Tara Kennedy
When Karen asked me to be the March Student of the Month, I was floored! I never thought I would be counted among those amazing people with their incredible postures. I am truly humbled and privileged to be included in this esteemed Bikram Yoga group at the Dallas studio.
I moved to Texas 10 years ago from Illinois where fitness was NEVER a priority for me. Since diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure all run in my family, I knew I had to do something. About 6 years ago I started working out with a friend of mine—she got me into better shape and I was feeling strong. Then, an ugly case of plantar fasciitis cropped up and made running and walking nearly impossible. (As a teacher I spend hours on my feet and I was miserable.) A friend of mine had talked to me for months about Bikram Yoga and that it would change my life, blah, blah, blah. Finally, I decided to try it for myself. The good thing was that even though I wanted to kill Lainie for talking me into it, after that first class, I couldn't!
After I took that class on April 18, 2006, I was hooked! My plantar fasciitis has improved and I'm no longer miserable being on my feet for long periods of time. When it flares up, I know I need to get back in that hot room and stretch! My cholesterol had been creeping up to an unhealthy level. Before Bikram Yoga, it was at 214. The doctor was "slightly concerned" about it and asked me to get moving again. After only 6 weeks of yoga, my cholesterol had dropped to 167. That, my friends, is why I practice this life altering Bikram Yoga!
Then during the summer of 2008, I discovered I had a rather large nodule on my thyroid (the size of an orange) and that I would have to have surgery to remove it. It was incredible to me, finding out how many things my thyroid gland actually controlled in my body. I had NO energy, and as a result, I had to stop practicing yoga because it was all I could do to stay awake all day long in my classroom! Once I knew there was a medical reason, and it was taken care of, I could start practicing again. I've really just been back in the yoga room now for almost one year. I have tried to tell as many people as I can about Bikram Yoga because it has literally changed my attitude, my peace of mind, my physical body, and my life.
As many of you know, I have just completed my first 60-day challenge. Participating in a challenge really pushed me to go beyond what I thought I could achieve. I knew I needed to continue improving my practice. After I spoke the words, (and Nicole posted my chart on the wall!) I knew there was NO option but to complete my challenge of 60 classes in 60 days. Without the encouragement of y'all, I might not have made it. I even managed to impress myself when I finished my challenge! Thank you for holding me accountable to all of you and to myself!
Namaste,
Tara Kennedy
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