Hello and welcome! It feels strange writing this. Taking something that’s personal and making it public. Unsure how people will respond (or if they’ll bother reading it at all). But I have so much to share about the world of yoga, and this seemed like a good way to share it!
Let’s Start at the Very Beginning
For my whole childhood, right up until I left for university, I was a dancer.
I went to dance after school every day of the week, and all day Saturday. It was my physical and creative outlet. It took priority over everything. Being a dancer was the world to me. And then I went off to school and it abruptly ended. I would try to take an adult class at a local studio here and there, but it wasn’t the same. And I couldn’t find anything that filled the space dance once held. Running was boring and painful. Pilates didn’t connect creatively. And all the yoga classes I took were mostly gentle stretching. Which is nice! But I needed something challenging that moved my body. Thankfully I wasn’t in this weird place for long.
The Power of Power Vinyasa
When I came home over the summer after my first year of school, a friend asked me to come to a yoga class with her. Expecting it to be what I was used to, I reluctantly said yes. Thankfully, I was totally wrong. She took me to a hot power vinyasa class. And just in that one class, I was hooked. I loved the heat and the sweat (more on that in a later post). I loved the challenge. And, most importantly, I loved the way it felt like a dance. My previous experiences with yoga were all formatted the same; pose, stop, pose, stop. But with vinyasa, it’s a flow from pose to pose seamlessly, just like dancing. It had just what I wanted- creative, challenging movement. I spent most of that summer going to yoga and I learned that it had even more to offer. A chance to connect deeper to myself, my body, and my breath. I realized that this was going to have a bigger impact on my life than I expected.
The Training
Being totally hooked, I wanted to learn everything I could about power vinyasa. And more than that, I wanted to help others find the incredible benefits practicing yoga had to offer. I decided to train to become a yoga teacher. I tested out several different studios, and eventually found the right fit for me. I completed my 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher training at CorePower yoga in 2015. Everyone says it, but it was life changing. And an emotional roller coaster. A big part of the training is taking tons of classes, every day (sometimes twice a day) and reflecting on each class. Then there was the self study which included reading and journaling and connecting with your inner thoughts. Plus, the full day training every Saturday and Sunday. Needless to say, it was a total immersive experience. Exhausting but refreshing, seeing and reflecting on everything on a much deeper level. It would be impossible for it not to change your life. And I am so glad that it did.
And Now
After training, I worked as a “desk yogi”- checking people in and cleaning the studio. I started small and casual, only teaching actual yoga classes to family, friends, and coworkers. I then moved back to Cleveland and started teaching regular classes at a local studio. I work a “regular” full time job, so I can only teach one or two scheduled yoga classes per week (plus subbing). But everyone who knows me, knows that being a yoga teacher is a huge part of my life. And the yoga way of life is something I encourage to, pretty much, everyone I know.
So Here I Am
If it wasn’t clear yet, yoga has made such a huge impact on who I am. There’s so much more to yoga than the asanas (poses) and it finds a way into every aspect of life. As much as I love and get excited about it, I never try to force my way of life on anyone because I know that doesn’t work. People need their own time and their own way. So here I am, providing a space. Sharing my journey and hopefully encouraging yours.
Thank you for reading to the end and I hope you visit again!
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