My Yoga Journey - Lindsay Kuipers
Hello friends,
My name is Lindsay Kuipers and I am the founder and CEO of Breathe in Yoga. I am a fully certified yoga instructor based out of North York, Ontario. I have a passion of growing and learning, and then sharing the information I learn with my friends and family (including you!).
So now I'd like to share my story on why I started my yoga journey. It's a personal story, and so I'm going to do my best to open myself up and share with you.
So back in May 2012 I graduated from my packaging program at Mohawk College. Within a month I landed my first full-time career job as a structural designer for a packaging company. Being the nature of my job, I sit at a computer most of my day.
At first, working full time really took a lot out of me. Learning new things, long commute driving and getting my feet on the ground in general. I loved it all. Minus the constantly tired part. There was a time where I would go to work, come home, nap, eat dinner, and go to bed. It wasn't exactly the life I had envisioned for myself. I was just too tired, all the time.
So the first thing that came to mind was to go to the doctor. I got some blood tests done (two different times) and one said I had low Vitamin B (which makes people tired) and I had low Iron (which also makes people tired). So I started taking the proper vitamins to restore my youth, only they didn't fix everything. I got a little more energy, but not to where I wanted to be.
I knew I had to do something. Insert exercise. My older sister had given me her Wii Fit since she were not currently using it, so I started doing a few exercises here and there. I really enjoyed the exercises, especially the Warrior 2 (which is a yoga pose). In 2013 I started getting more into the yoga moves and decided I wanted to learn some more yoga poses. This is where my journey and exploration of yoga really started to take off. I bought the Giam's Yoga for Beginners DVD and started watching/practicing a few times a week. I started to notice a change in myself. I was gaining more energy and I was starting to be able to keep my energy going. I wasn't feeling sleepy at work, and I had a bit more energy throughout the evening.
So after about 7 months of working from the DVD and other various apps, I decided it was time to take my yoga to the next level, yoga classes. If I was going to go to yoga classes, I wanted it to be convenient and close to work. Living in Toronto that's pretty easy. So I used google maps and found Hot Yoga Wellness Kennedy. Hmmm, I've heard of hot yoga before, my one cousin did it and loved it. So I thought I'd check it out. And when I walked in, I really loved the atmosphere, very relaxing and inviting.
This is when my yoga practice really started to sink in more. I was feeling better than ever. I was even able to reach my toes (a feat I was never able to do during my life). My energy also improved, I wasn't tired as much and I had energy to do things after work. Life was great!
In May 2015 my sister and I took a trip to Bali. My first big trip overseas and I loved every minute of it! We had a perfect vacation, filled with adventure, relaxing massages, and yes - yoga. It really opened my eyes to a whole new world and culture. I realized I had deep passion for adventure and growth. That I actually like to push myself to see if I can come out on the other side. An example would be how I am afraid to swim in water that I can't see in, and during our White Water Rafting adventure they gave us a chance to swim in the river. Of which I couldn't see what the bottom looked like (nor did I know what kind of creatures lurked in the waters). But I did it. And it was really fun! So needless to say, ii was an amazing trip, one I will never forget. (And if you'd like to know more about my trip feel free to ask.)
After my trip however, I took a turn in my yoga practice. I stopped going. I'm not too sure the physiological reasons on why I stopped going. Part of me didn't like the idea of doing hot yoga in the summer, another part of me didn't want to spend the money, and another part wanted to explore something new. This is when my self growth, off the mat, really took off. I started to think about designing my life differently and I started to listen to a lot of Ted Talks. I started to change as an individual and I started to really open my mind to new concepts and ideas. I started to get more confidence as well, not physically, but mentally. I knew where I wanted to be and how I would get there, through yoga.
So in the beginning of 2016 I decided to get my Yoga Teacher's Certificate. I knew I really liked Hot Yoga Wellness and their style of teaching, so I joined their April 2016 TT weekend course.
I've learned so much throughout the course. More self growth, more physical growth and more confidence. I mean they all say how hard it's going to be, but you don't know it, until you go through it. I had a few 'break downs' as they would say, where I felt totally depleted and tired. But I pushed through it, because I knew that I just couldn't quit. And not to mention the battle of self confidence and ego were there just as much as enlightenment and truth. I just knew that if I could push through it, I would be greatly rewarded. And so I am glad to say, I passed my exams and I am now a 250hr RYS Yoga Teacher :D
With my growing passions and my continuing education, I hope to help others through their yoga and life journeys and help them discover a different side of themselves. To teach them yoga, on and off the mat. To help facilitate growth and confidence. It's why I quit my previous job and I am now teaching yoga full time. I am fully committed to sharing my passion and love of this ancient and proven practice.
I may not be perfect, but I know that if I try my best, if I really put myself out there to be as authentic as I possible can be, then I know I can make a difference in someone else's life. So I hope my story has inspired you to some extent, and I hope you really push yourself to be the best version you can be. I know you can do it, if you put your mind to it!
Until next time,
Namaste
~ Lindsay
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