What styles of yoga do you teach?
I teach the Modo Yoga series.
How long have you been practicing yoga?
I have been practicing for about 7 years.
Three words that you use to describe yoga to a brand new friend?
- Breath
- Sweat
- A way of life!
What brought you to yoga for your very first visit?
About 7 years ago I decided that I wanted to try hot yoga, but didn’t know where to start or which place to try. Around that time I met a friend who has been attending Modo for some time and highly encouraged me to try it out. So I did. I fell in love with it immediately. It was everything, from the studio environment to the hot room, to the instructors, to the way I felt during the class and after class.
What is the posture you are working on right now? Also what keeps you interested in yoga goals?
I am working on all of the poses consistently and yet at different times (if that makes sense?) Each of them allows me to experience my body in a different way. But if I had to choose, Dancer’s Pose is the one that is most challenging in the Modo 60 series and the one I try to progressively listen to my body in, as well as rely on my breath to do successfully.
As I get older, I realize the importance of consistent practice. I’ve noticed that when I stop yoga for a week or two, problems in my body start to pop up (especially in my lower back). This notion keeps me interested in continuing my yoga practice. I also really like to challenge myself and see how far my body can go in terms of flexibility. It makes me feel proud and successful, which also translates to a happier life outside of the studio.
Advice for a brand new student who just stepped into a Flow class for the first time?
Hmm. I’d say – stay with yourself for the entire class. Check-in with yourself and do what you absolutely can without going overboard. It is typically a faster-paced class, so expect it to be a workout! And even if you can’t follow the sequence completely, have fun with it anyway! Do a version of a pose that feels good to you if you can’t do what the instructor is saying. If you feel frustrated or not happy with yourself, tune in or reset in a savasana or any other meditative pose, and come back to practice with a positive mindset.
How has yoga changed your day to day life?
It has absolutely, undeniably taught me how to breathe. Especially in tough situations. It has also made my body more flexible, my mind is more positive and my energy more loving.
Name a book that you share with all your friends! Whether they are into yoga or not.
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.