Kim Candika Alford, E-RYT

One main reason I started practicing yoga was that I have lived with chronic pain since the mid 1990′s. I was drawn to the healing energy and peacefulness of yoga to help me with this. It’s been a very up and down kind of ride. In 2007, I was ultimately diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a neuromuscular condition, which includes arthritis-like symptoms. What I have absolutely taken away from this personal experience is the understanding of the transient nature of things. Letting go into the natural flow of life, opening to the current of grace, and trusting that I have the ability to start the process of my own healing has been one of the most wonderful gifts of all. This is where I begin with all my students, encouraging them to trust and believe that they can be healed, that they can transform their situation.

To define my personal style of teaching yoga, I would say it strongly rests upon the practice of self-discovery, the development of deep awareness, proper alignment, creating strength and balance in the body, mind and spirit and a cultivation of the most joyful way of being. Within every class there is always a nod to the spiritual, the mythologies of many cultures and a recognition of the subtle part of ourselves. In addition to yoga asana, I continually study different ancient yogic texts and philosophies, pranayama (yogic breath), mantra and meditation. Referencing the sum of our parts as individuals and the different limbs of yoga, they come together to create a more radically expansive whole. This ever-evolving practice and way of being is one that will accompany me for the rest of my life.

Yoga is powerful way to raise your consciousness and learn how to be present within the moment. Through these yogic practices, you can create wellness and balance in every aspect of your being. When I teach yoga, I emphasize learning how to listen deeply to your body’s wisdom. This way of practicing minimizes injury on the yoga mat and off. I have a particular focus on teaching those with body challenges how to incorporate yoga into their lives in a way that is do-able, based on my personal experience.