DANA

“When I was 20 or 21 years old I was introduced to yoga by my brother, which was unlikely introduction. He took me to a traditional Ashtanga studio in Somerville, MA. I remember the class feeling incredibly long and I was humbled by my physical limitations, in spite of being in good cardiovascular shape. I had never seen adults outside of gymnastic competitions and performance arts who were as limber as the seemingly “normal” appearing people in this class. The room was slightly warm, comfortably packed with an eclectic crew of women and men and smelled of patchouli. My brother next to me was the least flexible person in the room, but he was engaged in every aspect of class and witnessing his willingness to participate fully with having much less range of motion compared to those in the room also gave me space to be ok with what I was and was not able to physically or mentally.”