As a working mom and helping to raise two teenage girls in the late 80’s, my life was hectic to say the least. Additionally, my fire-fighter husband worked shift work so balancing school, homework, softball, dance, orchestra, etc. was taking a toll on my nerves. One evening I had had enough and shouted my inability to handle the stress. The kids looked at me as if I was a monster and my husband stood there aghast! He then took me aside and gently explained that these were things every mom and dad dealt with on a daily basis; that the kids were good and I was good but that I needed to get a grip, to find something that would encourage me to relax and perhaps manage my time better.
Therefore a few days later, when a friend asked me to join her in a yoga class, I agreed. I have to say the experience was life changing! I realized I had thought I could not handle the stress of job, wife and mother but through asana and relaxation, I became aware that I could indeed do just that and began measures to alleviate the situation.
Subsequently, through teachers and fellow students, I was inspired to become a teacher myself and became certified in 1993 at Life Work Yoga Studio in Clearwater. My teaching method, hatha yoga, is alignment based and has evolved to one of safety while encouraging the student to move at their own level of flexibility as they advance their own practice through experience and awareness. I feel that practicing yoga in a safe and non-judgmental environment is important on many levels such as self-esteem and confidence. I hope your yoga teachers also inspire you to become the best you can be, in mind, body and spirit.