One of my favorite feelings in the world is dropping into savasana at the end of a perfect yoga class. It’s difficult to define what a “perfect” yoga class is but when you have taken one, you can feel it. I leave class feeling like I have a certain glow, and I’m reminded of why it’s essential to come back to my mat. The ability to feel, and really tune in, is essential. Laying in savasana at the Wanderlust yoga festival this past October, I could hear my heartbeat in my ears and felt as though I was full of light and warmth… I am sure the Texas sun beating down on me helped with that!
It’s crazy to think back to 4 years ago when yoga was something completely new to me. The first time I really committed to giving this “yoga” thing a try was when a friend brought me to a Vinyasa flow class at The Source Yoga, a small studio in McLean, Virginia, near where I was interning at the time. I am so thankful she invited me to tag along that summer, because my love and appreciation for yoga has grown exponentially since. From the first class, I was hooked. That same a week, I committed a good chunk of my internship paycheck to a monthly yoga membership. By the end of the summer I could rely on just listening to the teacher’s cues to move between poses instead of having to look all around me to know where to move next. I chuckle now when I think of how even the simplest cues and poses were so confusing back then! I always felt like I was three seconds behind everyone else. When I went back to college that fall, my free time was significantly reduced as my studies demanded much more of my attention, and while yoga was still a part of my life, it took a backseat to my studies.
After graduating, I found myself in a new job and new city in a short two months. I struggled to find a routine and hopped between studios for a while, looking for the elusive experience I had found at The Source Yoga. Six months after moving, my relationship with yoga changed again. Returning to Houston after Christmas that year proved to be especially difficult, because of a recent break up I hadn’t expected. The breakup rocked me to my core – I couldn’t eat or sleep peacefully for days, and I developed an entirely new level of empathy for anyone who goes through it – no matter what side you are on. While I struggled with whether or not to tell anyone at work, when the conversation about “how was your Christmas?” came up, it was hard to side-step reality. THANK GOD for Christina, who not only gave me new perspective, she also suggested that I attend a class at Yogaleena.
I say, with true sincerity, that at this point in my life yoga helped me heal. At the end of practice, I could actually take a deep breath. At night, I was able to find restful sleep. This time, I was learning that yoga was helping me develop an ability to look inward, and accept pieces of my life, as they were, at the moment. It helped me recover and gave me the space to find peace. Part of what makes the practice of yoga beautiful is that it’s like a relationship – the more care you put into it, the more moments of joy and surprises you’ll have along the way. While practicing yoga is a great way to find a sense of community, for me, it’s became an opportunity for lifelong learning and a means for creating enough space to deal with the hard stuff – feelings of sadness, guilt, and resentment.
To be honest, I never expected that a yoga practice could influence my life as much as it has, especially over the past year. When I turned 23 last March, I made a list of things I wanted to do before I turn 24… yes, my deadline is rapidly approaching! I read through that list a couple of weeks ago, curious as to how much of it I have successfully checked off, and written between “hosting a dinner party at my apartment” and “running a marathon,” I wrote “become a certified yoga teacher.” The best part? I did host a dinner party, I ran a half marathon PR by over twenty minutes, and the Friday before my 24th birthday, I’ll be starting a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certified Teacher Training Program! Anyone that knows me knows I am kind of obsessed with Yoga. Surprisingly, after making the commitment to become a yoga teacher, many still asked “why?”
I love practicing yoga, and I absolutely LOVE my job (& the people) at ExxonMobil. The coolest part is I can have both – there’s no need to choose just one! For me, teacher training is not only a way to develop a deeper personal practice, but a way to fill a different void in my life. Working full time does not leave quite as much free time as I had in high school and college to volunteer, and since I have started working, I have yet to find an opportunity that I feel passionate and willing enough to commit to. It has taken me over a year to realize where I can focus my desire to give back and do more – by guiding others to a relationship with yoga. I see it as a small way that I can help others find balance in their own lives and, hopefully, smile a little brighter each day. The ultimate goal? Volunteering and teaching middle-school girls. By June (& 200 hours of studying and practicing), I’m hoping to have the tools and knowledge to do exactly that with my new title, “Marissa Piazza – RYT 200”
As part of my application for teacher training, I was asked how I would describe “yoga” to someone who is not familiar with it. Even when I first started practicing, I only thought of yoga as a physical practice – “asana.” Turns out, that’s only a small piece of the whole story. If you ask me now, “yoga” is a about creating a lifestyle with intention and a means of creating “space” in your life. Yoga offers an opportunity for personal reflection and an invitation to find the space required to listen for the little voice inside each of us that is often barely audible. Even if we can hear that inner voice, it’s easy to ignore. But in life, like in yoga, being able to listen is very powerful. Do I need to flow through another Vinyasa right now or is it more nourishing to move right into child’s pose? Do I need to go to another happy hour or would it be nourishing to make a home cooked meal and start the book I’ve been wanting to read? Yoga is a way to reconnect with your inner self, which in turn allows you to be more present with everyone around you (WIN WIN!). It’s amazing how twisting your body through different poses can actually help unravel all the crazy thoughts swirling around in your head! I’m constantly challenging myself to take what I learn on the mat, off the mat with me as I go through my day.
“The goal is to create space where you were once stuck. To unveil the layers of protection you’ve built around your heart. To appreciate your body and become aware of the mind and the noise it creates. To make peace with who you are. The goal is to love, well… you. Come to your yoga mat to feel; not to accomplish. Shift your focus and your heart will grow.” –Rachel Brathen
When I think back to that hot October day, I feel incredibly blessed to have been guided through a practice by Chelsey Korus. She has been teaching since she was 15 and is a self-proclaimed “avid life learner” in a variety of movement practices and styles of yoga. Chelsey focused her class that day around AWAKE – a total lifestyle package she’s designed to help others awaken to their moment, and be well equipped to step into their wholeness. I’m so thankful that Chelsey helped me “wake up,” and even though I didn’t realize it at the time, it was another critical moment in my yoga journey. With my arms raised in the air and my cousin Jenn beside me, I grinned ear to ear. When I reflect on all the joy that practicing yoga has brought me, it reaffirms by choice to become a teacher. Spreading the joy of yoga? COUNT ME IN! Helping others find peace? COUNT ME IN! Creating a space for self acceptance? COUNT ME IN!
Even though Instagram and social media have made practicing yoga feel like a spectator sport, I do not believe the goal of yoga is to nail a bendy pose. Yoga is something we practice, not “do” to check another box. The beauty of yoga is that it is a practice, and everyone is on their own journey. Each one of us shows up on our mat the same way we show up in life – bringing our own dreams and insecurities and having to accept that any change takes time.
I’m so grateful that friends and experiences helped strengthen my relationship with yoga, and I hope that I can be a tiny catalyst in helping others developing their own relationship with yoga too. I would love to hear your yoga story & chat all things yoga – drop me an email at sipofsunlight@icloud.com! Much love, XO
“Yoga is the thing that makes my heart return back to its original state —LOVE— it’s a process, a returning.” — Chelsey Korus
