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I'm not really great with the dates, but I know I took my first yoga class in the fall of 2001, not long after September 11th. I had only been in New York a few months and didn't have a job yet, so I couldn't afford many classes. An old resume shows that I started working for a book publisher in October, but it wasn't until a few months later that I became a regular at the yoga studio a few doors down from my office. So winter/spring 2002 was when I really became a student of yoga, meaning that I have now been practicing a full ten years, one of my longest relationships to date.

My first teachers were wonderful people. I took class with gorgeous, red-headed, down-to-earth Fiona every Tuesday evening. Her classes were always packed. She worked us hard and gave the most amazing adjustments. Then on Thursday evening, it was gorgeous, funny, generous Paula who led us in a heart-centered practice. She was the first person I heard mention inner and outer spiral, and, even a decade later, I still have to think really hard every time I hear those directions. I'm profoundly grateful for all my teachers, who all, every single one, happen to be gorgeous.

During these ten years I got married, had a baby, moved across the country, and had another baby, each life change bringing with it a corresponding change in my yoga practice. My kids roll out a yoga mat and do some poses like it's no big deal. My six-year-old explains to us at the dinner table how taking deep breaths calms you down when you are mad. My two-year-old sets up a row of Barbies doing downward dog on the kitchen table. The six-year-old forgets to take deep breaths when she discovers little sis has been playing with her Barbies. I decide to take the deep breaths instead. Yoga is part of my life so it is part of theirs.

I've learned so much but I still often feel like the new kid, which is a nice way to enter the second decade. I guess I thought I have the splits down by now. (I may never get the splits down.) On some days, I feel like I can't really touch my toes and on others, my foot slides behind my head. Sometimes the hard poses get easier and the easy poses get harder. I love asana, but I have learned that, of course, it's not about the poses. Yoga improves my quality of life, and I hope it does the same for you.

My Yogaversary - The First Decade originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 23:34:26.

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Is your in-box filled with tempting offers to escape to exotic locales with every yoga teacher you've ever known? That's because we're headed into peak retreat season. If you're thinking about signing on, I have a few suggestions on making your trip a success. Read more...

Tired of Winter? Retreat! originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 22:25:17.

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Let's talk about arm variations in warrior III. Arms extended in front has got to be the classic, as evidenced by its inclusion in Light on Yoga, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't mix it up. Arms extended backwards, as shown here, is easier on the shoulders and a little more stable. Hands on your hips helps you to level the hips, which is good for alignment since the hip on the raised leg tends to want to cock up. My personal favorite is reverse namaste, which helps me keep a nice, flat back. How to do like to do it?

Warrior III - Virabhadrasana III Is the Yoga Pose of the Week originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 22:35:55.

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