Lessons on the court, the mat, and beyond...

In the weeks following the shocking news of the passing of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the 7 other people in the tragic helicopter crash, I have been at a loss for words. They say death is the hardest on the living especially for the families of those affected, but in this instance, I think the whole world is in mourning. After reading articles, watching interviews and seeing the outpouring of love and support at Kobe’s memorial and around the world it is clear that his impact is far-reaching. 
 
Although, I initially felt as though my words would be insignificant, self-indulgent, and unnecessary, I have come to realize that if I doubt my own value, experiences, and words then how can I leave room for others to share their own?
 
I know life must go on, but I feel that in order to do so, it is important to reflect.
 
When I was a kid, my parents enrolled my brother and I in all sorts of activities. I tried tee-ball, soccer, gymnastics, hula, swimming, and volleyball. But from the age of five, basketball was my sport. The pure adrenaline of playing man-to-man defense. The roar of the crowd after making a basket. The thrill of blocking a shot or stealing the ball from my opponent. The camaraderie of being a part of a team. I loved every part of the game. I loved playing so much that even when I was given a rest on the bench, I would take a quick sip of water and go up to my coach and say, “Let me back in, I want to play.”
 
I remember watching Kobe and being in awe of his confidence, dedication, focus, and will to succeed. I always admired his ability to celebrate his wins without worrying about what other people might think of him; that is something that I have always struggled with. He inspired me to chase after my dreams no matter how big or small and to believe in myself.
 
Being on the court was truly the first place I experienced being in the zone, the equivalent of meditation in yoga. This is where I learned discipline, focus, determination, skill, intention, the importance of practice, as well as success and failure.
 
So now, whether I am throwing a wad of paper in the trash or grinding out the work to chase after my dreams I will be saying to myself, “Kobe!” Because it is the Mamba mentality that challenges us to push the envelope, work harder, and dream bigger. He has made an impact on my life and through his actions, showed me that anything is possible.
 
One of my dreams is to make yoga accessible to everyone to the best of my abilities. For years, students have approached me and asked whether I offer online classes or guided audio meditations. My response would always be, “eventually” or “one day.” So, I came up with excuses. I would say to myself, “I’m not ready,” “I don’t know how to edit videos,” “It is too time-consuming,” you name it. But I finally bit the bullet and decided to go for it.
 
I am excited and proud to announce that as of today I have officially launched my online yoga class library. I put my heart and soul into this and can’t wait for you to see it.