Yoga is a holistic experience for many — mind, body, spirit. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your spiritual nature?

I was an athlete and I just started my own business — I needed both to balance out my body physically but was also needing a new approach to stress management — yoga did the trick — I was drawn to the discipline of Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

it is definitely balanced — I am as dedicated to my pranayama and meditation practice as to my asana practice — my life is guided by yoga philosophy

How long have you been practicing yoga?

25 years

How frequently do you practice now?

daily, but it varies as to what on each day

How long did you practice yoga before you started teaching it?

four years

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow

When you first took up yoga, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

committing to the practice was easiest — finding the time was hardest

From your experience as a teacher, can you generalize about what comes easiest for beginners and what is more challenging?

it’s easy to just do poses, hard to focus the mind and connect to the breath

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

yoga is life changing and the practice is about an unremitting attention to the present moment experience — it has changed my body, mind, personal relationships, and taught me how to handle the roller coaster of life — it also set ethical standards for myself and how I care for others

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

yes, I practice Insight Meditation and Pranayama and Ayurveda

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which poses and where?

sure — tree pose in the kitchen — pigeon in front of the TV

You have a choice: lead a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

a well designed minimalist indoor space

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Yoga is a holistic experience for many — mind, body, spirit. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your spiritual nature?

I was first drawn into yoga for the physical benefits like many — I was recovering from bunion surgery and it was one of the only things I could do to work my muscles and stretch a little bit — I got hooked! — the mental + emotional benefits came later, and now that’s why I practice

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

my practice looks completely different now than it did 9 years ago — my daily practice looks more like seated pranayama + meditation, plus 15-30 minutes of movement I like to call ‘daily maintenance’ — without a doubt, the tools and techniques I’ve learned feed my mind and soul (as well as body!), but these techniques take time to learn and refine — everyone has their own personal recipe

How long have you been practicing yoga? How frequently do you practice now?

I’ve been practicing yoga since 2015, and teaching since 2017 — it’s rare that a day goes by that I don’t practice (or at least sit and do some breathing techniques for 10 minutes)

How long did you practice yoga before you started teaching it?

two years — I knew as soon as I started practicing that I was going to teach it — I knew it in my bones — there was no question

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

while I started out teaching a more vigorous ‘flow’ style class (this was what I learned from my first teachers and in my first YTT), my style has evolved to include many modalities including hatha, kundalini, and Katonah Yoga — in 2020 I started deep-diving in Katonah Yoga and now it continues to inform every facet of my life, my practice and my teaching — I also teach Yin yoga, where you can find threads of Vipassana meditation and Five Element theory infused into my classes

When you first took up yoga, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

the postures came easily, as I was naturally flexible — the strength aspect – as well as cultivating boundaries – was a little more challenging for me — I had a lot of resistance to pranayama at the beginning as well, but once I started to stick with it and found recipes that worked for me, it became my favorite part of the practice

From your experience as a teacher, can you generalize about what comes easiest for beginners and what is more challenging?

from my experience as a teacher, I’d say generally getting the form + alignment correct in the postures (learning how to fold from one’s own joint spaces instead of trying to mimic what others are doing) as well as developing a strong breath are the two things that take time, repetition, and patience

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

the greatest benefits of yoga for me have been greater peace of mind, insanely reduced stress levels, and better lung capacity — I’ve also watched my body change in ways I could have never fathomed – but that is not why I practice!

Yoga is a universal practice. But as a world traveler, have you found a noticeable difference in yoga practice elsewhere?

honestly, I haven’t noticed a huge difference in yoga practiced elsewhere — I’ve taught and practiced in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Malaysia, Bali, India and USA – certainly, cultural differences can influence the style (for example, a lot of Ashtanga and more meditation-focused styles in India) but in general, those who are interested in yoga are typically already open-minded enough to be willing to explore any style or modality

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

I do pranayama (breathing techniques) every day in the morning before I do my movement practice — I also walk my dog which is my daily dose of mindful walking — I have also done three different Vipassana meditation (10 day silent) courses which greatly influence the way I think and perceive the world now

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose(s) and where?

all the time! — when I’m on the couch, I often throw my legs up the wall or in the air and grab a foot — or if I’m out for a walk or bike ride, I’ll stretch often!

You have a choice: lead a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

honestly, this is a tough question! — so long as there is a hard, sturdy floor without gaps in it, I’d pick an outdoor space any day over an indoor one — but what’s not to love about a well-curated, open indoor space? — the only place I would not practice (or recommend practicing on) is the beach — sand is overrated, and not a good surface to practice on!

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Mind, body, spirit — yoga is a holistic experience for many. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

none of the above — I simply attended a class at my local health club because a good friend who moved away had loved yoga and I was missing her — it was love at first stretch as I realized it was what my body needed

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

I think those elements were in pretty good balance when I started, and the discipline of yoga has kept them that way, but the huge additional benefit I have from yoga is the pleasure and satisfaction I get from teaching it to others

How long have you been practicing yoga, and how frequently do you practice now?

I started practicing about 10 years ago and I practice (or teach) almost every day

How long did you practice yoga before you started teaching it?

only a couple of years — very soon after discovering how good yoga was for my aging body, I wanted to learn more and did a course of teacher training, never intending to teach, but just to get deeper into the practice — to my surprise, I loved the teaching side of it and began forging opportunities to teach people of my own age (seniors) — I think I have been on a mission ever since to show people my age and older how much they can benefit from the practice physically and mentally

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

Hatha yoga has always been my favorite but I also love experimenting with all other styles

When you first took up yoga, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

the most challenging part for me is the yoga philosophy — as a scientist, I am always questioning, and sometimes have trouble accepting some of the spiritual concepts

From your experience as a teacher, can you generalize about what comes easiest for seniors and what is more challenging?

in my experience teaching hatha and chair yoga to seniors, I find that the first challenge is always overcoming their tendency to feel they “cannot possibly do that” — once they realize nothing has to be done to perfection, each student seems to take away something different from the classes — to paraphrase a well known saying, it is sort of “trom each according to their ability; to each according to their need”

What are the more difficult poses for seniors to execute?

that is impossible to generalize because in the age group I mainly teach (65-90+ yrs), almost everyone has at least one physical limitation or another — I emphasize equanimity, balance, posture and strength and offer lots of modifications for any poses that might be difficult, while not being afraid to encourage the students to go deeper

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

certainly yoga provides me with a calmer mind and greater flexibility of mind and body — it is a great way to keep the body feeling young(er)

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

no

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose and where?

yes, often a balance pose, and any number of stretching poses

You have a choice: take a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

I love teaching classes outside and take my individual practice outside whenever I can — I have no problem with distractions and I find the sounds of birds and insects and the sight of trees in the breeze highly meditative — I would love to practice near the ocean to feel the rhythm of the waves echoing my breath and often use this imagery in my classes — feeling a part of nature and inhabiting your body in a mindful way are part of what yoga is all about for me

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Mind, body, spirit — yoga is a holistic experience for many. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

settle my mind — I found yoga at a time in my life when all my thoughts seemed ridiculously loud

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

yoga feeds all three — yoga is responsible for keeping those elements balanced, obviously on different days, different elements take precedence

How long have you been practicing yoga?

almost 15 years

How frequently do you practice now?

4-5 times a week

How long did you practice yoga before you started teaching it?

five years

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

every time I practice Ashtanga, it feels like coming home — over the years, as my body has changed, through pregnancy or injuries, my practice has changed — I have a deep respect for Yin and look forward to Kundalini — I believe it’s important integrate all of the styles of yoga into your practice, because each style serves a unique purpose

When you first took up yoga, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

the reason I was immediately drawn to yoga was the fact that it forced me to focus — I wasn’t capable of holding a posture or balancing and entertaining the distractions of the mind — I had to release the “citta” — the relief of letting that go, even for 60-75 minutes a day, kept me coming back — breathing was a challenge — it took years of practice for me to realize I wasn’t breathing correctly — once I surrendered to the breath, rather than fighting with it, my practice transformed

From your experience sharing yoga with children, can you generalize about what comes easiest for young people and what is more challenging?

for children, I think getting the pose correct comes easiest because kids yoga is less focused on correct alignment — I think it is challenging for them to settle their minds and block out distractions, they are still trying to learn how to do that in all aspects of their lives

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

less anxiety, less depression, less overthinking, more peace and acceptance towards myself, others, and life in general

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

I am also a high school business teacher and the mother of a 5-year-old — practicing mindfulness is a part of my daily life because I need to set an example to those around me (practice what I preach) — I teach breathing exercises to my yoga students (while practicing), high school students (before tests) and daughter (to recognize and process feelings or control emotional responses)

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which poses and where?

almost always when seated (coloring or playing a game with my daughter) I love a good double pigeon (Agnistambhasana) — tree pose (Vrikshasana) when stirring food at the stove or in my classroom when trying to keep my high schoolers awake (I make them do it with me)

You have a choice: lead a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

without a doubt, outdoors on a beautiful day — everything outside makes me feel alive, overlooking an ocean means hearing the waves crash during practice, using an occurrence in nature to pace the breath, heat from outside and within the body — no hesitation at all when considering my response to this question — practicing yoga outdoors provides me with a sense of wholeness within and unity with the world

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Yoga is a holistic experience for many — mind, body, spirit. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

I was trying to give my body a break after intense martial arts training — I fought competitively for years and I was uncomfortable “resting” and never made time to stretch, so I started yoga

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

it’s difficult to separate — I’m no longer teaching, so it’s very nice to be a student again — less pressure and I can just accept what’s being given to me in the class — I often feel rushed and like I’m “fitting it in,” but I always feel better after class — mentally and physically

How long have you been practicing yoga, and how frequently do you hit the mat?

somewhere between ten and fifteen years — I don’t remember when I started doing it regularly — I try to take a class once a week, but I do a short stretch with breath on my own before bed most nights

How long did you practice before you started teaching, and how long did you teach?

that’s also difficult as I started teaching in stages — we’ll say I practiced five to ten years before teaching full time — I taught fitness for a decade, but adding yoga in was a gradual thing as I got various certifications

For you, what are the benefits of classes at a studio vs practicing yoga at home?

accountability and distractions — I live in a small house with my husband and two enormous cats — to get any peace I’d have to practice outside — and then I’d feel like I’m performing for the neighborhood — I like classes because there is a set time to be there — I can feel anonymous among the other students, but the instructor is there if I have a question — I don’t have to create my own sequence, I can follow and let my mind go

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

I got my 200 hour with an Ashtanga school, so I’ll always have a fondness for Ashtanga — I prefer a Vinyasa style over a Hatha — I need to move in order to get my mind to still — the meditation at the end is always best for me if I’m worn out

When you were starting out, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

I’ve always had good body awareness, so as long as I had a teacher good at cuing, I could get the posture correct — blocking out distractions is probably the most difficult — that’s one thing I like about the Ashtanga primary, all those vinyasas at the beginning are good for settling in

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

it’s a yin to my yang — stillness without stagnation — it settles my mind and my body always feels better afterward — I have thoracic scoliosis, so it’s good for that as well

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

I like guided meditation, especially when I’m having trouble sleeping, but there are so many different kinds — there’s an app called Insight Timer where you can pick everything from the type of meditation you’re looking for to the time you have to meditate — I like it because, although the goal is to be able to meditate for a decent length of time, five minutes of meditation is better than no minutes, and the app allows for that if that’s what you need

You fought in the Chicago Golden Gloves, ran the Chicago Marathon, and competed for team U.S.A. in the savate world championships. Was your yoga practice particularly valuable as a supplement to one of those activities?

for the marathon for sure — I’ve mentioned that I’m terrible at stretching, and running is such a solo activity for me, no on is around who’s going to make me cool down and stretch — with the fighting, I always had teammates and coaches — I was doing yoga two to three times a week when I was training for the marathon

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose(s) and where?

I will if I’m feeling tight (which seems to increase in frequency as I age) — I stretch my hips a lot — I’ll do baddha konasana while sitting at my desk

You have a choice: take part in a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

overlooking the ocean — I did a retreat in St. Lucia once and we had a view of the ocean — the sound of the waves is a great addition

—interview © Marshal Zeringue