It is all about the breath. I attended my first yoga class two years ago after hearing all the hype on how wonderful it was. Living in Southern California, I had already been turned onto the spiritually enlightened world; the positive energy surrounded me but, hadn't entered completely.

I truly evolved further into my own skin through yoga. The practice of yoga has so much to offer besides the sometimes awkward poses you put your body through. It centers on the focus of your body, mind and soul. When you are on your mat, all you are told to do by your guide is; breathe. When all else fails, just breathe. Everyday your body is different as far as balance so you should not get down on yourself if you are able to do in one class what you are not able to do in the next. Just focus on the breath. Focus on your energy, what your body is telling you and you will reap the rewards. Let go of all the anxiety, depression, worry, stress that this noisy world creates and focus on your inner peace and center.

When I went to my first yoga class at my local gym, I found myself thinking how I could navigate myself to the door without anyone noticing. There I was, putting myself in these extreme positions and to make it worse, the room was open for everyone in the gym to see. How embarrassing right? Wrong! By the middle of the class, I began to listen to my breath and let my body guide me. It was an inner body experience for me. The discipline combined with inner peace gave me confidence. There were times I did get frustrated; not being able to stay in the pose no matter how hard I tried, but that was my first class. Two years later, I now know it is because my balance is differs everyday.

Like many people, I suffer from anxiety. I would tend to self medicate without realizing that was what I was doing. I would drink more than I should with friends, smoke cigarettes and wake up feeling so much worse than when I began the binge.

Introducing yoga to my life has been the healthiest form of self medication. I will feel myself getting anxious and feeling off center. I know at this point I am starting to drift into that downward spiral of self doubt; a place that has no where good to go. It is at this time, I know it is time to visit my practice. I will go through my flow a few times and feel better or find a class nearby and attend. Afterwards, I walk taller, light as a feather and most importantly with the knowledge that I can do anything. As human beings we are

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