YOGI OF THE MONTH

July 2019 - Janice Thomas

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

I was 7 months pregnant with our second child and living in Atlanta. It was 100 degrees and humid and I was mostly miserable. A friend told me about a pregnancy yoga class that she has done and gotten some "relief"...I was all in. I don't remember many of the poses or much else but I do remember Savasana at the end..and crying a little. Then the instructor served us a cup of tea while we sat in silence. I felt at ease for the first time in a few months, and the community we shared, the stretching and rest all got me through to the birth. After that it just kind of built where I kept trying new classes that met me where I was in life. 

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

My intention for my yoga practice is to make the most of each pose, to really take the time to listen carefully to the instructor, taking in each prompt to open up as best as I can in that moment.  

What is your favorite pose and why?

Prasarita Padottanasana A (Standing Wide Legged Forward Bend). I feel a little like a waterfall and a little like Nadia Comaneci from the 70's Olympics. It's a good feeling. 

What is your favorite class at InsideOut Yoga?

I do not have a favorite class. Every yoga class I take feels like my favorite. I always did not know I needed that specific class and I always am surprised by that very thing. Weird and cool. 

How has the practice of yoga influenced your life?

Sometimes I will find myself all hunched over my computer (now) and have this thought....pull your shoulders back, let your scapula kiss, lengthen your neck and slide the base of your head up....it transforms me. Yoga opens up all of those places in our lives where we close down and hunch. I like living life with an open heart and yoga has given me the tools to do just that. 

What advice would you have for a beginning yoga student?

I have taken a MILLION yoga classes. I have tried every variation and iteration. If a class feels competitive or for some reason you do not feel very good about you....it's not the right class. Real yoga feels supported, personal, internal and is a community where you belong. This is why I love Susan and InsideOut Yoga. She finds just the right balance.

What is your occupation?

I am a nurse at the Northern Neck-Middlesex Free Health Clinic. I love my job. 

What activities do you enjoy?

I am a Master's swimmer at the Northern Neck Family YMCA, I play tennis and walk and hike with my dogs.

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

I think people here are especially welcoming and inclusive.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

When I completed the swim across the Rappahanock River on Memorial Day, a few of my DC friends asked me if I was training for anything. "I'm training for life" was my answer. Yea...that sounds about right.