Yoga with Tanya 

Let me first begin by introducing myself. My name is Tanya Georgieva-Cauble. I was born, raised, and lived in Bulgaria until my late twenties, where I studied to become a Specialist Pedagogue and Behavioral Psychologist. I used my education to work as a school counselor, but I was also an adventurer and traveler at heart. I have lived in several countries, and my travels have taken me to France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Indonesia and Thailand. I observed all different customs, tasted exotic cuisines, and experienced colorful rituals of the world, but I could never name a favorite. They are all unique, and that is what makes them truly special. So, when was I first introduced to yoga? Unofficially, when I was 5-or-6-year-old my father would entertain me and my sister with acrobatic performances and pretzely postures. He would sit in lotus pose and walk on his hands or go into a headstand and ask us to perform the same actions. Because of our game, I grew up thinking yoga was simply about performing cool, acrobatic poses—contorting your body into knot-like positions or teasing gravity with a headstand. Well, that was not all of yoga. It was not until my freshman year of high school that I revised my view. My gym teacher was fascinated by yoga, and as a class we began to seek more literature on the subject. Growing up in communist Bulgaria, such information was not very popular or available yet, so it was awe-inspiring as we pushed deeper into the practice. Thus, my advanced journey with yoga began. I started by learning Pranayama-breathing and mediation first. I liked the fact that through breathing one could control body temperature and heart rate, build sleeping patterns, and improve concentration. I began to see yoga as a lifestyle, which I was living. I discovered discipline and the ability to live in synchronicity with nature through my studies and practice. I believe that we evolve daily, and therefore our practice.