Sonja Gasper

Fighting both loneliness and chronic pain, I decided to try yoga at a local studio. I remember thinking that everyone in class must be a ballerina, beautiful form, so flexible, not a care in the world and there I was, the frump in the corner. I hated it. I cried during savasana. I went back the next day but only because I had purchased a month long package... Since then, I have come to realize that other people in the room have "stuff" going on inside like I do. Yoga is not for perfect people who have their shit together. They don't exist. It is for real people like me. I can't touch my toes. I wear a size large. I live with daily pain. I eat burgers and drink beer. I get overwhelmed by family, work and life. I have an old body. I do yoga. Outside of the studio, I am a wife, mother of four, biology teacher, market farmer, tabletop gamer, slow foodie, sci-fi fangirl, planner junkie, and life lover. See you on your mat.