December 2024 Yogi of the Month

James

James has had a huge impact in the short time he's been flowing with us. Get to know this amazing yogi!

Q: How long have you practiced yoga and what other forms of exercise do you like to do? I started Yoga in August of this year.I have never done yoga before coming to Yoga Spark! I have done boxing and mountain biking for a while but I wanted to get flexible and fit so decided to try this!

Q: What brought you to YogaSpark? I stopped drinking alcohol in August, a good friend who is sober told me Yoga was the hardest thing he had ever tried and I needed a challenge to work on while I tried to kick my addiction. I also have had major surgery on my abdomen and chest in the past and wanted to try and undo the damage that has been done to my body!

Q: What do you love about practicing hot power yoga? It's so hard!! The first day I walked into it I could barely touch my toes! The progress has been hard but the journey of getting better is so amazing. The inspiration of watching others do it so well and the teacher's energy just make it the best hour of my day.

Q: Can you give a word or phrase that describes yoga to you? Relentless, you have to just show up. A phrase that I heard the other day which sticks with me when I go to yoga is "The journey to heaven is hellish, but the path to hell is heavenly"

Q: What's your current favorite song to flow to? Oh man, that is so hard! I did an awesome class the other day where the teacher played 80's and 90's classics and it was incredible! I love all kinds of music but Jurassic 5 is probably the one that gets me bopping the most!

Q: Do you have a favorite quote? I have "Hold Fast" tattooed on the inside of my hands which I got 4 years ago when I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon rectal cancer. The phrase comes from old sailors who would have to hold the main line of the sail when going through a storm, after surviving the storm this is what sailors often got tattooed on their hands and I love that saying.

Q: What yoga pose do you love practicing right now? All of it! My hips and shoulders are tighter than a banjo string so those are the ones that suck but I love trying to push myself in the hard stuff every time

Q: Tell us one non yoga factoid about you: I am a photographer, used to be a paparazzi and once got a lift from Angelina Jolie in her car!