My yoga journey

I was introduced to yoga during my sixth year as a user experience designer at a company. My first encounter with yoga occurred when I was fortunate enough to attend a meditation retreat through my company's wellness program. 

This retreat, spanning four days and three nights, took place at a center near the beach, roughly a five-hour drive from Seoul. During this transformative experience, I willingly surrendered my cell phone and disconnected from all electronic devices. Engaging in various meditations, gentle yoga poses, and mindfulness activities, I returned to work with a profoundly refreshed mind. 

Regrettably, I didn't maintain my meditation and yoga practices in my daily routine. While at work, I was busy studying for exams after work and on weekends. Then it wasn't until I joined a yoga class at a community center by chance that I felt the power of yoga as a mindfulness practice again. Before this, I had perceived yoga primarily as a physical activity, with limited awareness of its mental benefits although I had a meditation retreat before. Yet, yoga profoundly affected me, imparting a deep sense of tranquility and empowerment. It provided comfort and equipped me to face each day with a positive outlook, granting me a precious piece of inner peace.

After moving to the United States, I persisted in cultivating my yoga practice, both through personal sessions and by participating in various yoga studios. I happened to participate in "The Yoga Connection" community, which provides yoga for immigrants and refugees. There, I felt connected to people from various countries through yoga. As a participant, I enjoyed those times with others, and I felt a sense of belonging in this community. The following year, I received yoga teacher training at Asheville Yoga Center. Over the next six months, I volunteered with The Yoga Connection, gaining a deeper understanding of the community. And then I have the opportunity to share yoga with this group. I sincerely want to continue sharing yoga with refugees and immigrants, focusing on making yoga accessible in my class. The true essence of yoga lies in cultivating a flexible mind, accessible to anyone.