Twisted Positions

This is me in one of my favourite places – the garden.

My Story

If you’ve read any website “About Me” pages lately, this is the place where I tell the story about how I was once a mess as a human being but, after finding Yoga and Reiki, my life is all smooth sailing now.  Yeah…well…I’ve always been a little bit different.

I’ll admit it, I have been a bit of a train wreck in my life, grappling with deep, dark depression, smoking, drinking, getting high, and becoming involved with people who were incredibly unhealthy for me.

In my darkest days when I was experiencing tremendous loss (my 3 1/2 year relationship busted up, my grandfather was dying, so was my cat and my parents were splitting up) Reiki and Yoga made their ways into my life.  I don’t remember much about that process but what I do recall is that when I experienced them both for the first time, I felt like I had been there a thousand times before–I felt like Reiki and Yoga had always been a part of me.

I know….weird!

I feel like for much of my life some unseen hand has dipped in at just the right times.  Things like Reiki and Yoga have dropped quietly and mysteriously into my world when I’ve needed them most and they’ve saved me.  I also feel like this same unseen hand has protected me, plucking me out of potentially disastrous life situations before I got in too deep. As messed up as I have been, I’ve never lost the sense that I am intricately connected to something more, that there is far more going on than meets the eye.  Religious institutions call it “God”.  I don’t know what it is or what to really call it but I do know that I am grateful for its presence.

I am a woman committed to keeping it real so I have to tell you that despite the Reiki and the Yoga and the connection to all-things-large, I still get depressed.  I get angry.  I feel despondent, impatient, frustrated, anxious…you fill in the rest.

But I no longer smoke and I don’t do drugs.  I do, however, love red meat…and chips…and cookies…and the odd alcoholic bevvie.

What am I saying?  I’m saying:  I AM HUMAN.  Nothing has changed there. What has changed is that I have more choices now in how I respond to the circumstances of my life.  I am able to twist things around (hence the name “Twisted Positions”…plus the contortionist connection to Yoga poses), to see them from many sides, so I can decide on the best possible course of action.  I don’t react to things as often any more (It’s true, Mom.  For real.  :) ).  Instead, I respond.  I now have a greater ability to sit back, to breathe, to assess, and to not be as nasty a cow as I have been in the past. As a result, I do less harm in the world–to me, to you, to all things living–and that’s pretty cool.  I have come to inhabit this life of mine more and to appreciate what it is that I have, the good and the bad.  In fact, I am grateful to the darkness that has been in my life.  It has given me strength and has shown me my remarkable ability to withstand unpleasantness and discomfort. The darkness has taught me compassion and empathy.  It is because of the darkness, because of all that I have learned from within it, that I know I have the ability to sit with you when the darkness comes to you as well; you don’t have to be alone.

Basically, I am an average woman offering extraordinary tools that have the potential to change your life, and I feel tremendously lucky to be able to do so; I am forever grateful.

Simply put, I am Tabitha.  This is me.  :)

My training includes:

• Yoga Teacher Certification from Yoga Therapy Toronto
• Level II Reiki Certification by Laurie Ward
• Meditation training with Maureen Rae
• BA in Sociology and Social Work from McMaster University

I am also a published poet, a dancer, and a student of Life who always moves to the beat of her own drum.

My Declaration

I believe each person has the capacity to heal.

I believe each person is the expert in his or her life.

I believe if something isn’t working for you, you have the ability to change it.

I believe sometimes we need help to make these changes.

I believe it is my role as teacher and practitioner to walk beside you as you move through your process, and to help you where I can.

I believe it is my responsibility to point the way when, at times, things are not so clear; I do so using the tools in my toolbox such as Yoga, Reiki, sound, counseling, movement and writing.

I believe these are all powerful tools that help bring the clarity and strength necessary to make important life changes.

Most of all, I believe in YOU and all that you can do to have the most fulfilling life that is your birthright.