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 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

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

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?

definitely to settle my mind — I picked up a steady yoga practice during law school to deal with the stress of it, I continued through my legal career to deal with the toll it took on me, and I turned to it in a desperate time for mental clarity and balance after my kids were born

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?

both! the mindfulness and connection with how I’m feeling provide equilibrium in my life

How long have you been practicing yoga?

since 2003

How frequently do you practice now?

daily

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

about fifteen years

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

Vinyasa — I grew up dancing and choreographing concert dance so the flow of vinyasa definitely appeals to my affinity for moving bodies in harmony individually and as a group

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

keeping conscious awareness on the breath always was and still is the most challenging thing for me to do

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

for children, certain pranayama work is not recommended such as holding the breath and other control techniques — children’s lung capacities are smaller and their hearts are beating faster than an adults so in general, yes, it’s difficult to teach them how to utilize the breath in conjunction with their asana practice — settling their busy minds is also a challenge — their minds are full of humming birds darting from one place to another without stopping for very long in any one spot!

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

there are so many benefits I’ve felt — I would have to say the most valuable for me was less anxiety and better sleep — after my second child was born, yoga pulled me out of an abyss of post-partum anxiety and insomnia — it has helped me in every aspect of my life and my relationships at home and at work

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

every night before I go to sleep, I meditate with simple breathing exercises and a focus on executing an asana sequence in my mind — it calms me down, keeps me grounded, and sets me off to sleep — I also do body-scans daily prior to my physical practice and I listen to guided positive affirmations while driving

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

absolutely — in front of the TV I like to do legs up the wall (or couch), or supine pigeon pose, happy baby, supine twist or supported bridge — also, whenever I go with my kids to a ball game, I’m always the weird mom doing stretches on the fence or playground — we have such a sedentary slouching culture; I take every opportunity to take backbends big and small wherever I am

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?

I guess my answer is “it depends” — if that small comfortable indoor space is heated to 100 degrees, I want to do it there — if it’s 90 degrees or higher outside, let’s go to the outdoor spot — in other words, I like it hot for yoga — helps open the physical body, presents cardiovascular benefits and lung capacity expansion, and purges toxins through the system — for me, distractions are a part of practice — there will always be something — the challenge is staying present, no matter what!

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Mind, body, spirit — did one element or another first draw you to yoga? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your spiritual nature?

improve flexibility and concentration

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?

a balance of both — I’ve been practicing for more than 20 years so it’s hard to stay where one stops and the other begins!

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

for over 20 years — what I attempt to practice on a daily basis are the Yamas and Niyamas, for instance, Aparigraha (non-attachment), Ahimsa (non-harming)

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

about 8 years

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

I prefer Hatha and Iyengar

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

the strength postures

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

what comes easily: not taking themselves too seriously! and being non-judgmental about their bodies

what is most challenging: body awareness in terms of what is happening on the inside (breath, muscle activation)

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

physically: less joint pain

mentally: improved concentration & body awareness

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

yes, many — my particular favorite is a guided meditation I used with the loving-kindness mantra

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

I have a preschooler, and he loves to strike a yoga pose either in my office or on the bathroom floor, and I’ll get right there with him!

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?

outside requirements: low humidity and no biting insects

inside: dimly lit room, and if I can call up a rainshower, even better!

If I gave you an expenses-paid yoga retreat, where would you go?

at a lodge with big windows and a fireplace, where you can see the snow outside

—interview © Marshal Zeringue