How did yoga become part of your life? What led you to a devoted yoga practice?
I took my first yoga class while I was in college and really enjoyed it. I started attending Day Yoga when it opened many years ago because it was close to my apartment, and I was looking for a way to be physically active. Yoga has become a part of my daily routine because it helps me take a break during busy days, slow down, and really tune in to how I am feeling inside.
What has surprised you about your yoga journey thus far.
As I continued on my yoga journey, I was surprised to learn that yoga is more than a physical practice. It is also an emotional, mental, and spiritual practice. It doesn’t matter how you look in a pose or if you can even do certain poses at all. It’s about honoring where you are at in the present moment, being present with yourself, and remembering to breathe.
What is your favorite style of yoga to practice and why?
I really enjoy teaching and practicing slow flow classes. You can really get into poses that stretch and strengthen at an intentional pace and enjoy the movements.
What activities outside of yoga do you also enjoy?
I like spending time outside, especially hiking, swimming, and kayaking.
Do you have a favorite mantra or wisdom that you find especially useful?
I find it useful when yoga teachers remind us to honor where our bodies are in the present moment. It takes the pressure off to do poses a certain way, and instead to do them in a way that feels good. I often talk to people who think they can’t do yoga for different reasons. I think by reminding people it’s about honoring where your body is in the present moment, and about how poses feel rather than look, more people will realize that yoga can be for everyone.