Stretching Beyond Limits: My Evolution from Fitness to Yoga

For over 15 years, I dedicated myself to the health and wellness industry. As a college athlete turned personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and wellness manager, I thrived in high-energy environments. My time was spent lifting weights, doing cardio, and pushing my body through strength training, plyometrics, and even dabbling in CrossFit and bodybuilding. Yoga? That was something I believed just wasn’t for me.

My reasons felt justified:

- I don’t have time. Any free moment was spent chasing a sweat, not stillness.

- I’m too stiff for yoga. (Which, in hindsight, was exactly why I needed it.)

- I can’t sit still that long. I craved movement, intensity, and challenge. (Yet another reason it could have helped me.)

As a teacher, I even mirrored this mindset—over-planning my classes and skipping cool-downs because stretching felt unnecessary.

But over time, my body began to break down. Years of relentless physical demand without proper recovery caught up with me. Something had to change.

The Turning Point

Towards the end of my time in California, I started exploring yoga—thanks to my role at Lululemon, where I felt encouraged to try various styles: hot yoga, Vinyasa, Yin. Surprisingly, I was drawn to the slower-paced practices that emphasized holding postures and deepening awareness. This shift shocked me. I had assumed I would love the same type of high-energy, fast-paced, physically demanding styles of yoga that mirrored my typical favorite workouts, but I was craving stillness and presence.

Yet, while I really enjoyed some classes, none of them truly spoke to me. If I was going to invest in becoming a yoga teacher, I needed to love the practice.

Discovering Iyengar Yoga

In 2016, after moving to Dallas, I joined Equinox. A month of overtraining led me to my first Iyengar Yoga class—and it was love at first practice. The precision, alignment, depth, and the concept of “meditation in action” captivated me. I knew this was the path I wanted to follow.

After attending a few classes, I approached my teacher to ask how to begin Iyengar teacher training. His response was less than encouraging—he emphasized the process’s difficulty and length. Instead of deterring me, his words ignited a fire within me. Determined, I discovered the BKS Iyengar Yoga Studio of Dallas and reached out to Randy Just, the studio owner.

During our conversation, Randy challenged me, questioning whether I was simply collecting certifications or truly committed to the path. I assured him of my sincerity, and he accepted me into the program. Randy is an exceptional teacher—knowledgeable, passionate, and genuinely invested in the growth of his students and trainees. If you ever find yourself in Dallas, I highly recommend taking one of his classes. You can thank me later.

The Path of Learning

My first teacher training was humbling. Surrounded by teachers preparing for advanced assessments, I didn’t even know the Sanskrit names of poses and felt completely out of place. Thankfully, I found friendship and support in fellow trainees, James and Sky. I completed two year-long trainings, attended workshops, and even learned from Abhijata Iyengar (the granddaughter of B.K.S. Iyengar, the creator of the method) herself at conventions. During this time, I was also teaching yoga classes in Dallas, blending what I was learning with my teaching practice.

Life brought us to New York City, where I discovered the Iyengar Institute of New York. Their prestigious two-year teacher training program was about to begin, and I arrived just in time to apply for the upcoming session. Despite feeling nervous and still relatively new to the method, I was accepted into the program and thrived. The training, equivalent to a 500-hour certification recognized by Yoga Alliance (the nonprofit that sets standards for yoga schools and teachers), was rigorous and transformative.

Throughout the two years, we had the privilege of studying under James Murphy, Tori Milner, Naghmeh Ahi, and Matt Dreyfus. Each brought their extensive knowledge, dedicated practice, and unique perspectives, creating a solid foundation for our training. If you’re ever in New York, I highly recommend taking a class with one of these incredible teachers.

I also have to mention Bobby Clennell and Hugh Millard—both are phenomenal instructors. Bonus: they also offer classes via Zoom, so you can experience their teaching from anywhere.

Central Park: our urban oasis and favorite hangout

Where I Am Now

As I write this, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn from so many remarkable teachers, many of whom studied directly with B.K.S. Iyengar himself. In addition to classes and teacher trainings with these extraordinary mentors, I was fortunate to attend several workshops led by teachers from India—another incredible gift.

After graduating from the program, life took us on the move again. Now, I teach classes and private sessions while preparing for the Iyengar Yoga Level One Certification. My goal is to pursue certification in 2026—a journey I’ve postponed due to pregnancy and postpartum recovery. But this year feels different. This is my year.

Looking Ahead: Join Me on This Journey

Over the next year, I will be creating a series of blog posts delving into yoga philosophy and explorations of each of the 76 asanas and two pranayamas outlined in the Level I syllabus. With each new post, I invite you to share your practice with me by tagging me in your photos and videos. Let's embark on this journey together!

Preparing for certification is an intense process. It requires deep practice, study, and—most importantly—observation. This is where I invite you in. When you share photos and videos of your poses, I get to learn from you. You become the teacher, and I become the student.

Your feedback, questions, and participation help me grow. Let’s support each other in this journey.

✨ Call to Action ✨

- Share your practice with me! Tag me in your yoga photos and videos using #YogaWithKelly,  and

- Drop a comment or message sharing what poses challenge or inspire you.

- Let’s grow stronger and more mindful together!

Words to Carry Us Forward

“Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.” — B.K.S. Iyengar

“The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Let’s walk this path together—learning, growing, and supporting one another.

With gratitude and light, 

Kelly