Tell me a little bit about your yoga journey from the beginning. I have been practicing yoga for about 20 years. I became interested in yoga as a form of physical exercise, but quickly realized how much yoga benefits the mind-body connection. For me, the ability to focus and tune in to myself for an hour or so during practice brings about a peace and calmness that doesn't occur with a purely physical type of exercise. What's it like to be a part of the RYL community? I came to RYL by accident! I was supposed to be at a workshop in Asheville, working on my 300 hour certification. The workshop was cancelled due to a snowstorm. To cheer myself up, I decided to check out a class at a studio where I had never been - Roswell Yoga Life! I was immediately drawn to the peaceful and energetic atmosphere, which led to joining the studio and taking classes almost daily! The teachers are amazing, I was honored to be asked to join the team. Did you ever see yourself teaching yoga when you started practicing? When did you know that you were called to teach? I never really considered teaching even though I had been practicing for a long time. I was offered a chance to go to teacher training by a friend who was unable to use it. I decided to go just to learn more-- deepen my own practice-- and found I really enjoyed teaching and sharing what I had learned! I continue to learn new things when planning and researching for my weekly classes. What does yoga mean to you? Tranquility, energy, strength, fluidity. What is the most magical thing about yoga? Connecting breath to movement is what makes yoga special. I think people need yoga to give themselves a break from the busyness of life. Also, as we age, it is so important to keep movement and flexibility. That is something practicing yoga can do for us. |
This month we are extending our reach to the community through festivals and unique classes. What are your favorite ways to get involved in the yoga community? I recently represented RYL at a health and wellness fair at our local adult recreation center. It was fun to talk about yoga to the people who attended. I hope to see them at our new 55+ classes! What is your favorite music to practice to, and why? I love music and am grateful that creativity in music is encouraged at RYL. I am a fiddle player and play a lot of violin music, but I like to have a mix of styles. It secretly amuses me to have Mozart, Justin Bieber, Irish jigs, and Michael Jackson all on one playlist. What 3 words would describe your life outside of your yoga practice? Crazy, beautiful, fulfilling. What is your greatest guilty pleasure? Chocolate chips (by the bagful)! Anything your students ought to know about you? I really want to connect with them and help them grow in their practice. |