MY STORY
Hi! I’m Sivanna
Owner, instructor at I HEART YOGA.
I am here to help you APPRECIATE YOUR BODY NO MATTER WHAT!
How I found a way to use my body to feel better about my life and self, and guide others in achieving those same goals.
As it turns out, I am not alone! Other people have struggled or struggle with yoga, and more specifically, in finding a style suited to them. In my case, the struggle was with dynamics. It took a lot of time to explore the different techniques and wisdoms, and understand the sometimes mind-boggling theories of an ancient practice. In the end it came down to living in the moment, and this helped guide my pursuit of yoga while living in a rural Wyoming valley. Ultimately, I opened I HEART YOGA; a small sanctuary where we can breathe, sweat, learn, laugh, love and celebrate the physical power of our being!
First, as you know, we are STRONG! We are so strong we sometimes think we are super-humans who can conquer all tasks and fulfill all demands. We got this! This was me at age 30, after having a brilliant pair of twins, a wonderful introduction to marriage, but a not-so-fulfilling career path. This can’t be IT? I thought, contemplating the lingering weight of childbearing. I wanted to use my body, and I wanted to feel physically strong.
What message would I be sending my children if I stuck to my regimen? Secondly, if you don’t move it, you lose it! You lose MUSCLE, and what’s left, I promise, will pile up in the wrong places. Yoga seemed like a great work out, and Who knows, I thought, maybe it’s my destiny?
My sister and I were adopted from India, and although I had no previous introduction to yoga, the mind-body-spirit approach to everything was fascinating! I bounced it around my family, and finally a friend invited me to a yoga class. I was so excited, and once we were there, it was nothing like I expected? This was serious stuff! I was intimidated, and felt rigid. My enthusiasm was crushed, and I thought, It’s probably just me?
Not long after I invited my sister to attend another class. She tumbled out of a pose, and when we both laughed, it was clear we were rule-breakers! We were SHHH’D, and knew we were not an ideal fit for this classroom. No big deal, I joined CROSS-FIT! It made me feel exactly how I wanted my body to feel. I was clearly stronger and I was on a good path. After a month I started to feel what I describe as crunchy; I felt bunched up. It occurred to me there were parts of the yoga practice which fit nicely with the strengthening aspects of cross fit. When I would get home, I worked on stretching and lengthening my body. It felt good to extend and feel TALL. No joke, I am not a tall person and cannot afford to lose anything in this department, especially with sky rocketing children! Circling back to yoga, and I knew I had more to explore.
It was now 2015. I had been practicing what I learned of yoga at home, and decided to take a class at a studio in Jackson. It was a world apart from my first experience. The instructor was inviting, patient and encouraging. I was enchanted after one class! I noticed their schedule offered an upcoming teacher training session, and knew immediately, This is IT!
You can guess how my story continues, and I invite you to learn first hand through one of my on-line classes. The focus of my practice is based on strengthening the CORE. This is our center of balance; our intuitions, our choices and decisions all come from this place of power. I will help you light a fire right there, and guide you in comfortably finding your breath, love and strength. It honestly doesn’t matter what shape or size you may be, there is always a place for YOU in the world of YOGA!
