A near death experience in Thailand led me to yoga. While I was on a small island, my appendix ruptured. I suffered extreme periotinitus, lost my eyesight temporarily and was vomiting blood. After three weeks, I was released from the hospital. The trauma was so intense that no doctors were able to help me. But yoga brought me back to myself. And now, it is such a great honor to offer my students what my teachers have offered me, to pay it forward. When I'm teaching Hot, Power Flow and Yin, I encourage people to use the mat as a playground. It's important for them to have fun, as I believe transformation is best when yoga is enjoyable. We're often so serious in our daily lives and humor is such a divine gift. Coming to the mat allows us the freedom to be five all over again.