Issues with chronic pain set Aisha Cobbs on a journey of physical healing and self-discovery. When medications failed to deliver the desired results, the married mother of three turned to the transformative practice of yoga.
Aisha Cobbs lives in Social Circle with her husband and three children. By day, she works remotely as a medical writer, managing the demands of a busy professional life alongside her family’s active schedule. Like many juggling to find balance in their everyday lives, Cobbs found herself on a journey of physical healing and self-discovery. It started with her battle against chronic pain and led her to a transformative practice: yoga.
“It was a very sudden change,” she said. “One moment, I was walking an hour a day and feeling great, and the next, I couldn’t even take a few steps without intense pain in my feet and body.”
When medications left her feeling exhausted and disconnected, Cobbs knew she needed to address the problem in an alternative way that could help her regain her quality of life. The answer was staring her in the face, as she drove by Moxie, a yoga studio in Covington, on a regular basis. Cobbs’ introduction to yoga began early in her adult life, when she found solace in the practice amidst the stress of graduate school in physiology. “I’ve always gravitated towards movement,” she said. “It’s how I manage my stress. Back then, yoga checked all the boxes for me. It helped with my stress, my physical health and my overall well-being.” However, it was not until recently, after her diagnosis, that yoga would take on a significant role in her overall health and sense of community.
Looking for ways to manage her pain, she decided to give Moxie a try, encouraged by the studio’s offer of two weeks of unlimited classes. “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Cobbs said, “but I knew I needed to move.” Moxie was different from other studios she had tried. The personalized support was influential for Cobbs, who describes the experience as a relief.
“I’ve always gravitated towards movement. It’s how I manage my stress.”
Aisha Cobbs
“It was amazing to be around people who cared about my progress, who made sure I felt comfortable and safe,” she said. For the first time in years, Cobbs was able to move freely without overwhelming pain. Even more strikingly, she found something she had not felt since childhood: mental stillness. “I just remember lying on the mat one day, feeling this incredible calm.” Cobbs said. “The anxiety, worry, stress—all of it seemed to dissolve.”
It turns out Moxie was as a haven of sorts.
“The instructors were so caring and involved,” Cobbs said. “They didn’t just teach. They genuinely wanted to help each person feel better and understood what each of us was going through.”
Jen Smith, an active yoga instructor at Moxie, praised Cobbs for her profound impact on the studio, describing her as a gentle, loving, kind, driven and compassionate soul. She called Cobbs an “absolute ray of sunshine,” radiating positivity and warmth wherever she goes. Smith became a key figure in Cobbs’ journey.
Cobbs felt an instant connection with the instructor and admired the attentiveness and care with which she approached students. “Jen always knew what each person needed,” Cobbs said. “She’d suggest different modifications, took the time to teach the ‘why’ behind each movement and remind us how interconnected our physical and emotional selves are. It was more than just a workout; it was a holistic experience.” Encouraged by Smith’s mentorship, Cobbs began her 200-hour, self-paced yoga teacher training.
“I want to help people the way Jen and the other instructors helped me,” she said. “I want to offer others a place to feel safe, understood and supported.” The benefits Cobbs has gained from her consistent yoga practice have been multifaceted. “It’s incredible to feel that I can push myself again,” she said, “even if some days are still challenging.” Yoga, however, has gone beyond the physical. The mental clarity and calm it provides have been just as valuable. “Yoga gives me a space to quiet my mind,” Cobbs said. “After years of managing stress through work and family, I finally feel I’ve found a place to reset.” Plus, it provides Cobbs with yet another pathway to make a positive impact on those around her. “As a medical writer, I’m always working behind the scenes to improve healthcare education,” she said, “but yoga gives me a hands-on way to help others, teaching them how to connect with their bodies and find their own relief.”
Through her story, Cobbs offers a reminder that even in the midst of chronic pain and life’s challenges, there are opportunities to improve the lives of others. Yoga has become an anchor, and she sounds determined to share its transformative power with anyone in need. As Cobbs looks ahead, her journey with yoga feels like a natural extension of her desire to help others.
“Yoga has given me so much, from physical relief to mental clarity,” she said. “Now, I’m excited to share that gift with others, guiding them on their own paths to healing and self-discovery.”
Click here to read more stories by Wendy Rodriguez.
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