I was sharing with a friend how much yoga has been part of my life since I began practicing 10 years ago. She then asked “Do you think you would still be practicing yoga now if you weren’t a teacher?” The quick answer was ‘Yeah, absolutely, I love yoga.” After our lunch this question stayed with me and I took some time to reflect upon it. And the answer is still the same.
Like many of you, the quest began with a curiosity. What is yoga? It was a very stressful and challenging time in my life and I was searching for something that would offer some relief from the pressure and stress, plus give me a ‘work out’. I heard of a couple of celebrities who swore by it and thought I’d rent a video (VHS by the way). My first video was with Rodney Yee. I connected with it instantly. I loved (and still do) the focus it took to hold a pose, the inner quite I felt when I became aware of my breathing and the bliss that followed savasana…oh savasana! Afterwards I sought out for more videos at the video store and my local library. I started looking for classes at the gym and yoga studios. Within a few years I signed up for a 14 month teacher training course. I was immersed, I was awed, and I was a sponge soaking it all up.
Now I have the pleasure and honor to share this thousand year old healing practice with others. Yes, I teach yoga, my business my way of making a living is yoga, but I know if I hadn’t chosen to leave corporate America and embark on this journey, the practice of yoga would still be part of my life. I often tell people it’s not so much the physical benefits from yoga that encourages me to return to the mat. Rather, it’s the peace and healing that occurs on so many different levels. I know a lot you understand what I’m trying to say. Best of all it never gets old. I think I’ve only dipped my feet into what yoga is all about. There’s still so much to learn, to experience and for me…so much yet to share.
Ten years from now I’m fairly certain I’ll still be doing yoga.
Namaste,
Claudine
