Ally Willen “never set foot on a yoga mat,” according to her sister, Emily, a long-time practitioner of yoga, the centuries old discipline that includes breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures for health and relaxation. “And yet she was, in every sense of the word, a true yogi. What she did so beautifully, every day of her life, was live authentically. In a culture where so many of us are afraid to be ourselves Ally found the courage to be who she truly was.”
Both Emily and Ally’s mom, Michelle, are ardent in their love for yoga. Undoubtedly, the yogic philosophy rubbed off on Ally. “Her mindful way of living, how she treated other living things with which she shared this planet, and how she was attuned to the natural world is very much aligned with the intentioned lifestyle that yoga teaches,” said Michelle.
Emily continued, “She understood on a very deep level the interconnection between man and Earth. She understood that life is too short to waste even a single moment, and she practiced mindfulness in every activity and adventure she undertook. She said yes to life because she believed in the good in the world and the good in people. She simply loved and understood the absolute splendor and magnificence of this physical life.”
Yoga means ‘union’ or ‘connection’. Yoga is both a state of connection and a body of techniques that allow us to connect to anything. There is an abundance of on-line resources for learning more about yoga, we found this link to be a great starting point: Yoga Defined.
