Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. Thank you for supporting the companies that support YBC®.
A couple weeks ago, Lauren and I set off on our Fall Namaslay® Workshop Tour across the Midwest, and the last stop on the tour was in Kansas City. Neither of us had ever been to Kansas City before, so we were excited to see what the city had to offer, and The Raphael was kind enough to host us on the very last night of the tour.
Before arriving at The Raphael Hotel, we hosted two back-to-back workshops just outside Kansas City in the cutest town I’ve ever been to - Weston, Missouri. The first workshop was our new Namaslay® Got Yo’ Back Workshop - a unique, three hour workshop I developed after completing my 300hr teacher training to teach some basic anatomy and postural awareness, so students can identify their muscle imbalances and incorporate strength building movements into their practice to find balance and reduce minor aches and pains. I was nervous the first time I debuted this workshop because of its educational focus, and it’s just different than anything I’ve shared before - but each time, people love it! We finished the day with a Namaslay® Arm Balance Workshop, a fun filled, two hour practice aimed to build the core and upper body strength needed to lift off the mat. We cartwheel, do a few partner exercises, and everyone surprises themselves with their own strength; these are always a good time. Our day spent in Weston was a definite highlight of the tour; the people, the town and the community are something straight out of a Hallmark Christmas Movie. After two very successful workshops, we made our way back to Kansas City for our stay at The Raphael Hotel.
From the moment you step foot in the lobby, The Raphael Hotel boasts old world charm and European elegance. The hotel was originally built as a luxury apartment building in 1928 for the city’s wealthy residents. In 1975, the property underwent a renovation bringing in modern conveniences but leaving the historic touches and re-opened as The Raphael Hotel. Today, the hotel is known as Kansas City’s ‘original’ boutique hotel.
We were lucky enough to spend the evening in one of their Guest Suites, and the room was everything. Each room is bright and elegant, spacious and thoughtfully designed. The beds were a dream to sleep in and don’t even get me started on the bathrobes in each room; pure luxury each step of the way.
The best thing about our stay was being steps away from Country Club Plaza - which is filled with all the shops and restaurants we could imagine. Lauren and I decided to venture out for dinner and landed at True Foods Kitchen, which ended up being a short walk from the hotel lobby - super convenient!
While there, I filmed a great little morning yoga practice you can do from the comfort of your own bed. In this video, I’m wearing our new Namaslay® Loose Tank, which has become a quick favorite of mine this tour because it’s so comfortable. This gentle yoga stretch is aimed at slowly awakening the body felt and so good to my travel weary bones. It’s meant to be done first thing in the morning, and all you will need in terms of props are some pillows! If you try it out, let us know how it goes in the comments! You’ll find more free yoga practices on our YouTube channel, where we post a new video every Tuesday, or on the YBC® app, where you’ll find all your favorite content in one place.