Vera Thomlison

I started practicing yoga in my teens at home after seeing a cover on Time magazine of Christy Turlington in what looked like a very cool albeit weird position and the word “YOGA” printed in bold caps. I was so intrigued by the article as I’d never heard of anything like it. The article printed out the images of a standard Sun Salutation and I practiced it every night along with some other poses featured in the magazine.

Fast forward twenty years later, working a demanding job, going to the gym to “destress” six days a week, and trying to balance that all out with numbing activities made me realize something needed to change. Coming back to yoga, I learned to breathe again as if for the first time. And that’s when I wanted to become a yoga teacher.

Every body is different. For some, slowing down is hard. For others, finding the energy to move can be hard. And for others still, it’s their racing mind and repetitive thoughts that are holding them back. Yoga is for every body. Even in the same practice, everyone can find something unique to them that helps and heals their body and mind.

As the Buddhist saying goes, “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” Coming into the nurturing environment of yoga, I found a safe space to learn to be with myself. I love the practice, and cannot wait to share it with you.