Meet Angela

Why land with me?

Angela’s story.

It’s amazing how yoga seems to come into our lives at times when we need it the most but least expect it. I began the practice of yoga after spending a grueling two years going through graduate school to earn my MBA while also holding a full-time job in the health care field. Continuing my education wasn’t a choice, but a necessity if I expected to compete in the corporate world. I was always looking for ways to get ahead and stay ahead of the curve.

I was also experiencing the same pressures that many women in their late thirties go through. For example, I found myself struggling to keep up the perfect Martha Stewart home. I was bound and determined to have scented linen closets where my sheets and pillow cases were crisply folded and tied with matching satin ribbons if it killed me. I worked out at the local gym to maintain the prescribed perfect body image all the fashion magazines said I should strive for.

I also felt pressure and guilt for neglecting family and friends. I was always looking for ways to squeeze in a few precious hours of quality time with those I loved, sneaking peaks at my watch, knowing that I should be studying or working on a term paper. On top of that, I wanted to give back to my community by volunteering some of my time to non-profit health organizations.

I signed up for an eight-week yoga class the week after I graduated from school in December of 1993. It was mostly to have something to do to “fill up the time.” I was looking to do something nice for myself after two years of self-inflicted pressure and stress. Little did I know I was about to experience a way of life that would have tremendous impact on every facet of my being.

There were about ten people in the class and each session began with a relaxation period and then gentle warm-up movements. The teacher would spend the next hour taking us through various postures and breathing exercise. She always took the time to explain the benefits of each movement. She would demonstrate the posture for beginner students and she would show variations of that same posture for the more intermediate practitioners. The weekly class always ended with a meditation session—for me, this is where the magic began to happen but not right away…

At first I found myself agitated and annoyed with having to sit still for 15 to 20 minutes. I was constantly making minor body adjustments and checking the clock to see how much time had passed. I would wonder when the session would end so I could move on to doing something more important.

By the end of the eight-week session, things began to feel very different. I found myself actually looking forward to the sense of calm I experienced with each class. It was a sensation I was not used to, but one that had lasting benefits for me several days after each class.

Beginning to fade were the visions of having to have the Martha Stewart home. I also found myself being more accepting of others and their limitations. This included family, co-workers, and even strangers. I was actually letting cars merge into my lane of traffic without getting upset that they were cutting in front of me. I was thinking before reacting. I was more patient, less demanding, and for the first time in my life, I was actually starting to enjoy some of the simple pleasures of life.

The practice of yoga has enabled me to develop a healthier body image and let go of images of perfection. I am finally beginning to accept myself as perfect for the function I’m here on this Earth to perform. I have come to regard my body as the physical vessel that houses the precious non-physical essence of my spirit. I must be gentle and caring with a vessel that performs such an important function.

Through yoga I find the strength and courage necessary to move through this time in my life. I’m also learning the importance of flexibility and being able to adapt in a universe that is constantly changing. I’m enjoying the journey and look less to the outside world to provide my satisfaction and happiness.