Elfriede Whitcher

BB: Where did you first try yoga?

EW: It was at a health club. I loved it, but there was no individual attention in that kind of setting. So I decided to try Yoga Company (former name of Yoga Community). It was such a difference, from almost no attention from the teachers to intelligent individual attention.

BB: Do you remember your initial response--what made you know you wanted to continue?

EW: I'd always had a hard time being still, being okay to just relax and not be in constant motion. As a survivor of breast cancer, chemotherapy had left me drained. With the cancer and treatment, I also noticed I was very tight and contracted in my shoulders and chest--sort of caved in. Yoga allowed me to relax and feel less contracted in my body and mind. I keep coming back to Yoga Community because it feels so good to be in this beautiful space. This feels like home.

BB: What did your family and friends think about you doing yoga?

EW: I have the most wonderful husband! He's another reason I continued with yoga, when he saw how much I liked my first classes, he went to Yoga Company and bought me a year's membership! I might not have kept it up, but he just knew this was something I'd love. My son and daughter both do yoga--my friends all told me to go for it!

BB: What is your favorite yoga pose?

EW: It's not Savasana! I believe it would be Down Dog. And I like going upside down - must be from my childhood.

BB: What have you learned from yoga?

EW: To be still. Before yoga, my eyes tended to dart around...I learned that it feels good to just be still.

BB: Do you find yourself "doing yoga" while you're doing other things?

EW: All the time. Gardening, walking...I can still feel myself being calm. I just enjoy everything I enjoy that much more.

BB: Do you have a dream yoga getaway?

EW: Yes! And I am about to do it! My daughter is taking me away for a yoga retreat in either Arizona or Mexico. Going away for a weekend of nothing but yoga and relaxing in a beautiful location with someone you love, what could be better?

BB: Do you remember a challenging time in your life when you were able to call upon yoga?

EW: I had a couple of ingrown eyelashes--can you imagine how much that hurt? Boy, did I need yoga then! You know, I am blessed to have a wonderful family. But no matter how wonderful, conflict does come up in families. I find I remember the intentions of yoga at those times, and don't let things become such a big deal. That's life!

BB: What would you tell someone who said, "I can't do yoga, I am not flexible?"

EW: Anybody can do yoga! It doesn't matter how flexible you are when you begin. And when you go to classes in a studio like Yoga Community, with knowledgeable teachers, they are going to guide you at your own pace. It's really more about learning how to relax than how flexible you are.

BB: Any other thoughts?

EW: I love the diversity of teachers here, I get something from all the classes. It is such a good thing to be able to come to so many different classes and teachers--I wouldn't come as often as I do otherwise.

BB: Thank you, Elfriede!