Hi! My Name Is Yoga and I Will Change Your Life
Yoga came into my life at a time of curiosity and frustration. I was 20 years old, working two jobs, balancing a full-time college class schedule, and trying to finish a theatre apprenticeship. On the surface, my life seemed manageable but underneath, I was a mess. Needing to fulfill my credit requirements one summer, I decided to take “Yoga 101” as a college elective. Never in a million years did I realize the impact yoga would have on my life and the doors that would open. What I thought was an easy college credit, led to the beginning of a lifelong journey.
Bouncing through my 20’s and 30’s I tried to keep a daily yoga practice but I kept falling short; only calling on it only when my life was out of sorts. Once my sanity pieces were put back together, I would fall away from my practice and return to my old bad habits. No matter how far away I got, the peace and balance yoga brought into my life was never far away. It was only when my world completely fell apart that I decided to take desperate measures to change my life. I started by putting myself in a timeout to reevaluate my life and the choices I have made. While on my journey of transformation I rediscovered my dear friend, my yoga practice, was right there waiting for me. Only this time I was ready to receive the answers and the love it had to offer. I completely surrendered and let the journey begin.
~ When I tell people, “Yoga saved my life”, I am not kidding. Once I started incorporating yoga and meditation into my life, I began to see significant changes; not just physically but mentally.
When I tell people, “Yoga saved my life”, I am not kidding. Once I started incorporating yoga and meditation into my life (I practice at least 3 to 4 times a week), I began to see significant changes; not just physically but mentally. My “I can’t” or “I don’t have time” began to disappear and my approach to life’s sticky situations became positive and more productive. Yoga not only helped me mentally but physically as well. It brought me closer and more in touch with my body. Every day I noticed myself becoming more flexible and stronger; I was holding deep stretches longer and practicing inversions often – both of which I used to shy away from.
The more I practiced, the more my life continued to change. My yoga practice began overflowing abundantly into my life. It was offering a healthy balance in my relationships, a change in my eating habits, my writing, and my artwork began pouring out of me, and my need for a simpler life became clear. I was truly connecting to a positive flow in life. The beauty of it all was there was no wrong way to practice yoga and no wrong way to make it part of my life. No matter how many minutes, hours, or days I am away; the second I come to my mat, I can still feel the voice inside of me saying, “Welcome home”.
Credits to Amanda Laseter, Meditation Advocate, and Manager of Hanaq Prana Yoga Studio.