Sharing the Lessons Learned Along the Way – A Journey Through Yoga, Books and Community by Chris Newcomb

Being a lifelong student of literature, it was a natural transition for me to create a Book Club at Flow Yoga to share the incredible lessons that are available to enhance the practice of yoga through reading the philosophy, foundations and history that has come before us.

As a child I recall having a difficult time learning to read. With an impatient, young and frustrated mother as a first reading teacher, my early experiences with reading were not the most pleasant. My personal drive and discipline made this childhood experience a catalyst for what has become a complete escape, joy and therapy through the various stages of my life.

As a grade school student, I thrived in the humanities, with English being my favorite subject. I loved to write and was a complete Catholic school grammar freak!  When I entered college, I started out as a Business Major and quickly found through my economics class that the English Department is where I belonged. After changing my major to English, everything began to flow and feel natural for me.

My love for reading spread as I created Book Clubs in two of the Loudoun County neighborhoods that I have lived: Stratford and Lansdowne. As a student of life in this area and as a Book Club leader I found myself lost in a sea of shallow and meaningless “Book Club” discussions which revolved more around the food, wine and gossip than the literature. The intellectual stimulation I missed was found again as I began a new journey in my life becoming a yoga teacher.

Many of you know through my bio, that I began practicing yoga to deal with a difficult time in my life at the recommendation of my ex-husband’s aunt. Little did I know that when I walked into the Flow Yoga Community that I would discover so much about this beautiful practice, myself and others through breathing, poses and meditation. After one year of practicing at Flow, I signed up for teacher training.

As a student of yoga for over four years and as a yoga teacher for over 2 years, I have loved the process of self-discovery, the relationships and the beauty of the practice of yoga and how I see it transform lives every day. I am honored to be a part of the “Flowgi” community and I hope to continue my journey with you as a student, teacher and friend on this journey together.

Please join us for the next Book Club at Flow on December 11^th from 1:30-3:30 where we will discuss: The Laws of Spirit by Dan Millman and The Diamond Cutter by Geshe Michael Roach. We will be having a Potluck Lunch at the December Book Club and collecting donations for a local charity. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the studio.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to discussing some of the following books in the 2012 New Year: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz  and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

Namaste,

Chris