JANELLE FORD
I graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Physical Education degree specializing in Active Living, Health & Well-being. I then went on to work in private health clubs as a personal/lifestyle trainer. I was also a conditioning coach & athletic trainer for various Lacrosse teams. I loved what I did yet I felt that something was missing. And even though I "looked" healthy, I ended up being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (the most common form of hypothyroidism)…& that started me on an inward journey. I realized that there is so much more to us than what we see in the mirror & my body was trying to tell me something. Having an issue with my health told me to dig deeper. Through that experience, I realized how connected the mind, body & spirit are. This experience with my health taught me that I needed something other than just a "workout." I needed something that would take care of my entire being. Thanks to yoga & a natural supplement regime, I have been living with this disease for 8 years, without any medication.
I have been on my yoga journey for almost 9 years now & it has been incredible. I decided to take the Moksha Yoga Teacher Training in 2009 in Toronto as the course outline looked outstanding. Moksha Yoga also has a distance-learning component to their certification which I found really allowed me to "live my yoga". I had to teach for one of the projects & once I started to see the changes in the people I taught, I realized what a gift I had found. And now I teach private sessions 4 times a week!
I love that Moksha Yoga is aware of people's individual needs & that people are allowed to find their way in their own time…still being challenged but in an empowered way.
I feel we are powerful creators. What we do & what we think ripples out into our families, communities & to the entire world. And I feel when we take care of ourselves first we have more of ourselves to give. I have seen yoga offer people a mirror of reflection, self-discovery & emotional release. I feel yoga helps us see our own unique magnificence. It takes care of our entire being. If you have ever practiced yoga, you know what I am talking about when you always feel better after class, even though it might be hard to believe you can feel that good!
I feel everyone is gifted but sometimes people never open their packages. Through teaching yoga, I wish to help people see the love & beauty that they already have in them…to help them open their gifts that have been waiting for them all along.
Namaste,
Janelle
