Teacher of the Month-Sharon Mariani

  When did you start practicing yoga and what brought you to yoga?

 In 2006, I was pregnant with my 2nd son and I was practicing prenatal yoga 3x/week.  At the last minute I heard about a Mother's day weekend yoga retreat, I signed up with Tracie Brace.  I was 4 months pregnant and I loved the experience.  I remember saying to myself "I can see myself leading yoga retreats".  The seed was planted.  One year after I gave birth, I signed up for Robert Boustany's year long teacher training.  Excited, nervous, breastfeeding, filing for a divorce and not a clue to how my life and my body would change on every level with yoga's influence.

 How long have you been teaching?  What do you love about teaching?

 Not counting past lives... ;-)  I am in my 2nd year of teaching.  I love connecting to others and helping others realize their not alone, we all have issues no matter what we look like, our profession, age, background, religion....  You can feel better and relieve physical and emotional pain.  You can change lousy habits, it's a process.  You can get crazy strong, there is no age limit!  

What do you like about Awakened Yoga Studio and its students?

  I'm thrilled we have a great yoga studio in Sugar Land.  In addition, Grace and the awakened staff are supportive, enthusiastic, creative and organized.  The students inspire me to continue to grow, be compassionate towards everyone and be present.  When I teach I am present, in the moment, in the now, not rehashing yesterday or worrying about tomorrow.  This is where "peace" exists.  It's part of the practice, noticing when the brain/ego won't turn off.  The mind is a useful tool for everyday tasks but the ego's complaints, fears, incessant desires, need for control etc... can cause ourselves misery.  Yoga tells you to bring your attention to your breath and to feel your body, this awareness is presence, presence is freedom from the mind, freedom is the beginning to reconnect to your sweet, young, true self.  yes, I said "young" :) No age limit!

Please finish these sentences:

My favorite rainy day activity is…
     cooking, reading or laying low with my boys

      I wish I could tell my 12-year-old self to…

        Not to be so hard on myself, I'm perfect and beautiful just the way I am.  We are all the same, no one is better than the next person.  Everyone has a story.   

     No one knows that I…

       No one knows that I am a triplet.  Thanksgiving day, my mother birthed 3 turkeys naturally!  5.0 lb, 6.13lb and 7.11lb  I have two, fraternal brothers who are the same age as me.  I love my brothers and I am grateful we were Womb Mates! 

      My guiltiest pleasure is…

        My pleasures:  Homemade cookies  (try not to feel guilty, hard on the nervous system!)

     This morning I ate…

     This morning I ate homemade steel cut oats w/cinnamon, pure maple syrup, splash of milk with a mug of homemade hot, ayurvedic Chai.  

       My advice to students is…

      No one is better than the next person, even it appears that way on the surface.  Even advanced yogis/practicioners have heartbreaks and body aches.  Our strenth in a pose and our strength in our life will vary from day to day.  Every day life will test us.  Even when we master handstand, we will still mess up in life.  My teacher always says "Don't React to the Reaction.  Don't let your mind eat you."  It's a process.  It will get better.  Tomorrow is a new day.