Meet our January Student of the Month, Bridgette!

Some people come into our yoga studio and just seem like they've always belonged and been there. Bridgette is one of those people. Maybe she just has that personality where she fits in everywhere she goes, but we are fortunate to have this kind soul grace us with her presence. Like many of our students, she has a ton of reasons to not come to yoga. The range of motion she's received in her neck since she started with us is incredible! Injuries that are the reason she needs yoga, yet many shy away to wait for it to get better without realizing what we do is the solve for most things! Read more about her journey in her own words:

"When I moved to Catonsville I found BYC and came to my first class with my yoga block and a warm welcome from the teacher as well as the people in class. When I entered the hot room I was pleasantly surprised that everyone was chatting. Where I previously took classes people would shoosh you if your stomach growled. I was also not so pleasantly surprised that there was no water break until the floor lol, but I did adjust quickly. I almost instantly loved Hot Yoga. The repetition of the poses allows me to think about the structure of my physical body and slowly build strength and the heat adds a layer of challenge that is unique while I work with several injuries that I have. The injuries were the reason I brought a block to yoga. In the second class with Kyle, she asked me about the block, and she thought I did not need it. I thought she was wrong when she said “get rid of the block”, but Kyle is not one to argue with, and it turned out she was right, I didn’t need that block. I just needed to slow down and listen to each step of the “script”.  

For me, that is one of the very appealing things about this style of yoga. You HAVE to slow down, listen carefully and concentrate on just what the teacher is saying to systematically achieve the pose. You know, be present!! There is not a lot of space for my mind to wander..

It’s so interesting to me also that this studio does not allow you to look at anyone but yourself, as I feel it makes sense to watch others to SEE how to achieve the pose but I understand the idea behind it, as watching another could result in judgment about my own abilities and progress, and this yoga is not about seeing it is about feeling the pose.

With my injuries I will never be an advanced hot yogi, but there are times when I feel like one. Some days I feel very strong and others I do not. It is a practice and will never be perfect, but if I show up, amazing things happen outside of the studio. My day is always better after a class, my head is always more clear, I usually even slow down mentally after a class and have a sense of balance between my mind, body and heart.. 

I am grateful to have found the warm and welcoming community of BYC and the very skilled teachers who help me navigate the principles around what is needed for my body. There are many forms of movement and exercise that are appealing, but this is the Holy Grail for me. I am truly a better and more grounded human because I show up and practice. 

Outside of the studio, I am a Mom of three beautiful adults, a professional Realtor, and am working on learning the art of Photography. 

I hope to always have the ability to practice with BYC. And I hope to achieve Rosa Maria status one day, where no one takes my spot, not even Karen lol!! I really cannot imagine practicing anywhere else."