What Shakti Means to Me Over the Past Decade by RaeAnne

I was asked to write about what Shakti Power Yoga means to me over the past decade + found

this to be very difficult to do. I think this for several reasons, 1.) I tend to procrastinate

important things 2.) I don’t know if I can really put it into words 3.) It makes me moving feel

very real.

So here we go…

I’ve been practicing at Shakti for the past decade. I found Shakti about a year after the

unexpected death of my little brother. I hadn’t been to a yoga class since due to fear of being

silent and feeling all the emotions this might bring to the surface. Until one day I did. Shakti

created a space for me to move, breath, and feel all the emotions; sadness, abandonment,

anger, fear, anxiety – all of it. I needed to feel it + allow it to move through me for healing. After

a few years of practicing, I started to trade + work the desk to support the teachers. I think I

spent Saturdays at Shakti for a solid 8 years! Crazy!

Fast forward to a few years later I decided to participate in Shakti’s first teacher training. I was

in graduate school at the time so my schedule + budget only allowed for me to complete 100

hours this year + then 100 hours the following year. Six years later I am still teaching + always a

student of yoga. Teaching to a pre-covid room of 38 (sometimes 40) amazing humans will build

your confidence, challenge you, + keep you humble when you forget your right from your left. I

have evolved as a student + teacher during this time– as one should in life. As I’ve grown in life,

I’ve become more relaxed, easy going, less rushed, allowing for ease + rest when necessary,

along with attempting to not be so hard on my myself which has reflected in my practice + in

my teaching.

The biggest thing I will miss is the Shakti community. So many dear friends I’ve meet through

Shakti, the amazing people that have taken my classes over the years, + the front desk greetings

to all the amazing yogis. What a true honor that I have been given the opportunity to sit + hear

about what is going on in all the lives of so many. I am forever grateful.

I believe Shakti Power Yoga contributed to giving me confidence + boldness to step out of my

comfort zone, be open to growth, change, and trust in the unknown. I am beyond thankful to

the entire Shakti community + how all of you have impacted my life over the past decades. As I

take this next step, more like a lead to Dallas, Texas after 11 years in Nashville I take away a

humble + grateful heart. So much of my life has been tied to this amazing space that being said,

“I say it is not a goodbye but I will see you later!”

Rae Anne Everts