1. What do you love about yoga?
I fell in love with yoga one year ago as soon as I took 3 classes of Hot Power Vinyasa. My mom, who was at that time 70 years old, invited me to practice yoga together while I was enjoying a beautiful winter vacation in Seattle last year. Yoga sounded interesting to me and I had always been curious about it. It seemed like a great way to spend time with her and with my sisters as the weather in Seattle was COLD during those days. To be honest, during my first class I almost died. The room temperature was hold around 95 F degrees and we were going through a sequence of poses that challenged my balance and strength. Then, a couple of days later I started feeling full of energy, I was sleeping better, and I started realizing all the benefits of practicing Yoga. Since then, every time I step into a yoga class, I feel powerful. I feel full of energy and happiness. My whole spirit wakes up and says, “Oh Marbelly, thank you, this is all that I need!”. For me, every day of yoga feels like heaven. It is a break from the rest of the world, it’s an escape, and it’s magical.
2. How has yoga and meditation changed your life?
Yoga is now such an integral part of my life that I don’t know how I ever survived without it.
These are some of the lessons yoga continues to teach me every day:
New beginnings
Every day is an opportunity for a new beginning. I appreciate what I have on each given day… and know I can start again tomorrow.
The value of the pause
Yoga is teaching me to pause and be still. I appreciate nothing more than those golden moments when I am moving, fluidly, in a dreamlike state, aware only of the flow of my own breath. Finally, my mind gives it a rest and I become free from its bondage.
Less paralyzing fear episodes
Challenging postures are teaching me that my fears and doubts paralyze me. When I doubt, I fall out and when I’m scared to fall, fail, or get hurt – I just don’t do anything. It’s my strategy in life too. So now I fall, I get hurt, and I get up. When it doesn’t work out the way I planned, it’s never as significant as I thought it would be.
Releasing and letting go
In a posture, when you hold on, you tighten up, constrict and contract, and there’s little room for moving forward. Sounds a bit like life for me. Letting go of what you don’t need is essential to move forward. The tension is self-inflicted; become aware of it, then release it.
Happiness
Yoga has made me happy. I get a sense of intense joy when I roll out my purple mat and get into that first Downward-Facing Dog. I come home – centered, peaceful, and happy. I am being with what is. I am.
3. Why do you practice at Bella Prana?
BP offers a welcoming community where they embrace and encourage human connection and genuine interactions. They provide students with the tools to transform your life on and off the mat. Yoga classes are BP are empowering and challenging. BP Yoga instructors are highly qualified and knowledgeable. The angels at the front desk are courteous and amicable. The facilities are well maintained and very close to my
workplace.