Modo Magic: How Filtered Water and Hot Yoga Helped Me Find My Flow

I hit my 444-class milestone at Modo Yoga San Diego this week, a number that feels as magical as the studio’s sunrise glow. After eighteen months of sweating it out on Clairemont Drive, I’m stronger, calmer, and somewhat unexpectedly pickier about my water.

A Tall Drink of Yoga Water

Over Post-class hugs, I told studio owner Frenny Palyniak why I lug a stainless-steel jug to every class.“Yes, I come for the Modo tribe, the eco-friendly vibes, the playlists that make Half-Pigeon feel like dance,” I laughed, “but I also come for the water.”

Modo’s fountains run through an Aquasana reverse-osmosis filter that strips out up to 99 % of fluoride—along with lead, chlorine, and almost ninety other hitchhikers. For a “neuro-intense” brain like mine, clean water isn’t a luxury; it’s non-negotiable nourishment.

David Wetherelt, Fluoride Free Since December 2023, thanks to Modo Yoga SD!

Why I Ditched Fluoride (and the Plastic Bottles)

Fluoride entered U.S. tap water in 1945, when Grand Rapids, Michigan agreed to absorb an aluminum-industry waste stream in hopes of fighting cavities. Public-health gains are still debated, but one fact is not: fluoride is a potent toxin. The EPA now lists aluminum-fluoride complexes as “high health research priorities” because of known neuro-toxicity.

A Harvard meta-analysis of 27 studies even linked higher fluoride exposure to an average 7-point IQ drop in children. My autistic-ADHD brain already runs hot; I don’t need microscopic roadblocks on my synapses.

The Third-Eye Connection

Science is beginning to confirm what yogis have long intuited. The pineal gland—our biological “third eye” and, as I like to call it, the Wi-Fi antenna to the universe is uniquely prone to fluoride build-up. Researchers have tied that calcification to reduced melatonin and daytime sleepiness. In other words, we may literally be rusting our spiritual antennas.

Tiny Upgrades, Big Shifts

• Switch the tube. I now brush with a probiotic toothpaste; my dentist is still happy, and my microbiome sings.

• Carry real vessels. Stainless-steel or BPA-free bottles keep water pure (and the planet grateful).

• Filter at home—or visit Modo. Seriously, fill up before class. Your neurons will bow in gratitude.
  

I often joke with Frenny: “Come for the free healthy water, stay for the yoga!” She fires back, “Actually, come for the yoga, stay for the glass of water.”

Karma Nights: Hydrating More Than Bodies

Every Thursday evening this summer is Karma Night at Modo SD: drop-in fees flow straight to Like Minds Alliance. Those dollars let us visit hospitals and community centers, teaching people that what looks like addiction or mental-health crisis may, beneath the surface, be an unmanaged neuro-superpower waiting to shine.

Gratitude on Tap

To the whole Modo crew—thank you for the filters, the fiery flows, the laughs in silent savasana. You’ve turned water into a ritual that nourishes body, brain, and something far subtler. May every sip clear a pathway for breath, for presence, for that bright inner signal we call Self.

See you on the mat (and at the fountain). Bring a tall jug. Fill it with Yoga Water. Then let’s sweat our way to clearer minds and kinder worlds, 444 classes and counting. Contact information and directions to Modo Yoga San Diego

Further reading on water fluoridation David Wetherelt is a neurodivergent coach, advocate, and co-founder of Like Minds Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to helping neurodivergent individuals and families thrive. Reach out to learn more about personalized coaching, neurotoxic exposure, and detox support at www.likemindsalliance.org.