Omayra Acevedo, Peak to Peak. Everyone’s life is challenging in one form or another. Life as a single person can be challenging in different ways. I’ve crossed paths with several people who tell me “you’re so lucky to be single.” I agree. No spouse, partner or kids to worry about. This is true. There are benefits to having the liberty of making decisions and having no one else to take into consideration. The thing is, the grass isn’t always greener. But I do the best I can. So, what do I do with all of my freedom? I focus on the only person I have. Me.

When I find myself down, struggling to make a decision, stressed, overwhelmed, and even lonely, I turn to the origins of my professional background: Yoga. The misconception about yoga is that you have to be flexible. Yes, you do. Nevertheless, it’s not about physical flexibility. It is more about mental, emotional and spiritual flexibility. It is about embracing whatever moment you are experiencing in life and being okay with it. I won’t get into the unnecessary details, but yoga has saved my life twice. Hence, why I started my fitness career as a yoga instructor. 

Yoga can train us to unite our body with our mind. It can help increase muscle strength and tone; it conditions our bodies to protect itself from injury. It can also improve respiration, energy and vitality. Above all else, yoga teaches us awareness and harmony. Another beauty about yoga, is that there are so many different forms of it that everyone can find a practice that suits their level of comfort. Kundalini, hatha, power, vinyasa, restorative and gentle yoga, to name a few. Even YouTube offers yoga classes.  

No, I don’t have parents or a family of my own. All I have is me, and this leads most people to not understand why I make the decisions I do. But I live a completely different life than others do. Everyone I know has either been married or has had a family of their own. I’ve been thinking of this reality lately, during moments of self-reflection and meditation. I realize that I really am alone - not in a bad way. Regardless of my relationships with the few people in my life, the only person I can truly rely on, trust, disappoint or make proud, is myself. Everyone is busy living their own life and that’s more than okay. I know where I stand, and I am proud to say that I’m surviving this life completely on my own.

(Originally published in the October 29, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)