Buongiorno!

HERE you are! Welcome! I'm so happy you're here! There's a few things I'd like to share with you!

First, You are beautiful, just the way you are! I can't believe that our Creator would put us together thinking, "Oh, well, they're not too pretty and they get even worse with age, but, heck, I'll just send 'em down anyway" - NO way! We human beings come in all shapes and sizes, and in my world the only ideal shape is the one you feel strong and healthy in, so if you're feeling insecure, let's get over that now!

Next, although yoga is often taught in classes, real yoga is not a class; it's a practice - as individual as you are. If you've never done yoga, watching someone experienced flowing through complicated postures is daunting - you think, "No way my body is going to do THAT - and if I DID manage to get into that shape it would take two men and a firetruck to get me back out!" In yoga it's more important to align your body and allow particular muscles to either hold or stretch in sync with your natural breath, encouraging your mind, body and emotions to balance. You will receive the same benefit doing partial extensions in the beginning as an experienced person receives in full stretch. I custom design your yoga just for you to make sure you're getting what you need in ways that allow you to fully achieve. 

AND there's help! You can do vertical yoga (standing postures), horizontal yoga (floor postures), bed yoga, chair yoga - and one of my favorites, Kitchen Yoga! (Snacking on a piece of pizza while doing Tree Pose - KIDDING!). Props are also available to help you - pillows, towels, yoga blocks, folded up blankets ... feel confident that there's a perfect yoga just waiting for you to say, "I'm In!"

So don't be scared!

And finally, don't expect your body to become somebody else's. Yoga is a way of bringing your own body to it's best health and mobility. If you have physical limitations, we'll work with them, not against. For instance, even after 30 years of yoga, I have tight hamstring muscles. I may never be able to achieve a full forward bend with straight legs, chest upon thighs, nose between shins and hands flat upon the floor. But, I've gone from reaching barely below my knees to touching the floor with my finger tips - yay for me! Good progress! 

You can use yoga in a variety of ways. To begin with, it's good exercise that helps build strength, balance and flexibility. Yoga is also a good choice to maximize benefits of other exercise programs, like aerobics, active sports, weight-lifting, Zumba and dancing. Beyond the body, yoga is proven to relieve stress and anxiety - a relaxing way to start and end your busy day! And if you find yourself really getting into the whole yoga mindset, it can literally change your life. Yoga can provide many health benefits! You get to choose what is best for you.

Of note: Yoga is not a weight loss program, but in learning to love and take care of your body, you might find yourself eating healthier and exercising more as you begin to understand the relationship you have with food and how taking care of your physical, emotional and mindful health is one of the most loving things you can do for yourself and those you love. None of us is perfect. Many of us have permanent health and physical challenges or body limitations that will not change, but every day offers us the opportunity to do our best, be our best - and if we fail, forgive ourselves, and try again. 

I'm here for you! I'll be kind and helpful. I will push you a little but I won't hurt you, and you won't fail as long as you don't quit. Let's get started today!