Community

Gusti Ratliff
Studio: Grapevine

I attended my first yoga class over a decade ago. Yoga had become the only type of fitness activity my body could handle. After more than 30 years of athletics, aerobics, step classes, and Jane Fonda-type workouts my body was riddled with aches, pains, and weight gain (and, personally, no motivation to do anything anymore!).

I fell in love with yoga from the beginning. Was I good at it? No! Had I ever been flexible? No! Could I balance? Heck, no! Eventually, I became a yoga instructor; I practiced various traditions from Ashtanga (Power), Vinyasa (flow), to Yin Yoga (gentle) and reached the highest level of yoga instruction, as an E-RYT 500 registered instructor. I even opened a yoga studio and have become a yoga teacher trainer.
With that being said, I had come to Bikram Yoga Grapevine the first year the studio had opened and developed a relationship with Stacey. I became a student although I wasn't necessarily "hooked" on it. I knew I liked Bikram but I also knew I needed to find my own path. I found my path and only grew along my journey.

Fast forward…and guess what? I am back at Bikram Yoga Grapevine. Over time, the strenuous practices of other styles of yoga took their toll on my mind, body, and spirit. I have acquired many, potentially serious injuries as a result of precarious postures, poorly trained instructors, and practices without meaning. I have even broken bones while practicing yoga!

Currently, I am recovering from a broken femur and working hard (practicing Bikram yoga!) to avoid knee surgery. In addition, I've seen dramatic improvement in my overall spinal health, i.e., herniated discs and spinal fracturing. I am also recovering from the current competitiveness and ego-driven world of yoga teachers!

What does Bikram Yoga Grapevine mean to me?
• First, I am grateful to Stacey for remaining a friend over the years and welcoming me back with open arms!

• I am grateful for Bikram's methodology–the brilliance of having yoga instructors well trained and scripted keeps yoga instructors grounded and humbled. These Bikram instructors can never become ego driven as there is no competitiveness among them.

• Seeing Bikram instructors "practice the practice" keeps them in touch with the day to day challenges we have as students allowing for compassion and empathy when we feel we can't measure up to a "perfect practice." They know how we feel! I appreciate that.

• The intelligent design of the sequence of postures–the working against gravity (most yoga injuries occur because of gravity), the weight bearing for bone strength, those postures that force me to bend my knees (ouch!), the preparation and building up for the more challenging postures that follow and the anatomical benefits of each one. As a result, I have experienced amazing healing!

• And the opportunity to keep my practice on my mat and not having to compete is a mental relief. Now, I focus on correct form rather then what I see in the mirror. I focus on the anatomical and therapeutic benefits of each posture and push on with "my eyes open" and "bones to skin". I have been humbled by this practice!

Do I still teach other yoga traditions? Yes. Do I train yoga instructors? Yes; however, I make it mandatory for my trainees to attend Bikram classes to learn and grow. The bottom line is that everyone needs yoga and if what I offer to seekers gets them into a yoga class, that's great. We all find our way on our yoga journey. I've have found mine and I dream of the day when the entire world practices their yoga!