Hello, thank you for being here, and allowing me to introduce myself. Not as a yoga teacher, but a student of life.

I was born and raised in Taiwan, and I was raised by my grandparents in a village in Tainan, in southern Taiwan. Growing up in the rural environment close to nature as a young child gave me a sense of adventure and wonder. Life was simple in the village. However, when I was 14 years old, I faced challenging family situations that forced me to live independently. Many years later, I moved to the capital, Taipei, and work in the hectic, competitive clothing industry for many years where I learned a lot about global business and international networks by working with agents, forwarders, and companies from Asia to Europe. While I loved what I did, I felt a deep yearning to expand my life beyond my homeland for self-growth. Then I made a life decision to leave my job and come to the United States at the age of 27 to study English.

I arrived in St.Louis on the day before the Easter Day. I still remember because I went to church with my friend and I'm not sure why all the children were looking for eggs. I was filled with excitement and eagerness to embark on my new journey. However, I soon noticed that whenever I was under the sun or surrounded by nature, I would start sneezing uncontrollably, and experience skin irritations caused by something in the air. My eyes would often become swollen with tears, and my face and skin would have allergic reactions that from itch to burning sensation. The grass, trees, and flowers that most people enjoy became a threat to my skin and breathing. Additionally, my respiratory system struggled during the first winter. The dry indoor air caused my frequent nosebleeds, and my muscles would ache and tight during the snow days. It feels like my whole body became a weather radar system. As a result, I developed acute bronchitis, leaving me in bed with a severe fever for a week. As a new immigrant, I did not have health insurance, a car, or anyone that I feel comfortable to ask for help. I kept all my frustration and illness a secret from my family because I knew they would want me to return home. My life did not go well according to plan, and I felt that I had made a huge mistake. However, it is also during this darkness time that I started to learn how to take care of myself.

In an attempt to improve my health, I decided to try yoga. My first yoga experience did not gone very well. I knew nothing about yoga, and I struggled to understand what the teacher was saying, and I had difficulty breathing. But somehow, things started to improve for me. It wasn't an immediate change, but I could sense that my health was moving in a better direction. The physical practice of yoga not only improved my breathing and muscle pain, but it also helps me to shift to a more positive mindset. I remember one day, I experienced an overwhelming fear and worries about my future, a sweet memory of me meditating with my grandparents in the temple came to my mind. So, I decided to sit and imagine they were there next to me. I shifted my attention to the sensations in my body and said to myself that everything will be okay. Since I started to meditate, I have learned to be more patient when things do not go well. I made it through the harsh winter without visiting a doctor, taking medication, or getting on a plane to fly home. At that time, I did not have a choice, so this is why I often tell my students that yoga and meditation are my insurance and healthcare in the United States. It's true!

No one could have predicted that six years later, I would open my own yoga studio in St. Louis. Since then, I have been fortunate to meet and be inspired by many students from all cultures and backgrounds, many of whom are also immigrants like myself. This year, in 2024, we will celebrate our 10-year milestone, and I still can't believe it! Over the past decade, I have taught more than 7,000 classes both in the United States and other countries, using English and Mandarin. I still maintain my personal yoga and meditation practice regularly because now I am in my 40s!

Yoga and meditation practices are beautiful practices that connect our heart, mind, and body through the stream of breath. By slowing down, listening, and accepting, we can enhance this art of self-reunion. I call it coming home to ourselves. Through these practices, we can cultivate our strengths and rise above self-imposed limitations and live our lives to their fullest potential.

Looking back, I believe that all the symptoms and reactions my body experienced when I first moved to St. Louis was quite normal. After all, I had migrated to a completely different climate, culture, diet, and lifestyle. This experience taught me to respect my body, as it takes time to adapt to a new environment.

During the first three years of living in St. Louis, I developed three qualities:

1. Listening to my body and following natural healing methods before taking medicine: I was raised by my grandmother who is a farmer and never takes a pill until she goes to the hospital, so I try to follow that model of self-care.

2. Learning to be patient and trusting my intuition: As I navigated my new life in a foreign country, from learning a second language to making new friends and exploring new skills, it's going to take time, so why not relax and make the experience more enjoyable?

3. Making time for exercise: Make time to move, whether it's yoga, biking, swimming, or running, as taking care of our bodies has a positive impact on all aspects of life.

My best advice for anyone who would like to try yoga and meditation for the first time, don’t think about it too much, but simply make time and try it out for yourself, and see where the experience leads you, and allow your inner guidance take you from there.

The best is yet to come,
Christy, 2024