And so it begins...

When I was 24 years old, I was in what you might call a "yogic high". I was practicing regularly and teaching regularly. All I wanted to do was save the world through yoga. After studying several different styles of yoga I decided that Jivamukti was the style for me. I was seriously researching their month long yoga teacher training program and in fact, a flight was even booked for this journey. But things didn't turn out quite like I had planned (do they really ever? ha!) and I ended up not only NOT going to the teacher training but I quit teaching yoga as well. I could explain what happened during that time in my life but that would literally take you an hour to read (and I don't think you'd really want that).

As most of you know, last summer the call to teach again summoned me back to take the seat of a teacher. I was a little hesitant and fearful at first because it had been SO long since I'd taught but I knew the call inside was so strong that I couldn't ignore it.

So I started teaching again.

And what a ride and blessing it's been.

Some of you may also know that since I've graduated from OT school that I've talked about doing travel therapy. If you aren't familiar with what that is, click here.

I knew last summer that I wanted to study yoga more in depth and receive more training so as to become more well-versed in teaching and so on a whim, I applied to a yoga teacher training with someone that I've wanted to be my teacher since 2009--Amy Ippoliti.

I really didn't think I'd get accepted because of the space limit (only 30 accepted applicants) and self-fear and doubt crept in and told me, "Nope, you're really not qualified enough to study with her but just go ahead and see what you get anyway."

Two days after I applied I received a personal email from Amy telling me I'd been accepted. I was shocked. And over the moon. And I knew this meant one thing--that it's time for me to go.

(To read all about Amy, click here!)

And so my dear friends,

I'm moving to Boulder, Colorado at the beginning of July. 

This decision was not made hastily and honestly was a very very difficult and hard decision for me to make because I love Jackson. I love my job(s), my co-workers, my community, my amazing friends, and my family. And moving means that I will be far away from all of that. But I feel confident that this call to go and have an adventure won't be permanent and I fully expect and hope to be back in Jackson or the near Jackson area when I "settle" down.

I am over the moon for this opportunity and for the chance to study under Amy but I am truly going to miss the life I've created for myself in Jackson over the past 6 years.

So MANY big things happened to me while I've been here. I'm not going to list them all but they all fall under the category of "Transitioning into Adulthood". I found a career, a life, and a home in Jackson, MS. I grew from being the most irresponsible and party-going girl to a responsible grownup. And I will always be so so thankful for this place.

I'll be leaving July 1st to head to Meridian to hang out with my family before I pack up Josie (my Subaru) and make my way to Colorado around the 8th or 9th of July.

The teacher training will go from July 15th to August 15th and after that I have no idea what I'll be doing. I'm literally "going with the flow" and "living in the present moment" on this one. I'll start applying for and seriously looking into therapy jobs around the Boulder area closer to time. I am not 100% sure I'll even stay in Boulder depending on the job market and availability of OT jobs around that time. I may end up in Denver or some other little CO town and I am trusting that God will guide me as I blindly follow this call and pack up my shit to head West (young woman).

June 29th will be my last class to teach at Butterfly (sad face).

I am infinitely grateful to Scotta for giving me the opportunity to teach at Butterfly the past few months. And I am just as grateful and thankful for my friends who show up week after week on their mats to listen to me ramble on about all things yoga and try and make sense of the yogic life on our mats as we move through postures. Your love and support and encouragement has given me the strength and courage to reach for the stars and make my dreams come true.

I look forward to being just a student again for awhile and ingesting so many nuggets of truth this summer with Amy and her crew. I look forward to learning as much as I can so that I can continue to hone this skill as I figure out how and in what capacity I'll use this in my future. I know that I want to use yoga as a therapeutic modality in my field of occupational therapy and I potentially want to develop continuing education courses for occupational therapists on the subject of yoga and how to use it and incorporate it into our field with our patients regardless of setting or population.

Maybe I'll also open up a marijuana bakery and private practice combined into one (kidding, Mom).

I'll keep up this blog while I'm gone and will continue to post events and articles and pictures from my experience on my facebook page: Hippie of Healthcare. So, follow me on instagram and facebook to keep up with my adventures.

I will miss you all greatly.

Thank you for giving me a chance.

Thank you for opening up your heart so graciously to me and teaching me so many things about myself and about life. I am a better person for knowing you and having you in my life in whatever capacity you were in it. Each of you are important to me and I will cherish the time we spent together with sincere fondness.

Come see me in Colorado!

I love you all!
Jen