The Healing Power of Yoga

There was a time in my life when I was lost. Lost in a dark loop of self destruction, because I didn’t feel worthy of love and belonging. Many circumstances got me to that point, but the reason why I was lost in the first place was because I didn’t know how to find myself; I didn’t even know who I was. My life kept passing by; year by year there were mistakes that piled on, broken dreams and hearts, betrayal, anger, abandonment and pain, the list goes on. 

When I was 23 my higher education advisor saw the pain in my eyes and encouraged me to go to therapy. I went and my life changed. I found myself, I started to love myself and finally forgave myself. 

I thought I was in a pretty good place until I went to a yoga class; during the first few seconds I was crying just from the teacher telling the class to put our hands over our hearts, to breathe deeply and love ourselves. I knew right then that yoga had healing powers that touched areas of me that were still lost, still dark. 

Fast forward to present, I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist who also teaches yoga and with the help of my family, the NFC team, and community started a nonprofit which provides free yoga to underserved communities @namasteforcompassion . I want others who would never otherwise get the chance to experience the healing benefits of yoga to know what it feels like to connect with their mind body and spirit. To have moments that are sacred as they sink their body to breath, breath to body. To have a light shine within them bright enough to light their own path when they are lost.