The first day I went to a yoga class, I never went to a gym again.

Ever.  It was a no-brainer.

I used to work hard at being successful: in my work and even in looking the way I wanted to physically and feeling the way I wanted to emotionally.  I worked long hours and then went to the gym and lifted weights and rode the treadmill.  I wrote in my journal to get centered in my mind.  I hiked in the woods to get a bigger perspective by getting in touch with nature.

 Some days I would be too busy with work and my family to do any of the above and I would feel guilty and sometimes off balance.

 Yoga had it all.                    http://www.YogaUniverse.com/14daysfree

I was worked out in my body with tingling in my exercised muscles when class ended, I was sweaty from doing Sun Salutations (as sweaty as the treadmill and it was way more fun!), I was happy from breathing full and deep for over an hour so that my brain was flush with oxygenated blood, I was very calm but invigorated because my mind's chatter had been replaced by the simple focus of following my breath and paying close attention to my body as I moved in and out of beautiful shapes with my body.  I was so happy!  Just writing this makes me want to go do my practice now.

 What makes a yoga practice successful?  A daily yoga practice will change your life, no question.  People who have never done yoga usually say--how can some breathing and stretching, and, okay, maybe even a hard physical workout, change my life?  I will tell you.

 Yoga is the most amazing thing that has ever come into my life.  Quite a claim.  Is it possible?  How about that great job, the amazing loving boyfriend, great interactions with people and satisfying life work? 

 All of that is great and only positive symptoms of something bigger that makes everything else flow into your life more easily.

 I don't struggle with my weight at all now.  Some great things have happened in my life and I directly attribute the ease with which they came to yoga and the benefits it's given me.  Maybe I am just happier with myself but on a purely physical front I am thinner and longer than I have ever been.  I hadn't seen a friend in about a year and it was my first year doing yoga.  I still remember what he said when he saw me, "You look so beautiful, your body looks so long." 

 Strange compliment but I knew what he meant--I had changed the shape of my body.  Weight lifting worked a lot of my large muscle groups and made me a little bit bulkier than I really wanted to be.  I tried to offset that with cardio back then but when I met yoga it happened effortlessly.  It's just inherent in the practice of yoga because I built more lean muscle mass, which cultivated smaller muscles as well as big ones. This increases your sitting metabolic rate so you burn more calories at sitting.

A daily yoga practice incorporates both weight resistance principals and cardiovascular workout--so it is a balanced workout all in one.  But most importantly yoga, and the effect it's had on me, makes me naturally gravitate toward healthy and delicious foods.  Ad yes, I still Love and eat chocolate! 

 I'm kinder to myself and as a natural extension of that kinder and more patient with others. 

 I am more inspired from within than motivated from without--meaning that my center is inside myself and not at the mercy of the ebb and tide of outside approval or disapproval. 

I enjoy great health overall and never get sick… even in winter when everyone else is coming down with colds.

 I attribute much of this to yoga and it overall benefits.  I still love hiking--nature is amazing. Journaling is valuable too but for me yoga really is all those things rolled into one. If I have time for only one special activity to take care of myself in a really busy day--I choose yoga.  If it's beautiful outside--I do yoga outside with my laptop on the grass and class playing or just practicing without instruction if I feel internally motivated to do so-- letting whatever postures show up that do.

 Like everyone else, I can be resistant when I start yoga--sometimes it's hard to unroll my mat.  Other things seem to be asserting themselves as priorities that need to get taken care of right now.  But once I begin moving and breathing something clicks on inside and that feeling of connection, that feeling of 'all is wellness' begins to move through me and move my practice.

 The truth about the business of life is always the same--there will always be more to do.  Especially if you are a passionate person that loves life and keeps creating more to do!

 But, I know that I will do a better job at work or relating to those I love (or find difficult to love) and save a lot of time by making sure I take care of myself first.  Think back to the times in your life when things flowed and unfolded for you easily.  Was it when you were stressed and pushing or was it when you felt happy and connected?  It's Always the latter.  And yoga gets me there.

 As a yoga studio owner I have taught literally thousands of classes and as a long-time yoga practitioner I have taken even more.  I have studied with amazing teachers and taken yoga in many different countries.  I know what makes a satisfying yoga class and I know what annoys me personally when taking a yoga class or video. 

I have been a relentless marketer of yoga since the day I took my first yoga class--and I was just a student then.  I didn't own a yoga studio, write yoga and health related articles, hadn't yet appeared in Yoga Magazine, and hadn't even thought of the idea for an online yoga video studio back then.  I just knew it would change my friend's lives if I just got them to one class--after that the yoga would speak for itself.  Most all of them were as amazed as I was and when we talk and say 'did you practice today?' it's with a kind of reverence because we know that if the other person did not, and is upset or off balance, they probably need to.  And if they did practice, it's with a greedy ear that we listen to what the other person did for postures and sequencing and how wrung out they got emotionally and physically. 

The best part is hearing what insights the other person got--that "Aha!" experience yogis often get when we are in the middle of a practice--when something confusing become crystal clear or something that has been gnawing at us unattaches and melts away.  I think this is mostly why we continue to do yoga.   

Yoga helps you to connect with yourself--get to know yourself and really understand your body and your attitudes toward it, your motivations in life and what makes you suffer.  Through yoga I think people can see their suffering with compassion and turn it into acceptance and joy.  Yoga is the most amazing thing I have ever met.

Writing this makes me want to go do my practice right now! 

I will sign off by saying sign up for a monthly membership NOW--Don't let this go!  Just do it!  You can change your life and begin your journey with yoga in the privacy of your own home today. 

For this week only, we will pay for your first two weeks as our gift to you, and your yoga practice!       http://www.YogaUniverse.com/14daysfree

Yoga classes being available to you online means that you really can make it a realistic goal to practice yoga everyday--or at least once or twice a week.  No rushing to get to a scheduled yoga class at a studio in traffic after work, no boring DVDs, that even if they are great, get old after a few viewings.

I have created this online studio as a compilation of all of the styles and skills of all of the yoga classes I have taught and attended in my life so far.  You choose what classes to take and how fast you want to grow your practice. 

You may choose to stay at Beginner level for a long time, or maybe you love Flow Yoga.  It could be that Power Yoga and the physical challenge fits your personality and lifestyle.  Maybe some days you only do a Yoga and Breathwork class or maybe you put that relaxing video back to back with a Moderate level yoga class--making a delicious practice for yourself that day by combining the two classes!

Only you know your needs and goals and those can change over time. My personal goal is to have over 100 classes online so that you never get bored and are always growing in your practice.  Maybe you will get so into it that you will come to my regional yoga workshops (contact us to get your state onto this upcoming year's list).

 YogaUniverse wants your first experience with our online yoga classes to be the start of a long and healthy relationship. The best way for you to get to know us is to try out our wide selection of classes yourself, to see if you like us as much as our other members do. About the only way to top that is if you could try us for FREE!

 Well, for a limited time, we are offering exactly that, and we will cover the costs ourselves for your 2-week membership, as our gift to you and your yoga practice. Could it get any better than that? In case you were wondering, we feature classes for Beginner, Hatha, and Power yogis, with new classes added weekly. By signing up now, you will get instant access to our huge library of favorite classes so you can get your yoga fix, whenever you want, and wherever you are!

Get your complimentary 2-Week Membership! Limited Time offer!

This membership is only $ 13.99 for the first month and $27.99 a month and, when compared to brick-and-mortar studio rates, pays for itself if you take just two classes.

Yoga is for everyone--regardless of age, fitness level or body type.  All you have to do is start!

Good luck on your yoga journey.  I am so happy for you!

See you in class!

Warmest regards--Tiffany Chion

YogaUniverse