Student Spotlight
kelly Brown
What advice would you give someone who is new to yoga or considering starting a practice?
Show up and try something new. Try all the classes that sound interesting, there will be one that fits. Don't get intimidated by being enough - strong enough, flexible enough, etc. Everyone is on their own journey and at Sukha everyone is cheering each other on wherever they are. There is no expectation to be something that you are not.
In what ways do you see yoga continuing to play a role in your future?
My future plans for yoga are to continue to push myself to try new things and get out of my comfort zone. Challenging myself physically in class helps me to connect with the more mental aspects of my practice.
Can you share a memorable "aha" moment or breakthrough experience you have had through yoga?
I had the opportunity to attend the all-day retreat that Sukha hosted earlier this summer. There was not one exact moment during that day that made the biggest impact, but the whole day did. Being able to connect my practice with nature, other like-minded women, and to do activities that inspired my own journey was phenomenal. It has been months since that experience and I still think about topics that were discussed that day and I reflect on how it is impacting me over time.
Are there any specific teachers, resources, or books that have influenced your yoga journey?
Everyone at Sukha has influenced my yoga journey. Some days it may be how they direct poses, but other days it may be a quote or even the music choice for class. I have heard and learned so much in classes that I have taken with me when I walk out the door.
How do you incorporate mindfulness and yoga principles into your daily routine?
Being able to intentionally connect with my breath is one of the things that I use daily. This helps me to stay in the moment and use my breath as an anchor to my mind and physical self.
What initially drew you to yoga and how has your practice evolved since then?
I initially tried yoga in about 2010 as an exercise option and I decided that it was not for me at all. I waited many years and came back to give it another try and quickly fell in love with how I felt during class and after. I spent 2 years practicing consistently prior to Covid at another local studio, but never returned after things opened back up. When Sukha opened I knew it was my time to return. I have never looked back and have fallen even more in love with yoga and all it adds to my life.
How has yoga impacted your life on and off the mat?
As a busy mom, yoga has become the small window that I have to focus on myself a few times a week. I have found it to be a place for me to challenge myself physically and mentally. It is hard for me to slow down from all the lists and demands that are constantly floating through my head, but for the hour that I am on the mat I am able to let all that go. Also, yoga has challenged what I thought about my own strength. I am challenged each time I am in class to do things I would never have thought I could do.