Yoga Instructor and Cancer Survivor Joy Golding
Discovers Strength and Peace in Her Practice

by Autumn Rhea Carpenter

Once a radio disc jockey for several rock stations nationwide, wild child Joy Golding found her calling in natural healing as a certified massage therapist. In 2003 she added another certification to her skill set as a yoga instructor and has since logged hundreds of hours teaching vigorous Vinyasa yoga at various yoga studios in Melbourne, Florida. Golding employs many inversions, arm balances and balance postures as well as Kundalini yoga into her classes.

Trained by several renowned teachers including Bryan Kest, Shiva Rea, Ana Brett and Ravi Singh, Golding says her yoga philosophy is to bring awareness and self love to the student. “I wish for them to realize they are limitless and brilliant, loving and beautiful, strong and focused,” she said. “The more we give to ourselves, the more we have to give to others.”

Golding heats her classroom to 85-degrees and encourages students to practice ujjayi breathing (diaphragmatic breathing technique first utilized by Hindu and Taoist yogis which increases oxygenation) and breath of fire which is also a cleansing and energizing breath, powered by abdominal contractions.

Through her yoga teachings, she has discovered that humans inflict limits on themselves “When I taught myself the Scorpion asana, I found a space of expansion and freedom,” said Golding. “I am a cancer survivor and yoga helped me immensely through that time in my life. ”Teaching yoga enables me to share the beauty that practice has brought to my life.”

This five-year yoga teacher explained that yoga is a way of life, not just an asana practice. “I am drawn to certain asanas at different times,” she said. “Supta Virasasana (reclining hero) and Halasana (plow) are my favorites.”

As in all professions, teaching yoga presents its challenges. “Teaching a multi-level class with first time practitioners mixed my usual suspects can be interesting, as well as teaching the unaware, very loud and disruptive student. You gotta love ‘em, though,” said Golding.

An integral aspect of yoga is listening to the body and recognizing the change it fosters in people. Those new to the practice should ease into their practice. “Don't try to one-up other practitioners or even the teacher, because you'll just end up hurt and frustrated. I’ve seen it and it's not pretty,” advised Golding.

“The kindness and acceptance you show yourself on the mat is a metaphor for life that can be applied to the rest of your life.”

Joy Golding is a yoga instructor at several studios in Melbourne, FL, (Central Florida’s Space Coast) including the Yoga Center in Melbourne, FL, (http://www.yogacentermelbourne.com/), Florida Woman, (http://www.clubperformax.com) Yoga with Jill (http://yogawithjill.com/) and the Brevard Community College Internship Program for Young Adults with Asperger's Syndrome and other Learning Differences.

(http://www.brevardcenter.org/). She is also available for private instruction.

When Golding isn’t practicing yoga or working as a massage therapist, she loves reading cooking, singing, dancing, laughing (and screaming) on roller coasters, shopping and learning.

Autumn Rhea Carpenter lives life in the fast lane as a freelance journalist and herder of two young boys. Yoga is a constant reminder to breathe and go with the flow.

http://www.autumncarpenter.net/portfolio.html

Contact her at: info@autumncarpenter.net.