Student of Breath Yoga 2.22

Looking back through my life, I can see the many times I have been shown and given opportunities to start my yoga journey. And for those times, I chose to ignore or reject the opportunities because I did not think it was the path for me. About a year ago, this changed.

In the midst of emotional turmoil and physical injuries, a friend saw my suffering and referred me to a local Shala to rehabilitate my body and mind. And this time, after only one Ashtanga Yoga class, I was absolutely captivated. I immediately felt a deepening sense of peace within myself, and a strong connection to the practice. The focus on breath as the source of connection to the practice unlocked a deeper understanding of what was happening throughout my movements. From that day, my yoga journey truly began and I have made space in my life for daily practice ever since.

My practice sparked a yearning to understand more about breath and meditation. So in February 2016, I travelled to Youngstown, Alberta to participate in a 10-day Vipassana silent meditation course. Vipassana has a world wide network of retreats and its technique focuses on breath and awareness through meditation. I gained much from this 10-day experience and since returning home have added meditation to my daily routine to further my understanding of myself, my awareness, and the universe.

As my practice deepened, my desire to share yoga and mediation with others also grew. And so in April 2016, I flew 10,000 kilometres to Swargashram in Rishikesh, India to complete a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification course. The course, like the other stops I have experienced along the way, was life changing. It not only helped me to hone my practice and develop my teaching skills, it also strengthened my understanding of the transformational power of yoga. My journey has lead me here; I hope to reach as many of you possible so together we can recognize the way of the breath and walk the path of the yogi together.

Namaste _/|\_