Bella Yoga was born out of need. My own need, to be exact. Itās named after my familyās first fur baby. Bella Bear, as sheās most commonly called, has been with me for deployments, long tours, trainings, multiple moves and the births of both my children. (If you guessed weāre a military family, you guessed correctly!) She is the guardian of our family and has been my comfort and my joy for over 12 years. And this is what yoga is for me. It is comfort. It is joy. It is enlightening and ever evolving. It grounds me and is where I find peace. Naming my own studio felt monumental. It had to have personal meaning. Bella... yoga... - a beautiful soul in a furry 4-legged body, and a beautiful practice - both giving to me unconditionally for many years. Hence, Bella (beautiful) Yoga.
Bella Yoga initially arose in response to the closure of the studio where I previously taught. I loved this studio and I was crushed when it closed. Itās closing also set me on the course Iām now on, for which I am forever grateful.
From the time I took my first teacher training course, I knew I wanted to be a yoga therapist. Having babies, moving and just life meant this dream was put on the back burner for several years. And during those years, I maintained an on and off teaching career. This wrecked havoc on my confidence as a yoga teacher, but every time I came back to teaching, Iād fall in love with it all over again. As we settled in to some stability here in WA, I was able to return to more regular teaching. (If you count once a week regular... and I do!) The time I spent in preparation for class, teaching class and visiting with students at the studio were what kept me going. Parenting is hard. And when you have a child with special needs, it adds a whole extra layer of hard. So my time at the studio was always a gift. The only time I could ever really settle and relax. A mini-vacation for an hour every week... score!
At the same time, I was ready... hungry... for more. More knowledge, more skill, more confidence and more tools that I could use to truly help people meet the goals they were trying to achieve through yoga. So I began putting dreams to action and took the first steps to pursue my yoga therapy certification. Then the studio I was teaching at closed, and I needed a sustainable way to continue teaching and practicing.... 1) for my sanity and 2) to pursue my passion.
I started with small group classes and have gradually moved toward more 1:1 sessions. Working with clients individually is the most life giving work Iāve ever done. It Lights. Me. Up. My clients and I get to go on a journey together. We make new connections, we grow our awareness, and itās powerful. Iām blessed and grateful to have had so many people trust my journey, and trust me to guide them on their own journey. Thereās magic in this work. Sometimes thereās no other way to explain it. Itās simple, complex and profound.
Iām now studying with Susi Hately of Functional Synergy in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I will graduate her program in 2020 as a C-IAYT (certified yoga therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists). This work, though, is lifelong. Thereās always more to learn. Thereās always more awareness to build. More layers to peel back. And this is what keeps me in such awe and wonder. This work does not get old.
If you have any questions... about me, yoga therapy, group classes that Iām offering... please reach out. Iām happy to answer them! What I do and what I offer continues to evolve as needs arise. If I can help you in your journey, I will. And if Iām not the right fit, Iāll do my best to refer you to someone who may be.
In gratitude and love
Namaste
Hylan
