A Thank You To My Fellow Inner Fire Yogis

written by Lisa Knollenberg Turecek, author and yogi

I’m officially a debut novelist, and I have all of you to thank. I came to Inner Fire fifteen years ago with tight hip flexors and a need to try something new. After one grueling class where I ignored the advice to start gently, I was laying sweaty on my mat, staring at the ceiling and wondering if I would die, when I realized a yoga studio would be a great place for a murder. That very moment was the genesis of my suspense novel, Corpse Pose. I had always dreamed of writing a book and already had the character in my head: a runner who pushed herself too hard and didn’t listen to things like ‘start gently.’

From there, it took over ten years to write the book. Although I’ve been a freelance features writer for years, I hadn’t ever attempted fiction, so I took classes, went to seminars, found critique partners, but some of my most important lessons were learned at the studio. I learned how to be mindful and listen to my body. I learned that a challenge can be overcome one breath at a time. I listened to fellow yogis breathe and saw that what happens on our mats transfers to how we walk around in the world.

Those ten years of learning fiction and practicing yoga were all about growth. Metaphors and mountain pose swirled around my head while I got grounded next to you on my mat, in an environment that supported and encouraged me, whether you knew it or not.

Corpse Pose is out in the world now, making connections of her own. As I start to do bookstore signings and library presentations, I realize that yoga is connecting me there, too. Every event, a reader tells me they want to try hot yoga or resume their yoga practice. Talking about the book takes a lot of courage for my introverted self; my work on the mat has helped me with that, too.

This Inner Fire community embodies compassion just by showing up. Each time we practice together we’re next to somebody who is going through something, or plotting their dream, or just needing a second to “remember ourselves” as Hally says. So thank you, Inner Fire Yogis, for holding space for me. I’m doing the same for you.