Life is shaped by choices, and not all lead to perfect outcomes. When I chose marriage, I lost my museum business in Taiwan. Yet life has opened a new path. Through yoga, I learned to slow down instead of rushing from early morning to late night, managing the business.
My first yoga teacher, a Mexican instructor at Collin College, had a profound influence on me. She emphasized proper alignment before entering any pose—carefully positioning the legs and hands with awareness. Her teaching trained the mind to focus on the body’s details.
For example, before practicing Cat Pose, I learned to place my knees and hands at the correct distance, aligning the knees under the hips and the hands under the shoulders in a straight line. This attention to alignment creates a strong, mindful foundation and helps stretch muscles, tendons, and fascia.
During practice, I became aware of areas of tightness in my body, especially in my back, and learned how to use breath to improve flexibility while holding each pose. I also learned to recognize my body’s limitations—understanding which poses I could or could not do—and how to work through restrictions by using props or modifying positions.
I once worked with a student who had retired from the FBI. Through observation, I noticed significant tightness in his hips. We explored different poses and focused on those that felt accessible and effective for him. After eight months of consistent practice, he was able to sit on the floor with crossed legs much more comfortably.
In the following articles, I will explore the anatomy of the spine, nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, and the lymphatic system. Understanding these systems helps us become more aware of our bodies and allows the brain and mind to communicate more effectively with the body during yoga practice.
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