Student Spotlight: Valerie Jackson

What is your name and where do you study Iyengar yoga?

My name is Valerie Jackson and I study at the Iyengar Yoga Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

How long have you been practising Iyengar yoga?

This year I celebrated my 7th yoga-versary (of Iyengar style)!

What first brought you to Iyengar yoga?

My neighbourhood community league offered a weekly yoga class taught by a Yoga Association of
Alberta teacher who had often encouraged me to check out Iyengar style because she said it would be
a good fit for me. After stepping away from my music vocation, I finally decided to jump in a few years
later.

What keeps you coming back?

This is a tough question because I often ask myself the same when I feel too tired to attend class or
when I try to go down the stairs the day after standing poses! I come back every week because I love
doing the asansas and I never imagined I would be able to participate in yoga like this. My teachers
always encourage me so I have learned to believe in the possibility.

What is your favourite asana? Why?

My fave is Ardha Chandrasana because it feels so fun and like my body is doing something impossible
but thanks to my teachers, it IS possible! The more I progress in it, the more I am gaining new insights
to refine it… but I still never feel bored of it!

If you had 30 seconds to describe Iyengar yoga and why someone should try it, what would you say?

I am often yoga-vangelizing my work colleagues and relatives. Recently I gave my 97-year-old Nana a
strap and the ‘arms’ part of a few asanas to work on as she was regretting losing some mobility after
increased care-giving of my Grandpa until he went into long-term care. The one thing I always tell
people is if you want to work hard and progress, but be completely safe in your alignment and range of
motion, go to an Iyengar teacher.