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| One of the DVDs I used way back when! |
I first “discovered” yoga around 1998-1999. I was in college about to change my major, transfer schools and move to a new city. My understanding of yoga at the time was that it was about stretching and flexibility -which sounded great. I always loved the way stretching made me feel, not only while I was doing it but after. So I bought myself a mat and an at-home DVD.
For a number of years I practiced pretty irregularly, mostly a combination of yoga and Pilates using only a variety of at-home discs. It wasn't long before I noticed a yoga studio on Elmwood Avenue and became intrigued. I signed up for an Intro to Yoga workshop and loved it. When that expired I took classes at the studio whenever I could -but money was tight. As I started making a little more money and my insurance improved, I would get reimbursements for gym memberships. I took advantage of it and utilized the cardio machines, weights and group classes. So for a few more years I bounced around different gyms trying different workouts and always attending their yoga classes. But I was never satisfied. The classes were lacking direct instruction, adjustments and/or modifications - I always left longing for more. In the back of my head I was thinking about the classes at East Meets West and how great my experiences had been there.
About 7 years ago I was going through another big change in my life, I had just ended a ten year relationship and was living alone for the first time. I made a commitment to myself to pursue what truly makes me happy and not settle for anything less. It wasn't long before I started attending East Meets West on a regular basis. For a few years I was able to consistently attend at least one class a week and supplement it with classes at my gym as well. I was fortunate to have found out that one of the teachers at EMW (Patrick) also taught a class at my gym! It was during this time of practicing regularly (albeit a small amount) that I started to learn there were not only different kinds of yoga but that each teacher provided a unique experience.
The real tipping point in my practice came in the summer of 2013 when the studio offered month long unlimited passes at a discounted rate. I teach Instructional Technology in elementary schools so the summer months are significantly more flexible for me. I purchased two months, attended 4-5 classes a week and I couldn't believe the difference. I felt better -physically, mentally, emotionally and even professionally. September rolled around and I had to go back to work, my unlimited passes expired and all I could think was "how can I possibly go back to one day a week?" I couldn't. I told myself to be realistic though (schedule wise and financially) and aimed to attend twice a week. The school year progressed and I was pleased to find I was attending at least twice, but more often than not, three times a week. Somehow focusing more on me than on my job made me better at it and everything else I did.
For the most part, my practice has centered around East Meets West. I've taken classes at a few other studios including Beyond Yoga & Pilates and Blue Lotus, both of which are/were in Rochester. While I've never attended any teacher training, I have gone to a few workshops including one on arm balancing at Midtown Athletic Club (Rochester) and two at East Meets West -an inversion workshop (with Kathleen and Sara) and an Ashtanga workshop (with Sara and Patrick). It was during these workshops that yoga became more of a mindset/lifestyle and less my workout routine. I truly fell in love with yoga. Workshops were more than just attending classes, I was learning so much and I wanted more.
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