Anusara Certification Essay

I've received quite a few congratulations in the last couple days for my acceptance into the Anusara teacher certification process. Thanks for that! I'm sharing below the essay that got me in:

When I was a tiny girl the first thing I ever wanted to be was a cheerleader. Not just any kind of cheerleader, but specifically a Dallas Cowgirl. Though supremely enticing, it wasn’t just the glitz, the glamour, the physical feats, or even the fringed costumes- I wanted to inspire hearts. Those Cowgirls were my first run-in with real live Lakshmis- no matter how tough it got, they still smiled through the television screen at me, their glittering suits and blonde curls asking, begging us to see the good, to appreciate all things shiny, glorious, and abundant in this world no matter how far behind the team lagged. They served as a constant reminder of the big picture- however fired up my daddy got I could still see clearly that it was just a game. A serious and harrowing affair no doubt but nonetheless a game that dares us as participants to take control of our own experience by being just plain positive.

My tiny brain matured, my interests budded, blossomed, changed and grew. I wanted to be a scientist, to know the inner workings of the world: an astronaut, a marine biologist, a brain surgeon. To witness the unfolding of magic, to know the intimate patterns and channels through which glory unfurls itself into this world. I wanted to be a break-dancer, a ballerina, a sculptor; to prove through unwavering discipline that I could exactly mirror the glory. I wanted to be a wife, a mother to know I could create it.

And when it came to the unfolding of my path, through Anusara yoga I became all these things. I am a disciplined scientist, a majestic dancer, an explorer, part of a team of Lakshmis supporting one another through kula as we take the shape of bliss. I continue to inspire hearts. And to smile by golly to the best of my ability.

I want to apply for certification because through Anusara yoga I get to be everything I’ve ever wanted to be in a way that is skillful, deliberate, and supported. I am ready to make a greater commitment to my own growth as a teacher, and to stand as a beacon of light, a model of deep integrity and alignment for the community that continues to challenge me, support me and cheer me on.