Where it all started

My first Yoga class was at the Fitness First gym on Jefferson Street. It was almost 25 years ago. I couldn't tell you what style it was but it was the early 2000's so it must have been a Hatha based. It was hard because I didn't know what to expect however I left the class excited. Being 21 or so, I marched up to my parents' bedroom where they were watching television in bed and shared that I took a Yoga class. I was so proud of myself! This is my personality type. When I'm excited about something, I make it my mission to make everyone around me excited, too!

That was the time of Blockbuster Video and Walmart was across the street. Amazon delivery service was not on my radar. Netflix dvd's were in it's infancy and streaming was not a thing. However there was a channel called Exercise TV. I'm sure I found Yoga here and there on it but it wasn't on my radar.

Fast forward to 2004. I met my future husband in April and our relationship was fast tracked to marriage by December. Our first Christmas, my new Mother-in-law, a very generous woman, gifted me with the "best selling Yoga dvds" on Amazon. I'm not sure why she decided to go with Yoga but this decision was the catalyst for my eventual career path. "Kundalini Yoga for Beginners and Beyond" by Raviana. I would practice this dvd every morning at 3am before I had to go to work. I was a waitress and worked the opening shift at Bob Evans, so 3am wasn't that unreasonable. Kundalini taught me how to breathe!

A few years later my path led me to the YMCA. If you read my bio, you read about my dad. My dad developed type 2 diabetes and my mom thought he should exercise. My mom, and I think this must be where I get it from, has always been active. My dad not so much. She used to talk about how she would do Yoga with Lilas on PBS in the 70's and thought that would be a good fit for him. I think it must have been because just I like showed up in their bedroom many years ago so proudly to share my experience at Fitness First, my dad stopped by my house one evening to show off his downward facing dog. It was impressive! If you understand anatomy and biology, downward facing dog is more challenging for men because of their center of gravity. I was proud and excited. As I write this, I'm reflecting on the gifts I received from my parents. Tenacity (mom) and cheekiness (dad). He completed his first session of eight weeks and invited me to join him. Sure! I'll take some free Yoga.

Yoga at the YMCA is a starting point and some people will never transition to a studio. That's the beauty of Yoga.... It doesn't matter where you are. The practice and the teacher really lie within. I say this not to sound pretentious but because the room was always cold and had mirrors. I digress. Yoga was Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 12 or 12:30pm for an hour. This was 2007 at this point. Eva Rosvold was our teacher and I learned so much from her in such a short time. She was a dynamic teacher and laid the foundation for the teacher I am today. Tuesday was a beginner style. Thursday was more intermediate. After a few months, Eva suggested I sign up for a workshop at Sol Yoga. The fact that she suggested that meant the world to me. I said "okay!" It was on a Sunday morning in September. Side note- Eva also told me I should sign up for teacher training. I was humbled, tickled, elated. I felt seen.

This workshop. 90 minute Journey into Power. I'll be the first to admit that I don't read thoroughly. I'm sure when I publish this blog, there will be typos in it. I signed up, took the day off of work, which I never do and got excited. However, I didn't read the description. The workshop was at Sol Yoga. I had been practicing there on Wednesday mornings because Eva taught at 6am. I don't recall if I had started "volunteering" at that point. Volunteering was considering work exchange where I would arrive 30 minutes before class, prepare the studio, check in the class and receive the class in exchange.

The morning of. The workshop was at 9am (I believe). I had never been to Sol Yoga during daylight hours it felt like. Just Wednesdays at 5:30am. It was different to parallel park on West Patrick Street in front of the building. When I arrived, there was a long line to check in. Kristina Molinari was at the check in desk. I remember there was an issue where I overpaid for the workshop and when I checked in, she unexpectedly handed me a $5 bill. I then made my way into Studio Earth. I had never been in this studio before. It was a rectangle shape with warped floors and a burnt orange accent wall. The ceilings were about twelve feet tall. There were already mats laid out to help with mat spacing. Four rows of eight. I put my mat in the third row to the right of the door. I noticed that the room was really warm and had humidifiers. "This is unexpected!" I thought to myself. I'm not sure what it was about and began to people watch. I didn't know anyone except a taller gentleman named Richard Murtagh. He was a regular in the 6 am class. I don't know if he saw me or not. I sat quietly on my mat considering my options and wondering if I made a mistake of signing up. "Do I even belong here?"

The workshop began. I believe Dorcas started with an introduction. It was her studio but I can't recall what she said. Next the guest teacher walked out. Patty Ivey from Down Dog Yoga in Georgetown, Washington, DC was here to lead us and I had no idea what that meant. I was here because Eva told me I should sign up. Patty looked like she could have been ten feet tall at the time. She spoke with such confidence and connected with students in the room. At one point, she looked at me. Directly at me and I felt seen. I can't articulate the impact that moment had on me. I just know that was the kind of confident woman I wanted to be.

The practice began. Dorcas and Kristina meandered around the room with hand towels in the back of their waist bands. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. They offered hands on assisting throughout the practice. The practice was the hardest thing I had ever experience. Did I mention it was hot? Like at least 100 degrees hot? With 35 people in a single room together? We were in the grounding series. If you're not familiar with Journey into Power, that's midway through the practice with standing postures such as warrior 2 and triangle pose. We were standing in a wide legged forward fold. I could see the brown studio door that led to the exit and to my freedom. I contemplated leaving. To be honest I didn't stay out of bravery. I stayed because I was too embarrassed to have people see me leave. Whatever the case, I'm so glad I didn't quit. By the time the workshop was over, I didn't die, nor did anyone else. I left to return home and look for the next Hot Yoga class. This was where I needed to be.

It took a long time to really develop my practice since this first encounter. I wasn't until I started working for Down Dog Yoga in Bethesda, MD until I truly tapped into my potential.