A few months before my 30th birthday, I noticed that my clothes felt different- tighter, harder to put on and take off. I realized that my metabolism was slowing as I aged, so I decided to step up my fitness routine from walking around London to actually exercising on purpose.
I did what most people might do. I hired a trainer and headed to the gym. We set a goal together, then he collected data to track our progress. The data made me cry. I'd never been so out of shape in my life. I was both disappointed and ashamed of myself for letting it get so bad. I confided my feelings to a childhood friend and she suggested I try Bikram yoga. She'd done it before and thought it was my style.
I'd practiced Hatha intermittently, but never tried Bikram. I found a studio walking distance from my mom's home, read up on the first timer info, and took my first class. I had never sweated so much in my entire life, but I was hooked. I practiced daily for six weeks while visiting the US. I felt strong, capable, and in control of my own body.
I'd never been much of an athlete. In secondary school we were forced to play sports and participate in PE and dance classes, but in college I quit fitness. Friends convinced me to be their workout buddies and we'd spend an hour in the gym together chatting and doing the same light weight routine a few times each week. Needless to say, after college it didn't stick. I don't think I saw the inside of a gym from 2000-2008 and it showed.
Yoga ignited a love of movement and active behavior. It allowed me to become aware of, and listen to, my body. I looked forward to my daily, 90 minute moving meditation. I began to inadvertently memorize the dialogues of my favorite teachers and purposefully practice their classes. I asked questions. I practiced tough poses outside of class. I did doubles. I found the familiarity of the sequence comforting, like visiting an old friend. No matter what kind of day I'd had, my practice always set things right. I found refuge on my mat.
About three years in, I got bored. I started cheating in poses and being inconsistent with my practice. I credit yoga+ with exposing me to other styles of yoga that could stimulate my mind, as well as my body. I'd never thought to try Jivamukti, Ashtanga, or Yin before practicing those styles with various yoga+ teachers. I did 30 day challenges, increased my strength, particularly upper body strength, and flexibility.
I put it on my bucket list to take teacher training one day so that I could share my love of yoga with others. Again, yoga+ deserves credit for offering me an opportunity to learn more about yoga and maintain my full time job at the same time. Without the training I did, my goal of becoming a yoga teacher would probably have stayed a dream. I did my 200 hour Absolute Hot Yoga Teacher Training Certification from February to April 2014 with my yoga family and felt loved and supported throughout the entire process and beyond.
Off the mat I teach middle school English and I try to incorporate yoga into my lessons. This way my students range in age from 12 to adult. I am also certified as a Kids and Family Yoga Teacher by Rainbow Kids Yoga. I offer a weekly yoga club for my tween and teen students to explore asana practice and breathing techniques.
Sometimes you have those pivotal experiences that alter to course of your life. Yoga was one such experience for me. My yoga journey continues as I practice more, learn more, and teach more. I'm happy to have found such a welcoming community to enrich my journey.
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