Who Am I ?
A friend reminded me the other day that many of you may not know much about me or my journey into yoga. Hence, this blog post:
I started practicing yoga in 1998, at the age of 48.
Why did I wait so long? Prior to moving to Salt Lake City (SLC), I had worked full-time. When we made this move, I thought I would ‘retire’ and travel with my husband on some of his business journeys; the first one was cold, snowy and generally miserable, so I gave up that idea.
I came back to SLC, walked our dogs each day and spent time working around our home. I stepped back into snow skiing. However, having always worked, I had neglected the skill of ‘making friends’. Prior to moving to SLC, we lived in Solana Beach, CA, and my physical activities included regular exercise and jogging 5 days each week (I even ran one marathon).
You could easily say I was lonely. So, after much complaining on my part, my husband suggested I try yoga.
There was a small studio about 2 miles from our house, so I went there. Since I had no idea what yoga involved, I drove around the parking lot several times before gathering the nerve to go in. Once in, I signed up for and took several classes but wasn’t thrilled with the experience. I left, only to return 3 months later (still lonely and a bit depressed). I attended a different class with a different teacher and I was ‘hooked’. I ended up buying that small studio and - at the behest of one of my close friends and teachers - attended my first teacher training with Desiree Rumbaugh.
I found friends in the yoga community; I studied with skilled teachers, in particular those involved in Anusara Yoga - a style rooted in alignment of the body.
We moved (after 18 years in SLC) back to San Diego County, to Fallbrook in 2011. I had begun the process to move towards Certification in Anusara Yoga while I studied and taught in SLC.
I achieved Certification in Anusara Yoga in 2013. During the 15 years it took, I taught, practiced and participated in as many yoga trainings as possible.
So you know what Certification in Anusara involves, first I was recommended and accepted as an Inspired Teacher of Anusara Yoga, having taken two 200-hour trainings plus several Therapeutic Trainings and other workshops. After teaching for several years at that level, I was mentored and recommended for Certification. The Certification process involved my application, submission of a 90-minute class video to be reviewed by an unknown-to-me Certified teacher, and - finally - an exam that took 10 hours to complete! Needless to say, it was a grueling and time-consuming process, but I wouldn’t do it any other way!
Passionate about the benefits of a regular yoga practice, in 2017, I enrolled in Yoga Therapy Training at Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles). Each month I drove to LA for weekend lectures. In early 2021, I graduated, achieving Certification by the International Association of Yoga Therapy.
I continue to teach 4 public classes each week at Sage Yoga Studios (in Fallbrook & Bonsall). I also opened a small office in Bonsall (across from the Post Office), where I am able to see individuals for Yoga Therapy and/or yoga instruction. Workshops are still a part of my continuing education routine, as well as reading and online study.
What a ride — never say you are too old, stiff or weak because I thought I was all of those in 1998 !!!
p.s. In addition to the above, I am a wife, mother and grandmother to 5 boys (3 here in So Cal and 2 in Kansas). We also have 2 dogs and I have 3 guitars I am hoping to learn to play one day.
Be safe this 4th of July and every day,
