How she started doing yoga
When I opened my business 5 years ago, work encompassed every minute of my day. It was the last thing I thought about as I fell asleep, I’d dream about it, and it was my first thought when I woke up. I packed on 10 pounds. A friend suggested I try Bikram yoga.
What got her hooked
I am one of those people who complains about the cold, and yoga in that studio warmed my core. In my first Bikram class I was shocked by what I could do in the heat: I actually felt my muscles and tendons relax. Yoga has become the perfect complement to my running routine. I rebound faster after a long run. I’ve only lost about 4 pounds since I’ve started, but I’ve gone down 2 dress sizes. My muscle tone is back. And I no longer have to suck in my stomach—I can even wear midriff-baring shirts now. Not that I would, but I could, dammit!
Her yoga life
I try to go to a 90-minute Bikram class Monday through Thursday. Since I’m working all the time, I don’t feel an ounce of guilt about stealing away at noon. We go through 26 poses and I don’t even count them or pay attention to the names—it’s refreshing since I’m consumed with logistics all day long. I’m the type of person who desperately needs quiet inside my brain, but between the business and my family, yoga is the only time that I have to myself.
Her breakthrough moment
About a month ago, I had a really awful class where I nearly fainted—probably from stress and dehydration—and I was actually afraid to go again. But I made myself return that week and I had the most incredible class. I controlled my breathing, relaxed, and listened. I realized that yoga is something to surrender to and not something to control. I learn something new every time and that’s what keeps me coming back. I may never reach a particular goal—like balancing on my big toe—but that’s okay.
Her words of wisdom
Practicing yoga is exactly like running a small business. After every class I feel like the crap has been kicked out of me. It’s the same at work: I deal with the calls, the customers, the product, the equipment, the employees ... I can go on. There are problems every single day, but they are pains that I love.
