Dispassion to Devotion: My 8-Year Journey
Eight years ago, I walked into my first yoga class. I needed a physical education credit in college, and I thought the yoga class sounded like an interesting way to earn this credit. Little did I know, I was beginning my journey into a practice that would end up getting me through so much in the future.
I wish I could say that I fell in love with yoga in this first class. However, for me this was very much a technical introductory class that I was taking to earn my physical education credit. We learned the basics of each pose, and our final tested our ability to memorize several poses.
It was not until a few years later in graduate school that I really fell in love with yoga. I moved to a new neighborhood close to downtown St. Louis, and someone told me about a yoga studio nearby that was really good. I really enjoy exercising in group classes, so I decided I would give it a try. Before I even went to the class, I must have known I would love it. I went to Lululemon and bought a heavy-duty yoga mat and a few yoga pants and tank tops. I was so nervous on the first day of the class because I thought it would be obvious I had not practiced in a while.
However, to my surprise, I was able to follow along and pick right back up where I left off a few years back. From the sound of the first “ohm” to the shavasana at the end of class, I was hooked. I have been practicing yoga as much as possible ever since.
In 2015, I found out I was born with hip dysplasia. I was devastated when I learned this, because I knew it meant I wouldn’t get to practice yoga for a few months after each surgery. However, I also knew that not having surgery would mean having pain for the rest of my life. Faced with that ultimatum, I decided to have the surgeries.
I was on crutches for one month after each surgery, and I was in physical therapy for three months after each surgery. I started practicing yoga the second I got the “okay” from my doctor after a few months. I started slowly at home, but eventually I started going to classes at studios again. I ended up completing physical therapy at a much faster rate than either my physical therapist or my doctor had ever expected or ever seen after my surgery. I truly believe that the reason for this is because of my dedication and commitment to my yoga practice. I know my yoga practice helped me both physically and mentally during my recovery process.
Although I am close to completely recovered, I am still recovering slightly from my second surgery, which was in March 2016. Yoga is still helping me get back to where I was before my surgeries. Yoga is something that is always there when I need it. It is something I can always come back to when I am having a stressful day and need a mental break, or when my muscles are tight and I need to stretch out. Yoga is something that makes me happy. It’s something that makes me feel fulfilled. Now, yoga isn’t just something I love, it’s something I need. And I am grateful for every day that I am able to practice yoga.
I am so excited to begin the next part of my journey as a yoga instructor so that I can share my passion for yoga with others. Maybe someone in one of my future classes will have just undergone surgery. Maybe someone will be going through a rough time with family. Maybe someone will have recently experienced a loss. Maybe someone will be really stressed at work. No matter what brings people to the mat, I want to guide them to finding peace once they get there.
The next Fall Intensive Yoga Teacher Training will begin September 23rd-25th, 2016. There are currently 6 spaces left!!
The investment for this amazing yoga course $2,450. We would like to invite you to discuss your questions around this new training! To sign up for this complimentary phone consultation, please call us at 314-630-1677 or email claytonyogastudio@gmail.com. Namaste!..