Small Business Moms Do Big Business In Berlin

It’s late Monday afternoon. I rush home from work, do a quick change of clothes, and then speed off to the Prince of Peace Church. When I arrive, the time on the wall-clock says “NOW.” A piece of paper covers the clock so we aspiring yoginis don’t focus on time. We focus on the here and now. 

Our yoga space is semi-dark, calming, lit only with the natural lighting coming down the hall and the small white lights on strategically placed decorative trees.

Our yoga instructor, Lisa Eberhardt, begins our practice with words that turn our attention inward. “Let go of your thoughts, your distraction and all that came before this moment. Drop into your body and connect to your breath…” OK, now I’m in the yoga-zone.  If you have done yoga before, you know what I’m talking about. If you have not tried yoga, you may have a preconceived idea that yoga is only for super-flexible people or “organic-veg-heads.” Not true. Students in Eberhardt's class are of all shapes and sizes, all ages, all levels of physical abilities. Yoga is a place where you put your ego aside, honor the things you can do, and respect the things you can’t (yet). 

Lisa Eberhardt grew up in New Britain and Southington. She graduated from CCSU with a BA in Communications. She was first exposed to yoga while working at Nutmeg Public Access Television. I also worked at Nutmeg TV and met Lisa there in 1997. She oversaw community productions, one of which was a yoga program. A few years later, while working for Northeast Utilities, Eberhardt took her very first yoga class with instructor and Berlin resident Liz Hall. It was immediately after that class that something shifted in Lisa and she knew yoga was going to be an important part of her life. Shortly thereafter, she left the corporate world to teach part-time at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in their Film & Television Department. She now had the time to pursue her desire of becoming a yoga teacher.

Once Eberhardt received her yoga-calling, she travelled to the Berkshires of western Massachusetts and completed an intensive 200-hour training program at the Kripalu Yoga Center. She later studied Chakra Yoga and Therapeutic Yoga and attended various workshops regularly for over 4 years. Some of the national yoga teachers Lisa studied with include John Friend and Ana Forest.

“One of the best experiences I had at the school was being able to offer yoga to high school students," she said. "My greatest memory is of a student who, years after being in my yoga class, went on to become a yoga teacher because she was so inspired.”  In 2001, Lisa and longtime companion Tim were married.  They now have two young boys ages 2 and 5, and now reside in Berlin

Since 2001, Lisa has taught yoga all over the greater Hartford area. Her very first class was taught in a rented dance studio space on New Britain Road in Kensington.  I was there!  “I have taught yoga classes at karate studios, beauty salons, schools, parks & recreation facilities, holistic health centers, senior centers, gyms, as well as yoga studios.” 

Now 10 years later, she teaches classes at Facilitated Healing Center in Cromwell, the Cromwell Senior Center, and recently ventured out on her own under the name Kensington Yoga where she offers classes at the Prince of Peace Church in Kensington. I was there for Lisa’s very first class, and have followed her practice through the years at most of these facilities except the Senior Center.

How does Lisa balance raising two small children, maintaining her own yoga practice, and teaching four classes per week?  She takes a deep breath, of course, and charges on gracefully. “When I first became a mother, everything seemed so overwhelming. My yoga practice has been a tremendous gift that helps me stay grounded and helps to ease the stresses of motherhood.” 

When her oldest son was a baby, she took him to Mommy and Me yoga classes where moms would do yoga with their babies. Now, five years later, he doesn’t have much interest in doing yoga, however if he sees a posture in a magazine or book that looks challenging, he will attempt it. He would rather use Lisa’s yoga mat as a highway for his Matchbox cars.

Whereas, Lisa’s two-year old son is very curious and seems to enjoy doing the postures as well as the breathing exercises.  But alas, her yoga mat is definitely more appealing to both boys as they play with their cars and trucks than it is to practice yoga. 

You may be thinking “Why would I want to try yoga?”  John Tunney from theyogasite.com says…”The short answer is that yoga makes you feel better. Practicing the postures, breathing exercises and meditation makes you healthier in body, mind and spirit. Yoga lets you tune in, chill out, shape up - all at the same time.

For many people, that's enough of an answer. But there's more if you're interested.  For starters, yoga is good for what ails you. Specifically, research shows that yoga helps manage or control anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, headaches, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, stress and other conditions and diseases. What's more, yoga:

• Improves muscle tone, flexibility, strength and stamina
• Reduces stress and tension
• Boosts self esteem
• Improves concentration and creativity
• Lowers fat
• Improves circulation
• Stimulates the immune system
• Creates sense of well-being and calm.”

Lisa Eberhardt’s yoga classes at the Prince of Peace Church are held every Monday at 4:30pm in the church hall.  Contact Lisa at (860) 505-8215 or kensingtonyoga@ymail.com if you would like more information.  Until then…Namaste…the light in me bows to the light in you.