Becca Hewes: Yoga in Norman, Oklahoma

My classes include a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and fitness levels. No matter where you are at right now physically or emotionally, there is a place for you in our community. Everyone is welcome, and everyone works at their own pace. Yoga is not a competitive sport or exercise routine to be mastered. Yoga is about connecting the mind and the body. It’s a spiritual practice that works to calm the stressed out, spinning mind by focusing on the breath while holding the poses. You can get into great physical shape also with this practice, if you are willing to put in the time on the mat. How hard you work in my class is up to you. My goal is to provide a safe and supportive atmosphere for people to do what they know will make them feel better. People come to try the practice of yoga for many reasons. For some, the practice takes root and centers them, leading to a strong healthy body and a positive outlook on life.

I found Yoga during a stressful time in my life. My husband and I had just moved to Norman and our children were still small. Sitting on the porch on Lahoma street, I realized that I needed to face my health problems and depression. I was overwhelmed and stressed, and I had to take action before it got any worse. I did some reading and learned that research has shown exercise is an effective, but often under used, treatment for depression. I was willing to try exercising; in fact I’d even enjoyed it at certain times in my life. The problem was that I had never stuck with anything in the past. I got a personal trainer at a gym and started lifting weights and doing cardio. This was a great first step, but I knew I couldn’t afford to pay someone top dollar to make me exercise for the rest of my life. I needed something that I really enjoyed. The motivation needed to come from within me. I also needed community.

Sometimes, when we need help in life, the right person to help us just appears. I found myself telling my entire story to a massage therapist, Susan Grisso, who I hardly knew. “You are supposed to do yoga,” she says to me like I’m getting my cards read at the psychic fair. In the past, I would have never listened to a spiritual person like this; I had majored in Economics. I liked numbers and analysis. I realized, however, that I needed to do something, so maybe this was it. Besides, going to yoga class couldn’t hurt. Within 3 days she had me in classes, then I was going twice a week, and within a few months I was practicing on my own. I loved it and I was on a new path. It led me down to Dallas where I became a certified teacher. The yoga community, both in Norman and Dallas, accepted me and gave me the support I needed to make some serious lifestyle changes. These changes all came out of my personal yoga practice.

I continue to travel and work with many great teachers. Yoga is a life long endeavor; there is always something new to learn. The teachers I respect are those who are still willing to learn from others and who continue to let their practice expand. Over the last few years, I’ve focused on attending workshops and teacher trainings that are centered on Hatha Yoga philosophy and techniques. My practice and teaching continue to be influenced by my favorite teacher Doug Keller.

My intention is for my personal journey and practice to reflect in my teaching. In other words, I only teach poses and techniques that I actually do in my own practice. I gave up the business I’d been running for ten years to practice and teach yoga full time. There is a difference between a life led by the head, and a life led by the heart and spirit. Yoga calms down the mind just enough for the spirit to begin to break through and be heard.

BECCA’S SCHEDULE:

  Monday 9:15 am
  Monday 5:45 pm
  Tuesday 9:15 am
  Wednesday 5:45 pm
  Thursday 9:15 am
  Saturday 10:30 am
  Teacher Training Weekends monthly