INSTRUCTORS

Danielle McLean

"At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want." – Lao Tzu

After years of listening to friends and family tell me that yoga would make a difference in my life, I ended up in Kurt Johnsen's class at American Power Yoga in January 2008. And upon hearing him say, "We carry a lot of baggage in these hips, how much of it can you unpack?" for the very first time -- I was hooked!

I think just about everyone can point to a pivotal moment in their life.  Mine is my father's death when I was 12 years old. At this early age I started my battle with depression (a very private, embarrassing and humiliating illness) and to say that I've struggled with self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence issues would be an understatement.  I have spent so much of my life searching for emotional relief and the answers to life's troubles outside of myself – through the avenues of traditional counseling, medication and relationships to name a few. What I have simply come to learn through my yoga practice is that all of the answers I've ever needed are right here, inside of me, and I'm learning how to find them. That is what yoga does for me. Oh, and, a nifty side effect is that I’m in best physical shape I've ever been in.

I'm fairly new to this yoga stuff. I enrolled in the teacher training class at APY to learn more about yoga, NOT to teach. I was told throughout the training that I would find it difficult not to teach when I have so much to share with others. And I have to admit that turned out to be the truth. In my class I hope to guide you through the physical aspects of yoga with an underlying focus on the vast importance of our breath. Our breath is the most powerful tool we have. A tool that is often taken for granted and is right at our finger tips. This breath literally sustains life and is an incredible gauge for how we are feeling. While we take on the challenges that day-to-day life has to offer, we can be aware of our breath. If the breath gets choppy or labored, it is our cue to back off and take a break. If the breath, however, is fluid and strong, we may want to intensify or try something new. So in closing I will ask --

Can you accept this moment and breathe through it, allowing life to be the dancer and you the dance?

Danielle's Class Schedule