Candy Bunk

•  Hi, my name is Candy Bunk and I am a 46 years old Yoga and Aqua Instructor from Illinois. I have been practicing yoga for over 10 years but became certified in September 2019 after I suffered a back injury during a work out. Despite being prescribed pain medications, muscle relaxers and being off work for a week, my back was not healing....until a hobbled into a Restorative Yoga class for the first time. Now I must say, had I not been in extreme pain, I may never have tried a Restorative yoga class. I saw the people in those classes. They were always on the ground and they used pillows and blankets to hold themselves up. That was not for me. I could do bound positions in most yoga poses....at least that was my mind set. After leaving that class, I could breathe and move without being in constant pain, but most importantly, I started to heal. Since then I started taking not only my usual Vinyasa flow yoga but also Restorative and Yin classes. 

I have been a full time law enforcement officer for 19 years and I just thought that pain was part of my job, my life. I carrying around 40 pounds of extra gear every shift and it’s very hard on your body. My job no longer hurts me. This realization made me want to get my certification. Since then I began teaching a combination class of Restorative, Yin and Vinyasa. I am a certified Aquatics Fitness Instructor.  I currently teach Aqua Yoga. The last couple years I began competing in triathlons and completed in a half Ironman. 

Yoga has helped me lower my own personal stress levels, I have lost weight as a result and at 46years old I feel like I am in the best shape of my adult life. I find great joy in being able to bring the same benefits to others that I have found with my own yoga practice.