An Unexpected Surprise!

It saddens me to hear of the at the . My ties there are very strong, as some of you may know I operate a small yoga business at the church. The church has been so gracious to me and the environment is warm, serene, quiet and inviting both in the “classroom” and outside the “classroom”.

 Over the years I've tried several other locations but not quite found the fit I was looking for, over time, the trail lead me back to the church. Teaching yoga, especially at the church adds a whole unique element to the yoga environment that I've been unable to capture elsewhere. I know I am a perfectionist and strive for nothing but quality and execute my classes that way as well. Personally, not a fan of structured workouts or repeats. My creativity at times is on overload (each class different that the one before), though the rewards are huge. So many people have reaped positive benefits both physically and emotionally!

A little history here, several years ago a church member mentioned I should check with the church as I was searching for space to teach yoga class on a Saturday morning. That was about four years ago. I started out in a small classroom on the second floor, which accommodated about five loyal yoga followers. Soon, the class began to grow and the class moved into the larger hall where I can now accommodate many more participants. The church has allowed Core Power to grow and offer more classes and opportunities to hold workshops and fundraisers. I am so humbled and appreciative of everything the church has offered, as this provides me the opportunity to share the magical gifts of yoga to so many people.

The world needs yoga, if you are angry, depressed, sad, happy, stressed, Type A (take no offense, I am too), can't sleep, need to lose weight, quick to jump down someone’s throat, tailgate cars too closely, unable to forgive and forget, going through major life changes, just need to stretch stiff tight muscles or in need of “me” time to reconnect to yourself on an internal nourishing level, you need yoga!

Over the years, I've met so many wonderful people who have come through the doors of the church. Some come willing with friends, other are dragged in by their friends to share a yoga practice, others bring their sons, daughters, mothers, sisters, others come as a pair, husbands/wives, others come on their own because yoga is part of their healthy preventive maintenance lifestyle or whatever else may lead them to their weekly yoga practice! You see yoga becomes “addictive,” the more you practice yoga, the more the benefits of this incredibly powerful practice stay with you. Difficult to put into words, but if yoga is part of your lifestyle, you get it!

Many people know each other, many people reconnect so many friendships have blossomed. The true beauty of the church environment is that upon leaving class, participants are never rushed, people linger and mingle to chat, to exchange books, recipes, healthy eating tips, knitting patterns, sometimes we sip tea, we even have a movie star mom who chats about her son and fills us in on the stars in Hollywood! We have also registered a few organ donors by a very special amazing organ transplant participant. All this, just priceless!

To think this five-person yoga class has truly grown into a small friendly “business” where everyone knows your name makes me so happy and humbled, a genuinely unexpected surprise!