I would like to begin by thanking your for taking the time to read this personal sharing. I hope that what I say here will help you in some way.

I want to express to you, in as simple terms possible, why Yoga is valuable to me and why I continue practicing and teaching it. Not many who see me now would believe it, but I was not always so together. Most of us at some point in our lives go through our own private hell, and I was no exception. The thing that was devastating to me in my life was the transition from childhood to adolescence. Not only was the proverbial “loss of innocence” such a rude awakening to me, but at that very time my family, which seemed so beautifully unified, underwent a excruciatingly traumatic separation process.

As a result of these cataclysmic shifts, I struggled for meaning, going through periods of obsessive-compulsive behavior, near anorexia, and various neuroses. Being shy, introverted, and sensitive, with no mentor to guide me, didn’t make things any easier. Is it any wonder I took to long distance running and the study of philosophy?
In the end, though, those early disciplines -- running and philosophy -- were only stages, the best things I could find at the time to help me through the pain. It really was only when sought for answers in the spiritual life that I really began to fully heal and even find true love and blissful joy.

Yoga was the path that really opened my eyes to the true beauty and preciousness of life. More than anything else, it answered many of the questions I had secretly wondered about for so many years, questions I thought were mine and mine only. I see now that we all, at different times due to painful life experience, realize that we are deep down seeking meaning and understanding. So I feel I owe a debt of gratitude to Yoga, and want to share what I have learned with as many as will be willing to listen and grow. Anyway, thanks for listening and understanding.


Love, Allowah