Yoga Gave Me a Voice
February 14, 2024
Writer: Charlotte de Baubigny
Editor: Chloe Robinson
I checked the clock on the studio wall. 2:58 p.m. My stomach was in pretzel pose. In two minutes, I would begin teaching my first ever yoga class.
The stress of senior year had taken a toll on my mental health. After beginning classes at a local yoga studio, I began to realize that a great way to slow the anxious thoughts in my head was through an hour in silence, focusing only on my breath as I flowed through vinyasa. I initially practiced yoga only twice a week, but it soon became a routine escape that I sought everyday.
As I became a CorePower regular, I had formed a close relationship with the studio manager, Edna. She had a warm personality, but always encouraged me to take risks in class. One Wednesday, Edna asked if I had ever considered teacher training. I was simultaneously elated and disarmed by her question. I was comfortable with leadership; I was a producer of my highschool’s radio station, and co-led a social justice group. But the peers I led were teenagers, not a room full of people of all ages. The idea intimidated and excited me.
During the week when I considered Edna’s idea, I came to yoga class and imagined myself leading the room, instead of following along. When I flowed on my own, I would try mimicking things instructors would usually say, which I later learned are called “cues.”. It felt silly and a little embarrassing at first, but it sparked a desire to get better and make the cues my own. After a week of mulling all this over, I decided I would begin the training process. I spent 50 hours in three weeks
learning about correct pose alignment, sequences, and human anatomy. It was grueling, and I was the youngest person in the training course by 20 years, but each day I showed up I was filled with energy and a new sense of purpose. When I finished training, I would be able to share my
love of yoga with anyone who needed the same escape that I found in the meditative exercise.
Today was the day. I checked my watch again. 2:59 p.m. I stood outside the studio and took an ujjayi breath. The victorious breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth. I knew I could do this. I walked into the room, turned up the music, and confidently announced: “Hello everyone, my name is Charlotte and this is your 60 minute practice, meet me on your mats in child’s pose.”
Practicing yoga strengthened my body and sense of presence, but leading others has become a passion of mine and allowed me to find my voice. I used to consider myself an introvert, but I have honed the skill of commanding a room and making others feel welcome through the practice of yoga. Teaching yoga has taught me to go with the flow; something I thought I could never do as a perfectionist. My words will still get jumbled in my mouth when I try to cue a movement, or sometimes a song will accidentally skip; and that’s okay. The lesson I learned through this journey was to trust my gut and to jump into something new, despite the fear of the unknown. I would encourage anyone to take this leap to the next level if they feel the same spark that I did when they practice their own passions.
