Only six years ago Justin Wesenberg was living his life under a cloak of darkness.
Wesenberg, 30, attended a yoga class in Cochrane under the direction of instructor Greg Long. Long spoke about self acceptance and halfway through the class Wesenberg was overcome with emotion.
The experience moved him and put him on the right track to begin his own journey as a yoga instructor alongside Long at Alchemy Yoga Cochrane.
“It was really intense,” Wesenberg said from the studio on Friday.
“I knew there was something more to yoga than just stretching and working out. The biggest thing that it gave to me at that time was the strength and courage to believe in myself again and get out of the hole I was in. Now I can’t imagine my life without it.”
The reckoning resurrected him and brought him into the light. He says when he doesn’t do yoga his body aches and his mind races. The ancient Indian discipline grounds him, opens him up and completes his life.
After his transformation he overcame his fear of speaking in large groups and began studying the discipline and teaching at the studio at 346 Railway St W.
This Thursday (Feb. 27) Wesenberg is unveiling a seven-week yoga program carefully designed for teens aged 13-19. The program intends to help teens find alignment in their true self by following the chakra system. Participants are provided with practical tools to use in daily life to reduce stress and anxiety while discovering their unique purpose and gifts.
Wesenberg designed the course himself and wanted to focus on this age group because teens are more receptive to teaching because they’re not burdened with a lifetime of negative habits and patterns.
“Yoga and mediation is a great way for teens to have an outlet for what they’re dealing with. They don’t know how to handle their emotions, at least I didn’t.”
The course outline includes managing stress and anxiety, finding your creative gifts, stepping into your power, opening yourself to love, expressing your sacred truth, trusting your intuition and connecting to spirit.
“The biggest thing is having the tools and resources available going forward in your life. When they are faced with stressful situations in adulthood they’ve got something to fall back on and support them.”
This is the first time the studio has specifically targeted teens. He explains that the studio sees a handful of regular teen yoga enthusiasts. He would like to increase that number and make yoga more accessible to varying age groups.
He says most teenagers are still searching for their identity and much of their identity is heavily influenced by their peers and the social media they interact with. He wants to help them find a purpose, get a sense of self worth and guide them in discovering what’s important to them.
The course runs until April 9 from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the studio. The cost is $395 and two scholarships at 50 per cent off are available. For more details visit https://www.alchemyyogacochrane.com/7-week-course-for-teens-1
