The Power of Yoga
My journey with yoga has been nothing but transformative. Not only physically but spiritually as well. In 2019, the worst thing I could have ever imagined happened to me…my dad, who was my best friend, passed away suddenly. This part of the blog is difficult for me to write because it is very painful for me to talk about. I could write novels of why my dad was the best dad any daughter could have ever asked for. He was just the most genuine soul who was always so proud of me. He guided me in life and it is been over 4 years without his guidance. Life has felt so difficult and I have felt so lost without my best friend. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.
Back in 2015, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and I have struggled with my mental health for a very long time. Self harm and suicidal thoughts were common for me for many years. Depression and darkness seemed to have had a big grasp on my life. Don’t get me wrong, I am naturally a happier and more positive woman, but there were some dark moments for me. Then when my dad passed, my mental health just plummeted. I felt like I was drowning and hope seemed to be lost. My dad was really the only person who was able to help me manage my bipolar. He just knew what to do when I was having the worst episodes I could have ever had. He calmed me down and brought me back to reality. He was my rock.
Losing a loved one, especially a parent, is probably one of the most heart breaking things I have ever endured in my life. Hopelessness was just a natural emotion I felt daily. I could feel the darkness and emptiness consuming me. My bipolar episodes were getting worse and I just didn’t know what to do anymore. Then I found God. Having faith probably saved my life, God saved my life. Knowing that my dad is in the most magical place I could ever imagine and hope for, has given me so much hope and so much peace. Knowing that one day we will meet again, is all I need to get through my day.
Now that God has given me hope and has given me life, I was able to finally start living again. At the end of 2021, I was introduced to the most amazing yoga studio. A friend asked me to come to a class with her and I was hesitant because I was never super into yoga. I always just kind of thought it was a strange practice and I felt like I never got a great workout in, but I decided to come with her.
I remember arriving and for some reason, I was just stressed out that day and was anxious, but I walked into the door to be greeted by a very kind instructor and my stress melted away. The studio reminded me of a cozy apartment. The lobby was so inviting with other yogis sitting on the comfiest green couch just chatting and laughing. There was a cute little section with t shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, and yoga mats for purchase that were neatly hanging from the cutest little wooden rack. It just felt so homey to me and immediately, my stress subsided just from being in there. I walked into the heated room and set up my mat. As soon as I sat on my mat, I just knew I was going to fall in love with this class because I had already fallen in love with the vibes of the studio. Class began and I knew I was right where I needed to be. The heat was building up, the sweat was dripping off of my body, and before you know it, we were in Savasana and there was the coldest lavendar towel next to my mat that I immediately put onto my face. Class was complete and so was I. I signed up to be a member and have been a member there for the past 2 years.
This studio and these classes and this community has transformed my life. It gave me a sense of purpose and hope. I truly thought hope was lost when I lost my dad. I felt like nothing else mattered anymore, but God and yoga have healed me from the darkness that consumed me. It is hard to put into words, but I just feel that yoga gave my spirit such love and fullness. Yoga was therapy to me. It took me into the present moment, the only place that life exists. All of my worries and stress were left at the front door of the studio. It was just me and my mat. It became addicting. I could not wait to attend class and practice. My body became stronger, my mind became more clear and before you know it, I was signing up to do yoga teacher training. I want to be able to share this practice with others and have other yogis experience the transformative powers of this practice because it transformed my life. I am very thankful that God has led me onto this path because I was so lost for so long and my sense of purpose has been restored. I am currently 3 weekends into training with 4 more to go and I cannot wait to share with everyone the things that I have learned. Stay tuned ✨
XOXO,
Brittany
