Make yourself free, then make others free.

I remember the day I decided I wanted to be a yoga teacher. I was struggling with addiction, alcoholism, self identity, and self love. I had been consuming without fear of consequence or question. I lost my job due to a very drunken summer working the fairs. I moved back in with my mom, which wasn't so bad, except I had no job, no self worth, no energy, no passion, no friends that weren't using, I knew I had to change my path, but really had no direction. So I came here, to Grays Lake to run in circles till I figured it out. This has always been a reminder of home to me, my happy place, a place to put your feet on the ground. After days of running I needed something, Id been to yoga before but never felt good at it, I didn't feel balanced or flexible, or healthy or anything youre supposed to be in yoga, but I needed something... So I went to a free yoga class on a Monday night. My teacher began the class by inviting everyone to hug someone they didn't know in class. I really needed that hug, and I got a few, and I gotta admit it was uncomfortable, but that's what it's about... Getting uncomfortable is how you grow and expand, its how you learn. In this moment I stepped off my matt, and I realized how much more there is besides stretching and remembering to breathe. I worked through so much during that class I couldn't help by cry in shavasana. So grateful for the stillness and space to Breathe and Be. So happy to share this medicine with others.