Quite the Challenge

This week concluded the 100 day heart challenge that I have been working on for my internship. The Heart Challenge involved working with 3 individuals who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease; working to improve their cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, waist circumference and of course, their weight. At first, I was so excited to be one of the trainers for this challenge. I thought I would really change their lives for the better and be inspirational in helping them to achieve their goals. Well, it sufficeth me to say that this wasn't just a challenge for the participants... it was a challenge for everyone. The first time I heard the words "How does 6am work for you?", I realized that i was doomed.

For the past 4 months, I have been getting up at 5:30 am, going to the hospital and helping women to exercise! Only to return at 4pm to do the same. Day in and day out, the challenge had its set-backs; weight gains followed by weight losses, accompanied by nutrition pit-falls and frustrations. One woman even had the audacity to tell me that having to do this challenge was really impinging on her schedule! All the while I'm thinking to myself..."impinging on your schedule?? The sun hasn't even woken up lady and YOU'RE the one who chose to be here right now!" Oh well, it has ended and the best news of all is that I did help change someone's life for the better, Cathi lost 30 lbs and was taken off her diabetes medication. She was an amazing inspiration to me of dedication and hard work, and I am so glad that I was blessed to be a part of this experience with her. All in all it's been a interesting and heart-warming journey... I'll leave out the details about how BYU screwed over the whole part of it counting as an internship-that's a story for another day..

Stepping Stone Dreams

My yogini's and I at our Level 1 Certification with YogaFit

First thing to know about me is that I don't just love yoga; i love to share yoga with others. I feel like a lot of people take yoga for granted- it's seen by many as just "stretching" or "meditating". However, if everyone could immerse themselves in a true and devoted practice, they would come to find that it is just the thing they've been missing in their lives. I don't mean to put down anyone who hasn't had that "aha" moment with yoga, in fact, I used to have the same closed-minded idea of the whole thing too. It was when i threw myself into it all that I truly felt a reciprocation of benefits. This is what i want to share with others-the understanding that in some form, everyone can embrace their own, personal practice. Subsequently, I have been dreaming of one day owning my own yoga studio, so that i could help others to embrace the wonderful joy and peace that comes from yoga.

This week, i came across a stepping stone to that dream. I got an offer to teach my very own class at the Spanish Fork, Utah Golds Gym! I was ecstatic at the prospect, thrilled to have the experience, (I even relish in the idea of having my name printed on the group exercise schedule, ha!) The most important thing is that I feel one step closer to achieving my overarching dream of one day designing, owning and operating my own slice of yoga heaven: )

"Nothing Gets Between Me and My Mat"

My name is Danielle Teel, I am a 22-year-old college student living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Three years ago, I did my first certification with Yogafit at an MBF conference in Reston, Virginia. Within the next year, I did my level 2 certification and I have plans to complete my level 3 at the MBF conference in Salt Lake City this October. My journey with yoga began at a time in my life when I was insecure, troubled and unbalanced. I was suffering from a debilitating eating disorder and was essentially tearing myself to shreds; not only was my body shrinking, so was my mind. Today, I can say that yoga played a strong roll in restoring what I had lost and in bringing balance and joy back into my life. I went to my first yoga class with my big sister at a health club and immediately felt at home with my mat. That first class began a routine habit of practice, which in turn brought me to researching and networking where to certify. I believe Yogafit came in answer to a prayer I needed in order to find my path in this life. I soon switched my education focus from architecture to exercise & wellness with the dream of one day opening a yoga studio.

I love the motto “Nothing gets between me and my mat”. It represents the beauty of yoga, its essence, it’s core. To me, yoga is the blessing of a constant companion to the disheartened and broken. It’s the source of fulfillment to the joyful and energetic. Despite the experiences that come to us in this life, we always have our yoga mat to pull out anytime, anywhere. Whether we simply sit and breathe deeply or rock out our best standing splits, we are bringing more balance, more peace and more gratitude for ourselves and for our lives.

The beginning of this year, I was in a snowboarding accident and crushed a vertebrae in my spine. For 7 weeks, I wore a back brace from my hips to my collarbone and had to turn an especially active life into somewhat of an immobile one. While I couldn't run, weight train or do many of the things I love doing, none of this came between me and my mat. How grateful I am that in a time when I otherwise would have felt sorely disheartened, I could still have my practice. Sure, it wasn't the same routine, but that’s the beauty of yoga. It is keeping me strong, keeping me relaxed and at peace. I know that I will heal and one day return to life as it was, but as for now, I know I have my mat.

Namaste,

Danielle Teel