5Q Interview with Odessa Rose @yogawithodessa

January 30, 2019 by DTO Uncategorized

1. Tell me about your personal journey with yoga. Why is it important to you?

I started yoga at the age of 16 after I got injured in a horrible car accident I broke my femur, fractured my pelvis, and broke the tip of my tailbone off. My leg was really small compared to the other and I couldn’t go to the gym because it hurt too much so I decided to take a therapeutic yoga class and it completely changed my life emotionally and physically. After the first class, I left feeling so alive, unlike I’ve ever felt before, I couldn’t wait to go back to another class. The teacher was so kind and understanding she knew when I needed to take a break and helped guide me into different poses if I couldn’t do them. I instantly knew that that’s what I wanted to do I wanted to be a yoga teacher I wanted to help people transform their lives like she did for me. Yoga is very important to me because it helps me get into the present moment and reevaluate how I feel emotionally. Normally I go all day without noticing how my body feels so I also love to check my inventory and scan my body in each asana.

2. When did you first begin teaching yoga? What made you transition into a leadership position?

I finished my 200 hour yoga teacher training course three years ago. I started teaching about a year and a half ago. I was in Bali staying at a hostel and the yoga teacher that was originally working there was leaving so there was a gap before the other teacher would arrive. I practiced often but was had not done much teaching since my training so I was nervous to offer my assistance, but I overcame that fear and did it anyway. The owner of the hostel was thrilled and gave me a free room while I was teaching there. I taught my first class and it was the best feeling I’ve ever felt I knew I was exactly where I needed it to be. After I got done traveling I came back to San Diego the teacher that taught me during my teacher training was working at a studio that I randomly walked by and she told me I needed to come in and mock. I told her I didn’t have a house or anything I just got back from traveling but is soon as I got my stuff together I would come in immediately and I was honored to work at that studio. I have been working a Mission Beach Studio ever since. I also just got hired to teach private yoga classes at a squash ball fitness center!

3. What makes your classes unique?

I like to build a connection with my students so I start the class by having everyone introduce themselves and say either something they are grateful for or would like to let go of. I also ask my students how they are feeling and if they would like to do a slower flow or something more upbeat. I love to design my sequence based on what my students want. The final resting pose Savasana is one of my favorites because I go around and give a temple massage with essential oils to those that give consent. I feel that touch can be very powerful in yoga, but I always make sure to ask before I contact my students.

Odessa’s Monthly Women’s Circle (link below)

4. How does music benefit your guidance in a yoga class?

I love to make a playlist for class. Sometimes I’ll sit on Spotify for hours looking for new songs to add. I think music benefits my yoga classes because it shows my personality a bit more. You can really understand a person by what type of music they listen to. I teach vinyasa which is a flowing sequence in coordination with the breath much like a dance so music can really make the class well-balanced.

5. Tell me about your next event and where we can follow you online.

I teach at Mission Beach Yoga Studio on Saturday at 3:30-4:30pm vinyasa, Sunday 9-10am vinyasa, and Aerial at 10:30-11:30am. I also do visual online Skype private yoga classes at yogawithodessa.com. I host a monthly Woman’s Circle.

You can follow me on:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Website: Yogawithodessa.com