I started practicing yoga my first semester in college and it changed my life. I started for the obvious vain reasons... to lose weight, etc. But after a few months when I had my first true meditation experience - everything changed. I started to bring my practice off my mat, my yoga teacher always this is the true yogic journey. What I mean by this is that I noticed it changed the way I interacted with others, the way I treated myself, how I nourished myself and above all: I was in a happy state. All the time.

I went into school as a communications major actively pursuing a career in the music industry. After practicing yoga and getting my daily doses of Shape, Self and Yoga Journal, I quickly changed my major to Nutrition. Yoga taught me to take care of my body, because it really is incredible. The poses I can get myself into now, some including Salamba Sirsasana [headstand], Astavakrasana [8-angle pose], Eka Pada Koundiyanasana I + II [not sure the english translation]... BLOW my mind. This is of course after one year of everyday vinyassa and ashtanga yoga classes though. The strength I've created within my body is physical and mental. I've learned to be in the present moment and practicing pranayama (breath) when stressed. This all sounds a bit corny but the absolute truth.

Do you ever feel like it's a chore to go to the gym? It never seems like a chore going to a yoga class. And if it does, a few minutes into it you're smiling and saluting yourself for coming. I always leave happy and energetic, ready to take on the rest of my evening.

I used to blog about yoga on dragonnfruit.com but I ixnay'd that because I didn't have enough time to write and my readership is more fashion-oriented. I'll probably continue writing about my yoga story here.