by Cristina Houston, Big Yoga teacher

“You have a right to your actions, but never to your actions’ fruits. Act for the sake of action’s sake. And do not be attached to inaction.” – The Bhagavad Gita


My Transformation Through Service, Part I


My gut has always told me that my path in life needed to largely include serving others. I had no idea how, where, when or who to help. But as my early twenties somehow overnight became my late twenties, the little voice in my head became louder and more constant, urging me to do something.

I decided to throw myself into what my heart was screaming for me to do, so, I applied to be an Ambassador with the Africa Yoga Project. This August, I will be traveling to Nairobi, Kenya to share my passion for yoga while being of service through teaching workshops, and and I will empower local Kenyans to use yoga as a tool to empower their own communities. 

Last September, I had the opportunity to meet the founder of AYP, Paige Elenson, and take her workshop. She shared how running AYP has changed her life and some of the lessons she’s learned. Most importantly, she shared how scary the process has been, and how many uncertainties she faces. At that moment, everything was crystal clear. It doesn’t matter how or who I help, or how I might look while doing it; what matters is just that I do it! At the end of the workshop we were asked to state a declaration, a promise. I promised everyone in that room (gulp), that I would take my learnings from my trip to Kenya and bring them to Houston where I could change the lives of locals in my own community.

Turns out I didn’t need to wait for that trip to Kenya. My services were needed sooner, and a door was wide open for me. Big Yoga had been in contact with the Houston Area Women’s Center about teaching yoga classes to their support group clients. Serendipitously, the majority of their attendees are Spanish-speaking. What was intended as a trip the studio to get my sweat on turned into a transformative night - sharing what yoga is, why we practice it, and why it could benefit these women. The seed that had been planted years ago is now suddenly blossoming; yet, this growth now brings with it insecurities about doing it “right” and looking good in the process.

I’ve been teaching at HAWC for about 6 weeks now. The attendance has fluctuated anywhere from 2 to 20; but every week, we breathe, we step into warriors, chaturanga, and sigh it out! These women have demonstrated such courage and willingness; my insecurities around looking good completely dissipated.  The power and simplicity of the breath has brought some to tears (including me), and the women have shared how in just 1 practice they feel lighter, free of worry, de-stressed, and relaxed. Warrior II has become their favorite pose because it’s where they feel strongest and most powerful! And the term “liven up your hands” has turned into “fiesta en las manos,” meaning “party in the hands”.

I’ve been so humbled in such a short period of time, just by sharing something I love. I didn’t have to teach them how or to do it right. I simply had to show up for them.

As for Africa?  Stay tuned. I will return to write Part II to share that experience!

Namaste.