As a yoga instructor, I’ve heard many a stories from my fellow yoga teachers of how they discovered yoga in the first place. Some of them were exposed to yoga from a very early age and have memories of doing yoga with their parents and learning the basics of the yogic philosophy in a very effortless, organic way that only children can do.
Then there are those who started their yoga journey after suffering an injury or having certain limitations imposed on their regular fitness regimen by illness. Their paths then tend to flow into one of the two directions, with some embracing yoga as a holistic way to exercise in their daily life, and some moving in the direction of yoga therapy, often focusing on helping those with the particular type of issue that led them to yoga.
Finally, a third group of yoga teachers, myself included, have wandered into yoga. Some did it by accident, some due to their curiosity and openness to new experience. One yoga teacher I met started her yoga journey some 15 years when her group aerobics class was cancelled and replaced with a yoga class, prompting her to take it just so she didn’t waste the time it took her to drive to the gym. She described the feeling she experienced as “falling in love” with yoga when the hour-long class was over.
My yoga journey does not have a love story or an abrupt start to it. I thought that maybe it’s because I am not a “natural yogi.” At least, not in the stereotypical way that some think about a yoga practitioner and teacher: always happy and relaxed, never rushing or self-conscious herbal tea drinking vegan. I, on the other hand, find myself acutely aware of the scarcity of time, drink caffeinated beverages, and crave extreme adventures such as sky-diving or running marathons. I also spend a considerable amount of time self-doubting, questioning my life choices and over-thinking. Finally, I work hard every day to keep my life clutter-free both literally and figuratively.
Truth be told, the first several yoga classes I took, some of them at the gym and some at different yoga studios didn’t have me come back for more. I now think that that was the actual beginning of my yoga journey, even though I didn’t realize it at the time. And then, while travelling to see my family in Ukraine, I decided to take advantage of having a yoga studio located within a walking distance of my apartment. The first class left me feeling weightlessness in my limbs and the act of breathing felt almost intoxicating in its freedom. The sensation lingered for several hours after I finished the class. I also felt just as light and joyful in my mind. I kept coming back 3 times a week for the whole duration of my one and a half month vacation, feeling stronger and more stable in my practice every time. Some four years later, having studied with different yoga teachers and schools in the U.S., and maintained my personal daily yoga practice, I made a decision to enroll in a 200-hour yoga teaching program with the idea of eventually sharing the joy of yoga with others.
Yoga to me is a way to self-improve one step at a time, every day. It’s a way to check in with myself, and a soothing ritual that is always there for me, regardless of my other experiences, good or bad, on a given day. The ability of yoga to prime both the body and mind with asana (yoga poses) and pranayama (breathing exercises) to become more alert and relaxed at the same time is a very healthy and efficient way to replenish both short- and long-term. Finally, a regular yoga practice often starts to shed light on some other patterns in one’s life, be it with regard to diet or relationships, that, when attended to, have a potential to gently align one’s current and ideal self for a more balanced life experience.
This website was envisioned as a source of relevant information for my existing yoga students who can’t get enough of yoga, and for me to be able to share a little more than a group class setting allows. I also hoped to have you use the web site as a positive motivational tool to keep current yogis persist in their practice, and draw aspiring yoga students to take the first step of their yoga journey.
Namaste!
I acknowledge that I am a passionate student of yoga and all things wellness, and a fitness and nutrition enthusiast; however, I don’t intend any part of the website or its content to diagnose or treat any medical problem or issue, or provide any medical advice. I also suggest that you always check with your physician before making any changes in your diet or exercise routine.
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