I was introduced to yoga almost 20 years ago because my good friend Megan asked me to go to a class with her. I’m so glad I said yes.

I remember being instantly confused. Why couldn’t my body move this way? The practice was strong, beautiful, challenging, and perplexing. And something was happening in my brain that I couldn’t quite explain. I knew I needed more.

I completed my first teacher training at Down Dog Yoga, a Baptiste studio, and spent the next five years as a classroom assistant. I loved watching people move and learning to guide them, sometimes with a gesture, a direction, or just an eye gaze.

Eventually, I became brave enough to teach. I’ve now been teaching for over a decade and recently completed my 300-hour training at extendYoga.

What I’ve always appreciated about yoga is that it helps us recognize how strong and flexible we already are, not just in our bodies, but in our minds. I don’t think we’re creating something new. I think we’re awakening what’s already there.

And every time we roll out our mats, we get another opportunity to discover it.