Bio for Lara Tierney
My first experience of yoga was frustrating. It was a hatha yoga class that asked its students to get into poses and just sit with them for long periods of time. My mind would go racing in many directions and I would wonder why on earth I was doing this when there were so many other things I wanted to be doing. So I gave it up.
A few years later, I heard about Ashtanga yoga. I wasn't sure how this would be different, but I was up for giving it a go. That turned out to be an amazing decision. Ashtanga yoga was (and is still) such a good fit for me.
Now when I say that, it doesn't mean that I was able to do all the poses. It means that I found myself needing to let go of all the thinking in order to be able to do the practice. It was a break from being in my head all the time. I could just let go and focus on breathing and moving.
There are always days when it is difficult for me to come to my mat. But I can honestly say that I am always grateful that I did. And the gifts that my yoga practice brings continue to grow. Sometimes the gifts are very physical - I can now touch my toes in forward bends (I wasn't sure that would ever happen) and sometimes they are more mental/emotional - I am far less stressed and more able to let go of control (I wasn't sure that would ever happen either!).
And beyond even all of those gifts, I continue to discover more. How to breathe through tough moments. How to be present in my body. How to soften and let go of tension. How to be where I am in the moment and not compare myself to others. How to have intention but not be attached to the outcome. So many discoveries. Part of my love for yoga is that it is an ongoing discovery process. There is no end. No final destination. Just the joy of discovery and growth.
I had never really considered the yoga teacher path. It was my sister who encouraged me to consider it. I am so grateful that she did. And so grateful to have had an amazing guru, Rameen, to lead the way. What a life changing experience.
Now I get to discover the joy of yoga from both sides of the mat - student and teacher. In both roles, I love getting to share my passion for this practice.
Meet you on the mat!