July Ambassador: Stephanie Smith

I practiced briefly in college for P.E. credit. I liked it a lot, but I didn’t continue my practice when I transferred schools. That was 20 years ago now, and I only resumed my practice last November.

My brother-in-law started to practice, and I saw how much he was enjoying it. He suggested it to my husband Craig and myself, thinking that it would be good for us physically and mentally. Craig has MS, so we thought it would be good for his balance and strength. For me, it speaks to my longstanding love of dance and movement (I don’t enjoy traditional workouts, but this is more my speed), as well as a way to relieve stress.

We went to a few classes in Salem, but the location and timing weren’t convenient. We looked online for somewhere closer to home and decided to check out the Shala. Even though Jenny was on vacation in India when we first attended, we were immediately welcomed into the Barefoot family by the teachers and students.  We were already hooked by the time Jenny returned from India, and when we met her, it was solidified. We love the physical space of the studio, but most of all we love the people. It’s a sanctuary and a judgment free zone, and we have made so many new friends. Yoga at BYS is empowering and energizing. It’s an inclusive community full of love!

We had thought that if we were lucky, we could make it to two classes per week. But we enjoy it so much that we are currently attending five classes a week as well as occasional workshops.

Craig and I always liked to travel domestically, but in 2002 we decided to realize a lifelong dream to go to Machu Picchu in Peru. We had a fabulous local guide, and we have kept in contact for the past 13 years. We did a homestay with an indigenous family on Lake Titicaca, which was amazing. We realized that what we love most about travel is making personal connections and participating in cultural give-and-take.  No matter how different cultures may seem at first, we are all humans with the same basic needs, hopes, and dreams. It really puts things into perspective. We have made so many great friends around the world that we often return to the same places to see them again. And of course, we also visit new places and view that as an opportunity to make new friends!

We are blessed to have Godchildren in Guatemala, Ecuador, and China. Since Craig and I don’t have kids of our own, these lovely families that we met during our travels have offered to share their children with us, and we are very grateful! Although we live far away, they are always in our hearts and in our thoughts. Our relationship with their families has enriched our lives immensely, and we visit them as often as possible.

We traveled to visit out Godchildren in Ecuador over the 4th of July. They are 7, 5, and 3 years old (two girls and a boy). Craig and I wanted to continue our practice while we were there, and figured that it would be fun to teach the kids a few poses. They absolutely loved it! Despite the fact that I was giving instructions in English and a few Sanskrit words (and they speak their indigenous Kichwa dialect as well as Spanish – no English), they observed what we were doing and followed along. I was very impressed, and they were smiling and giggling the whole time. We practiced with them for over an hour. The youngest seemed to love downward dog, and after our initial practice, we noticed that she would slip into it during situations when she felt nervous or scared. It was cool to see her incorporate that into her behavior, taking yoga off the mat and using it as a real-world coping skill. (Coincidentally, her name is Shina Tayanta, which means Warrior Princess in Kichwa. Those of you who follow Jenny’s blog will remember that Warrior Princess is Jenny’s personal theme for 2015). We will definitely continue practicing with them on future visits!

I actually find half pigeon to be very relaxing. But I am also really enjoying learning poses which are more challenging for me, such as headstand and wheel.