Erika Fritz

As a high school teacher in a large, urban public school, I was surrounded by constant need. For seven years, I worked hard to meet the academic and socio-emotional needs of my students but at the expense of my own health and wellbeing. I was often not able to disconnect from the stressors of my day. In the past I turned to food and alcohol to quiet my mind, which only led to increasing depression and the sense that my life was out of control. I knew I was burning out and could not continue at the pace I was working if I wanted to sustain my teaching career. When I finally walked into a yoga studio, it was the first step in my commitment to leading a more balanced lifestyle and creating necessary boundaries between my work and personal life. I had spent years going out of my way –figuratively “bending over backwards” –to help my students and my school, and I realized that in order to continue helping them, I needed to help myself.

What first drew me to yoga was the physical practice. Literally, sometimes, bending over backwards! After a few weeks, I could see my body changing –I felt leaner, stronger, more flexible –but I could also see the mental effects off my mat: I felt happier, more able to focus, less reactive to events that I would normally mull over for hours. I saw how physical heart opening translated into the realm of personal relationships and made me more open to new experiences. After participating in a Yogi training workshop in the spring of 2014, the seed of teacher training was planted. It seemed like a natural part of my journey –to combine my talent for teaching and my passion for the practice. Yoga is still a gift that I continue to give myself, and now one that I also share with others.