Ashanti Garcia

Hi,

My name is Ashanti Garcia and I was born and raised in San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize (located in Central America). 

I did a yoga session with my mom as a child and enjoyed it, but it wasn't until my late teens that I returned to the practice and practiced consistently using a DVD called "Yoga Mind & Body" which featured yoga master, Eric Schiffmann. 

On February 23^rd, 2010, I took my first yoga class with a teacher in San Ignacio, Belize (located in Central America). The Hatha yoga session taught by Katherine Devine stimulated my body, relaxed my mind and allowed my soul to experience an incredible level peacefulness unlike anything I felt before. All layers of my being were in complete harmony. I was experiencing utter bliss. I aimed to experience that indescribable level of joy always and that is what initially kept me returning to yoga.

Early on, the yoga postures revealed how weak, tight and off-balance my body was. The more advanced asanas intrigued me. I was determined to create more space in my body to experience greater freedom to move and be. Even though inversions terrified me, I was eager to overcome my crippling fear and be liberated. I practiced consistently to improve my physical strength. Along the way, my mental and spiritual strength also increased.

But it wasn’t until I embarked on a 200-hour yoga teacher training with Kate in 2012 that my heart began to open (after much struggle) to some philosophical teachings of yoga. Having an open heart radically transformed me. I became more accepting of people who shared different views than mine. More compassion was developed and I became more forgiving.

Perhaps the biggest transformation yoga created in my life was a shift from being a constant worrier to a warrior. It taught me how to let go. Surrendering after you have put your best foot forward is one the most beneficial life-skills a person can develop. We cannot control everything and that is a blessing. If we were in full control, imagine how much more overwhelmed we would be!

Besides sheer enjoyment, what motivated me to continue teaching yoga was hearing the various testimonials from clients in how the practice was helping them in their lives. My classes were enabling students to improve their posture, reduce and prevent stress and become healthier. Clients experienced improved well-being. The natural fear that crept up in students’ minds from hearing or trying inversions shifted to confidence. To this day, I aim to provide students with the tools from yoga to create the lives they desire.