LAUREN SYLER

A close family friend took me to my first yoga class when I was 19. From my first moment on the mat, I had an “ah, here it is…” feeling. I am not unique—many people have an “ah-ha” moment when they try yoga, but little did I know how much that feeling would change me.

On the mat, for the first time in my life I was able to quiet my mind and let everything else drop away. It’s amazing what revelations you can discover about yourself and how you want to approach life when

you stop doing and just start being. As a type A personality who was always striving to move forward, the concept of trying to be where you are (no matter where that was) was a life changing experience. I have a teacher who likes to say, “It is a practice, not a perfect,” which to me sums up the concept of yoga and life in general.

Wanting to share my love of yoga and delve deeper into my own practice, I attended Baron Baptiste’s Level 1 teacher training in October of 2008.  My teaching style works to help students create a powerful mind and body, yet have compassion for themselves in their everyday lives and on their mats.  In life and in yoga, just showing up is half the battle.