YOGI OF THE MONTH

April 2021 - Joann Burroughs

What first brought you to yoga and how long have you been practicing?

Our daughter introduced me to yoga about five years ago. I had always been a gym rat; lifting weights and doing boot camps, and yoga was quite an eye opener. After I retired in 2018 and joined a morning Geriatric Boot Camp at the gym, a few of us decided to add two days a week of yoga. So, all in all, I did yoga steadily for a year – until COVID came. 

What is/are your intention(s) for your yoga practice?

My intentions during my yoga practice are to calm my mind and to improve my focus by concentrating on doing the poses correctly. Focusing on the pose and making sure I’m breathing helps me to forget everything else. 

What is your favorite pose and why?

My favorite pose is the second Downward Dog, after my muscles and tendons are loosened up. It feels glorious, especially as part of a Sun Salutation. 

What is your favorite class at InsideOut Yoga?

My favorite class at IOY is Wednesday’s SBF class. It hits all of the areas that I need to work on. 

How has the practice of yoga influenced your life?

The practice of yoga has shown me how to be mindful. My brain is always working, going in many different directions, and it’s nice to be able now to take a few moments to breathe and to take the time to think about what’s really important (and what’s not).  

What advice would you have for a beginning yoga student?

My advice to a beginning student (myself included in that group) is to give yoga a chance, and to expect progress at a slower pace. It takes a while to learn the poses and the terminology, and for the body to learn the poses, but it’s so rewarding when all of those things come together. 

What is your occupation?

My husband and I both retired from Newport News Shipbuilding at the end of 2017. We graduated from the Apprentice School, and ended up at opposite ends of the process of designing and building aircraft carriers. He went into welding and I went into weight engineering after finishing a business degree. We each worked there for about 38 years and are thoroughly enjoying retirement. 

What activities do you enjoy?

My favorite activities are gardening, reading, caring for our three Lakeland Terriers, and visiting garden centers and consignment shops with friends. I also enjoy lettering and calligraphy, although I haven’t had much time to spend on it lately, mostly due to the fact that I prefer to be in the garden. 

What is your favorite thing about living in the Northern Neck or Middle Peninsula?

My favorite thing about living in the Middle Peninsula is the feeling of being out in the country.  We love watching the ever-changing water and the wildlife. This month we’re expecting the ospreys to arrive, we’re waiting to see if the bluebirds return to last year’s nest, and we’re feeding the bufflehead ducks in preparation for their long journeys up north.