My Yoga Journey

I remember hearing the word yoga once when I was about thirteen. I didn't know what it was, but I had an immediate feeling that one day I would like to learn more. With that filed away in my brain, I led a fairly normal teenage girl life. Again when I was eighteen the yoga thought entered my consciousness. I think the trigger was when a client had casually mentioned yoga while I was working as an aromatherapist. I still didn't really know what yoga was, though, but there was a voice nagging at me, saying 'YOU HAVE GOT TO TRY THIS!' I had to listen.

My first love had just broken up with me and, of course, I was incredibly heart-broken. For distraction, I decided to find a yoga class. It was love at first savasana! I was able to release my hurt emotions and connect with my body in a whole new and exciting way.

The rush I received from yoga was intoxicating. I was walking on clouds. Yet, I still didn't really understand what yoga was. A friend had asked me how my yoga was going. I couldn't describe it. I could barely recall the body movements. I just KNEW it was incredible.

I had an epiphany one day while working – BECOME A YOGA TEACHER. Again that inner voice was speaking loud and clear. This was something I really had to follow-up on. Online, I found an Integral yoga certification program that was being held in Australia. Instantly, I knew I had to be there. I booked my flight. That was nearly ten years ago.

With each passing year, with each new student, and with every new life event, I gain a deeper understanding of yoga’s essence. I still struggle to create language to match the profound energetic shifts I experience when I practice. Like every yoga practitioner, my personal practice has had ups, downs, and plateaus. The insights I have received about myself because of the ebb and flow have been transformational. Once you become a yoga practitioner, you are eternally a student of the discipline.

Since becoming a mother, my practice has changed enormously (but what doesn't change when you become a mother?). I often wish I had the space to practice more often, but the times when I do are so healing. As a mother, I have more opportunity to practice the living yoga, which is just as powerful as the mat practice.

Physically, my yoga passion is to practice with an Anusara flair. I discovered Anusara at a huge crossroads in my life. My whole universe was changing at rapid speeds. It was thrilling and scary at the same time. In my meditations I just kept asking to be led to a path that would be for my highest. The word 'anasara' came to me. I had never heard the word before, so I googled it and up popped Anusara yoga. When I read the description, I felt utterly drawn in. My now trusted friend, the inner voice, urged me to do a training.

That is how I found Desiree Rumbaugh. She is one of the master yoga teachers in the Anusara style. I saw that she had a teacher training in Tempe, Arizona – perfect as I had always wanted to go to Tempe. Coincidence? I think not.

During that week with Desiree I had never worked so hard in yoga, not only physically, but emotionally, spiritually and mentally. This was the first time I got yoga. Finally, I had an understanding that was beyond what I could have ever imagined. Even though I had this HUGE breakthrough, I still didn't possess the vocabulary to describe what yoga or, more specifically, Anusara yoga is. I just knew I was home for the first time.

This is the journey I continue to follow today. I move my body with a deep, heartfelt sense of love and respect. I honor my inner guru and give gratitude for being. Yoga has become much more about what I do off my yoga mat than what I do on my yoga mat. Finally, I feel peace with that balance.

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