Welcome Divas to the first blog post in the Yoga for Divas blog series. I’m Stephanie Perry-Bush, your yoga teacher. I currently live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and I look forward to sharing some of what I’ve learned about yoga with you. Yoga is best transmitted through interaction, so please join in often with your thoughts, experiences, and questions.
HOW I GREW TO LOVE YOGA
I began practicing yoga in 1995 when I cautiously wandered into a yoga class at my local athletic club. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I didn’t know anything about yoga at the time. I had long been curious about it. I have a vivid memory of seeing Jane Fonda on a daytime talk show many years earlier talking about yoga and that it changed her life. I even remember thinking as I watched the show as a teenager from a rural town in the south, what is this yoga thing and how can it change someone’s life? Soon after that first class, I became smitten with yoga.
Since that night so many years ago, I’ve spent countless hours practicing, studying, traveling to classes, and teaching yoga. It has become a part of me. It’s what I do. Sometimes I attend classes where I practice with others but most times I practice at home alone.
Over the last twenty years, I’ve practice many different styles of yoga including:
- Hatha
- Bikram,
- Ashtanga,
- Power,
- Yin,
- Anusara,
- Iyengar and more….
Sometimes my practice is very active and vigorous, and other times, it’s quiet and gentle. My practice is sometimes long and other times short.
Downward Facing Dog
Well divas, a lot has happened in twenty years and there have been many changes. But yoga has been a constant in my life.
I love yoga.
Here are some of the reasons why:
- Yoga is a personal journey – it’s an individual practice. A personal relationship is developed to the practices. My experience is determined by how the relationship is nourished and maintained.
- Yoga is for everyone – yoga is equally beneficial and accessible to everyone regardless of age, weight, health conditions, fitness level, etc.
- Yoga adapts as my needs change – it refreshes and energizes me when I’m tired and soothes and centers me when I’m overly stimulated. As I transition into different phases of life, yoga continues to shift with me.
- Yoga is a holistic approach to wellness – yoga is a complete practice that offers practices, tools, and techniques for all the different aspects of my being – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
- Yoga helps me keep my body strong and supple.
- Yoga brings balance into my body and harmony in my life.
- Yoga calms my often active mind and helps me gather and direct my thoughts.
- Yoga broadens my world view- yes, yoga stretches my body but it also stretches my mind.
- Yoga challenges and encourages me to do things I never thought I could or would.
- Yoga inspires me to look inward.
- Yoga leaves me feeling better after I practice.
- Yoga keeps giving – the benefits continue to come as my practice matures.
- Yoga is spiritual without being religious.
- Yoga is both scientific and artistic.
- I always meet interesting, generous, and kind people in yoga class.
My yoga practice has changed how I see the world and in turn how I experience the world. I guess in that way, yoga has changed my life. If you’ve ever considered doing yoga, give it a try. Maybe one day, you’ll be sharing why you love yoga too.
Easy Pose
Thanks for reading the first post in our Yoga for Divas series. Please leave a comment below with your questions, thoughts, or with suggestions for future post topics!
I would love to hear from you soon!
Until next time, take care divas!
I am a certified yoga teacher. I’ve been teaching yoga since 2001. I am registered with Yoga Alliance at the E-RYT 500 level and as a Continuing Education Provider.
I enjoy educating students about yoga and encouraging their practice. But my biggest joy is watching as students become empowered by the yoga to live from the place of calm and power within.
I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with my husband. When I’m not practicing yoga, you’ll find me working out, reading, walking on the beach, cooking, or relaxing.
Mrs. Bush,
Thank You For Sharing~Namaste 🙏🏽
It’s my pleasure. Thank you for joining us for our first post and I hope to see you often as we continue our series. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have about yoga.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. You mentioned several styles of yoga. Do you incorporate different styles as you teach? Looking forward to yoga being a part of my daily routine.
My teaching is mostly rooted in my study of Anusara and Iyengar yoga.
I’ve heard of Bikram yoga, but I didn’t realize there were so many different other types. I’m interested in learning the difference.
There are many styles of yoga and the number continues to grow. Perhaps we can write a post about the different styles of yoga. Thank you for reading the post and your comment.
Thank you for sharing. I have tried several yoga classes and it was very difficult for me. I plan to start another class this week. I want to become very flexible.
Hi Linda, the intensity level of yoga classes can vary greatly. It’s important to find the right fit. But there is definitely a class out there that will be appropriate for you. That said yoga can be challenging but should feel doable. Please let me know how it goes with the class this week.
Thanks for sharing. Do yoga helps with flexibility?
Hi Shantey, one of the benefits of yoga is improved flexibility and range of movement. How fast you see and feel improvement will be specific to your particular situation. But usually progress is noticeable within 6 weeks or so.
Hi Stephanie! Great read! What moves do you suggest for relaxing the body and mind?
Hi Shayla, Thanks for joining me here. Great question!
Generally, forward bends where your head is lower than your heart and/or inversions where your legs are higher than your heart can be calming.
Also, working with the breath can be VERY effective in calming the body and mind. And would be my first recommendation.
If you like, I can send you a short, basic practice. Just go to one of my Facebook pages (http://facebook.com/blackgirlsdoyoga or http://facebook.com/stephanieperrybushyoga) and join my mailing list and I’ll send you one.
I could hear your voice as I read your message. Thank you for creating this blog, and I look forward to learning more.
Thanks Cathie. Your presence here warms my heart.
Thank you for sharing. I need to work yoga into my fitness routine on a regular basis. I noticed that I’m to as sore if I do yoga after a strenuous workout.
Hi Valerie, Thank you for sharing your yogic experience. It’s exciting to read that you are reaping benefits from your practice.
Yoga has the remarkable capacity to refresh and restore our bodies which helps with recovery from strenuous activities or life in general. Recovery is equally important as the workout itself. So, a regular yoga practice is valuable in a fitness routine and well worth the time invested in the practice.
Stay Practicing!
Hi Stephanie! I have considered yoga in the past, but was always intimidated. Your blog makes it seem accessible. I am challenged with balance issues and this may be just what I need to become centered. Glad you are well!
Hi Wendy,
Yoga can be intimidating but don’t let that keep you from giving it a try and reaping all the benefits it has to offer. A consistent practice can definitely help improve your balance.
Thank you for sharing. I wanna love yoga so much so I’m looking forward to learning more about benefits of each type and finding out which will be best for me. A friend recently recommended hot yoga so I’ve been on a search to find one. Looking forward to learning from you.
Hi Danielle, thanks for reading the post and joining in the conversation. Yoga is easy to love when you find the right fit. You may have to try on a couple of styles to find the one that’s for you and that may change along the way.
It’s great you have a friend to encourage you to start your yoga journey. I practiced Bikram yoga for years as my primary practice. Bikram yoga is a style of hot yoga. If you like heat, it’s a good way to go!
I’ve always wanted to try yoga; hearing about it’s wonderful benefits. Thanks for sharing your time and ministry with us!
It’s my pleasure. Thanks for reading the blog. I hope you will join us in the 21-Day Yoga Challenge.
Thank you for sharing your story. I know there are great benefits to doing yoga especially since I sometimes have lower back issue. Looking forward to trying something new that is beneficial and will help get my body in better shape and bring a since of peace to my spirit as well.
Hi Marlene,
Thank you for joining us here on the blog. Yoga is a wonderful practice for a wholistic approach to wellness. The physical poses can be adjusted to meet your needs and help relieve your back pain. However, all classes are not the same and some may not be appropriate for you. So, you want to study with an experienced teacher.
Hi thank you for sharing. I’ve always thought about trying yoga, but I let my weight hinder me. Maybe I’ll give it a try.
Thank you for sharing this information, I have always wanted to try yoga, just never found the right environment. Excited to give it a try!
Peace. Love this post! Around the same time that you mustered the courage to step into that first class, I was studying the philosophy & meditation of Egyptian Yoga exclusively. Like too many in our community, I didn’t explore the physical postures until need arose ten years ago, when my chronic health issues became more intense.
LOL, it took me about two weeks of sincere, dedicated practice to become smitten, though. So glad that we did, SiStar. Much Love & Respect!
🙂 I’m so happy we did. Yoga (asana, meditation, breath, philosophy) has served as a staple in my life and a means for growth in many areas. Thank you for being here.