We asked you, our students, to describe Yoga One using just 3 words and your lists blew us away! We are so proud and humbled, encouraged and challenged, and overall feeling the LOVE!
Thank YOU for making Yoga One a welcoming space for all to enjoy the benefits of yoga and community. Namaste!
fiction by Laura McCorry
Marcia had just eased her car into a parking spot when she looked out the passenger window and saw the sign which read “one-hour parking.” A few raindrops hit her windshield and Marcia, resisting the temptation to curse, let out a disgruntled sigh. One hour parking would not be long enough. Her brow furrowed deeper and her shoulders were rigid with tension.
Reluctantly, she turned the key in the ignition and circled the block again, then she circled one block north and found another spot in two-hour parking. Marcia was grateful she had intended to arrive well before the start of the Classic Yoga, level 1 and 2 class that afternoon.
If there had been a level zero class, Marcia would have signed up for that. It had been many years and two children ago that Marcia had last taken a yoga class. Her eyes were the same color, but since then, pretty much everything else about her body had seemed to change. She felt like she might as well be trying yoga for the very first time.
Marcia had called ahead yesterday and spoken to the Office Manager Missy, whose upbeat voice had assured her the class was absolutely beginner-friendly.
Marcia turned off her car a second time and took in a deep breath, but it came out in a ragged rush. The skies were grey and turbulent, and it looked like real rain was on the way. She hurried down the street and ducked under the awning when she saw the sign for Yoga One.
Inside there was a curious little opening in the wall (formally a dumbwaiter shaft) which revealed a closet-sized office. Within, a young woman with long, blonde-ish hair greeted her. Marcia recognized her voice right away.
“You must be Missy,” she said, feeling relieved.
“Yes, I am!” said Missy. “I’m glad to meet you, Marcia. I’ll be leading our class today.”
Missy welcomed Marcia into the studio and asked if she had any questions or concerns before closing the door. Then, Missy greeted the class and instructed everyone to take a comfortable seat on top of a folded blanket.
Marcia sat up as tall as she could, noticing immediately how much more effort it took to sit straight than to slouch. Even with the blanket lifting her a bit off the ground, Marcia could feel the tightness in her hips that kept her knees slightly higher than most of the other students.
They weren’t seated for long, just two or three minutes, yet when Missy’s voice guided the class to come to their hands and knees, Marcia sighed with relief. She worried the whole class was going to feel that hard.
“The most important part of yoga is your breath,” Marcia heard Missy’s calm and steady voice intone as she walked slowly around the room. “If you can’t breathe slowly, evenly, then you’re trying too hard. Try to find a balance between effort and ease.”
Trying too hard. Those words repeated in Marcia’s mind. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had said those words to her. Most of the time Marcia felt as though she weren’t trying hard enough.
Her boss was always expecting the completion of some project or another. Her two children always seemed to need supplies for an assignment they were supposed to turn in the next day. Her to-do list was never finished.
If her husband asked her for anything at the end of the day, even something as simple as getting him a glass of water from the kitchen, she sometimes felt herself bristle. Not at him, but at the feeling of being constantly needed. Marcia tried her best to satisfy all of their needs, but it was an impossible task because they always asked for more.
A balance between effort and ease. Did such a thing exist? Where in her life could she do less? This thought tumbled over and over in Marcia’s mind throughout the class. It made her feel intrigued, hopeful, and a little bit afraid. What if something didn’t get done? What if she wasn’t as needed as she thought?
Before Marcia knew it, one hour and fifteen minutes had gone by. The class was over. The students were seated again on the blankets with all eyes closed and hands pressed together before their hearts.
“Take a deep breath in, and a deep breath out,” said Missy. “Thank yourself for making this time to connect mind, body, and spirit. Namaste.”
Marcia breathed in deeply and this time her breath flowed out long and smooth. Thank yourself. Another novel idea.
“Yes,” thought Marcia. “Thank you. Thank me?”
While everyone was putting away the props and rolling up their mats, Missy came over to ask Marcia how she felt. Marcia told her how she often held tension in her shoulders and that the class had been challenging, but that she did feel more relaxed than before.
Missy took the time to show Marcia a few simple poses she could do at work to ease strain in her neck and shoulders. Trying a yoga class after so long hadn’t been easy, but Missy’s friendliness, knowledge, and warmth had put Marcia at ease. As she gathered her belongings, Marcia thanked Missy again for the class and for her suggestions.
As Marcia walked back to her car, her heart felt lighter than it had in a long time. She would gladly leave a little extra time for parking if it meant she could feel this way once a week. Maybe next time she would take the trolley, or a ride-share. Maybe she could go to yoga more than once a week.
Turning the key in the ignition, Marcia nodded her head. It had absolutely been the right decision to take a yoga class that afternoon. It felt like the first step towards the kind of life she wanted to live.
As Marcia thought that perhaps a regular yoga practice could help balance effort and ease in her life, a smile spread across her face.
Laura McCorry
Contributing Writer
Yoga and Laura had an on-again-off-again relationship from 2004 until 2009 when they decided to move in together and there’s been no looking back since. Passionate about both yoga and writing, Laura loves to introduce others to the joys and benefits of yoga and healthy living.
Contact: laura(AT)yogaonesandiego(DOT)com
by Laura McCorry
You know that whole-body blissed-out feeling you have sometimes at the end of a really good yoga class?
You feel completely relaxed, like you just woke up from a deep and restful sleep. Your eyes are only half-open. And your hair might be a little messed up but you don’t even care, you’re just *that* relaxed.
You bring your hands together at heart center and repeat “namaste” along with a chorus of other yogis. The room reverberates for a moment, waves of peace and calm floating through the air.
What if you could capture that feeling at home? First thing in the morning perhaps. Or right before bed. A simple yoga routine can prepare you physically and help settle your thoughts into the present moment.
You don’t need a teacher. You don’t need any props. You just need a baseline knowledge of a few, simple poses (or access to youtube) and about 10-15 minutes. Although, let’s be honest, 30-45 minutes with this sequence would feel heavenly. Enjoy!
What poses are part of your everyday home practice? Do you have your own pre-bedtime wind-down routine? Let us know in the comments and happy dreams to all.
Laura McCorry
Contributing Writer
Yoga and Laura had an on-again-off-again relationship from 2004 until 2009 when they decided to move in together and there’s been no looking back since. Passionate about both yoga and writing, Laura loves to introduce others to the joys and benefits of yoga and healthy living.
Contact: laura@yogaonesandiego.com
This month’s Instructor Spotlight is on Missy DiDonato. Not only does she teach the super relaxing Friday restorative class at 4pm, you can flow with her on Tuesday mornings at 9am. Missy is also our much beloved Office Manager (or OM) whose friendly smile lights up the Nook. Pencil in one of her classes on your schedule in the next week and you’re sure to feel the mama bear love! Check out our full schedule here.
1. What is your favorite style of yoga?
I love vinyasa, anusara and restorative. I really try to honor how I’m feeling: some days I prefer one over the others, it just depends on my mood and energy level at that moment. The most important thing for me is to stay connected to my breath and use it to enhance the poses. If I stay grounded and breathing, then all yoga is my favorite.
2. What first attracted you to yoga when you began your practice?
I started practicing yoga when I was 14 years old and like most 14 year olds, I had low self-esteem and body image issues. Yoga made me feel good in my own skin when adolescence was making that difficult. I didn’t know it at the time, but yoga helped me find my place in life.
3. What is your favorite yoga pose right now?
Supported supta baddha konosana. It opens my lower back, shoulders, chest, hips, inner thighs and IT’S RELAXING!
4. What pose is still the most challenging?
Savasana – I’m usually really good at it, but lately I can’t seem to stop my thoughts and completely let go. When I finally do, it’s time to come out!
5. If you were an animal, you would be: a mama brown bear. I’m soft, cuddly and playful but if you mess with me or any of my cubs (a.k.a. friends, family, yoga students) then I get angry 🙂
6. Describe what yoga means in your life using just 6 words: uplifting, freedom, alignment, contentment, breath, light
7. What might your students be surprised to learn about you?
I’m mildly addicted to video and computer games. I play probably once a day, whether it’s Mario Brothers or a puzzle game on the computer. I don’t play “shoot ’em up” games though, my favorites are the ones with cute animals and plants that come to life.
8. Do you have any words of wisdom or advice for new students?
Don’t be afraid to try yoga and don’t feel guilty if you don’t like it at first! Just try a different teacher or style and find what works for you. There are so many different variations out there in the yoga world, it’s going to take some trial and error. Take note of how a class made you feel and move on.
Becoming aware of your body and mind is the most important skill yoga can offer. If you can remain aware of how you feel on the mat, then you can take that awareness off the mat. In time it spreads from you to others around you to nature. Being conscious and aware is what this world needs! Be part of THAT movement. Do YOGA! Namaste!