"As a lotus flower is born in the water, grows in the water and rises out of the water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born into this world, raised in this world and having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world."
-Prince Gautama Siddharta
Padma Yoga's Students of the Month
October/November SOTM, Stacie Hill
(photo to come soon)
Stacie has been a constant delight and inspiration to all in our studio. We have watched her practice blossom, grow, and deepen. She is always with a sweet smile and is a beacon of warmth to all who walk into our doors. We love you. Congratulations!!
"I’ve always been a worrier. Whether starting a new job, deciding to quit my doctoral
program more than half-way through, or simply trying to find time to clean my house, if
there’s a way, I have the will to worry about it. This is what ultimately led me to yoga. I
was looking for a way to relax, to find the space to breathe.
My first yoga class was at a city rec. center. We spent the class in seated meditation with
intermittent chanting. The first studio I visited offered cardio intensive power classes
with dumbbell reps interspersed throughout. While I found benefit in these and a handful
of other yoga experiences, I knew I hadn’t found the right fit and my practice never really
got off the ground.
Two and a half years ago I tried a Bikram yoga class for the first time. I was at a
professional crossroads and felt like my reality was beyond my control. The structure and
predictability of Bikram yoga helped me rediscover my personal will. As my mental and
spiritual resolve grew with my practice, I noticed my needs as a yogi began to change.
I found myself finding excuses not to go to class and I would have internal dialogues
like, “Just go. You’ll feel guilty if you don’t.” I didn’t realize this was a call for change,
and I probably wouldn’t have done anything different if my doctor hadn’t told me that
hot yoga was counterproductive for a medical issue I was dealing with at the time.
That’s when I saw the big yoga sign painted over the pretty, lavender walls in a little
commercial center on Henderson Avenue. It was as if Padma Yoga emerged just for me.
Just a short walk from my house, I hoped this new studio would offer me the something
I’d been missing. And it did. Padma Yoga has become my home away from home. It’s
my one stop shop for clarity, flexibility, and strength. Sonya and the Padma girls guide
me, and sometimes pull me grudgingly, to my new personal limits. With their love and
support, I stretch myself more now, on the mat and off, trying things that are new and
sometimes scary to me. But it’s always okay, as Padma serves as an ego free zone, where
the only thing expected of you is to be you.
There’s no question that without Padma Yoga, I wouldn’t be the person and yogi I am
today. I’m honored to be part of the Padma community."