Nicole’s Lotus yoga teacher was so happy to snap this picture of her balancing on blocks to enjoy the benefits of inversions!
Tell us a
little bit about yourself. I’m a busy mom of two and wife. I’m originally from Pennsylvania, but also
lived in Syracuse, NY before moving to Muncie. I work part-time as well as
volunteer a few different places, mainly working on computers. Between working
at a desk or in the car driving the kids to practice, therapy, scouts, etc.,
it’s hard to find time to be active or even just time to myself.
How does
yoga fit into your lift? Yoga really is the perfect fit for me. It’s relaxing and calming while
keeping me active, strong, and flexible. I look forward to it every week not
just to keep my body in shape, but also my mind. And because I look forward to
it, I make it a priority. I’m taking care of myself so I can take care of
others.
How long
have you been practicing yoga? Only a year and a half. I was so clumsy and stiff at first, sitting cross
legged on the floor with a straight back was a challenge for me.
How do
you think you’ve changed—physically, mentally, spiritually—since you started
practicing yoga? My friend signed us up for an introductory class as her Christmas gift to
me. It’s the best gift she could’ve given me. Not only I’m I in better shape
physically and mentally, I’ve made some amazing friends through yoga. I’ve
changed tremendously through yoga. I had lower back pain, hip pain, and
shoulder pain most of my adult life. I’ve gone to doctors, chiropractors,
physical therapists, all several times. It would relieve the symptoms
initially, but the pain would just come back. When I started yoga, I didn’t
notice any difference at first. But about 4 months in, going nearly every week,
the pain began to lessen until it was gone. Yoga had put my body back into its
natural alignment. And if I miss a week or two of yoga, I can feel it.
What yoga
posture/pose do you like the most? Why? Savasana. It’s like a reward at the end of yoga session. Plus, you get that
time to reflect on how much better you feel.
Which
Lotus class(es) do you attend most often? I love the Slow Flow & Restore class on Thursdays, at 6:15pm. And Libby
is an amazing instructor and friend. I also love it when River or Rachel fill
in for Libby. It’s great to change it up.
What do
you find most challenging about yoga? Two things. With a hectic schedule, it was hard to make yoga or even myself
a priority. I’m always working, volunteering, and doing something with/for the
kids, etc. And it was too easy to say I’ll go tomorrow or next week. But I’ve
been going every week for over a year, only missing a few due to conflicts,
illness, or being out of town. The second is balancing poses. I’m horribly
clumsy and have no sense of balance whatsoever. And when I fall, I take others
down with me. So, for balance poses, I automatically go to the wall for
support. That way I can still get the benefit of the poses without hurting
anyone or myself.
