Learning to Breathe
Meet Anna Claire: I've been "practicing" yoga in studios for about 18 years now. When I first started it was mostly because it was trendy and I thought it'd be "cool" to go to a yoga class. In the beginning I would typically watch the clock about 5 min in and think "this is going to be the longest hour of my life!." I would find myself saying to friends "I like yoga, but I just don't feel like I'm getting enough of a workout because it's so slow." Since then, I've heard others say the same. But, I continued to go to yoga classes on occasion throughout the years because it was the "cool" thing to do.
Ten years ago, I went to Greenville Yoga for the first time on Main Street. As in the past, I was watching the clock. But one day, I noticed something different. I couldn't tell if it was the music they were playing or what!? Then I realized, that it was the people in the class collectively breathing deeply. In all my years of "practicing" yoga, I'd never heard anything like it! Most yoga studios talk about breath (and unfortunately some don't at all), but I'd never experienced people ALL audibly breathing together. So, about eight years ago I decided to try it, and that's when my perspective on yoga shifted completely.
At first, it felt a little awkward and silly breathing "like the ocean" from the back of my throat, and I sometimes I had a difficult time remembering to do so. But, soon I got the hang of it. It was only then, that when the instructor said "now everyone find their (shavasana) final resting pose, that I thought to myself "wow, the class is already over!?" It was then, that I stopped watching the clock, stopped thinking about my errands, or my problems in the outside world, and connected my body with my breath. It was only then, that I truly reaped the benefits of practicing yoga. It was way more than JUST a workout.
That year I practiced at least four or five times a week. I experienced life with less pain, anxiety, and depression than ever before, and felt more love, joy, and compassion for myself and others. Each teacher at Greenville Yoga, all in their own way, teaches you ways to let go, breathe, and help to guide you into creating intentions to help you be the best version of yourself. I have learned more about my body, heart, and mind, just by showing up and breathing deeply with the help of their knowledge and insight.
Like many, I struggle with ups and downs when it comes to "doing" life. I would love to say that after that year of practicing consistently that I continued that path for the next seven years to follow. But, I didn't. I fell out, and took quite some time to pick myself back up. I tried to keep my foot in the door, I would go to a class a couple times here and there, sometimes for a month or even several months during one year or another. But, nothing that stuck or got me to that happy place that I had once experienced. I was just struggling to find the light. Yet, even though I had fallen out and was not feeling great about myself, each and every time I walked through those doors, every person that greeted me always did so with a warm, loving smile on their face and welcomed me, no questions asked. And that was one of the many reasons that kept me coming back.
So, six months ago on Valentine's day 2019, I decided it was time to start loving myself again. And the best way to do that was to start with some serious self-care. So, I signed up for Greeneville Yoga's Inspired Path (which was a four month commitment). I was overweight, out of shape, depressed, miserable, in pain throughout my entire body, and could not even touch my toes! But, I made a commitment to myself, and every day I would tell myself "just think how great you'll feel in a month" and " just think how much better you'll feel in two months" and so on. I did feel better and better each and every month to follow. It wasn't over night like I'd hoped, lol, but I could definitely feel the subtle shifts each and every time I showed up. Now it's been just a little over six months and I practice at least four times a week at the studio. Every teacher there is amazing and gifted with insight, intuition, and knowledge of this practice. I continue to learn something every time I go. I know that when I keep showing up, breathing, and opening myself up a little more, that I will continue to grow into the best version of myself. Thank you Greenville yoga for helping guide me to the light and love within, so that I can better shine that love and light to all that surrounds me.
