“You can make things happen if they are for your highest good and the good of everyone involved.” Mokshapriya at Yogashakti

The first time I met Tara was in our RYT 500 Hour class at Yogashakti. She had metal frames around her leg, and walked with crutches. My first reaction was disbelief that someone who looks so injured can be in the yoga teacher training. She definitely is not your typical yoga teacher in training.

I admire her positive energy, optimism and her determination to overcome the challenges that she faced. Her story is a tapestry of life, yoga, challenges, good friends, faith and love.

Tara was drawn to yoga in 2009 and watched her life change in front of her eyes. “At first I felt great on a physical level; had more energy, increased flexibility but then came the spiritual path, a desire to teach and so much more.” Tara met Maria Yakkey and they became life friends and buddies, inspiring each other and transforming their lives. When Maria opened her studio and after lots of “encouragement” from Tara, she agreed to train Tara to become a yoga teacher.  After Tara became a teacher, she “encouraged” Maria to start a teaching training program at the studio which she did and she also allowed Tara to assist.  Tara loved learning about the asana but more about the philosophy. 

Becoming a yoga teacher

After Tara‘s mom passed away, she was introduced by a friend to Reiki, a healing modality. Then in a Rising Star session, energy modality, she met Maria and had a connection to her immediately. When she began taking Maria’s yoga classes, she was drawn to her teaching’s beyond the physical asana. Over time, she learned, “it’s okay to let go, trust in others and in the universe. I still work on this everyday but I began to notice subtle changes that added up.  I noticed that I would pause before I would react to situations.  I could see me watching myself if that makes sense.  The more I noticed these benefits, the more I wanted to both learn and share what I was learning.  That sparked my desire to teach.”

Tara was in ski accident when she was young and tore her ACL. She had surgery to repair it but her growth plate was affected so as she grew, her tibia grew in a deformed way. The stability in her knee worsened and she could no longer do the things she enjoyed, which included a daily yoga practice. Her knee was constantly giving out and she would easily fall. With faith in her surgeon and her friend Maria, Tara had a corrective surgery call an Osteotomy in September of 2015. The surgery was a success! Her body was able to generate new bone which gave her the length and correction she needed. Maria was there for her every step of the way, from the day of the first surgery to apply to frame to the day of the second surgery to remove the frame and beyond. She took care of Tara.. meticulously cleaning her pins, administering her medications and even learning to give required blood thinner injections. She also gave Tara Reiki, encouraged her, took her to all her appointments (including a visit to the ER twice) and strategically placed healing crystals in her room and under her bed. Tara also saw the potential of our yoga anatomy teacher Janine for her recovery. She first discovered Janine’s ability in one of our Anatomy classes. Her leg was still in metal frames, Janine encouraged Tara to try out the half moon pose, standing with one good leg. Trusting Janine’s specific instructions, her “body whisperer” magic, Tara did her half moon, which surprised her. This gave Tara the confidence to do more poses with one broken leg. She then convinced Janine to meet her for yoga therapy instead of PT! Tara had faith in her body to heal, she practiced even in the hospital bed. When I saw her recovered one day to full mobility, I was overjoyed and almost in tears.

Manifesting Dreams

Tara is an example of living yoga in daily life. She not only practices Asana, but also loves to learn about yoga philosophy. “Mokshapriya talked to us about manifestation.  She said that you can make things happen if they are for your highest good and the good of everyone involved”. Finding that her old job at a major bank in New York was not working out; she practiced manifestation of will, she remember saying out loud to Maria, “ if I could have the perfect job, I would love to work in management for a non-for- profit, learn HR, stay in finance, feel like I am making a difference…  I would love the opportunity to teach yoga there if I could too”. Soon after was offered a Finance and Operations position at Keswell, a private school in New York for students with Autism. Everything she said out load to the universe was gifted to her. It was amazing!! She even has the opportunity to teach yoga to the students from time to time. One particular students loves it! Now she has a greater responsibility as COO (Chief Operating Officer) and is grateful every single day.

“I believe ANYONE can benefit from yoga!! I think the reasons they don’t start are possibly fear of starting something new.  They don’t think they can do what the people in magazines and social media portray as yoga so they are intimidated.  They don’t think they are flexible enough.  All fear based.  Through my 200 and 500 hour trainings, we were taught that literally anyone can practice yoga.  The thing I love about both the Shala and the Ashram are the community of people that are so welcoming.  As soon as you walk through the door, you see people of every race, gender, ability and age and everyone is friendly and inclusive.  Everyone practices for themselves.  I encourage students to try different styles of yoga and different teachers of yoga to see what feels right for them.”

“I love that yoga is now being offered in schools, offices, hospitals, etc.  The benefits are wonderful!”

Tara continues to manifest and practice her yoga on the mat and off the mat. Making impacts to friends and students. I always see Tara greeting others with open arms, and heart.