Up until just a few years ago, I was the last person who would practice, let alone teach, yoga.  Growing up I was the awkward, lanky, disproportionately long-limbed, clumsy, athletically challenged girl who bumped into inanimate objects and who never made the sports team, no matter how hard I tried to throw, catch or spike that ball.  I was also that girl lacking the rhythm to dance or the ability to sing on tune.  And grace, ha! That was the last quality you would associate with me.  As I grew up, I became the fast-talking, perfectionist, go-getter, driven, “successful” woman who on the inside had severe anxiety and many silent physical ailments as a result.

For most of my life I didn’t try yoga, believing it wasn’t for me.  Then one day, I agreed to attend a class with my good friend and running partner since high school, Sam.  I thought, sure, I can stretch these worn, tight muscles training for the NYC marathon.  And… I loved it!  It deeply relaxed me, and I slept better that night than in a long time.  After that first evening class at Fuel the Soul in Merrick, Long Island, I started attending classes regularly, and four years later, I became a certified yoga instructor.

Sometimes we simply need to push ourselves a teensy bit out of our comfort zone, or try something that is a little different for a change.   We also need to be honest with ourselves and stop making excuses that block us from ultimately bettering ourselves.  It’s never too late to rewrite the story we wrote for ourselves many years ago.