Home.
Yoga has helped me tap into a sense of self I’ve always known, reconnect with parts of my self I’ve had glimpses of, and uncover aspects I’m discovering in new ways.
Yoga has taken me to the teachers and practices that are helping me bring the belief in the light and love in and around each of us to my every day. I find it in my morning meditation; in how teams at work find new ways to approach a challenge; in the moments I share a hello with someone on the street that opens us both up for our next encounter; and in the lift and connection that comes with looking up at the moon. Yoga has also offered a way of processing difficult times, like when family members have been very ill or passed away, or when I’ve felt disconnected from my self. Thinking back now, when I was able to offer love and hope in those moments, and not freeze with fear or sadness, I was steadying my breath and focusing on being fully present.
Yoga has made me realize that yoga is all around! There is so much to learn by unfolding with it.
How did your yoga teacher training influence your life?
Tremendously. I think of YTT as a school of life as much as a teacher training.
I think part of a yoga teacher’s ability to help students fully explore their own presence on the mat depends upon the teacher’s ability to bring their authentic self to class. Because a yoga teacher often has to make quick decisions about how to guide people through a physical and emotional experience, you need to be fully alert and attuned to making choices that will be safe, supportive, and constructive. Doing so requires practicing this way of being in your personal relationships, in your job, and in the day to day, not just in the studio.
One of the greatest inspirations I’ve found from YTT, and that has helped me continue find the sense of self I hope to bring to students, is yoga’s commitment to action. I’m grateful for Sonic’s teachers who are full of love and dedication to helping each of us examine and shape our lives while we’re in the program. Practicing on and off the mat has helped me become a teacher in ways I wasn’t anticipating when I signed up for the YTT, whether that’s steadying my breath in down dog or at work; prioritizing asanas, foods, or lifestyle choices that are healing and strengthening over ones my mind thinks I should choose; or learning how to direct my energy in a hands on assist, or in relation to people or causes I care about.
What was your first yoga class like?
About 10 years ago, my grad school friends and I started practicing at a studio in Baltimore. I don’t remember the very first class, but I remember the calming warmth and scents I sensed whenever I’d walk in, and what it was like to move through an individual experience while feeling connected to everyone around me. I was a long-time runner so I also remember how my IT band was singing 🙂
