Deedra’s Bikram Yoga practice is like a dance. She flows in and out of her postures with grace — each asana formed and sustained with ease. She has a dancer’s ability to maintain strength while executing flexibility and to maintain balance while exhibiting fluidity. Having watched her practice, no one is surprised to learn that Deedra Wong is indeed an actual dancer who has been dancing most of her life and teaching it for years.
One might ask why an avid dancer as flexible and strong as Deedra would practice yoga. “Dancing doesn’t balance me out like Yoga,” Deedra explains. “Dancing is more artistic and creative, but it’s not necessarily relaxing.” Due to Yoga, Deedra claims that her mood swings aren’t as dramatic, that her lows are not as low, and that she is much more “even keeled.” “Yoga is more therapeutic than dance,” Deedra claims.
In addition, Deedra believes Yoga has helped her dancing by teaching her how to fully engage. She claims that because of Yoga, she has become more “internally focused” therefore helping her with her stamina, focus, and memory when she dances. “It’s easier for me to remember dance combinations now,” she reports. In addition Yoga has helped her with her breath. “If I don’t do Yoga, I can’t breathe.” After taking some time off from Yoga, Deedra realized she needed Yoga for her breath. “Without Yoga, I found myself holding my break in ballet!”
The benefits have spilled over to her teaching as well. As a dance teacher, she feels more patient with her students. She also reports finding more energy when teaching, especially at night. “I have this extra energy that comes from being fully engaged when I teach,” she explains.
As of this writing, Deedra is one day away from making her goal of meeting the Sixty-Day-Challenge. We applaud her for this accomplishment in specific and in her inspirational practice in general. Keep on dancing, Deedra!