I love Bikram Yoga Elk Grove. LOVE, as in from
the bottom of my soul, I am so grateful that this studio holds its mark in the
world, and even more so that I was lucky enough to stumble upon it in this
lifetime. Though I one day hope to have a studio of my own just like
this, I know this kind of community didn’t just pop up over night. You can feel
its welcoming vibe as soon as you walk in and you know that it’s a product of
love… at least a decade of hard work and love. It really is a yoga
family… After all, that’s how it should be, because we all see each
other so often, and because we might as well get to know a little more
about each other if we’re going to sweat side by side wearing less than what
even our close friends have seen us in!
It’s the
little things, like sweet words of encouragement and inspiration in between
sets, the mini celebrations we throw for each other when we have breakthroughs,
and the endless warmth and love that is shared within the walls of our small,
yet wonderfully cozy studio…. All of that, and so much more makes BYEG
permanently stand out from other places in our hearts. Part of that is Elk
Grove, but a lot of that is Carrie Bain and the amazing core group of women
that have stood by her side, helping her along the way.
For what
little time I’ve spent here, I’m proud to have been a small part of that group,
not just teaching but also getting to work behind the scenes. I have learned
tremendously about yoga, about teaching yoga, about running a yoga studio,
about my students, and even about myself. I have come to love my practice no
matter how frustrating it may feel at times, to love myself regardless of how I
look, to truly love others, to realize my potential… that I have a
potential. We all do. We all can. That’s all yoga…. It is if you
want it to truly change you on the inside. That’s what my time at BYEG
has taught me. All of that and so much more.
For all
of this I am eternally grateful. For all of this, BYEG will always be a part of
me. And for all of this, I will always be proud to say that this is the
place where I was “yoga born”. That this is where I learned to be a nicer
person, to myself and to others. This is where I learned what love really means
and how far it can take us. This is where I learned how to backbend without
fear… to subsequently proceed forward with confidence. This is where I learned
who I truly was, am, and want to become.
That
being said, I must move on to continue that process. Not just on the
mat, but also, perhaps more importantly, off the mat too. So this July, I will
be moving my practice to Orange County, where I will be cutting back on
teaching, and will first incorporate more learning, followed by working in a
different field: Real Estate. Orange County, not just for the great weather and
opportunities, but also to be closer to my mom and the rest of our family. I must
take my own practice to the next level, because I am ready. Because this
is what I’ve been practicing for, this is what I’ve been making myself
stronger and more flexible for…. To be the best me I can be, just as we
encourage you to do for yourself. Its time for me to practice what I preach,
not just in the hot room, but also outside… hopefully in an air-conditioned
office while wearing more, and nicer clothes.
Honestly,
there really is nothing I could ever say or do to truly justify the amount of
gratitude I have for this beautiful little gem of a studio in Northern
California. All I can say is from the bottom of my yogi heart, THANK YOU!
Thank you Carrie Bain for BYEG and all the love and support you provide to us.
Thank you to all the teachers and staff, that I have had the pleasure of
working with and learning from… without whom I would never have come to believe
in myself and in my practice. And a huge thank you to our amazing students for
your immense patience as I try to find my own voice on the podium, for your
endless warmth and inspiration, and for being so kind to Stretch and letting
her be a part of our yoga family too.
I’m taking
all of you with me… Each and every one of you and the moments we have shared
will always hold a dear place in my heart and soul. No worries, I certainly
will come back and visit. And part of me will always be here with you, even if
it is just a tiny bit of my sweat soaked through the carpet into the concrete
beneath! And YOU will always have one more yoga family (two if you count my
mom, darLing… three plus Stretch) member to visit and hang out with when you
are down south. This is not the end… but really the beginning of something even
more beautiful. We just gotta keep going to find out!
Love and
Namaste,
Justine &
Stretch
