What first brought you to yoga? Initially a friend brought me to yoga. Though, it was my loneliness and pain that kept me coming back. I felt pain and loneliness both in my body and in my spirit. I discovered that yoga always left me feeling whole again. Any tension in my mind or body was released. Any emptiness or aloneness I felt was quickly filled with love. Not only love from my instructors and from the community created but also from the love I was able to give myself. I had no idea that I could create a sense of physical and spiritual bliss all by myself. I couldn’t believe how peaceful and radiant I felt after my first yoga class. And it was a gentle class! I didn’t think we were doing anything! I couldn’t see how I could get any benefits from all of the subtle movements and breathing we did my first class. I was shocked at how good my body felt after. Now, I LOVE GENTLE YOGA. I am now a more relaxed and happy person. Anytime, I feel tension or pain, I know the cure. This makes me feel extremely powerful, knowing that everything I need to cure my body, I have. Breath, movement and wisdom.

What do you love most about yoga?
I love how yoga transformed me inside and out. My body is different and my mind is different. I am stronger, happier, calmer and more myself. The true me shines. Yoga truly provides Balance and Strength both physically and emotionally. Even if I feel pain, I know I can breath through it. This means on the mat or off the mat. Sometimes, we feel discomfort when we reach our edge in a certain pose but if we breath into it and relax soon enough we open into a new deepness and if feels better afterwards. There is more space. It is like that in life. Whenever I feel pain or discomfort, I breathe through it and I realize it is not permanent and it is over, I am a better person for having maintained a steady breath through the chaos. It is a hard thing to describe. It is something you have to feel for yourself.

What is your favorite pose and why?
My favorite pose is Savasana. I always feel most at peace here. All of my stress, tension and pain has been completely squeezed out and I am laying fresh, a new person. My second favorite pose is Half-Moon. It is fun and it feels good. I am balancing while opening my entire body sideways. I feel a stretch on that entire side and it usually feels amazing and I am balancing on one leg all at the same time. It still amazes me that I am able to do that pose. Half-Moon can be challenging. Now, I find it is a very expressive pose for me. I open myself up and shine!

What do you do to stay inspired?
It is not hard to stay motivated or inspired to go to yoga. I am hooked. And if I don’t go, I feel tense in my shoulders, hips, butt, jaw, everywhere and I usually go a little crazy. So, I go to yoga to feel like a human being. I go to yoga so I can stay comfortable in my own skin. I am blessed to have been lucky enough to discover this beautiful practice which as changed my entire life.