namaste.

my homage to this person is brief.

marsha was part of my life for a mere blink

but had a profound impact on me.

i practiced yoga beginning in college.

my practice was limited to the upstairs 'office' and usually consisted of lit candles

followed by a few cigarettes.

but.

once i found yoga

i was hooked.

after moving home in 2004

i rediscovered yoga

through a series of gaiam DVDs

i enjoyed home practice - 

i loved the way the poses challenged me physically

and sought deeper and deeper stretches

with every down dog.

finally

in 2006

i decided to take my practice to the next level

physically

spiritually

and join a studio

it was per chance that i stumbled on marsha's website 

via a google search for yoga studios in the area.

the first few sessions 

i parked my mat in the farthest back corner

not wanting to draw attention to myself 

or my inadequateness 

but i delved in.

each week i went

each week i pushed further

and each week i left with more than i had walked in with.

soon

i was in the front row

anxious for the correction to poses

that you can only get in a studio setting

and waiting with baited breath

for the words of inspiration marsha would share with us

that would get me through my week.

when lethargy and nausea settled in for keeps during my first trimester

i made the decision to reclaim my home practice 

and forego my studio practice

'just until the baby comes'...

life has evolved for me.

a baby.

a broken leg

(making tree poses and child's pose trickier)

but i longed for down dogs and pigeon poses.

18 months after the accident

i am reclaiming my studio practice.

because of life's little evolutions

i have sought out a studio closer to my home 

with a student of marsha's

and am thoroughly enjoying my practice

the renewed flexibility

the found again strength.

so much so

that i have contacted marsha about becoming a teacher myself.

until the time is right

i will continue to study with nancy

in the back of the store 

with christmas lights hung from the ceiling.

but.

no matter where i go

or with whom i study

marsha

will always be 

my guru

my master of yoga.

namaste.