Why I wanted to celebrate

 On May 15, 2020 I received my RYT 200 certificate. I was officially certified and able to call myself a Yoga Teacher. Why celebrate this accomplishment, or the 1-year anniversary? If you have a couple minutes I will explain. 
In 2020 when the entire world was faced with the pandemic, a cloud of doom paralyzed most people. Working in health care I was getting information about the severity of the pandemic quite frequently. I knew I had to do something to stay sane, especially during lockdown/ social distancing. I decided to take my passion for Yoga to the next level and completed 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training. Not only did the daily Yoga practice help me stay healthy physically, it helped my mental well being as well.
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Yoga with Oma was born (to learn what Oma means, go to "All about Oma" tab). 

I wanted to be an example for my children and grandchildren. I wanted to show them that even during a difficult time something beautiful can be created. Just like a Lotus flower. 

"The lotus flower's daily resurrection is certainly interesting, and surely symbolic of revival. (This makes it the perfect gift for anyone recovering from injury or a traumatic experience.) But the flower also has a fascinating will to live. A lotus seed can withstand thousands of years without water, able to germinate over two centuries later.
The flower also blooms in the most unlikely of places such as the mud of murky river water in Australia or Southern Asia. Not only does it find sanctuary in the muck, but due to the waxy protection layer on its petals, its beauty is blithely unaffected when it re-blooms each morning. It continues to resurrect itself, coming back just as beautiful as it was last seen. With such refusal to accept defeat, it's almost impossible not to associate this flower with unwavering faith. Although cultures have largely dubbed the lotus as a spiritual figurehead, it is most emblematic of the faith within ourselves. It is particularly what the Buddhist proverb, aims to edify; living life with unwavering faith, as the lotus does, ensures the most beautiful revivals". Source: "The secret meaning of the Lotus flower" by Katie Robinson

When life gives you lemons,......you know the saying. I, instead decided to become a Yoga Teacher. I wanted to share the benefits of Yoga, but how? I decided to host monthly free Yoga practices in the park. Each month I choose a local non-profit organization and fundraise for them. If you attend my free Yoga practice, you have the opportunity to donate towards their cause. So far I have collected funds to fight food insecurity of the Navajo Nation. Hosted a food drive for local food bank. Collected hygiene products for local women's shelter. Rounded up Arts and Craft supplies for local Family Resource Center. I have been blessed with a group of wonderful people who support me and my vision.

I wanted to give back to them, so I decided to host a 1-year anniversary celebration. It was a beautiful morning in the park. We took a closer look at Sun Salutations and possible modifications. The Chair Yoga session was well received and we ended with Spring Yoga for children. Throughout the event the talented photographer McKenna took pictures that captured the essence of this celebration.

In closing, I want to thank all my supporters, my friends and family, and I am leaving you with this quote:
"Don't grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form" - Rumi