My Yoga Journey
The History
Yoga has had a HUGE impact on my life. An impact much larger and more profound than I would have ever imagined.
I was first introduced to yoga at my dance studio, Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy around 2010 during our summer intensive. While we did yoga postures, these classes were more focused on simply stretching out after a full day of dancing. These classes did introduce me to some of the movement of yoga though, and that is where my first interest in the practice came from.
Flash-foward to 2016, age 16, I was back home on summer break after completing my first semester at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, which was also my summer right before junior year high school. Right when my break was coming to a close, on August 19, I decided to try out this new hot yoga studio, Radiant Hot Yoga. Before the end of my first class, I already knew I had found something that would change my life.
For the next two school years, I would go to Radiant as much as I possibly could during my winter and summer breaks (since I was studying in Russia at the time). Once I graduated from both high school and the Bolshoi, I moved back home- meaning I was able to go to yoga class at Radiant all year long, and that I was also finally able to complete the 200 hour yoga teacher training. In November, 2018, I graduated with my teaching certification.
The Impact
As I previously mentioned, yoga has had a very big impact on my life. The reason that I first wanted to go to Radiant, in that summer right before returning to Russia, was because I knew that I was going back to a place that was very tough on mental health. I knew of how yoga could be good for mental health, and I was hoping to find a place that was more accepting to all. What I ended up finding was this and so much more.
Just from my first experience at Radiant, I already felt so much love and acceptance (and I also already knew I 100% wanted to become a yoga teacher). There was also absolutely no ego or competition from anyone in the class and everyone was supporting each other like one big family. One class in, and I already felt like I was a part of the loving and supportive community and family.
This feeling only grew stronger and stronger, and that's why I was so excited when I was finally in the United States long enough to complete the teacher training certification training. It was during this time period that I grew the most in not just my practice, but as a person. I gained more knowledge about the yoga postures, history, styles, teaching methods, anatomy, and more. What I did not expect though, was the new family I would be gaining and the amount of love and support we would all have for each other. Quite honestly, I do not even think it would be possible to describe in words just how much love we all had for each other. It was through this close bond we had all formed that we were able to all break down our walls and grow together. Ever since this training, I have not only changed how I go about my yoga practice, but also how I think and view the world and myself.
I have since also received my kids yoga teaching certification as well as my breathwork and meditation teaching certification- both of which I now teach. Being able to pass on the love and support that yoga has given me onto others fills my heart each and everyday.
Overall, yoga has truly changed how I live my life, and continues to do so. It has opened so many doors for me and I can not wait to see where it takes me in the future. I will forever be grateful for the love it has shown me and the family it has given me.
