Three generations find help through Iyengar Yoga . . .
Sylvia Spencer tells her moving story
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Sylvia and granddaughter Alex doing a sun salutation on Christmas Eve. Family gift of yoga props to Alex's mother Lara behind.
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"My daughter Irena was home between adventures looking for a yoga class. I suggested that she try The Yoga Studio at the JCC.
There she discovered Iyengar yoga . . . and that step changed all of our lives.
My health was in a downhill spiral marked by constant pain, exhaustion, and difficulty walking. Western medical and fitness traditions were unable to offer much in the way of relief. When I followed Irena to that my Discovery yoga class it gave me a dramatic increase in mobility - and I was hooked.
Husband David soon joined me, and Saturday morning classes became top priority for us. After a few months I realized that I had learned enough to start a daily home practice, and my yoga journey intensified.
I attend classes and workshops to learn more and to push myself farther, and I practice daily to consolidate my knowledge and to deepen my understanding.
I have learned to stop fighting with my body and no I longer worry about performance or even about making progress. I work to find the essence of the pose and to engage my inner core both mentally and physically to maximize what I can do.
I have battled chronic illness for twenty five years, and nothing has come even close to helping me the way Iyengar yoga has. The effects on my health and well-being have been astounding, and it just keeps on getting better. Besides giving me strength, energy and that wonderful mobility, yoga helps me with my sense of perspective. It gives me inner peace, serenity, and a joy that is untouched by the difficulties and crises of daily life.
Our whole family is now involved in yoga. Daughter Lara has just begun her restorative practice. Her nine year old daughter Alex works with YogaKids. Alex will be sharing her knowledge with her school class in their spring yoga unit.
Tanya is moving back to London, England from Geneva and is already planning which classes and workshops she will attend at her favourite studio. Karina is off on a work/travel adventure in New Zealand, and has been searching for yoga classes in Auckland.
Irena is now in Afghanistan. The first care package we sent to her contained blocks, a yoga blanket, and a bolster for her daily practice. She finds her yoga practice helps her to cope with her grueling work hours and very difficult living conditions.
Iyengar yoga is now a part of our family culture. We share our knowledge and insights, commiserate with one another over poses that we find difficult, and celebrate one another's triumphs. We are living proof that you are never too ill or too old or too young for Iyengar yoga. Many thanks to the wonderful instructors of The Yoga Studio who have taught us so much.
