Clayton Yoga Teacher Training graduate, Cassandra Stinson writes about her Passionate Why for teaching and sharing of yoga. Cassandra has recently graduated from our Yoga Training and is eager to begin her new journey ahead.
“I started out in my life as a fiery, red-headed ball of energy raised in Tennessee and Texas. I loved learning, school and adventure. I survived this time of my life and learned how to play and laugh in order to have fun. I started out my adult life as an Engineer and a math college professor who taught fitness classes as a hobby. I traveled for work and got to see the world. I survived my tough career choices and learned how to work hard in order to succeed.
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in my twenties. I have lost use of my legs at time, eyes and hearing. I have also regained some of these things. I survived this yet again and learned how to build my body to be physically strong in order to thrive. Due to my illness, I needed to quit my career in engineering and I transitioned entirely to the fitness industry. Through these many challenges I faced, I learned how to rebuild trust in myself and gain a great level of emotional strength and love again.
I have experienced and accomplished a lot in my life: travel, career, family, happiness and pain. I realized all my imperfections and my strengths and learned to accept them. I have learned a lot and survived it all, primarily through finding fitness and yoga. Fitness game me the physical strength and energy to physically wade through the quagmire of life and yoga gave me the mental stability to deal with everything else.
Yoga became my lifeline to sanity. I feel very grateful that I have been given an opportunity to see many sides of reality and to gain a unique perspective on life but I still felt incomplete.
The problem was that I never quite fit into any existing fitness or yoga class. The attitude at most gyms or studios is very cliquish. Individuals always try to associate with those whose lives mirror their own. I had a past and a present. I was hardly perfect. Where in the fitness and yoga world were other people like me?
I decided to create my own box. A place where everyone could help better themselves with yoga and fitness with no judgement. Where individuals could work at their own pace and heal on their own time frame. Fitness clubs could not offer the freedom I needed to really help those individuals that I was trying to reach. I realize the beauty of yoga and more and more the ability for it to shape even the most desolate lives.
What I learned in Clayton Yoga Teacher Training is that a good teacher can facilitate the transition between living with insecurities and learn to love yourself exactly as you are. A great teacher can make this transition comfortable and fun. I love taking yoga to the next level by providing unique, nonjudgemental style classes to fit almost any personality, disability or life choices. I will accept everyone just as they are with no judgement or shame. I will provide freedom in the yoga world. Enough with conformity. Every person ought to embrace being beautifully unique!
For more information about Clayton Yoga Studio classes and Yoga Teacher Training courses, call 314-630-1677. Namaste!
What a great example for all of us. I wish to work with population not necessarily embraced by the fitness world. The “senior”, older, less active adult. That person needs encouragement not judgment to find that inner strength and calmness Yoga can bring.
This was a very moving article. I can not imagine the battle that she faced with being diagnosed with MS, but I am glad that she found her peace with yoga. Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful words, Cassandra…. I believe we ALL can relate to feeling as though people try to put us in a certain box. How lovely is it that we can learn from our practice, to create our OWN box– our own space. The pressure to be “perfect” and “without struggle” is quite real in the world today. And yet, I feel that most of us can learn from AND lean on those who are open with their vulnerabilities and challenges. This transparency cuts the cord of “perfectionism” and opens us up to a raw, authentic, and genuine life. And that is part of the connection of the human experience.
Wow what an inspiring story. Making your own box seems like a logical thing to do as we are all unique human beings and have such different talents and stories. Bravo for Cassandra and the training that empowered her to start her own practice.