1. Tell me about your personal journey with yoga. Why is it important to you?
I’m sort of a gym rat, so when I was first introduced to yoga I thought it was lame- and not for me. I had some friends who kept dragging me along to their classes despite my eye rolls. One day I was lying in savasana and sort of feeling frustrated with myself. I hadn’t been able to nail the sequence like I felt I should have. I don’t always share this, but what happened next changed my life forever. I heard a little voice say “hey! We tried!” I knew this voice was coming from me. It was my body. Suddenly I was aware of all of the times it had been speaking to me and I wasn’t listening. “Hey im really tired”, “hey I’m getting full”, “hey that’s pushing it too far”…
Yoga taught me to listen to and love my body. That’s really it’s whole purpose. Yoga means to yoke our mind body and spirit. Once I came to learn that for myself things were never the same.
2. When did you first begin teaching yoga? What made you transition into a leadership position?
I first started teaching Yoga When I moved out to Israel. I joined an educational program and they asked me to be the chair of sports and fitness. I started teaching daily yoga classes and the feedback I received from my students mixed with the feeling of flowing on the Mt. of Olives or by the Sea of Galilee literally brought me a joy I’d never known. After that I was hooked. I went back to the states and started teaching.
3. What makes your classes unique?
I believe in lots of demonstrations, communication, and physical connection. There’s something about being acknowledged by the teacher in an “I see you” kind of way that makes the connection of true yoga so much easier to obtain.
4. How does music benefit your guidance in a yoga class?
It’s my favorite part. When I’m creating sequences I usually just free flow to a song that feels good and the magic is born. It’s like interpretative dance that is then memorized and taught to my students.
5. Tell me about your next event and where we can follow you online.
I’m all over Instagram right now. Find me @jenniferiversen.yoga (that’s Iversen with an “en”). Sometimes I’ll put some YouTube videos up on my channel for people who don’t like studios. It’s a newer platform that you can follow at “Yoga by Jenn”.
Attention Yogis and Yoginis: Are you interested in doing a 5Q Interview? Fill out your unique responses here.