facebook
flickr
twitter
youtube

  • Home
  • Classes
    • Class Descriptions
    • Schedule
    • Fees
    • About Bend
    • Testimonials
    • Gallery
  • Thai Massage
  • Trainings – Thai Massage and YTT
  • Yoga Thoughts


Depression

August 14, 2014
by Joanne Pettit-Myers
3 Comments

Dear _________,

I don’t know your name or I would have used it because I’m not so formal.
My name is Joanne.

I know we’ve never met.
I don’t know if you like dogs or cats.
I like them both, but I have a dog.
His name is Clifford.
He’s not red.

I don’t know if you like the smell of rain,
I do.
And ducks.
I saw 7 ducks on someone’s lawn today and it made me smile.
7 ducks on a lawn…
It was oddly beautiful.

I sometimes suffer from depression.
I often suffer with anxiety.
Once, the depression was really bad.

At times I wasn’t able to put thoughts together properly they were on top of each other I couldn’t stop the memories emotions fears I worried about how the depression was affecting my career would I ever have a child did I really want to have one anyway because I want to travel make yoga a part of my daily life could I I’m not flexible money bills retirement should I go back to school Vancouver Toronto I’m getting fat Iraq War Osama Bin Laden… and there is laundry to do…

When the onslaught subsided I was left with emptiness
A fog
Sad
Exhausted
Sleep?
tears

Then I tried yoga,
again.

Yoga reminded me to breathe.
Yoga said, “Just be”.
And so I did that.

Now I teach yoga.
I share breath with people all day long.
We practice “No judgement, just love”.
Many suffer from anxiety and depression.
They feel welcome here.

You are always welcome.

No smiles necessary.
No perfection required.
Just come as you are.

I hope I get to meet you some day.
You are the reason I took this job.

Love,
Joanne

About the Author
Joanne has been practicing yoga for almost 20 years and teaching since 2005. She did her initial Hatha teacher training in Vancouver at Prana Yoga Teacher College with shakti mhi. Joanne then moved on to travel to India where she trained in the Ashtanga practice and Yoga Therapies in Mysore. Joanne continues to take workshops and study yoga philosophy and meditation, most recently studying with Sadie Nardini and her Core Strength Vinyasa Flow style... Read More
Social Share
  • google-share
3 Comments
  1. Marnie August 14, 2014 at 1:37 pm Reply

    Ahh, Joanne this is so sweet. Sending you a hug and I will be back to Yoga very soon.
    You are a fabulous teacher.
    Thanks
    Marn

    • Joanne Beyore August 14, 2014 at 1:43 pm Reply

      Thank you Marnie.
      Hugs right back at you.
      xo

  2. Liz August 15, 2014 at 1:36 am Reply

    Thanks Joanne,
    Reminds me of some of my bad times and that I am not alone!
    Hugs!!
    Liz

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

*
*

captcha *

Sign in / Class Registration

News / Updates

  • Rushed home to see @ChrisCuomo at 9pm... it’s at 10pm again! Ha! How do we get some CuomoPrimeTime hats sent to Canada?!,
  • What do you do at parties? I end up massaging people. 😏 https://t.co/de9m2xUTon,
  • Coming up in May! One chance to train with Shai Plonski! https://t.co/UaUIhLsqXP,
  • BLOOPERS! Guess what? I deleted the video! 🙄 https://t.co/cBewRkRoY4,
  • Intro to Kettlebells. Tonight (Tuesday’s). 5:30pm. ⠀ Drop in rates or class passes/memberships apply. ⠀ Here I am g… https://t.co/n3EhckVc9H,

Testimonials

I love you Joanne! You’re the bestest. You are so accessible and approachable and unpretentious. The authenticity you exude makes me feel like I can just BE in your classes. Whether I’m there 5x a week, or haven’t made it in for 5 weeks, it always feels like home. I dare to wear tank tops in your classes (this never happens in the outside world). Your philosophy of ‘no judgement -just love’ seeps into me, and for a while in your class, and often for hours afterwards, I feel like this about mysel…
Robyn Colvin
My mistake (coming to the gentle class instead of my regular vigorous practice) turned into a glorious hour of ommm! Thank you :)
Sue Solman
Hi Joanne! I just wanted to say how much I love attending your classes. My mood is always 100% better when I leave. It’s awesome!
Renee Perreault
You have to be one of the sincerest and sweetest person I have ever met… As for the classes, I have loved them!  I haven’t been able to attend a class since the day you left for your trip since it didn’t coordinate with my shifts and of course my children…  I was a little frustrated but I’m hoping to get back next week.  I can’t even believe the difference that Yoga has made on my running.  I am able to breathe deeper and my legs haven’t been in pain since I am able to stretch them out so much m…
Renee xox
Joanne, I admire your dedication to expanding the practice of Yoga and your determination to share knowledge with others.  As you know already, I am convinced that what you have and continue to create at Bend Yoga is a template for entrepreneurs in that you have created not only a business but a business that is creating community.  In today’s transitioning world this I believe is the essence of what business , large and small, need to reach and plan toward.  Systems, as we know them are b…
Dr. Karen Pappin - Karen Pappin Communication Resources Mediation
I love that you come around and “fix” us, and remember our injuries or special cases to make sure we are okay during class. And class is FUN. Silly enough that we enjoy ourselves, but still serious enough that I feel like I am practicing, and not just “working out”.
Andrea Macedo
Can’t believe I have been going for two months and I learn something new about my body every day. Joanne is amazing!
Melissa Macnabb
Joanne has created a wonderful yoga community where I feel comfortable asking questions, learning new concepts and practicing yoga.  The lived experience, resources and openness that Joanne has brought to the teacher training is like nothing I have experienced before. As a teacher myself I understand the power of sharing best practices and I appreciate the knowledge that has been shared openly. Joanne ensures that each person feels comfortable and confident during every stage and she is invest…
Melissa Corrente
I was drawn to yoga to awaken my body and build a healthy mind-body connection. With Joanne as my guide and instructor, I have learned to stretch not only my body, but my peace of mind. With encouragement, support and celebration of an individual’s success, she creates a healthy space that cultivates physical and personal growth through yoga.
Sue Buckle
My back was screaming today but Joanne at Bend Yoga Studio took extra good care of it… thank you SO much for the lunch class… just what my mind, and back, needed! See you again sooner!
Lynne Cotie
I like beer, no scratch that I LOVE thick malted beer from a draft at a pub; and I love my moose meat with French fries and gravy.  I like my sports and target shooting.  These are not passions that some people think of when they think of yoga.  So when I was pushed into Bend Yoga Studio by loved ones to deal with my pains and stresses from working in a very high stress environment, I was very skeptical.  I was not giving up my beer, my meat, and sporting life to sit around in bizarre poses …
William Hodgins
Joanne, I really loved the yoga/kettlebell class. I have taken kettlebell classes in the past however your instructions and reminders with each exercise were so helpful that I feel I got so much more out of the class; and my tired muscles the next day confirmed it. The combination of yoga and a kettlebell workout, to add some greater conditioning, is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks Joanne!
Luanne Kendall
My back has not felt this good in at least 2 years.  My golf swing is awesome.  I can actually follow through and I love you!
Diane Sauve
I just wanted to take the opportunity to tell you how much Chris and I enjoyed the vigorous (BendFIT) class we went to on Saturday!  We both admire and loved your spirit.  I got a lot of out of the class that day, I felt it the next day for sure, but mentally felt very clear!  Thank you again!
Ashley Stevens
It is because of you and your “no judgement”, that I now do yoga – I never liked it before I went to a class with you.  Thank you Joanne!
Brooke Cranston

Bend Yoga Studios, Dundas, ON
289-788-8800 • joanne@bendyoga.ca