Yoga a life-long passion
BONNERS FERRY — Age is not a limiting factor when pursuing a passion, especially for Alicia Braden.
Inspiration for becoming a yoga teacher came from many people but the realization it wasn’t too late came from learning about two yoga teachers, an 84-year-old and a 91-year-old.
“You can start anytime if you are fascinated with it,” said Braden, who has four adult children. “You’re not too old.”
Braden has been practicing yoga since she was 16 years old and recently decided to pursue teaching yoga. For the last five years, she’s taken classes from Sharon Allured and thought what Allured was doing was great.
She’s also gained inspiration to become a teacher from Maxien Marcy and Vicki Blake Thompson.
“I really like to focus on positive thinking and speaking,” said Braden. “I know I can help people with massage but it is good for people to do something for themselves.”
Braden has owned her own massage business, Keep in Touch Massage, for 17 years and works at The Spa at the Kootenai River Inn as a massage therapist and reflexologist. She began taking yoga classes as a way to loosen up after giving massages.
Braden wanted more knowledge to recommend to clients on ways to relax that they could do themselves, such as yoga poses. The 200-hour certification to become a yoga instructor didn’t seem daunting to Braden after finishing a 200-hour course in reflexology.
The basic training prepared Braden to teach gentle, therapeutic, pregnancy, restorative and partner yoga. She would like to pursue more training for therapeutic yoga in the future.
“The best aspect of teaching is finding better ways of saying things,” said Braden. “Yoga helped me and I would like to give back to others through yoga.”
Braden’s certification has enabled the Yoga Studio in the Bonnerport Mall to offer a wider selection of classes. Braden began teaching Level 1 classes on Saturdays in September and will begin a Wednesday Level 1 class on Nov. 6, both days that had no yoga classes before.
“Alicia’s training has helped her open in new ways and bring insight into everyone’s practice,” said Maxien Marcy, who also teaches at the yoga studio.
For more information on classes, visit www.KootenaiRiverYoga.com or contact Braden at 208-290-7088 or songallicin12@yahoo.com. The yoga studio is located in the lower level of the Bonnerport Mall at 6371 Kootenai St., across from the Boundary County Library.