This Yoga Life

Who: Stephanie Reitano, 37
Where: Philadelphia

Her breakthrough moment
About a month ago, I had a really awful class where I nearly fainted—probably from stress and dehydration—and I was actually afraid to go again. But I made myself return that week and I had the most incredible class. I controlled my breathing, relaxed, and listened. I realized that yoga is something to surrender to and not something to control. I learn something new every time and that’s what keeps me coming back. I may never reach a particular goal—like balancing on my big toe—but that’s okay.

Her words of wisdom
Practicing yoga is exactly like running a small business. After every class I feel like the crap has been kicked out of me. It’s the same at work: I deal with the calls, the customers, the product, the equipment, the employees ... I can go on. There are problems every single day, but they are pains that I love.

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