Macon Magazine

F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 9 M A C O N M A G A Z I N E | 7 5 of yoga," he said. "My friend and I began doing inversions and challenging ourselves, and that's what got me hooked." Although he first became enamored with the physical aspects of the practice, Aloi's wife and friends soon began noticing marked changes in his mood and behavior: accompanies you through the journey. People who practice mindfulness experience pain differently than those who don't." One of Souther's students, Brenda Hutcheson, started practicing yoga last year. "I have always been active, but due to aging I realized my flexibility was waning," she said. "Little things, like bending over to pick something off the floor and getting on my hands and knees to dig in the garden, were becoming a chore." Hutcheson began attending classes at Southern Soul – primarily vinyasa flow and restorative ones – and immediately experienced health improvements. "I can truly say that yoga has changed my body," she said. "I am much more agile and rarely have any joint discomfort. Simply "My wife would say, 'I noticed you were calmer,' or, 'You handled that really well.'" One might not expect a Marine foregoing the gym for the yoga mat, just as one might not anticipate someone struggling with a debilitating illness to find healing in the practice. Souther suffers from severe Crohn's Disease. "A lot of the meds take a huge toll on the body and tank your immune system," Souther said. "In 2008, I developed a brain infection that left me hospitalized." During her recovery, which consisted of hours of physical therapy, she found yoga. Her first class, led by Macon instructor and registered nurse Dean Carter was a game changer. "I've always been a breath holder, what we call a reverse breather, and Dean really spoke to that, teaching breathing as an integral part of the class," Souther said, adding that learning to breathe was transformative. "Now when I find myself in a lot of pain, continuing to breathe takes away an element of fear, and the breath " Yoga has changed my life by allowing me to really realize how important self care really is. I discovered yoga through research for my anxiety, not realizing how much I would fall in love with it. It truly has been a life-changing experience for me." -Chelsea Grable CHELSEA GRABLE CAROLYN REICHERT BRENDA HUTCHESON What does "Namaste" mean? At the base level, the word is a salutation of respect and reverence. A traditional Indian greeting, it translates to 'I bow to you' as a sign of honor. Illustration by Sarah Tinsley Parker

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