Chris Walsh is a beloved member of the Moraga community and has brought yoga to Campolindo High School for the first time ever. Chris was an elite runner who build his life around being able to run competitively . After many years of wear and tear on his body, Chris knew he needed to change up his workout for the longevity of his body. Chris tried his first yoga class with a male instructor who he said, “looked like a body builder”. He was intrigued by the vibe of the class and loved the sound of the sanskrit language that is commonly used in yoga classes. He felt that the class was similar to a moving meditation which was similar to his long runs in the woods. Then, “the stars aligned” as Chris says when the weight lifting elective at Campo began to drop in enrollment. One of the counselors that knew Chris was beginning to become a yogi, suggested that they change the class to a yoga class. So naturally Chris said, “sure!”. Since the training was expensive and the parents wanted it, Chris was able to get the help and support of the community to send him to a 200-hour summer intensive. Since then, he has been teaching yoga at Campolindo for the last 3 years and is diligent on continuing to grow the program.
Through my interview with Chris, I was able to learn that everything in life happens for a reason and if you stay open to possibility, life will give you what you need. This aligns with the ideals of mindfulness that when we are open to change and possibility, our reactions can be neutral. Learning to not see things in life as black or white, or good or bad is part of being mindful. I learning that practicing yoga and mindfulness, is not something that we do during set aside times in the day, but that it’s a continual practice that slowly becomes weaved into all of our interactions in life. My conversations with Chris helped answer my content questions about what mindfulness is and how yoga individuals mental and emotionally deal with the uncertainty of life.
Walsh: Walsh, C. (2019, June 14). Yoga at Campolindo [Personal interview].
Mindfulness, Meditation & Yoga 