My first yoga class was with Laura Bailey, at The Yoga Studio in Oklahoma City, 1998. My sister wanted me to go along, and I begrudgingly scraped together my sacrifice of $12 to go. That was expensive on a college student/newlywed’s budget. Trembling downward dog after trembling downward dog, I sweated and held my breath and turned red in the face and stifled comments of, “You want me to put what, where?” Afterwards, I felt electrified by what I had just lived through. I had fallen in love (though I felt a little mortified that downward dog was supposed to be a resting pose).
My main goal, initially, was to increase my flexibility. It was limited, to say the least. But then I noticed that my strength was increasing, and it wasn’t just physical strength. It was the sweet surrender and courageousness of being able to stay present in an uncomfortable situation. And then the uncomfortable situations became more comfortable, because I was breathing deeply - quite possibly for the first time in 20 years. This is not a unique story. Like so many of us, I was looking for a physical fix, not knowing the intrinsic unveiling that yoga would become.
I am still, and forever will be, a student of yoga. Teachers such as Tim Miller, Richard Freeman, Shiva Rea, Aadil Palkhivala, Rodney Yee, Angela Farmer, Erich Schiffman, and John Friend have blessed my life and been hugely influential on my practice of yoga both on the mat and off. My hope is to inspire as I have been inspired and to walk with you for a while on your path.
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Mary’s natural playfulness and curiosity is reflected in her approach to yoga and in her teaching style. She began pursuing the path of Iyengar yoga in 1998, and in 1999, discovered the joy of Asthanga Yoga at Richard Freeman’s The Yoga Workshop. Mary began teacher training at the Eldorado Mountain Yoga Ashram in 2001. In 2002, she opened Yoga Elements, a multidisciplinary yoga studio. Balancing the demands of graduate school, working as a counselor, and expanding her family, Mary has settled closer to home. She currently teaches power vinyasa yoga steeped in enthusiasm, warmth, courage, and surrender, and is a devotee of Anusara yoga. You may reach her directly at mary@pantier.com or 303-249-0755, and follow her blog at http://yogagirlmary.com/.
