Blog by Delaney Francis (Student, Fur Mama, Invoke Enthusiast, Future Pilates Instructor, and Blogger/Owner of Del's Diary)
Invoke is not just a yoga studio to me; it's my home. While there are many definitions of what home means in the dictionary, four particular definitions stick out more than the rest.
1. a place of residence
2. social unit formed by a family living together
3. relaxed and comfortable
4. in harmony with the surroundings
Between working the front desk at Invoke and taking classes about two times a week, I consider this beautiful space a place of residence. I find myself coming to the studio early more often than not just to soak up the healing and calming energy. I grew up in the country, surrounded by cornfields in the middle of nowhere. So in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city life, the warm fireplaces and reclaimed barn doors bring me back to my roots.
Invoke feels like family to me. I find the dedicated yogis and bubbly staff to bring a familiarity that I missed when I first moved to Indianapolis. For such a long time I felt misplaced in Indy, and Invoke changed that. I feel loved just by walking through the doors of the studio and sitting quietly on my mat. More often than not, I don't even have to say a word.
When you find your happy place, you never want to leave. I have always felt like I could be myself at Invoke. Working out used to be intimidating, I hated it. I never felt comfortable and was always tense. I was worried about what others would think of me, and then it hit me; I was the only one who cared.
Everyone else is concerned about themselves just as I am only worried about me. When I came to this realization for myself, I was then able to let it fade out of my many thoughts. I began focusing on me and my self-confidence. I started smiling and being present; I truly started living in harmony with my surroundings.
Over the course of the past year, the calming and serene green walls slowly but surely began to invoke a fire in me that I never knew I had. I found passion, purpose, and dedication to my practice. And for that, Invoke will always be a place I call home.
