I am forever grateful to have been introduced to Yoga in 1976.

As anything in life, there are no coincidences. I grew up playing tennis, and was inspired at 22 years old, to try and play professionally. Serendipity lead me to have the great honor of meeting and playing tennis with Torban Ulrich, Frank Sedgeman and other Internationally renown tennis players in preparation for competing in tennis in Europe.

It is because of this experience that I first heard of yoga.

While waiting to play tennis with Torben Ulrich, I noticed that he was doing various stretches and exercises, but none I had ever seen before. Then he would sit very still for a while. He explained that it was a form of stretching, muscle toning and mediation known as yoga.

Little did I know then, that yoga would soon become a daily part of my life!

It was later that year while training and playing tennis in Europe when I first hurt my back.  I suffered a series sports injury in a tennis tournament and wound up in The American Hospital in Paris. This injury eventually led me to having major back surgery in the United States 3 months later.

This was one of the most painful experiences in my life. After the operation, my doctors said that I lost nerve senses in my right leg and foot, and to make matters worse, they suggested that I have many more corrective surgeries. With that, I remembered how Torbin Ulrich suggested that everyone should do yoga. After my recovery from my operation, I quickly turned to yoga for healing. Little did I know that yoga is wonderful not only for your body, but for the mind and spirit as well!. Since then, I have had over twenty operations, and  two different forms of cancer.

Thanks to the practice of yoga and meditation I am able to live a fantastic, healthy, happy and wonderful life despite all my setbacks.

Thank you yoga and Mr. Ulrich for helping me cope with my health issues and making me feel strong mentally, physically and spiritually!

Yoga changed my life!

Breath, exercise and meditation are components of yoga. By focusing on one’s breath, and quieting one’s mind, one can peacefully and harmoniously live in the moment and this moment is the only moment that exists!

With life moving so quickly isn’t it important to be calm, collected and every precious second?

Healing through yoga and meditation can be and is often truly life saving!

After being introduced to yoga, I began a search for a yoga teacher. With great fortune I found a most wonderful yoga instructor in Ethel Mercer at The University of Toledo. Her classes were fun-loving, challenging, and a great workout! Ethel cared about her students .She always said, “We are all teachers and students together.” We became family.

Ethel shared with us the integration of mind and body through meditation, asana, and proper breathing.

This jazzed and fascinated me. I was hooked!

My back and body had never felt better.

I found a home in yoga and it has been part of my life for over 46 years.

I am forever grateful to Torben Ulrich.

I am forever grateful to Ethel Mercer.

I am forever grateful to yoga.

Be Peaceful, Be Well and Be Healthy!

Namaste’

Michael Zerner