"There was a time where I was unhealthy, and I knew it.  I couldn't breathe if I leaned over to tie my

shoes.  I had to sit and go in from the side.  This left the knots consistently lopsided.  I would have

dreams that I would be running and performing vigorous dances – I would feel amazing until the

depression hit when I woke.  I was buried by toxicity in work, relationships, emotions, and alcohol.

​

I remember when I finally went to the gym and entered full of anxiety.  I knew other men there

would pick on me.  That delusion demonstrates how low my self-esteem had become.  One man

greeted me. His name was Anthony and he was a former star college football player. He had no

agenda. He shared with me his own personal stories and taught me his routines.  He would

encourage me with his success stories, and let me know when I made progress. We became

friends.

​

Shortly after Anthony and I met, I found myself in a yoga studio expecting little. I was trying it as

a goof.  Physically, I had changed, but I had no sense of momentum in my life.  My first class was

confusingly quite enjoyable, so I went back.  No one else was in that class, I was alone with a

female instructor, feeling just as intimidated as I did that first day in the gym.  That day, with the

personalized one-on-one attention, I was doing things quite astonishing to me, like standing on

my head in the middle of a room.  I left astonished, and could only wonder one thing: "What else

am I capable of?"

​

This was the beautiful thing. Three people, all well experienced in different ways, sharing what they

know in order to make life itself better, not just look better.

​

I enjoy life as an independent adult now, free from toxicity, and with more potential and drive at 41 than I had twenty years ago.  I enjoy life putting back into the universe each day."