The first time I walked up the stairs to 1113 East Carson St., I was with my mom. It was for Kristi's 8:15 a.m. beginners class on a Saturday in July of 2005. We were both brand new to yoga. I remember doing tree pose that morning. I remember being amazed that Kristi's fingertips easily touched the floor in uttanasana (standing forward fold), and I stared at the pretty ceiling during savasana.
More than anything, my mom and I still remember how amazing we felt after class. It was strange how good my body felt afterwards. We wanted to feel like that again
,
so we went back.
After taking classes for a while, I noticed something else strange
.
I was nicer after class. I was more patient than I had been beforehand, more understanding, and more aware. It feels good to do yoga. The postures, the breathing, the meditation. When I feel good, it's easier to be the person I want to be.
Twelve years later, my mom and I are still hooked on how we feel after practicing yoga. It might be five minutes of focusing on my breath or a 2-hour workshop, and still, I am consistently nicer after. I can't imagine what my life would be like without yoga.
