In this day and age anyone that is able to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives is lucky, let alone a young adult, but it’s also very unlikely, because even adults still struggle finding what they really enjoy. Luckily, this is not the case for senior Jude Johnson. Three years ago, Jude Johnson took up the opportunity to join fellow student, Fiona Alverson at ‘Liv Yoga Studio’ in Livingston, Montana. Jude was not convinced at first, but due to her love for staying active, and her past in gymnastics and classical dance, she decided to go. Little did Jude know, this choice would impact her life in many ways and help her find something she is so passionate for.

Last August, Liv Studio closed down due to “circumstances beyond their control.” During the time of Liv Studio’s closure, Jude began practicing yoga on her own, doing some classes in Bozeman, and she also tried out newly opened ‘Mountain Glow Yoga’, but shared that it was a great place with great people (who she is still in contact with and talk to often), but lacked a key essential to yoga, heat. Finally, ‘The Wind’ blew into our small town on February 13 of this year, owned by Casey Lutz from Wisconsin, and Max Palmer from Kansas City. This studio offers Vinyasa style yoga, where you focus on synchronizing your breath with movement. This is created by smooth transitions and flow, all while building cardiovascular strength and flexibility, while reducing stress and anxiety. Jude took a special liking to this studio, because they are heated, which is that key essential to yoga that provides intense, heated workouts that significantly increase flexibility, improve cardiovascular endurance, and boost calorie burn.

Not only does yoga make her feel empowered and connected with her body, but it also makes movements feel meaningful, and lets you experience what she calls a “whole different side.” From early mornings at 6:00 a.m. to evening sessions at 7:30 p.m., she can be found in the studio up to nine times a week, sometimes even squeezing in two or three classes in a single day. Drawn to poses like dancer pose and dragonfly, she describes the poses as “a puzzle,” one that requires patience, focus, and a deep engagement with the body to move safely into the next level.

Now, as she begins an online 200-hour yoga teacher training program, she hopes to one day share that passion by teaching at local studios in Livingston and or Bozeman. For her, yoga is more than stretching; it's a tool for both physical and mental growth. The increased flexibility has strengthened her cross-country performance, and she believes that when practiced safely, yoga allows athletes to access and strengthen different muscle groups in ways other training cannot.

Beyond the physical benefits, yoga has helped her mentally prepare, sharpening her focus and mindset in competition and in life. She firmly believes that yoga can improve anyone’s performance whether the goal is strength, flexibility, or clarity of mind. “Everyone should try it at least once,” she said, “because you can find what you like doing.”