From Yoga Mat to Writing Desk: Bringing My Main Character to Life Through Yoga

A fun fact about me… I am a yogi at heart and in practice. Well, sort of — you know, life. But this fun fact helped me bring one of my very first characters to life.

Where My Journey Began

I’ve always been drawn to yoga for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t something I was allowed to explore growing up. My dad always said we didn’t practice yoga because we were Christians. After he passed away, though, I finally took the leap.

In college, I walked into my very first yoga class — a simple studio that, as far as I can tell, doesn’t even exist anymore. But that space and that teacher changed everything for me.

From the very first class, something inside me lit up. I bought my own mat and carved out a little corner at home just for my practice. I laughed when that teacher asked if I’d ever thought about becoming a yoga instructor — I was so new to the practice — but her question planted a seed. Even when life shifted, and when I slowed down after having my kids, that spark never really went away.

Returning to the Mat

Years later, in the middle of COVID, I stumbled across an online yoga teacher training. The memory of her voice echoed in my mind, so I clicked “sign up” — and just like that, I was on a new path. I became certified, joined the team at A+ Yoga as their social media manager, and found my way back to my mat. I don’t teach, but yoga has remained my steady companion. These days, I’m finishing up my yin yoga certification — yin has truly become my heart.

Even though I can’t practice as often as I used to, I’ve found little rituals to keep yoga woven into my life. On Fridays, I set the weights aside at the gym and melt into a yin flow in the quiet of the empty class studio. Sometimes I’ll sneak a few asanas in while sitting in the sauna. And oddly enough, my yoga mats are rolled out right above my writing desk, waiting for me when I need to pause and breathe. I may not be as disciplined as Klara, but yoga still has my heart. Every time I step onto the mat, I step away feeling refreshed and restored — it’s a catharsis unlike anything else.

Why Klara Had to Be a Yogi

So when it came to creating Klara, it felt natural — inevitable, even — that she would be a yogi. Her path to yoga looks different than mine: she earned her certification right after high sc

hool, stopped teaching when her dad got sick, and found new purpose making natural products for him and others in his treatment center. But like me, yoga never left her. It grounds her. It gives her peace. It’s a thread woven into the fabric of her life.

Klara is, in some ways, the version of me who chose a different path. She has an entire sunroom dedicated to her yoga practice. She greets every morning with movement, breath, and stillness before heading into work. She’s steady, rooted, and deeply connected to the natural rhythms of life — and yoga is part of how she stays that way.

A Practice Worth Sharing

I love that yoga became the bridge between my life and hers. It’s something deeply personal to me, but also something I get to share with her character. And maybe that’s the beauty of writing — the way pieces of us find new life in the stories we tell.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a yoga practice, maybe this is your sign. It doesn’t have to be an hour-long flow every day. Even a few minutes of mindful movement, breath, or stillness can change the way you carry yourself through the day.

And if you’re curious about what Klara’s own practice looks like, you’re in luck — in the next post, she’ll be “guest blogging” to share her morning yoga routine with you.