2015.

Alex was a relatively new yoga teacher, seeking out opportunities to substitute teach or get his foot in the door of a yoga studio. Tracy was a very newly certified yoga teacher and manager of a local yoga studio in Brooklyn. Alex had subbed for a class at this studio before Tracy had joined, putting him on a mailing list for mat and aerial yoga substitutes. Alex was scheduled to substitute again shortly before departing for Costa Rica to work at a retreat center, but he received an email from Tracy telling him that the original teacher no longer needed a sub. That put an end to the relationship, for the time being. Shortly afterwards, Alex left for Costa Rica and ended up traveling the world for three years. Meanwhile, Tracy quit her job managing the studio twice and was twice rehired, hardly aware of Alex’s existence

2018.

Alex was back in NYC and looking for yoga work again. He emailed Tracy, who had been rehired to manage the yoga studio after quitting a second time, and she invited him to audition. Thankfully, Alex must have done a great job - Tracy offered him two regular weekly classes. Alex needed money and subbed classes at the yoga studio often, which gave him plenty of opportunities to slowly get to know the beautiful woman behind the front desk. They would joke around a lot, discuss philosophy, and occasionally talk about doing things outside the yoga studio together. Meanwhile, Tracy was planning her third and final escape from her management job. After 2 months of Alex being too shy and slow to make the first move, Tracy left the yoga studio to pursue a tech bootcamp, and they hardly spoke. Alex spent up to 18 hours per day working while Tracy worked her way up the ladder of UX Design.

2020.

Covid grounded Alex completely. From a 7-day schedule of private clients and yoga classes, NYC had shut down all studios and work opportunities. Furthermore, his father passed away, and he posted about it on Facebook. Tracy, cooped up at home and working remotely with very little social interaction, saw Alex’s post about his father. She offered her condolences and an open invitation to spend time together. During NYC's 2020 pandemic quarantine era, there was little to do except mask-up and go on walks, which is exactly what they did. It was after the first walk that Alex remembered the chemistry he felt in 2018, and it was after the second walk that he knew he wasn't going to let her slip away again.

The rest is history, although always an adventure. Since then, Tracy and Alex have traveled to multiple national parks, villages, and cities around the world. They currently live in Austin, TX, but their story isn't likely to end there.