Tell us about yourself:
First-gen American, born and raised in NYC. My parents are from the Dominican Republic and I’m the intersection of my Caribbean roots and NYC’s hustle and bustle. As much as I’m thankful to have had the NYC experience – it can get tiring on the soul. Traded the concrete jungle for the tree jungle and have been appreciating the changes in scenery and lifestyle.
Tell us about your yoga journey:
Moving to a small town and working from home shifted my lifestyle quite a bit – I rarely found myself leaving the house and that proved to be challenging after spending decades out and about in a city environment. In summer 2022, I felt called to start a hobby – one that would keep me in shape and most importantly evolve my mindset. While also hoping it would jump start forming a new community in NC! Piper Moon Yoga was too close to not give it a try and I’m so glad I did!
What has yoga done for you? What benefits have you seen?
Yoga has reprioritized my self care. It has made it less negotiable than before. It is incredibly empowering to set aside time to be present and disconnect from technology and other distractions. Yoga reminds me to be present and be grateful for my body – movement is such a great remedy for me. Physically, I’m nimbler and my arms are more defined!
What’s your favorite pose?
I’d say it’s a tie between child pose and triangle pose. Child’s pose makes me feel like I may unload my worries – leave them on the mat and embrace the vulnerability that comes with the pose. I also enjoy triangle pose since it provides a great stretch.
Anything else you’d like to share:
I tried yoga once before (years ago) and it didn’t jive with me then. I thought I wasn’t cut out for it but retrospectively, the studio didn’t make me feel at ease – it wasn’t the practice of yoga itself. I’m sharing this in case others have felt the same about yoga or something else – the apprehension may be due to the energy of the environment and people – not from your inability to go for it. Piper Moon Yoga has made me feel welcomed from the very first visit and I’m very appreciative of the warm energy it exudes.
