Yoga taught me that you are not empty — but full of light and love. In yoga, you work to slowly shed the obstacles, until the light is seen for all of its beauty and brightness.
Catherine Cook-Cottone, Ph.D.
Yoga
I am a Registered Yoga teacher, Yoga Teacher Trainer, Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), and President of Yogis in Service
Long before I took my first yoga class, I loved the idea of yoga: the integration of body and mind in service of the soul. What is not to love about that?
Yet, for a long time, I believed that (much like ballet) yoga was most certainly not for people like me! Yoga was for those with flexibility and grace. Yoga was for people had “good” bodies—bodies that looked right, moved right, and easily fell into calm, relaxed states.
Despite my certitude, a good friend dragged me along to a yoga class over twelve years ago. Entering the class, I was afraid. I was afraid of falling, afraid being the only one in the room who could not reach her toes, afraid I would embarrass myself. As the class ended though, I found myself lying in savasana with an amazing sense of what I can only call a big-hearted feeling of love and happiness. You see, yoga was for me and my tight hamstrings. It turns out that you don’t need to be perfectly graceful and flexible.
You just need to be.
And so, this is why I teach. I want to show you the way to that big-hearted love and happiness. And maybe somewhere along the way, your hamstrings will let go a little bit, and you will find your toes.
Yoga for my Daughters
When I first started doing yoga, I was a young mom. I had a baby and a two-year-old. Back then, I did yoga for my daughters. What that meant was that I practiced yoga so that I could be the best mom that I could be for them—the best version of myself.
Now, my daughters are out in the world- one is studying to be a medical doctor and the other a psychologist. They asked me to create and record yoga classes for them so that they could watch and practice in the midst of all of their clinical work, studying, and training hours.
What was once yoga something I did for my daughters (so I could be the best version of myself for them) has now become Yoga for my Daughters– a YouTube channel for them and more.
Each class and meditation practice is for someone. Yes- a lot of them are for Chloe and Maya. However, there are some for other young women and people who mean a lot to me. I add a class very week or so. They are not meant to be perfect and are not super stylish or fancy.
They are just me teaching yoga for my daughters. I hope you join us.
Yoga Journal: Good Karma Awards
In 2016, I received a Good Karma Award from Yoga Journal for research. The Good Karma Awards honor men and women who selflessly give back to communities through yoga and other seva work, and inspire others to give back in turn.