My first exposure to teaching yoga came during a leadership development program in 2014 when I was working at Mozilla. They had developed a workshop based on a methodology used to train actors to step into their most compelling self—also used to train professional coaches. The process involved standing in front of a room and trying different roles suggested by the group. A few minutes into my turn, one of the facilitators shouted, “Lead us in a yoga class.” I paused. My energy shifted. A few seconds in, I felt it click energetically and I watched everyone in the room reveal a knowing look on their face. That was it!
Naturally, I wrote that off. I did leadership development to lead, not teach yoga!
Yoga finds me again
In 2017 yoga found me again—this time during a series of health issues. My naturopathic doctor recommended yin yoga as a tool to help. During my first class, I knew I'd found something that deeply called to me in a way I'd never experienced before. I attended this yin class for several years. It allowed me improve my relationship with my body and create space to respond with kindness toward health issues. Yoga helped me heal and step into life even stronger.
Sound on the path
Sound came to find itself in my life as an interwoven element along this journey in three ways.
- One · That yin yoga class had sound bowls playing in the background, which added to the restorative nature and sparked an interest in listening to sound bowls.
- Two · During an MRI for those health issues, I felt what I can only describe as being at one with universal vibration. It opened my eyes to the energetic nature of sound and how it can change a person's state.
- Three · Inspired by that, I studied ancient shamanic practice that uses drumming as a vehicle to enter a different state.