The other day I received an email from a former yoga student of mine in Washington, D.C. that got me thinking about how much yoga has shaped my life. I remember earlier in my career – back in the days when I labeled my work life a “career” – when I constantly wondered about my purpose. I had great jobs, but they lacked something. Meaning? Connection? There was always this underlying anxiety that something was missing, and I was worried that I might never find it. And then yoga came along.

I’ve said this before, and I know I am one of the gazillion people out there talking about how YOGA CHANGED MY LIFE! Sarcasm aside – since I made yoga my career/purpose, I am not anxious about my life path anymore. Over the last 10+ years, I have watched yoga introduce me to people I would have never otherwise met, take me to places I would have never otherwise gone. I have trusted in this journey. It has been good to me.

Ten years ago, I opened a little studio “in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s historic Georgetown neighborhood”, called Georgetown Yoga. When those doors opened, I had no idea what I was getting into, or how much meaning, connection, and whatever else was missing from my work I would find there. The nostalgia for the people and the place runs strong. Although GY closed back in 2009, those experiences live on, both for me and others. Here is what my student shared with me:

I walked into Georgetown Yoga with more than a little trepidation and worried about everything – fitting in, falling over, you name it. The GY family immediately took me in and set me on my way – it became my first “home base” studio and my first yoga community. Seven years later, I’ve had so many wonderful experiences because of the practice that started at GY. And, honestly, I’m a stronger person – inside and outside – because of the practice that you and the GY team made so accessible and the confidence it brought to try new things, not always be “perfect” and just enjoy the ride.

I am living the dream here in Montana. But D.C. will always be close to my heart for many reasons, not the least of which was Georgetown Yoga and its community. When some D.C. yogis contacted me to ask about using my studio’s former domain name, I was happy that another space dedicated to yoga could hopefully be infused with the incredible sense of connection we all found within those bright blue walls in Georgetown. I haven’t had the pleasure to meet these yogis yet, but their yoga mission sounds very familiar, so I am pleased to recommend them. It’s just one of many interesting twists (no pun intended) that no longer surprise me, when the source is yoga. Check out Georgetown Yoga, take two. If you live in the D.C. area, put them on your practice list. Namaste.