In finding yoga, I found ME! We all have parts of ourselves that we pack away, hide or disconnect from. Little did I know, I put a piece of myself in a box and stored it in the attic.  Yoga allowed me to find that box and unwrap it. That box is now an infinite gift I continuously unwrap. Yoga allowed for self-realization; who I am beyond my personality and physical body. Learning to be more present in my body allowed me to heal from the inside out. It opened my ability to get in touch with my essence. I began to feel, really authentically feel in my bones and connect on all levels with myself, the universe and others. As a result, I’m more compassionate, patient, resilient and understanding. I believe that if we allow ourselves to slow down, unravel our mind and become aware of our bodies, things begin to happen!

 

A back injury and long-standing chronic pain drew me to a yoga practice. As a former diver and gymnast, I loved being in and moving my body; but with a changing body, it was difficult and frustrating. Through yoga, I began to make friends with the body I hated and ignored for so long. I discovered using and moving my body was much more than exercise, an athletic endeavor or competition. It was about connecting, sensing and feeling. This allowed access to hidden spaces. Trapped emotions and sensations began to come forward. In this space I was able to process and heal trauma, grief and loss. We can heal, it begins inwardly by accessing our own inner wisdom.

 

I now realize how beautiful and nourishing it is to be in your body. No matter how crabby, stressed or level of pain I may be experiencing, I can go into my body, connect and if feels GOOD, peaceful, at home. Whether it’s breathing, a yoga pose or just feeling the aliveness of my body. For someone with chronic pain and a history of an eating disorder to say, “I feel good in my body and can find peace,” – that’s transformation!