Yoga is a living tradition, an ancient Indian physical and mental system for self exploration and growth that is as effective today as it has been for centuries.

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Yoga is a living tradition, an ancient Indian physical and mental system for self exploration and growth that is as effective today as it has been for centuries. The word ‘yoga’ means ‘union’ or ‘to join together’. Practicing yoga harmonizes or “joins together” mind, body and spirit.

I was introduced to Yoga by one of my friends when I fell terribly sick with jaundice a few years back.  I took medication but my condition did not improve. I also got addicted to the prescription drugs which made my system weak and took a huge toll on my overall well being. I felt depressed and a complete lack of energy and enthusiasm. At this point, one of my friends, an enthusiastic yoga practitioner, encouraged me to sign up for a yoga class. I took her advice and signed up for a three month long yoga class. In the beginning I found the classes exhausting and difficult but my family and that friend kept encouraging me to keep to practice going. Within a couple of weeks of disciplined yoga practice, my digestive system started showing signs of healing. I also began to experience improved posture, strength and immunity. I got off my addiction of prescription tablets and this was enough incentive for me to continue with yoga. Since then I have followed a routine of regular yoga practice and it has become one of the most enjoyable activities of my life. I still take regular classes at the health club every few months.


For the yoga class, I carry a yoga mat as we practice on the floor. I also carry a cotton belt to help with some of the stretching poses. For the session, my instructor creates a relaxing and peaceful ambience by playing soft music and lighting aromatic incense. My yoga class usually begins with a set of gentle warmup stretches, followed by a series of inversions and forward and back bending poses. It is then followed by a set of aggressive breathing techniques which are considered useful for purifying lungs.  A session usually lasts about 45 minutes and ends with a period of meditation and a prayer of gratitude to the divine. By the end of my yoga sessions, I usually feel happy and rejuvenated with life energy. Over a period of time, my passion for yoga has only grown so I decided to use this class assignment as an opportunity to talk to my yoga instructors, Kara and Malini, and learn about their individual journeys with yoga.

I met my yoga instructor Kara over a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Kara is very friendly and her caring nature shows through in the classes she teaches. She has a tall, athletic frame and a career in sports was a natural choice for her. She started her career as a gym instructor in Gold’s Gym.  There she conducted aerobics lessons and designed workout routines based on her students’ individual needs. She recollects her workout sessions as being focused on step-aerobics and intensive fat-burning in a background of contemporary pop music. Over an extended period of time, aggressive workout sessions took a huge toll on her spine. She developed a severe back condition which kept her from continuing as an aerobics instructor.  She went in for massage therapy to treat her back but her condition did not improve. Her doctor introduced her to yoga and explained the many benefits of the practice. He advised her to take up yoga sessions for some time to heal her back and thus started Kara’s journey with yoga. She heaves a sigh of relief when she says “I remember having the most excruciating back aches and the pain relieving yoga poses were like an elixir for life”. She enjoyed yoga so much that she continued to practice even after her physical condition improved. One day she said to herself, “Hey, I enjoy this so much, why not explore becoming a professional yoga teacher”. She followed her heart and enrolled in yoga certification classes and put her very best effort into mastering the poses and learning the skills and techniques to conduct a class successfully. Her hard work and passion for yoga paid off when she got a job with Pro Sports club, one of the most prestigious health clubs in the northwest part of America.

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According to Kara, yoga has taught her to follow a disciplined approach towards life.  Her face beams with joy when she describes the benefits she’s reaping, “Yoga has made me extremely sensitive to my body and it has helped me develop a deep connection with my body, mind and soul”. She advices her students to practice yoga on an empty stomach (not to eat for at least two hours before the class) and wear loose, comfortable clothing.  She tries her best to introduce even the toughest of yoga postures in the most gentle and caring manner, by breaking it up ...

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