Meet the beautiful and amazing Veronica Wilson.  Veronica has been practicing yoga for over 8 years and has in that time fallen so in love with it that she also has taken the next step to become a certified 200h RYT and is currently pursuing her 300h RYT designation, which would make her a 500h RYT.

 Veronica started to embrace yoga during a traumatic time in her life where everything seemed to be falling apart.  She lost her father, who was her best friend, to cancer, all while dealing with a devastating divorce and moving back to Ohio from Chicago. Veronica states,  “With all that I was trying to create a new normal for my life which was difficult.  This path has created a new woman that has been restored and has rebuilt her life with love, joy and peace. We all have a journey to travel and while we travel we must stay steadfast and unmovable and know it’s a journey not a destination. Pain will pass and the sun will rise in the morning and in everything there is a season and each season brings on new opportunities.  I’ve learned where there is growth, there is always change, and yoga is about being open to the possibility for change.”

Veronica went on to say, “I believe that yoga is never about holding on, it is always about letting go. Just like the trees let go of their leaves, we must also let go and be open – open to the transformation that brings new life, new experiences, and new opportunities. With yoga I have been given a second chance – the chance of a lifetime. The yoga practice itself is challenging, and it helps you deal with life’s daily challenges. You open up, bringing more gratitude and appreciation into your life.”

Wow. Those are amazing words to live by and she certainly is speaking from experience. Veronica currently practices yoga at GoYoga, has lead several small group yoga sessions at One Church but her favorite spot to practice is in nature. She states, “I enjoy the outside yoga the most because of the blue sky, fresh air and hearing the birds chirping brings me joy.”

When asked what her ideal yoga space would look like, her answer was, “Yoga means “union” or “joining together”. It is not only the communion of mind, body and spirit, but the joining together of people. Yoga wouldn’t have been born without each of us– each of us make it possible for me to do the job that I love. We will build this yoga community together and will continue to grow it together. Yoga isn’t mine, it is ours – we are ALL connected, we are ONE and we are enough! The idea yoga space, to me, would model pictures and gear for all size women.  There would be this energy of love, joy and peace that would be woven into the fabric of the atmosphere and culture. I would meet people where they are and create a space of sharing and safety.” 

I think I would enjoy that yoga space, as well.  Maybe, someday, we will get to practice in Veronica’s amazing space, probably in nature…I mean, Imma just throw it out there, I hear Greece or Tanzania have some amazing outside yoga retreat spots where we could create this…just putting it out there…the Bible says, “You have not because you ask not…”

Stay tuned…you just never know…