two weeks until yoga bootcamp!

I start my first week of yoga bootcamp (and my teacher training certification!) in two weeks. I’m super excited and thought that I’d share the answers to my yoga background questions (yes, even yoga sometimes involves homework).

1. Please write a brief paragraph on what yoga means to you and why you practice.

Yoga brings the world into balance for me.  Even when I’m having a crazy stressful day, it all melts away on the yoga mat and everything is good again. I initially started practicing yoga for the physical benefits, but I find myself returning for the total sense of wellness that yoga delivers. I always feel a sense of accomplishment and peace after practicing and the strength and flexibility I’ve gained from yoga – both physically and mentally – are invaluable.  In my career as a wellness consultant, I find myself advocating on behalf of yoga for all types of people from all different backgrounds and physical abilities and I truly feel that if more people practiced yoga we’d live in a happier, healthier world.

2. How long have you been practicing and who are your most influential teachers?

I’ve been practicing yoga consistently for just under 2 years.  I took my first yoga class for PE credit in college 8 years ago and occasionally took a yoga class at my gym when I moved to New York, but only recently developed a regular practice.

While I haven’t studied for a very long period under any teacher, my most influential teachers are the ones who have inspired me to want to practice more, who challenge me but still take the time to break down each pose, and who themselves really believe and live in the awesomeness of yoga.

After taking my first class with Carolina almost two years ago, I knew there was so much more to yoga that I wanted to learn about.  I knew the basics, but hadn’t taken class from a teacher who knew how to challenge me and inspire at the same time, and she was able to do just that. When we finished class I felt exhausted and yet amazing, and I wanted to do more yoga! I still feel that way after every one of her classes.

I really enjoy taking classes from Michelle at Four Seasons and Jeanne Cummings.  They both have great energies– Jeanne is so welcoming and Michelle has a great calming presence – and they both create safe spaces to practice while still exploring difficult poses and sequences.

More recently I’ve been taking classes from Amy Jo Hearron, Josh Vincent and Jano Galindo and they’re all wonderful teachers too.  I love trying new teachers because each one brings their her/his unique perspective and style and I pick up different things from each of them.

3. In your opinion, what components make up a good yoga class?

For me, a good yoga class is both physically challenging and mentally/spiritually enriching. I like classes that include a variety of asanas and sequences but focus enough time on each one to really move through the poses confidently and smoothly (that’s when yoga feels like a dance to me, which I love). I appreciate classes that include deep stretching and inversion practice, because I always say I’m going to stretch or practice at home but never do as much as I should.  A very important component of a good class for me is a teacher who gives cues and tips about proper form, because even if I’ve heard it a million times I could probably use another reminder.

4. What is your favorite and least favorite pose and why?

My favorite pose is parivrtta utthita hasta padangusthasana (spelling?) because I love the way I feel when I get there. The stretch and twist seem to balance themselves out perfectly (and hurt so good), and the fact that I know I can do it (even if some days it’s not as pretty as others), always reminds me that my yoga practice extends beyond the studio.

I don’t really have a least favorite pose, but there are some I’m either not good at or feel uncomfortable in, so I would have to say peacock and dolphin pose.  Peacock is still very awkward for me and dolphin pose never seems to feel comfortable on my shoulders and neck, but that probably just means I’m not doing them right!