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 true, spiritual nature?

saw an article in Seventeen Magazine (when I was fourteen) and was immediately curious about the meditative and spiritual aspects of the practice, as well as the toning of my body

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?

definitely feeds my spirit the most as I have been practicing mostly mantra & sacred sound in my personal practice … however I always begin with simple asana and grounding techniques prior to mantra practice

How long have you been practicing yoga?

since I was 14 … got serious at around 19, and now I am 42

How long did you practice before you began teaching yoga?

nine years of practicing regularly whether in classes or with books, and about 4 years of dabbling before that

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

my lineage home is Viniyoga or Yoga of TKV Desikachar — I like (and teach) a low intensity flowing asana practice — as I mentioned I have been more in study and practice of Nada Yoga, the Yoga of Sound and somewhat recently completed another 200 hour teacher training at Nada Yoga School in Rishikesh India (2020)

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

holding the posture was easiest, settling the mind/blocking out distractions was (and still is) the most challenging

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

I find that there is no straight answer to that as every individual is different — someone may have an injury or be going through something heavy and that will affect the whole practice — someone may be entirely athletic but often dissociative or unable to connect with the breath — someone may try yoga for the first time when they are pregnant — to generalize, I would say postures are easiest, but calming the random fluctuations of the mind (goals!) would be the most challenging

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

keeping ego in check, whether in a grandiose way, or a self-loathing way — reminders of unity, reminder of non-attachment — also, indeed, less inflammation, stress relief, less body pain

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

absolutely ~ as yoga has many limbs beyond the physical practice … the first two limbs I love to explore ~ svadhyaya (self reflection), isvara pranidhana (surrender) … and mantra practice as already mentioned, yoga nidra, goddess sadhana…

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

I am a runner and do a 5k almost every day — completed 3 marathons and probably 10 half marathons — lately I’ve been loving free weights

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

definitely — I love clasping my hands in a bind behind my back and folding forward extending my arms behind me (chest expansion) — random pigeon poses and hamstring stretches and prep for natarajasana (dancer) to get into the quadriceps post run

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?

100% outdoors overlooking the ocean — going there in my mind right now! — but wait … be here now!

—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 true, spiritual nature?

body and spirit

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 feel more vulnerable and raw, it feeds my spirit more

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

23 years on and off, and just a little now — mainly stretches and static poses

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

studio = adjustments, both physical and vocal

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

hatha, restorative, yin yoga, yoga nidra….

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

easiest was just how natural it felt, hardest was comparing myself to other practitioners

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

flexibility, wisdom, awareness of body and breath

A character in When the Stars Lead to You, your debut novel, says “morning yoga [is] the very best yoga.” Is that also a strong-held conviction for you in real life?

not at all, I’m not a morning person!

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

breathing, short body scans, journaling

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

dancing!

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

all the time, in bed, on the couch, especially in a nice warm bath

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?

outdoors on a beautiful day!

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

[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 — 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 initially attracted to yoga as a means of calming both body and mind during rehearsal periods and before performances — the pranayama is a wonderful way of anchoring the diaphragm, so essential to healthy and sustained singing

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?

now all yogic elements are equally important — mind, body and spirit are inextricably linked through regular self practise — 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

How long have you been practicing yoga?

I’ve been practising yoga in one form or another for about ten years

How frequently do you practice now?

I try to practise every day now, although with a hectic performing career this isn’t always easy — I take a travel yoga mat with me everywhere I go, so that even in far flung hotel rooms practise is always possible

How does yoga affect your life as a professional opera singer?

yoga has enhanced my life as an opera singer immeasurably — 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!

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

Vinyasa is my go to, but I have been known to glow my way through an Ashtanga class or two

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

as someone with a super active mind, blocking out distractions and calming my inner voice has always been challenging for me — I’m hyper mobile, so the physical challenges of yoga feel relatively easy compared to the mental ones

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

the benefits of regular yoga practise have been incredible — better quality sleep, stronger core and balance, lower blood pressure, stronger muscles and and a much calmer, relaxed outlook

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

I love the social aspect of group classes, and having an expert on hand to realign, check postures and lead is great — 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

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

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

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

I’m always moving into random yoga poses at home — wheel pose during TV adverts, tree pose when I’m waiting for the kettle to boil, and a strange variation of warrior while I brush my teeth

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?

I’d much rather take a class outdoors surrounded by nature — there’s something about connecting to the elements that is ultimately spiritual and incredibly freeing — any distractions seem much easier to ignore when they are part of a bigger natural soundscape

—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 true, spiritual nature?

I knew very little about it and I was curious to know what yoga was

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?

body originally, spirit more recently — I love the peacefulness

How long have you been practicing yoga?

since I was pregnant with my daughter, now in her 40s! — she’s much better at yoga than I

How frequently do you practice yoga?

2-3 times per week

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

I love my yoga class for the direction and encouragement

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

not really, but the gentler the better

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

getting the posture and holding it — but I still have trouble blocking out distractions

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

less body pain, greater flexibility

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

a friend recently told me about walking meditation and we do it together

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

I walk a lot and love my water aerobics classes

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

absolutely! — mostly stretches at my kitchen counter, but I’ve been known to strike a tree pose almost anywhere

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?

easy one — I choose outdoors, even if it’s not a beautiful day — but circumstances mostly keep me indoors

—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 spiritual nature?

initially I thought it was for ‘exercise’ — almost immediately, however, I noticed the greatest impact on my mind — from day one my yoga practice helped me gain mastery over my anxiety

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 still tends to every facet of my being, but now is predominantly a spiritual practice for me

How long have you practiced yoga?

I began dabbling about 22 years ago, but have been studying and practicing with commitment for 13 years

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

lightly for about 12 years, but seriously for 3 — since then I have not stopped studying — my study and practice have only intensified

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

I study, practice, and teach Traditional Tantric Hatha and Classical Yoga — under the guidance of the Himalayan Tradition

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

as a former dancer, I ‘thought’ the postures came easily, but soon realized I was missing the point entirely — loosening my effort was the most challenging, and making peace with the neurotic tendencies in my mind

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

dissociating yoga from exercise seems to be the most challenging because in the west we’ve sold yoga as a workout — it isn’t — it’s a spiritual practice which utilizes the body to gain access to the breath, the breath to gain access to the mind, the mind to gain access to the soul — reframing students’ expectations which are based on a western misinterpretation of yoga is my greatest challenge as a teacher

What are the more difficult poses for beginners to execute?

Savasana and a Meditation Seat

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

more peace within my own mind and continuous joy in the midst of challenging circumstances

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

I practice a traditional Yogic meditation called Vishoka Meditation, as well as traditional Yoga Nidra — these both incorporate pranayama (techniques for gaining mastery over the breath)

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

I do — I love to hike, swim in the ocean, garden, and play with my dog

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

I often find myself utilizing yoga asanas to create more freedom and ease in my body — I try to be subtle about it in public so as not to draw too much attention, but when I’m at home I’ll stretch and twist and enjoy savasana just about anywhere

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 love practicing outside and find it to be more comfortable and accessible for a lot of people — it’s a great way to reconnect to something bigger than ourselves

—interview © Marshal Zeringue