One of the best things about my job is hearing stories about how therapeutic yoga changes people's lives for the better. This past week I heard two stories that made me super happy. Both of them illustrate beautifully how yoga therapy is so much more than exercises or poses -- it's literally a body education that translates into making body-wise choices in everyday life.
First let me tell you about my student -- let's call her Annie -- who was always getting a pain in her butt whenever she stood for long periods of time. Annie loves to cook, but she would hesitate to take on bigger cooking projects because she was afraid it would become a literal "pain in the butt." After taking some of my yoga classes, Annie began to realize that when she was in a standing position, she was clenching her butt muscles. Once she became aware of the tension she was unconsciously holding, she stopped. Now she doesn't have any butt pain in standing. She doesn't hesitate to cook anymore because she isn't worried about it leading to pain.
What I love about this story is that Annie used her newfound body awareness to find more ease OUTSIDE of yoga class. Now she can cook as much as she wants. She made that possible by simply upgrading her self awareness. How empowering is that? More than anything else, my goal is to empower my students to feel better and enjoy their lives more with the tools I give them. Annie's story is a perfect example of what I mean by that.
Now let me tell you about a private client of mine -- let's call her Sharon -- who's body responds to household cleaning the way Superman's body responds to kryptonite. (As I write this I'm wondering...maybe it's psychological...I mean, cleaning=kryptonite for a LOT of people)! But seriously, Sharon would get widespread body pain from her cleaning episodes and she found it frustrating to be unable to take care of her home the way she wanted to. After she started doing her home yoga therapy practice (which she does almost daily) she told me she was impressed with how she was able to clean house with a lot less pain. She knew it was her yoga practice paying off.
Last weekend she spent almost two full days deep cleaning a new home for her son and his expectant wife and it was too much kryptonite -- her body was miserable and sore all over. So, she faithfully got out her spinal strip (which she calls her "gadget"), and did her therapy practice. A day and half after her weekend warrior cleaning project, Sharon told me the whole story, ending with a radiant smile and announcing, "Now I feel great!" She was so pleased at being able to get back to feeling good so quickly.
What I love about this story is that when Sharon overextended herself, she wasn't powerless to wait out the negative effects, possibly wondering how long it would take her to get back to "normal." She didn't need to wait until she could get an appointment with her massage therapist or chiropractor. She had an all natural tool (with no side effects) that she felt comfortable using to help her in her time of need. Like Annie, she was empowered to use her yoga practice to reduce her body pain, right then and there, in her daily life. I am amazed at how much practical use Sharon has taken from just 3 classes and 2 private lessons. With just a few hours of instruction she has been able to impact her life in significant ways.
I love these stories because they show how Annie and Sharon's body confidence has grown, which means they get to live fuller lives. They know how to care for themselves and handle the curve balls that life throws their body's way. They are empowered body owners.
As their teacher, I could not be prouder.
Are you interested in becoming an empowered body owner? I'd love to see you at my next workshop, "How to Feel Better In Your Body," which is coming up this Sunday, October 20th. For more information or to register, visit my workshop page.
I look forward to seeing you there!
First let me tell you about my student -- let's call her Annie -- who was always getting a pain in her butt whenever she stood for long periods of time. Annie loves to cook, but she would hesitate to take on bigger cooking projects because she was afraid it would become a literal "pain in the butt." After taking some of my yoga classes, Annie began to realize that when she was in a standing position, she was clenching her butt muscles. Once she became aware of the tension she was unconsciously holding, she stopped. Now she doesn't have any butt pain in standing. She doesn't hesitate to cook anymore because she isn't worried about it leading to pain.
What I love about this story is that Annie used her newfound body awareness to find more ease OUTSIDE of yoga class. Now she can cook as much as she wants. She made that possible by simply upgrading her self awareness. How empowering is that? More than anything else, my goal is to empower my students to feel better and enjoy their lives more with the tools I give them. Annie's story is a perfect example of what I mean by that.
Now let me tell you about a private client of mine -- let's call her Sharon -- who's body responds to household cleaning the way Superman's body responds to kryptonite. (As I write this I'm wondering...maybe it's psychological...I mean, cleaning=kryptonite for a LOT of people)! But seriously, Sharon would get widespread body pain from her cleaning episodes and she found it frustrating to be unable to take care of her home the way she wanted to. After she started doing her home yoga therapy practice (which she does almost daily) she told me she was impressed with how she was able to clean house with a lot less pain. She knew it was her yoga practice paying off.
Last weekend she spent almost two full days deep cleaning a new home for her son and his expectant wife and it was too much kryptonite -- her body was miserable and sore all over. So, she faithfully got out her spinal strip (which she calls her "gadget"), and did her therapy practice. A day and half after her weekend warrior cleaning project, Sharon told me the whole story, ending with a radiant smile and announcing, "Now I feel great!" She was so pleased at being able to get back to feeling good so quickly.
What I love about this story is that when Sharon overextended herself, she wasn't powerless to wait out the negative effects, possibly wondering how long it would take her to get back to "normal." She didn't need to wait until she could get an appointment with her massage therapist or chiropractor. She had an all natural tool (with no side effects) that she felt comfortable using to help her in her time of need. Like Annie, she was empowered to use her yoga practice to reduce her body pain, right then and there, in her daily life. I am amazed at how much practical use Sharon has taken from just 3 classes and 2 private lessons. With just a few hours of instruction she has been able to impact her life in significant ways.
I love these stories because they show how Annie and Sharon's body confidence has grown, which means they get to live fuller lives. They know how to care for themselves and handle the curve balls that life throws their body's way. They are empowered body owners.
As their teacher, I could not be prouder.
Are you interested in becoming an empowered body owner? I'd love to see you at my next workshop, "How to Feel Better In Your Body," which is coming up this Sunday, October 20th. For more information or to register, visit my workshop page.
I look forward to seeing you there!
