My relationship with yoga was love at first sight. I made my way to the mat during one of the most challenging times of my life—struggling through severe postpartum depression. My doctor recommended therapy, but deep down, I knew I needed something different. Yoga was still relatively new in mainstream wellness discussions, but I had started to hear about its benefits for stress reduction. Curious and desperate for relief, I decided to give it a try.
It was a Wednesday night at my gym, where yoga classes were held in an open space—no walls, no tranquil studio setting—just a mat placed in the middle of treadmills, bikes, weights, and blaring TVs. It wasn’t an ideal environment, but I was willing to try anything. The instructor guided us through a typical vinyasa class, and at the end, she led us into savasana. It was a completely foreign experience to me.
“Lie down, stretch out your body, and just rest for ten minutes. Do nothing.”
As I surrendered to the moment, I felt the first tear roll down my cheek, then another. It had been so long since I had given myself permission to do nothing. My body, mind, and spirit wept at the release. That moment changed everything. It became the reason I returned to my mat every Wednesday. Each time I left class, I felt lighter, calmer, and more connected to myself.
For years, I had been committed to exercise. I had a degree in Exercise Physiology and understood the science of movement. But yoga was different. It wasn’t just about fitness—it was about healing. I needed to understand this practice on a deeper level.
Yoga is a profound tool for healing, not just emotionally but somatically. The body holds onto stress, trauma, and emotions in ways we often don’t realize. Through mindful movement, breathwork, and meditation, yoga provides a way to release stored tension and create a sense of safety within the body. Specific postures can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the fight-or-flight response and reducing anxiety. Slow, controlled breathing patterns regulate the nervous system, helping to shift the body from a state of stress to relaxation. Somatic healing through yoga allows us to reconnect with our physical selves, acknowledge where we hold pain, and gently release it over time.
I decided to take a 200-hour yoga teacher training course at the only local studio available. It was an Iyengar yoga studio, a style very different from the vinyasa flow I had experienced at the gym. While I appreciated the deep focus on alignment, I found myself longing for movement, for the way breath and movement flowed together. My Type-A, perfectionist brain had always sought structure, but I discovered freedom and healing in the fluidity of movement. For the first time in my life, the critical mind was quiet, and I was truly in the present moment. I was fighting with the structure of Iyengar yoga and longing for something different (one of my first lessons of many from my yoga practice).
Then, about 100 hours into my training, we had a guest teacher—Jason Crandell. In him, I found the perfect balance I had been searching for. He blended the precision of Iyengar yoga with the fluidity of vinyasa yoga. It was the best of both worlds. I had found my teacher, and I knew this was the path I wanted to walk.
That was over 20 years ago. Since then, yoga has remained my passion, my anchor, and my greatest teacher. As I’ve grown, so has my practice. Meditation and restorative yoga have become my companions, guiding me through the ever-changing landscapes of life.
Yoga isn’t just something I do—it’s a part of who I am. And it all started with that first tear on the mat, the first permission to simply be.
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Join adept and versatile yoginis Stacy McGinty and Teresa Gonzalez for 8 days and 7 nights of bliss in the Rocky Mountains at the Feathered Pipe Ranch. This retreat is your invitation back to yourself. Treat yourself to a week of self-care, tranquility and time to reflect, September 13 – 20, 2025, “Return hOMe: Yoga, Meditation and Nature Retreat.”
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ABOUT STACY MCGINTY:
Yoga is life! How do we practice life on our mats and yoga off our mats? Stacy McGinty has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 2 decades. She brings a love of life and laughter to her classes. Stacy teaches from a place of fun and love. The emphasis in her class is on listening to your inner voice, connecting with breath and moving in a way that feels good to the body.
Stacy teaches vinyasa flow, restorative yoga and meditation. Her teaching is influenced by Jason Crandell, Janet Stone, Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. When you take a class with Stacy you can expect to laugh, be challenged and also find moments of clarity and stillness within the pose. “My greatest intention when I teach is to hold space for the student to drop in and connect with at least one full breath. It is within that breath that we can find our truth.”
Learn more about Stacy: wellstudiodublin.com