With so much gratitude

This weekend I left teacher training in Los Angeles and flew to Florida to participate in my very first yoga competition, representing Georgia in the Southeast Regional Yoga Asana Championships.  

Training for my first competition in the middle of the most physically/emotionally/mentally intense 9 weeks of my life and then getting on a plane and flying to the exact opposite side of the country = a little bit crazy.

Peoples' reaction leading up to the event was generally one of disbelief and wow. I got a lot of incredible support, love, encouragement, and help along the way.

Would you believe me if I told you that the craziness of this whole idea didn't even occur to me until I was physically on the plane and in the air on Friday? 

That was the first time I said to myself, "I can't believe I'm actually about to do this".

Total travel time: 16 hours.  Total hours spent in Florida: less than 29.  Total number hours of actual sleep between Friday night to Monday morning: about 9. Duration of yoga routine on stage: 3 minutes. 

Right now I'm flying somewhere over New Mexico.  

When I land in LA in a couple hours, I will hit the ground running and jump right back into the schedule. Physical exhaustion notwithstanding. Today is the start of Week Eight!

Oh, a very important thing to mention.

I placed First in the Georgia Women's division!!

Gold medal.

Beyyyyyond my wildest dreams.

Tomorrow or Wednesday I will post a video of my routine on stage along with what yoga asana competition means to me.

But for this blog post, I really would like to dedicate it to thanking the people who helped make it possible.

Being at teacher training, I've had the huge fortune of having access to visiting teachers who are former/current champions, coaches to champions, and people who are generally very supportive of yoga competition.

 Although I didn't have an official coach, what I did have were dozens of mini coaching sessions with some of the most experienced people in this circle. To everyone who took the time to watch my routine and give me valuable feedback and posture tips: Ida Ripley, Erik Persson, Suzanne Elliott, Paulina Bianchi, Stefania Garcia, Nicole Duke, Rob Manosca, Rebecca Rumpf. Thank you!

My husband Jonathan is the greatest supporter and believer in my dreams.  He surprised me by being there at the last minute, saying he could never miss my first competition. Thank you!  Love you!


To Esak Garcia, and Jedi Fight Club, the whole foundation of my training. Thank you!

My teacher and friend Kirsten Johnson who came all the way from the other side of the country just to be there and support me. Thank you!

My friend and fellow competitor Brittany who pushed me to do the competition in spite of my doubts of being able to do it during teacher training.  Thank you :)

My fellow teacher trainees in Los Angeles, so many among the 400 of them, who were never short on excitement, encouragement, and kind words of support these past couple of weeks. Especially my closest friends and dialogue study buddies Nicola, Tiffany, and Kat, always willing to get me caught up on the studying I'd missed because of staying in the hot room after class to train. Thank you! And Rachel, thank you!

Shaun Kerr - Rhode Island champion, fellow teacher trainee, and awesome friend, who stayed so many times with me after class to work with me on my routine. Thank you!

Did I forget anyone?  I'm so sure I did. If I accidentally omitted your  name, know that I thank you, too. 

When I return to Atlanta in less than 2 weeks to start my new and exciting career as a Bikram Yoga teacher, I also look so forward to training with my amazing fellow Georgia competitor and winner, Rebecca Causey.  I can't wait for us to train together for the Nationals in March!

Namaste, everyone, with so much gratitude.

Love, love, love.