It’s a sadhana; a disciplined and dedicated practice. Ultimately, practice should not be about you anymore. When we make it an offering, the struggle and the expectation soften. Showing up on the mat gets easier.

Why do I practice Ashtanga?

I’m gonna say it just like that: Ashtanga Mysore Style saved my life.

How did I end up here?
I now live in the Midwest with my husband and daughter. Needless to say, I did not plan to end up here. But life sometimes has a way.

My First Training

I did my first teacher training with Kamal Singh at Tattvaa YogaShala in Rishikesh at the foothills of the Himalayas. I went alone, not sure what I was getting into. That school had been recommended by a friend, but that was the extent of my knowledge about that training. I got there more anxious than ever, tired but very excited to be 100% dedicated to the practice. No work, no boyfriend, no social life, just me. Argh…and my inner monster (yeah… he followed me to India…).

20 years ago (God, I’m old), I went with a friend to my first Hot 26 Yoga class (named differently back then). Despite feeling very depleted by this sweaty class where I died a little bit, I also felt great. My big inner monster was quiet for a minute or two. WOW! Something just happened. For a full moment, I felt calm and present, two qualities that were not part of my ordinary life.