My journey into Yoga has always been filled with abundant opportunities for me to discover who I am as a soul, a human, and a teacher. My first thought when I decided to take my first training was that if I could just help one person heal in some way through Yoga, then it was all worth it. After all, Yoga continues to save my life every day, the least I could do is share what I know and pass it on! However, of all of the classes, workshops, retreats, and trainings that I have been involved with, my Karma Yoga journey has always been the most rewarding.
From the beginning of my teaching career I have always given back in some way or another through classes in which I have given all or at least most of the donations to a local charity or to the red cross. I believe that giving back is absolutely the quickest path to healing ourselves and the planet. To be totally honest I wish that I could only teach Karma Yoga, but the reality is that bills do need to be paid and there is a balance to everything. Upon relocating to San Diego I knew for sure that I wanted to get involved in an ongoing Karma Yoga program. I discovered an amazing organization, Live + Breathe: A Yoga Cause, founded by an angel named Erin Hanson. She has a vision to bring Yoga to under privileged populations. She has built an amazing team of teachers and I am proud to be one of them. I cannot express how amazing it is to be among a group of individuals that only want to serve and better society through the teaching of Yoga and mindfulness practices.
Over the past year I have had the absolute joy of teaching to visually impaired seniors at the Braille Institute as well as the staff that run this wonderful facility. I have joyfully participated in two local Special Olympics events, and will be starting a new program this month for The Non- Profit workers of San Diego. I find it very difficult to put into words how if feels to see the smile on the face of a 90 year old student in her chair Yoga class, after her meditation, or to see the light in the eyes of an athlete in the Special Olympics when he or she feels how awesome a good stretch can be! You literally feel your heart grow wings!
Having the financial means to own your own Yoga mat and have a studio or fitness facility to practice in is a gift that is often under appreciated. There is a huge population of individuals that desperately need the healing that Yoga and mindfulness practices can offer, yet they do not have the financial means to do so.
My Karma Yoga journey will always be a part of my life and I will continue to share the philosophy of service with my friends and students in the hopes that they too will find inspiration to give back. We are all one on this planet and it is our duty to be of service when we can be.
Wuf Namaste!