1. Tell me about your personal journey with yoga. Why is it important to you?
My journey of health and wellness started over 20 years ago as an employee at World Gym in Beaumont, Texas. Several years later, I discovered the practice of yoga and have since continued down the yogic path. When I first started practicing, I was unsure about it and to be completely transparent, it was a discipline to simply attend the classes. It seemed much slower paced than the rigorous exercise regime I was used to and that was an adjustment. The reason why I returned to my mat again and again is because of the feeling I experienced after every class. I would walk away refreshed, centered, inspired and clear headed. Over a decade later, yoga is now a life practice for me, and not just an exercise routine. It has encouraged my personal growth and created powerful memories of being completely focused and aware. It has taught me the acceptance of my strengths and weaknesses, not to mention more about patience and discipline.
Profoundly influenced by my younger sister, Olivia, and her struggle with cerebral palsy, Zen Soul Balance was birthed as a means of caring for people from all walks of life, who desperately want to live above physical and mental dis-ease, but don’t know where to begin or what to do. I believe that every individual possesses the ability to heal themselves from within and be resilient in the face of life’s toughest challenges.
2. When did you first begin teaching yoga? What made you transition into a leadership position?
As the years passed, my passion for the practice grew stronger. Drawing from the inspiration of my sister’s health condition, I mustered up the courage to pursue a yoga teacher training program. As a dedicated student, I studied the science of Hatha Yoga in Bali, Indonesia. Through my experience abroad, I discovered a desire for sharing the healing power of breath, meditation, mindful body movement, and a healthful lifestyle. I went on to further my trainings in Yoga for Children of Diverse Abilities, Integrative Nutritional Health and Nutritional Therapy. Immediately after completing my certifications, the time seemed right to launch Zen Soul Balance and my teaching career began!
3. What makes your classes unique?
Zen Soul Balance is a holistic wellness company based in San Diego, specializing in yoga, sound therapy, meditation, mindfulness and nutrition. Our classes are unique in that they are structured and designed with the whole person in mind. Focusing not only on the physical sides of health and wellness, ZSB integrates the mental and emotional dimensions as well. We believe that no one part of the human experience is more important than the other; therefore, we strive to reflect that belief in our events, workshops, privates and classes by drawing from a variety of healing modalities that touch and impact the full scope of being human. These sessions are gentle and suitable for all levels, with an emphasis on Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Sound Meditation and Sound Healing. When combined, Yoga + Sound Therapy create a profound experience that helps to release tension and promote deep relaxation; allowing practitioners to soften into a stretch. It eases stress and anxiety, enabling the shape and gravity to do its work – the work of unifying body and mind.
4. How does music benefit your guidance in a yoga class?
Relaxing music is medicine. It creates a restorative environment where change can take place, and it literally produces a physical, mental and emotional change within us. It calms the body and mind by lowering heart rate and blood pleasure, which slows our internal systems down, allowing for a deeper breath and a mindful awareness of the moment. Because of this, music is the perfect complement to assist yogis and yoginis in their practice. It helps participants to focus, relax and “drop into” the pose.
In addition to the auditory benefits, music has a vibratory quality that possesses healing attributes. Sonic waves move 5x faster through water than air, and humans are comprised of 60-70% water, which means that sound is penetrating the body much like a physical massage, releasing tension and easing stress held in ligaments, joints and muscles. Understanding this, ZSB capitalizes on this profound reality and integrates scared instruments like singing bowls, gongs, drums, chimes and others to create a vibratory yoga experience that is relaxing, restorative and empowering.
5. Tell me about your next event and where we can follow you online.
ZSB works with clients in private sessions, specials events, workshops and retreats. We partner with yoga studios, massage therapists, clinical psychologists and healthcare professionals providing a variety of healing experiences for people along their journey. To learn more about upcoming group events, check out ZenSoulBalance.com, Facebook or Meetup.
As ZSB matures, the commitment to making a positive contribution to the world continues by expanding wellness offerings and adding passionate and qualified professionals to help guide individuals and communities through the deep inner work required for healing and health. ZSB offers support and coaching practices that are custom tailored to help people find freedom so that they can experience unprecedented levels of joy, boundless love for life, and a brave re-connection with themselves.
In the end, our goal is to make these experiences accessible to all, no matter where you are in your journey. We would love the opportunity to share yoga, sound therapy and holistic health with everyone, because we believe in its power to transform lives!
ZSB pricing structure is available upon request. We also offer donation-based classes and free community gatherings.
Contact Info:
Website: https://zensoulbalance.com/
Phone: 858-412-7804
Email: info@zensoulbalance.com
Follow us Online:
Facebook | Meetup | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram: @ZenSoulBalance
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