Age: 53 years
Why did you start practicing yoga?
I started practicing regularly because I had been through treatment for breast cancer and given the surgery and treatments I had lost lots of mobility in my upper body and confidence generally in my body. I suppose my body had kind of let me down. I needed (and still need) the regular movement to maintain my strength and flexibility. I also needed a place to quiet my mind.
What kind of yoga sessions do you practise, eg, online, in a studio or personal zoom or personal in-person.
I started practicing at Nilaya House in January of 2020 – took a bit of a Covid break and started to come regularly later in the year. So – about 2 years consistently.
How has yoga benefited you?
For me – the benefits have been surprising – not only do I feel stronger physically – I think it helps me understand that things will happen when they happen. It is nice to be open to this.
I love that yoga is a lifelong learning process. There is no destination since the journey will continue to unfold the more you learn. I don’t feel pressure to be somewhere. I only have to “be.”
Why do particular reason you like practising with me?
I love practicing with you for a few many reasons. Let me count the ways… You are well prepared for class and there is an order to the practice that builds our strength and confidence as we work through a session. I think the best teachers are students themselves. While you learn you teach us and bring something new to the class that you are interested in or excited about. I often feel you say something new every class that I attend – perhaps because I was open to hear it but I do believe you say something different as you learn. You are modest and share your challenges with learning many aspects of yoga. (You are clearly a powerhouse!) We laugh a lot in class which lightens the load and builds trust among all of us. And you share the philosophies behind the practice. In my mind – just the right amount. You share because it matters to you and you think it will be helpful for us.
