Saved by Yoga

When nothing is certain, Yoga. It's something I've been saying for years, and it's true. When you don't know what else to do or how to respond, you breath. The ability and the knowledge of reacting to stimuli by just breathing is so incredibly simple but so effective. Anyone can breathe, in fact everyone breathes so anyone and everyone can use these methods. Breathing as a tool, creates not only a powerful focused response, but it also gives you the ability to heal yourself with the most basic fundamental function of the body, which is breathing. This is essentially Yoga, which in Sanskrit translates to, to yoke or to unite. As in uniting the breath to the movements. Uniting mind, body, and spirit, bringing you an awareness of not only your own consciousness but of a universal consciousness as well. An awareness for energy within yourself, and the connection to your deep internal intuition. It all starts with your breath.

If I knew that when I stepped into the yoga studio 10 years ago it was going to change me, and my life, I would've done it earlier. Much earlier. The benefits are endless. It did not start like a Zen dream or some yoga fantasy. There was no big studio sign up or any immediate results to show or prove the beginnings of my yoga journey. It was quite boring and kind of awkward. I was 200 lbs., out if breath, and unable to move. So, I went to non-heated yoga with women of all ages, and I loved it. After a year I was hooked but needed more so I started going to hot yoga and slowly became obsessed. At first, I just needed the benefits of the heated room and the movement. Then I started coming for the words, affirmations, and philosophy I was hearing from the yoga teachers. Some of these teachers have become and will always be some of my greatest mentors on and off the mat. I have a deep and profound respect for their teachings, for it has made me the teacher I am today.

The release of pain and ease I have found in my body, even through my most severe injuries, has solidified why I continue to come back to my mat. Not only has it strengthened my body, but yoga has also made me a stronger and calmer human being. Today I am much more intentional about everything I say and do. The art and skill of breathing and surrendering has gotten me through some of the toughest and darkest moments of my life. Just by learning how to use my breath with intention, I've learned how to slow down, how to catch my breath, and how to make better decisions not only for myself, but for the people around me as well. So simple, yet so powerful.

The opportunity to share this gift with even one person to help them get through any difficulties and challenges they experience is why I decided to become a yoga teacher. It's not so much about the workout or getting people to lose weight, it's more about teaching people how to calm themselves down when things are uncomfortable. How to breath. Yoga is ultimately what saved me, and I can teach other people how to save themselves with just their breath and body. So, what's my point? Practice Yoga. Breathing and the practice of Yoga can be done anywhere, everywhere, with little to no equipment. All you need is your breath, your body, and a few moments to yourself.