,
Fitness classes have always been my jam. So when a friend told me Peloton was offering a few months for free during the pandemic, I said, “Why not? I wasn’t doing much else, but do I need a bike?”
Peloton offers countless classes such as cycling, running, and strength training, but my favorites are their yoga classes. Before taking classes at home, I loved going to yoga studios, but I either couldn’t afford the classes consistently or I didn’t feel welcomed as a black woman.
I was now stuck at home, growing my love for yoga, and could take classes whenever I wanted. Peloton then added a black woman yoga instructor. Something inside told me that I could do this; teach people yoga and share my love of yoga with everyone.
Starting in 2023, I felt more like myself since having my son in 2021, but I was still trying to figure out my freelancing work situation. I started to look into what it entailed to become a yoga instructor. It was a lot; I was overwhelmed and didn’t have the time, childcare, or money, but I wasn’t deterred.
By 2024, things were looking up, and I found time to take classes at a local yoga studio. I saw that they offered teacher training and quickly reached out to the manager of the studio about the training and to learn more about the studio. We connected on so many things, and I expressed why I wanted to become a teacher. She thought I would be a great addition to their upcoming class. After applying, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.
I was so excited after getting my acceptance email (and, thankfully, a scholarship). I told all my family and friends with such joy. That first Friday in September, I was ready. I ordered my books and went to Target to get notebooks, Post-its, pencils, and highlighters. Then I ordered a new yoga mat. I was a giddy schoolgirl ready to soak up all the yoga knowledge.
After the first weekend, I was mentally and physically exhausted with all my new yoga knowledge. Yoga is so much more than just the poses we do in class. One of the first things my instructor, Cindy, said to us was, “You get in what you put out,” and I was going to put in my all.
During my first month with homework, I read about yoga sutras, mindfulness, how to meditate, body anatomy, and the heart of yoga. I started to see and feel differences, especially with prioritizing just meditating twice a week. Meditation intends to remove suffering. I found that I was less reactive and tense, and I took the time to listen to others and think about how I wanted to respond. I usually plan my response before the person has even gotten to their point in conversations. Now I’m taking the time to listen and step back to be mindful of the message I want to get across. It has been life-shifting.
In return, I have been able to help my little one with his big emotions and am very aware of my responses to him. I found myself saying no to him A LOT. No one wants to hear no continuously throughout their day—especially a 3-year-old. Now, I take a beat. Breathe. Then respond. Doing my best not to scream no instantly. The change may be small, but my son has noticed the difference. He feels he’s not always doing something wrong, or I’m badgering him. Not only him but my husband as well. He expressed how my yoga training has made positive changes. It felt great to have my changes recognized.
Our class was discussing the yoga sutras, specifically one by the name of avidyā, which translates to “not clear seeing.” The practice of yoga is to aid in seeing clearly. Ridding our heart-mind of the garbage or untruths and seeing our life and world as it is. I expressed to Cindy and the class how I’ve been struggling with seeing my world clearer as we progress in our training and how my mindfulness has created challenges in my interactions with others. Then Cindy said, “When you change, your relationships have no choice but to change.” My mindset was that everyone should become what I thought was “better”, think like me, and change. In reality, the shifting of thoughts has made a difference in relationships, and I’ve only completed 3 of my 8 months of training. This new version of me will automatically create new versions of relationships with the people around me. It can only be for the better because this new version of me is better.
Being able to prioritize my want to become a yoga teacher was scary at first. We aren’t taught as women to put our wants first, especially when we become wives/partners and then moms. I’ve gotten to unlock this new version of Asha, which I am so proud of. I am a better mom because of it. I can teach my son mindfulness and be an example of going after your dreams.
Yoga in Sanskrit means to “yoke” to unify mind, body, and spirit. I am on that continuous journey and loving all the vakras (twists) and valanas (turns). Namaste.
