From Reluctance to Devotion: Stacy’s Yoga Journey

"I attended my first Bikram class in the early 90’s and nearly vomited."
That’s how Stacy, now a certified yoga instructor, describes her rocky introduction to yoga.

Yoga wasn’t love at first stretch. It was uncomfortable. Humbling. Hard.

But like many transformative journeys, hers didn’t begin with instant passion—it began with persistence. Years after that overwhelming first experience, Stacy found herself agreeing—almost involuntarily—to attend a 7AM Bikram class. "Motivated only by a desire to protect my reputation as a woman who keeps her word, I showed up," she recalls.

Then she kept showing up.

Not just once a week, but six or even seven days a week.

“I was hooked.”

The Practice of Showing Up

At its core, yoga is a practice—not a performance. It demands that we show up, again and again, regardless of how we feel that day. Through that consistent return to the mat, something shifts. Bodies get stronger. Breath deepens. And most significantly, the mind begins to quiet and strengthen in equal measure.

Stacy explains it perfectly:
"I love how it reveals and challenges my ability to endure, focus, and do Hard Things."

This is one of the most profound gifts of yoga: its ability to mirror life’s challenges and train us in how to meet them—with grace, determination, and presence.

Discipline That Extends Beyond the Mat

Stacy’s yoga practice deepened over time, leading her to complete a 200-hour Classic 26/Hatha Yoga Teacher Training (YTT). The decision to teach was not only a continuation of her growth but also a new form of discipline. Teaching required a different kind of focus—a generosity of spirit, patience, and the humility to continue learning every day.

"My practice now includes teaching, which is its own kind of refining discipline," Stacy says.

Yoga asks us to pay attention—to our breath, to our bodies, to our mental chatter. That kind of attention builds a foundation of discipline that seeps into the rest of our lives: how we show up in relationships, how we approach challenges, and how we lead ourselves through adversity.

The Tangible Transformation

For Stacy, the transformation was not just physical—it was holistic.

"I am captivated by how the practice of yoga and the mental and physical refinement that results from it is tangible and applicable to all aspects of life."

Whether it’s holding a pose through shaking limbs, navigating a tough conversation, or simply honoring a commitment (like a 7AM class), yoga teaches us to endure, to focus, and to do hard things with integrity.

A Practice Shared with Love

As a teacher, Stacy now offers others the opportunity to begin—or return to—their own paths of discipline and growth.

"I hope that you enjoy taking my classes as much as I enjoy teaching them."
It’s an invitation not just to stretch and strengthen the body, but to awaken the deeper layers of self-awareness and resilience that yoga uniquely cultivates.

Yoga isn’t always graceful. It doesn’t always feel good. But like Stacy’s story reminds us, the discomfort is often the doorway. Through discipline, focus, and the simple practice of showing up, yoga becomes more than exercise—it becomes a way to live more fully, more bravely, and more presently.