How did yoga become part of your life? What led you to a devoted yoga practice?
When I found yoga I was 23 a young mom and my husband was working out of town. I was active but needed some quiet time and my childhood friend's mom taught at a local church. I feel in love with yoga and how it made my whole being feel! It was so much deeper then just a good opening, stretch or workout! I went on to have three more children and found my practice didn't get consistent until about five years ago. Now it's just so much apart of my daily routine whether going to class or my own personal practice. Yoga is on my mind always and so I feel I practice it always as its so present and something I am so aware throughout my day! I feel so blessed to be at Day Yoga so that I can have many amazing opportunities to learn, grow and even better share the practice with others!
What do you think are the biggest misconception people have about yoga?
I hear a lot "I am not flexible enough" or "I am not good at yoga" I would love to share more about how yoga doesn't judge, there is not good or bad yogi, and yoga is a practice! I often tell my students when I sense there is frustrations with challenging poses that Yoga is a practice not "yoga I can do it" I love to teach the value honoring the body and the deeper messages the body can share in a practice and the power of each breath to connect all the asanas together to make sense of it all for the body to feel safe going into each one. Yoga meets you where you are at and the breath is the lead!
Name the non-negotiables in your life.
Three non-negotiable's in my life are 1: My kids and family come before it all! I honor my time with them as I hold family time very scared. 2: Even on the days where I can't squeeze in an hour practice I do yoga and 3: I have to smile and laugh many times every day!
What is the pose that challenges you most? Why do you think it challenges you?
The pose that seems to challenge me the most is navasan (boat) pose! My legs don't want to extend straight and if they do I roll back. I was told that my tailbone is more rounded making this pose more challenging to balance! Working progress!! I think it's very important for my students to know that I have struggles too and some days I can get it and others I can't and it's ok!
If you had to pick one mantra to share with your students, what would it be?
One mantra I would pick to share with my students is "loving myself and thinking joyful, happy thoughts is the quickest way to create a wonderful life" I think it's the most powerful gift one can give themselves is to make the choice to be happy and find something positive in their day! Thank you!