Help Clean up my Act
- I needed to clean up my physical & psychological life after both career & personal changes sent me down a path that wasn't healthy. Yoga was something I had done off and on over the years but never really applied it to my other daily fitness activities. Once I got back into it and found out how enjoyable and great it made me feel (let alone look!) I decided to teach it and open up a studio. I have been actively participating in my own yoga daily practice now for 10 years and have been operating a studio for 6 & teaching it at the local college for 2. I love it, and now in my early 50's, have no plans on giving up my yoga! Yoga, more then any of the other physical activities I do, has taught me discipline, discovery of my own physical & mental strengths and also that great infinite feeling once you become the pose.
- —Guest Kimberly
Prevention
- As a nurse working on an ortho-neuro floor, I saw the results of neglecting your body every day. One day I was working with someone who was post knee surgery who happened to be about 5 or 10 years older than me and I thought "if I don't start taking care of myself now this will be me in a few years". I had several friends who had tried to sell me on yoga's benefits before, and I had tried it for a few months years before so I bought a few tapes and a mat and began my home practice. I wouldn't say I am pain free (creaky knees) but I am still motoring along pretty well, and am committed to practicing yoga for the rest of my life.
- —rbrubacker60
An ending and a beginning
- My story is very similar to a lot that I hear. Yoga draws people when they come to a difficult time in their lives. Mine was when a marriage ended and with it a lifetime of hopes and dreams and left me with no sense of purpose, I wasn't a wife and my kids no longer small. Teacher training saved me...the people, the practice, the philosophy, picked me up and set me down in a place that I knew I could grow and I find that I so much want to help people find the same mind, body, soul connection. The best lesson I learned was the power of the breath, the strength and the calm are in the breath. Simple and beautiful. Namaste
- —Guest dpbrthe
yoga
- I started a stretching program for golf. I saw a yoga show on public TV that interested me. 15 years later I practice yoga 5 times a week and haven't played golf in 3 years. My health and well being has improved immensely.
- —Guest moslof
Found Yoga after Love
- Ten years ago: My boyfriend and I had recently broken up and I joined the gym. I wanted to keep busy every night of the week so I took every class available. Yoga was my Monday. Then it became my Thursday, Saturday, Wednesday...then six years later my teacher and teachings. I'm now an instructor. Yoga has become my new "church."
- —Guest Dana Claire
A time to my self to unwind
- At one time I used to work 10 hr. days and as a way to unwind after a long day I started doing begining yoga. Now I do it regularly every morning to get my self up and moving before breakfast.
- —cb44
bev
- I started my practice when I was in my late 50's. My teacher needed a sub one day. That started my yoga career. Now I am in my early 60's and have a successful yoga business at our church. I feel truly blessed to be able to help others out.
- —bevblake
I needed balance
- I got into yoga before getting pregnant with my second child. I'd tried it once before but it didn't really stick, but this time I was doing it more for the emotional/spiritual aspect. I needed something to help keep me balanced, and to bring a sense of centering to my life. Yoga does that for me.
- —IrishScribbler
Running/yoga compatibility
- I started running when I was 50 years old and want to continue with the sport for as long as possible. I began having some injuries so decided to try a yoga class. Yoga helped me to address those running injuries with positive results. I have now been teaching yoga for 9 years and continue to enjoy my running. I teach at my studio, at the local community college and our local YMCA.
- —Guest jan
For my wife
- When my wife and I started dating she had some issues with anxiety and her weight. I thought yoga would help her. We signed up for a community class which we didn't really care for. Later we ran a marathon together and she began to teach aerobics. The Aerobics spoke to the physical aspects but not to the emotional or spiritual. She rediscovered yoga and now we both love it! My beautiful wife is now an E-RYT Anusara Inspired Teacher and has her own studio.
- —Guest Alan
Dreadlock Yogi
- I started taking yoga classes many years ago because my best friend's boyfriend was a yoga instructor. He had very long dreadlocks - the first I'd ever seen. Between the newness of the yoga and the dreadlocks, I kept expecting something very weird to happen to me from doing the yoga, but I soon realized that it was a very deep and rejuvenating practice. As I look back over many years of exposure to different yoga teachers and styles, I see that the dreadlock boyfriend was an excellent instructor who shared with us the spiritual door of yoga as well as how to do the asanas. I was lucky to get a good start.
- —Guest OMPilates
Yoga woke me up
- A challenging life of epilepsy led to necessary brain surgery. Blessed and grateful to have had a successful operation, I became medicine free. The ultimate elimination of medicines ignited fear, depression, and insomnia. By fate, a meditation cd made me aware of yoga. The very first class awakened me to the power of one's ability to grow stronger within. Five years later, I teach with the intention to help ignite the awareness one has waiting to be known. Yoga made me know what it means to feel purpose. Yoga ignited a passion of purpose. Yoga enabled me to not only think outside the box, but truly live outside the box. It is so much more spacious with infinite room to expand. Peace~
- —Valerie1111
How I got into Yoga
- When I was going through cancer treatment 15 years ago my health care provider had a trial for the chronically ill. It involved breathing and simple on the floor Yoga exercises. The 1 hours 45 minute classes lasted for 6 weeks and ended with a day of silence and mindful eating and walking in a large room with 25 other people. Thank you Kaiser. It really helped me to get in tune with my body because the denial of what was going on and then caring for my body by becoming "mindful" was a revelation. Since then I have craved the mind body awareness and the being in the present moment. I have lost 65 pounds using Yoga focused techniques and at 64 years old I have the body of a 20 year old. MY BP was 85 over 50 when I used Yoga breathing at the doctor office. Recently I hiked 5 miles up a mountain in Glacier Park and never huffed and puffed once. I cannot say the same for my hiking partner. I Heart Yoga and take a class twice a week. I also Heart my Yogi too.
- —Guest Candy Reedy
Yoga saved my soul
- I turned to yoga when a relationship that I had built my entire life and future around fell apart. I was left with no-one and nothing, including (and most difficult of all) no sense of meaning or purpose to life. Gratefully, I found it all: meaning, purpose, a new community, better health, poses I never even dreamed myself capable of doing, and a more solid and reliable sense of self again through committing to a yoga practice. I am a firm believer that yoga can help anyone (in body mind or soul), especially if you commit to it.
- —Guest Yogaunity
The right place at the right time
- I had been curious about yoga for awhile when a studio opened up on my route from home to work. I decided to give it a try. It was Bikram - talk about a trial by fire! But I loved it. These days I don't live near a Bikram studio so I practice a power vinyasa style, which I love too.
- —Guest Catherine
Had to Stop Running
- Due to knee problems, my doc said no more running. The physical therapist said do yoga. Ashtanga yoga gave me the workout I craved with wonderful mood benefits.
- —BBB
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