speaking from experience 

My journey into Yoga started about two years ago with a little invitation from Janesa to join her in practice at our work-place gym.

Her and I had been working out together for a while with different things, from running to Beach Body’s workouts and eventually our own HIIT workouts.

Over the months of working out with her, I noticed that she was growing more flexible and stronger than the rest of us.

I asked her if she was working out elsewhere also and she said that she had been practicing yoga.

As someone who has only every worked out with weights and running, I was intrigued as to how yoga was helping her so much.

After all, I thought yoga was just some simple poses and stretches that was mostly practiced by women.

When she invited me to join her in her formerly-solo practice, I quickly said yes, and admitted to her that I had been thinking about asking her myself if I could join her,

But had not done so as I thought I would be interrupting her practice.

It was at this point that I unofficially became her first student  

 

I remember the 1st time I practiced with her, I actually did a shoulder workout ahead of time, and although unintentionally, I was clearly not showing any respect to Yoga or Janesa.

​

I quickly learned what a mistake I had made when she showed me how to hold the first Downward Dog of my life.  After about 15 seconds, I my shoulders were burning.

Not just my shoulders, my core and legs began to shake and immediately I said to myself “Oh crap” (I actually said something else).

​

Over the days, weeks and months that we practiced alongside, I started experiencing levels of flexibility that I had never experienced before.

My legs became strong enough to hold chair poses for what seemed like forever and my core was stronger than it had ever been, and this is from someone who grew up running cross country and track, playing baseball, weight lifting, participating in run/bike biathlons and eventually in obstacle races.

The day I was able to do my first Flying Crow, I remember I said “Janesa look look look!!”.  The excitement in my voice was like a little kid’s.

Then she taught me my first inversion. 

I was there, upside down in amazement of what my body was doing…and again…I had been an athlete all my life

 

Janesa’s teachings also helped me understand  and trust our connections to the universe.

She taught me to listen to the little messages that mother earth has for us.

She taught me how to listen to my body and slow down enough to appreciate time.

She taught me that working out is not all about brute force. All of this was before she even became an official Yoga instructor… but to me, she was an instructor from day 1.

​

In my opinion, Janesa is absolutely meant to bring the joys and benefits of Yoga to the rest of us!