Debbie Gay

Growing up in the San Francisco area I've always embraced a layed back persona. I was never that "into" fitness. I've never been competetive or athletic, in fact I barely understand the concept of needing to be the "winner" at a team sport. The Olympics are foreign to me because to me all of the athletes are beautiful to watch and I think everyone is a winner.I'd never had issues with weight but then my daughter came and I gained 60 pounds. That's when yoga became a big part of my life. I'd always been around it as a kid and it was the perfect exercise for someone with a mello attitude like mine.

I love the spirituality that is interwoven throughout yoga. You are taught to listen to your body, becoming your own Guru. I love how yoga ethics directly relate to the physical practice. For example, in most group fitness classes you are taught to push yourself to the point of fatigue but in yoga, you push yourself only until the breath becomes strained, take a break and begin again. This is called ahimsa or non-violence. You can practice it on the mat by making choices that will not injure yourself or you can practice it off the mat by be kind to others. When you accept yourself and your capabilities you are practicing santosha. And when you push with discipline you are practing santosha.

With yoga, I lost 70 pounds and it's been four years now. I continue to learn all that I can from numerous yoga workshops taken with some well-known and maybe equally great but less known teachers. I've also expanded my reach into water fitness. I just feel that water is special because there's something magical that happens in the water that reverts everyone-young and old back to childhood. People laugh and play in the water like no other time in their busy day to day lives. My journey began with yoga. It has traformed me and my hope is to share that with others.