December-January Featured Yogis of the Months: Blossom & Ralph

Ralph started practicing Yoga about 10 years ago and Blossom, about 20 years ago.  The lovely married couple have been attending Michelle's classes since spring of 2011.  For them, yoga helps to deal with everyday stresses, especially when they were gainfully employed--Ralph, a CPA and Blossom, a Child and Family therapist.  Now since they've retired from their practices 3 years ago, (Ralph, age 94, and Blossom, age 83), yoga helps keep their bodies and minds active.  "Yoga and meditation has a calming effect and helps us to look forward to the future with anticipation," exclaims Blossom,  "We  learned to take time out each day to truly meditate and to clear our minds of cares and stresses, so that we can then proceed forward with our daily lives with renewed hope and energy. "

Their favorite pose is "anything that doesn't require tying our old bodies in knots," jokes Blossom.  They add, "The  most encouraging aspect of yoga is that ultimately, each person decides what and how he or she is capable of doing.  It isn't a competition or a sporting event where one is judged by how flexible or graceful or how quick and intelligent one is. "