{"id":388,"date":"2023-10-13T08:05:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T13:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/12yogamalibu.com\/?p=369"},"modified":"2023-10-12T21:16:34","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T02:16:34","slug":"annette-wardell-soprano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/13\/annette-wardell-soprano\/","title":{"rendered":"Annette Wardell \u2014 soprano"},"content":{"rendered":"

[editor’s note: congratulations to Annette Wardell for winning a national competition to become The Face of Vegan Happy Clothing]<\/em><\/p>\n

Yoga is a holistic experience for many \u2014 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?<\/p>\n

I was initially attracted to yoga as a means of calming both body and mind during rehearsal periods and before performances \u2014 the pranayama is a wonderful way of anchoring the diaphragm, so essential to healthy and sustained singing<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"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?<\/p>\n

now all yogic elements are equally important \u2014 mind, body and spirit are inextricably linked through regular self practise \u2014 as a long time vegan, one of the core yogic teachings or yamas, Ahimsa, has become one of the most treasured elements of my daily life and of my yoga practise<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

How long have you been practicing yoga?<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been practising yoga in one form or another for about ten years<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

How frequently do you practice now?<\/p>\n

I try to practise every day now, although with a hectic performing career this isn\u2019t always easy \u2014 I take a travel yoga mat with me everywhere I go, so that even in far flung hotel rooms practise is always possible<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

How does yoga affect your life as a professional opera singer?<\/p>\n

yoga has enhanced my life as an opera singer immeasurably \u2014 it has strengthened my balance and core, my breath control has improved-hugely important for opera singers, and connecting to my calming breath has banished any lingering nerves forever!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Do you have a preferred yoga style?<\/p>\n

Vinyasa is my go to, but I have been known to glow my way through an Ashtanga class or two<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

When you first took up yoga, what came easiest and what was more challenging?<\/p>\n

as someone with a super active mind, blocking out distractions and calming my inner voice has always been challenging for me \u2014 I\u2019m hyper mobile, so the physical challenges of yoga feel relatively easy compared to the mental ones<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?<\/p>\n

the benefits of regular yoga practise have been incredible \u2014 better quality sleep, stronger core and balance, lower blood pressure, stronger muscles and and a much calmer, relaxed outlook<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

For you, what are the benefits of classes at a studio or with a group vs practicing yoga at home?<\/p>\n

I love the social aspect of group classes, and having an expert on hand to realign, check postures and lead is great \u2014 but due to the nature of my job, solitary practise has become the norm, and I treasure the peace and tranquility which comes with it<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?<\/p>\n

I meditate regularly using the Breethe app, and as an opera singer I have a set of fabulous breathing exercises which I use before singing practise and as stand alone exercises<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose(s) and where?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m always moving into random yoga poses at home \u2014 wheel pose during TV adverts, tree pose when I\u2019m waiting for the kettle to boil, and a strange variation of warrior while I brush my teeth<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

I\u2019d much rather take a class outdoors surrounded by nature \u2014 there\u2019s something about connecting to the elements that is ultimately spiritual and incredibly freeing \u2014 any distractions seem much easier to ignore when they are part of a bigger natural soundscape<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014interview \u00a9 Marshal Zeringue<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[editor’s note: congratulations to Annette Wardell for winning a national competition to become The Face of Vegan Happy Clothing] Yoga is a holistic experience for many \u2014 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? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/388"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=388"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":415,"href":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/388\/revisions\/415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12yogaweho.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}