship with Christ. What I love most about yoga (and what also can be the most frustrating part) is that you are always growing – there is never a time where you master the practice. My hope is that through my teaching, you learn how to create a more sustainable self by taking the time to connect with your body, breath, and Creator.

Things I enjoy most: letting the sun shine through my windows, deep breaths, cooking, throwing a frisbee around, and taking naps (some go so far to say that taking naps is one of my best skills).

I look forward to seeing you on the mat!

I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.  Psalm 89:1

“They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”     Jeremiah 17:8

When Lindsay was freshly transplanted to Lincoln after living abroad, God rooted her into the nourishing river that is Studio 4:8. In those waters, she finds love, grace, connection, peace, and an entirely new outlook on yoga.

At Studio 4:8, yoga is a joyful exploration of God’s greatest, most majestic creation: the human body, “fearfully and wonderfully made” in His image. The poet Percy Shelley said, “Poetry lifts the veil on the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.” Like poetry, yoga “lifts the veil” on the mundane familiarity of our bodies and invites us to explore them as a wondrous work of God.

Lindsay’s Thursday evening restorative class invites us to bathe our body, our spirit, and our breath in His love. This is the ultimate restorative practice: unearthing God’s love, grace, and peace within, so that we can bring it with us out into our fallen world.

I started my yoga practice 7 years ago as a way to control anxiety. I never imagined I would feel called to become an instructor. Now I find myself intentionally stepping out of my comfort zone and on to the mat at the head of the room at 4:8 twice a week. I do it because I want to help each and every person that enters the space we hold to feel the connection I have found in my practice.

The connection between my mind, body and breath, but also with my God. Trying things we may fail at is scary, I can honestly say I still fail on the regular in my practice, but I also continue to grow. So if you want to try something new that might seem a little scary, or way outside of where you envisioned yourself, come say hi! We can meet at the mat and figure it out together.

See you soon!

I started yoga 20 years ago in college for an easy A and loved it. I have practiced on and off and talked about Yoga Teacher Training for years. 
I accomplished the goal of YTT. My favorite style of yoga is flow, breath work and strength. 
I love learning new things about yoga and the benefits of it. I am a constant student of yoga on and off the mat. It’s changed my heart and view point. 
It’s an honor to share yoga with others and to be a student of them as well. 

I have been practicing yoga, on and off since my mid 30’s. I bought my first dvd and was hooked! I was happy and content to continue my practice at home, until I walked into Studio 4:8. I talked my girlfriend into going to a class with me, and we both signed up to be members. I personally do not like signing up for memberships or going to a gym, just not my thing. But Studio 4:8 was different.. There was no judgment, no pushing you to do something you could not. There was just a special vibe of connecting mind, body & soul. Something I had not experienced before. There is so much more to yoga than just rolling out your mat and doing the poses. Rolling out my mat now, means I am taking the time to work on me, to connect with God, to let go of what I envision for myself and listen to my mind, my body, my soul. Within the last 5 years, I have really come to love Yin Yoga. The feeling of holding the poses, is what my body needs and craves, at this point in my life. For the last 7 years, I have talked about wanting to do Yoga Teacher Training. I always put it off and or, talked myself out of it. I hadn’t been going very long and after one of the classes, the teacher mentioned that there were only a few spots left for their YTT. I decided it was time! All I can say, is that I am so thankful that I had this opportunity.

I am married, and have 3 amazing boys, Brandon (28), Alex (26), Dylan (24). And I am excited to have my first daughter in law, Shannon (which I will always consider her as a daughter) when she marries my oldest, in December!

I am a girl who loves nature! The Ocean is constantly calling my name! I love being in the mountains, gardening, reading and learning and living holistically. And anyone who knows me…knows I love the sunshine hitting my face!

I look forward to being on my mat, and practicing with all those who come through the Studio 4:8 doors.

Peace
And the day came
when the risk it took
to remain tight in the bud
was more painful
than the risk it took
to blossom ~ Anais Nin

Long story short: I saw Hugh on the mat and became awesome.

The real story: I probably exercise more than the average person. I tried out a beginner yoga course and realized I had lost a lot of my flexibility. After a few practices it was evident I was pushing through my physical dysfunctions (resulting in injuries) and I needed a system to address these issues. The beginner course ended and I tried out Studio 4:8, barely able to get my hands past my knees. The inflexibility in my hips, spine, and legs had many repercussions—some of which I’m still working through.

I made yoga a mainstay in my exercise routine and in 2016 finished an Ironman Triathlon without any exercise related injuries!

Studio 4:8’s God centered focus took out the stuff that I don’t get about other flows and brings together a lot of folks that are now my friends.

Essentially if you come to Friday FAC, here’s how it will go.
Topher ‘Plank, now lower down to the mat, back to plan, slowly lowering back down to the mat, now back to plank’

Class ‘These are just push-ups’

Topher ‘Yoga push-ups’

Teacher in training :), it will get better
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My yoga journey began at 16 looking for something to help my back pain and to balance my weight lifting. I practiced off and on till college, when my practice became more about stress management. I’m naturally flexible but have tight hips and feel clumsy about being upside down. Joining Studio 4:8 changed my yoga journey and was my life line during the last few semesters of college. Each class offers variety, individualization, and a safe space to grow.

After graduating from Union College in May 2017, I got married and moved to Colorado where I am now the wife of a Seventh-day Adventist Pastor. Together we love living in the mountains and caring for our three churches. While not in Nebraska anymore, I still enjoy helping Bonnie with social media and the website. When not doing all things yoga related, you’ll find me behind the camera or editing photos for my photography business.

I’ve been doing yoga off and on for 10 years, but it did not become such a huge staple in my life until the opening of Studio 4:8.  I originally sought out yoga not only for the physically health benefits, but more so for the mental health benefits…..as a way to free my mind from the endless stream of everyday thoughts and worries.  (I’m a natural born worrier )

Why I choose Studio 4:8 is because it is like no other.  Before Studio 4:8, I had never experienced a studio where EVERYONE is comfortable and accepted at all levels.  Learning is strongly encouraged and nurtured, and there is never a feeling of competition or judgment.  It is truly about my own practice, bettering myself, and getting closer to God in a way I’ve never experienced before.