A Note from Alex

from Sober Girls Yoga Magazine Issue 08

August Zoom Schedule

On June 17, 2023 my Granny passed away. I didn’t post anything about it because I think I hadn’t processed it It was a whirlwind of a three weeks in Canada During the five hour flight to Mexico today I had some time to reflect.

When reading her obituary, I was reminded that she was a remarkable woman. Brilliant, beautiful, strong, opinionated, open minded and charismatic She was curious about everything. She packed a LOT into one lifetime. From modeling, raising four kids, to an accident that broke her spine, overcoming all odds and learning to walk again over the course of 2 5 years, going back to university and getting a PhD after being a parent, writing eight books, recovering from breast cancer. And that just scratches the surface.

She supported my passion in yoga. When I was 22 and wanted to go to yoga teacher training, I worked two part time jobs to save up - but it wasn’t enough money in the end - and my Granny helped me cover the rest of the fees. That YTT was at @yandarayoga in Mexico 9 years ago. The same place I just arrived today to lead my own yoga retreat as a teacher.

When I came back from the YTT I told my Granny I wanted to teach yoga full time. She was one of the only relatives who encouraged me to do this She actually suggested 9 years ago that I start teaching online yoga - well before COVID when that industry boomed. I now see that she was innovative and way ahead of her time

I avoided writing this post because I don’t want to give off the impression that we had a perfect relationship - because we didn’t. Like all families we have some chaos (ok a lot of chaos .) I am disconnected from most of my relatives in this side of my family. And she, the matriarch, was a complex woman But I honor the parts of me that were made by her, the challenges she overcame, and the lessons she taught me

Today I checked into my Airbnb in Mexico just in time to watch the sunset over the ocean and write this. I feel her presence here.

As the sun set, I called her, my aunts, and uncles and cousins - and grandpa who meets her in heaven - into my heart and offered the Loving Kindness Prayer May they be happy, healthy, free