Natasha Kukreja Ranasinghe

Up until I took my first yoga class in my late 20\'s, I thought it was just about stretching. I had always been active growing up, whether it was playing sports or working out at the gym, and stretching was already part of my routine. So the thought of going for a class where you \"stretch\", well, did not seem challenging and appealing enough for me. And then I took a Budokon yoga class at Florida International University that my friend insisted that I go to, and my mind was blown. I thought I was strong and physically fit, but I could barely hold myself in a plank or downward facing dog position for more than 10 seconds, let alone transition from one pose to another. It was one of the hardest workouts I had ever done, and I was so sore the next day! Immediately hooked. It became my obsession - I loved how the movement challenged me. And the instructor surely loved making us work hard. For about a year, I attended almost every class available at the university\'s gym plus practiced at home almost daily. I then started taking classes at the Budokon school as well, which was an hour commute for me. I was committed.

Apart from the physical work, the teachers would cue us to pay attention to what was going on with us internally as well - thoughts, emotions, breath. This was new to me because it wasn\'t an aspect focused on in other group fitness classes I had done before. Having studied Psychology in undergrad, I already had a fascination with how the mind worked, and now having this practice gave me another tool to build on self-awareness and mindfulness. It was a way for me to learn more about myself, how my mind worked, and my actions as a result of my thoughts. The mind-body connection. The practice on my mat then transformed to a practice in everyday life outside of the mat, where the real work is done. Being more mindful and intentional became a way of being and living.

It was almost a year and a half after I took my first yoga class that I decided to attend a teacher training course with the intention of deepening my practice and expanding my knowledge. I had no plans of teaching. It just so happens that my first yoga teacher was no longer going to be teaching at the gym at Florida International University anymore. Many students, including myself, were heartbroken because we kind of lived for that class. I took it as a sign that this was meant to be. I was then teaching the very class where my practice first began. In the ten years since I started teaching, I have had the pleasure to work with kids as young as 4 years old to adults 60+years. From college students to working moms.

Through the same yoga community in Budokon, I was introduced to Brazilian jiu jitsu in 2015 - another practice I got hooked on immediately because I loved how it challenged me. I have been a practitioner of the martial art for 9 years now and have competed in tournaments dozens of times, and am also an instructor for kids and adults. I am also VP of an all-women\\\'s jiu jitsu nonprofit organization, the jiu Jitsu Gypsies, that is based in south Florida and Colorado.

Apart from yoga and jiu jitsu, I love baking, especially exploring with healthy and nutritious options for dessert. I have also recently started learning how to dance salsa. What can I say, I love movement and being a student of life. At 41 years, I am at the healthiest I have been mentally and physically. I definitely have my yoga journey to thank for that.

Brazilian jiu jitsu, weightlifting, interval training, salsa dancing, mindfulness, the beach, cooking & baking