Greetings friends and family,

 

Thank you for stopping by.

 

These last few years have been a whirlwind. Current world affairs aside, here's where I've been in a nutshell:

 

2020: Cocoon vibes ~ At the advice of the State Department, I prematurely left my Fulbright Specialist post in Pretoria, South Africa in March right as the pandemic started to pop off. This was a tough moment for me spiritually and emotionally. I credit this experience as the necessary jolt to my system that forced me to look inward. I came to terms with my inner truth, found meditation, and discovered the power of my breath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021: Caterpillar vibes ~ I made some difficult decisions and released the things that no longer served my highest good. I discovered my intuition and learned to hone it. I found yoga and became a Peloton yogi! I completed 300 yoga classes in one year amounting to over 9,000 minutes! It felt so good to commit to this ancient practice and I am so grateful for my teachers that helped me connect with my mind, body, and spirit via yoga asanas. Special shoutout to Vanessa Kennedy, the yogi that gave me my first proper introduction to yoga way way back in the day, and the Peloton yogis that I connect with daily including Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts, Ross Rayburn, Aditi Shah, and Kristin McGee.

 

 

 

 

 

2022: Butterfly vibes ~ The word for this year is REBIRTH! I now recognize that I have the power to manifest my own reality! Improving my yoga practice is a major goal for this year, and I've decided to enroll in yoga teacher training at I'm So Yoga Newark located in downtown Newark, NJ.

 

 

 

 

 

Why I love yoga: Yoga is the only practice I've encountered that has the ability to align my mind, body, and spirit. On the mat its me vs. me. Not only can I see the progress in my physical body, but I can feel it in my mental and emotional body as well. Finally, every struggle on the mat has a direct parallel to the struggles I encounter in my lifeworld. And as I learn to overcome struggles on the mat, I learn how to overcome struggles in other areas of my life. Because of yoga I've learned so much about myself and the way I think and move. Simply put, yoga inspires me to be a better version of myself.

 

 

My intention for my yoga practice: In the long run, my dream down the line is to one day open a BnB or natural living community (near the beach, lol) where folks can spend time in nature with the goal of connecting to Mother Earth and their higher selves. Yoga will be an integral part of that experience. In the short run, my intention is to offer yoga in urban spaces with a focus on Black and Brown communities.

 

 

Timing and commitment: Yoga teacher training begins at the end of January 2022 and lasts for 90 days. I'll be training every Saturday and Sunday from 8a-5p in February, March, and April. At the end I'll be certified to teach yoga!

 

 

Costs: Tuition cost $2,800 plus the cost of books and supplies. As a full-time doctoral candidate not in the workforce, this expense is outside of my budget. I am asking for your support to help me achieve this dream. $3,333 will pay for tuition, supplies, and a few living expenses during this timeframe. Gifts of any amount, no matter how small, are greatly appreciated. Please also continue to send love energetically! When all else fails, I fall back on the abundance of love I have in my life. Thank you for keeping me in your heart <3

 

 

Thank you all for your love, friendship, and support.

 

With love and gratitude,

Nakeefa