For me yoga is a spiritual practice as well as a physical challenge. Too often life is oh-so-full and things crowd into my psyche and my body. The Spirit gets crowded out. By loosening and stretching my body, I open myself and make room for what is good and true and holy. The feel of my body throughout the day after a yoga class reminds me of the presence of God.

Savassana, of course. After all that work, to feel my body at rest, true rest is a deep pleasure. I don't think I've ever known such rest before.

Looking in the mirror seeing myself, warts and all, was and still is a challenge. But now instead of feeling anxiety in the mirror, I am amused. I think to myself, "So there you are. We meet again, you and I."

Come back. Sure you think you look ridiculous in that mirror. Sure you may feel achy after the first few classes. Sure you don't think you can make it through every posture - any maybe you won't for a while. But that's okay. Because there is that moment when you're walking down the street and notice how you're standing taller without even trying. And there's that moment when so much is being through at you in your life and you realize that you calmer than you've ever been before when in such circumstances. That's when you know you've found something with this yoga.

Gosh you've helped make me so much more comfortable with my body and myself that I can say yes to all these things without even pausing.

Thanks you for so very much.

Thank you for the presence of yourself.