June 2001
Bikram has been known to tease people when he sees them grimace. “Smile,” he says, “Don’t’ show pain on your face. Only your mother cares if you’re in pain—AND SHE’S NOT HERE!” Not true for Melissa Guerrero. More often than not, Melissa is holding and breathing through Bikram’s 26 postures right next to her mother, Mary Guerrero.
It was Mary who first ventured into the Yoga Studio last November. She was merely looking for a place to exercise during the dark winter hours after work. “I found a lot more than exercise,” Mary claims. After practicing a short period of time, Mary began to feel calmer, more centered. She reports that she quit “reacting” so much, and that she felt more peaceful even at her hectic job.
In the meantime, Melissa began noticing the positive changes in her mother’s demeanor. “Mom looked better, acted better and seemed more at peace. These are things I wanted in my own life.” “I didn’t’ have to say much to Melissa,” Mary reports. “Yoga sold itself.”
Melissa’s first Yoga class with her mother was a “touching experience.” A veteran to exercise, Melissa realized right away that Yoga offered more than physical benefits. “I’ve been looking for something more spiritual, and I found it in Yoga.” “Because of Yoga,” Melissa reports, “My life is significantly more happy.”
We’re all happy this mother and daughter duo comes to practice Yoga four to five times a week. Together they bring only smiles to the faces of all of us practicing around them.