13/02/2024
I bet most of you donāt know that I got kicked out of my first yoga class for laughing too hard at Lionās Breath. I decided to take my first yoga class with a couple of friends, aiming for hot bodies and headstands. However, we quickly realized that wasnāt the primary focus for most people there, and I thought, āThis is NOT for me!ā I mean, Iād already fled Sebastopol, the Mecca of hippies; embracing weird breathing techniques was not on my agenda. It took me five years to return to a yoga class, but this time I appreciated it more because the teacher focused more on physicality and less on being a āstar catcherā (if you know, you know). Little did I know that yoga would slowly begin to change not only my body but also my mind and spirit. I came to realize how wrapped up in ego I was; I didnāt even know who I really was. Delving deeper, I obtained my certification in 2008 and immediately began teaching. Teaching humbled me more and more as I continued to practice. I remain, and will always be, a student. This morning in class, I encouraged students to invert if they felt called to it. I strive to give students what they want, whether theyāre there to look good in Lululemon or achieve complex poses, because true yoga speaks to you unexpectedly. And when it does, you realize that true self-discovery lies in closing your eyes, being still, and surrendering to the present moment. Thatās where you encounter your true self, where you connect with God, source, universe... whatever you call it. When you reach that point, you know youāve mastered the toughest pose of all: stillness. The death of the ego. True freedom. Thank you to all those who are still walking me homeš