I entered a yoga studio for the first time a little over two years ago. At the time I had been working out over the lunch hour with (current member) Bryan Schmechel and we were both sick of the usual routine at the gym. On a whim, we decided to give yoga a try and the rest is history.
While I always had a curiosity about yoga, I had zero experience before my first class at Dragonfly.
Aside from the total body workout I get from yoga, the focus on breath has been most enjoyable for me. Breathing is one of the most basic things we do, yet its importance is often overlooked. Prior to yoga I took the power of breath for granted and did not realize its importance for me in navigating day to day life. I have cultivated a more present, focused and self-aware person as a result of my practice.
Physically I have been able to transform my body and improve my overall well-being through a dedicated yoga practice. Weight, BMI levels have dropped while energy, healthier eating habits and better sleeping has increased. Mentally the 60 minutes allows me a time to shut off the distractions of the outside world and really focus on myself, what matters most to me and how I can go about creating the best life for my family and I.
I attend about 4-6 classes a week. After first strictly doing Flow classes for about the first year, I now take advantage of all the various classes Dfly has to offer.
My entrance into yoga, and Dragonfly specifically, coincided with some major life experiences as my young family has grown. A little over a year ago I stopped working so I could stay at home with our daughters 3.5 and 1.5. The uncertainty of halting my career, living on one income and the day to day reality of raising toddlers created stressors that I could not have imagined. While many things were changing around me, yoga has been the constant oasis which has given me the tools and perspective to deal with life as it comes. We are expecting our 3rd in February so I expect Dragonfly to be central in my life for years to come!
Instructor Anna Dobbs: “Patrick is inspiring because he might not seem like your ‘typical’ yogi but that definitely doesn’t stop him from trying out everything Dragonfly has to offer. I have seen Patrick around for almost two years now and I don’t see him in just one place, he is at all different locations at all different times and it doesn’t matter what kind of class it is. It is great to see someone with an open mind and a clear determination throughout practice, and that is what Patrick brings. No matter if it is a fusion class or a slow flow, he seems to be in control, focused, and overall happy to be there. Thanks for sweating with us, Patrick!”
