Interviews with Yogis and Yoginis

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.

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

I have always been athletic. I started in competitive gymnastics for most of my childhood, which eventually lead to becoming professional dancer. That lead me into the entertainment business as well as teaching pilates, health & fitness trainer…so for me, physical movement was always a necessity. When I first found vinyasa yoga, I was so excited to about the combination of dance like feeling while building flexibility and strength. At first, I was one of those people who went to class for the sweat: chaturanga, burn, breathe, move, chaturanga again and again. More please! I loved feeling my body completely fatigued and my mind on a yoga “high!”

Yoga is important to me because it has become a staple in my life. Now, over a decade later, I have a wonderful understanding and realization of the deep rooted benefits of yoga. In nutshell, the flexibility, focus and strength of the mind offers much more value than in the body.

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

I had been practicing yoga for a few years and became a “regular” with one of my favorite teachers, Dan Ward. We’d chat after lass about my dance, gymnastics and fitness teaching background, and everyone in a while he’d say, “Why don’t you become a yoga teacher? My excuse was ” I don’t have the time” A bit later he’d ask again and I’d come up with another lame excuse like “I don’t have the extra cash.” (but the honest truth was the thought of teaching yoga scared the shit out of me!)  Eventually, despite my rewarding physical practice, I found myself living a very unhappy and unfulfilled life. I was working dead-end jobs just to pay the bills, I was exhausted from an unhealthy marriage and a toxic relationship with myself, and I began struggling with severe spouts of anxiety and depression, more than I ever had before.

My life looked great on the outside, but on the inside was a mountain of self-loathing, negative self talk and a broken heart. Finally, I took a good look at myself & had a rock bottom cry and then honest conversation with myself. I felt my truth and realization, that I wasn’t living the life I desired, it felt ugly, I felt unauthentic. Event though the life I wanted felt unreachable, I knew that staying where I was not an option anymore! I asked myself, “How much longer would you like to live in pain, guilt & shame?” Somewhere along the way I had forgotten that I get to chose!

The volcano exploded and I finally said YES to ME. I walked away from the secure life I knew and took a leap of faith into the direction I really wanted to go.  It was definitely the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but it was a necessary one. I dove deep into learning about self-love & personal care. I became a self-help junkie. I took advantage of so many tools, like podcasts, books & amp; seminars, absorbing all the transformational lessons I could find.

A few months later I was in a car accident that flipped me over, physically and mentally. I feel grateful beyond words that I only walked away with a shoulder & hip injury, but I was unable to practice power yoga for a bit. I was upset. Power yoga was my saving grace, as I was finally learning, understanding and applying the deeper levels of mypractice, beyond the physical. Fortunately, that was my pivot, and I continued my inner journey working with life coaches and workshops.  One day a friend introduced me to Kundalini Yoga, a mantra-based meditation yoga. I’ll never forget my first class! I cried like a baby nearly the whole time, emptying an entire tissue box, but I left feeling lighter and happier than ever! I felt good, the fog in my mind started to lift and I could see my path to happiness more clearly. Once my body was healed from the car accident, I knew it was finally time to teach yoga. I went back to my old yoga class and it just so happened that Dan was starting his next teacher training the following month. It was during that teacher training course that I saw my path so clearly.

I bore witness to my own transformation, saw how yoga, meditation, consistency & focus can be used to heal from past trauma, depression, and anxiety without reliance on medication. I knew right then that I needed to share it with other people. So I followed my heart and became a certified life coach.

3. What makes your classes unique?

As an empowerment coach, I infuse my unique philosophy of balancing the head, heart, and body. This involves the conscious and unconscious mind from cognitive exercises, spirituality & mind and body healing. My methods have had a 90% success rate in reducing stress, liberating limiting beliefs, restoring confidence and creating a healthy, balanced life with ease, in this fast-paced world.

As a yoga teacher, whether I’m teaching Vinyasa, Kundalini or Acro yoga,  I stay true to my philosophy of bringing balance to the head, heart & body. My classes are usually an infusion of balance, humor, sincerity, insightful messages. I LOVE to the human body, and always curious to how & why it functions the way it does, so I offer anatomical knowledge + structural alignment, along with creative and effective sequences.  When you are in tune with your brain, breathe and body and make deliberate decisions as to “more or less” then you will receive exactly what you need each time you step on our mat.

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

Music sets the tone. I take a few things into consideration, style, level & time of day, before I decide what to play. Music inspires the flow or feeling I desire to create, so some days I play more tranquil and relaxing music and some days I play a little more funk, upbeat and energizing playlist.

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

After all of the shifts I made in my own life, working with the best of the best to dig deep to discover how to reduce stress, anxiety & depression, eat healthy and live a more balanced life, I knew I needed to share it! So I took my favorite principles, tools and techniques for dealing with these symptoms, combined them with kick ass workouts, mediations, nutrition and recipes and voi-la…

The Shift: a Head, Heart and Body Breakthrough was birthed!

I offer The Shift Breakthrough a few ways: 1:1 coaching, live events and most recently the online empowerment course! If you want to lose those stubborn extra pounds, reduce your stress and anxiety and feel your life is more balanced in the first 5 days, just DM me on FaceBook or IG or visit www.fullfitmindbody.com

Attention Yogis and Yoginis: Are you interested in doing a 5Q Interview?  Fill out your unique responses here.

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

I took my first yoga class in 2005 which was Bikram. Then a friend introduced me to Power yoga in 2006. I shortly signed up for me 200hr Power Yoga Training. I’ve been teaching ever since. Yoga is my church, my therapy, my physical, emotional, release, my happy place. Yoga is important to me because it has taught me how important I am to myself and I get to remind people about that for themselves every class!!!

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

I began teaching yoga in 2006. I was in the very first Teacher Training at the only Core Power in San Diego at the time, Point Loma. I was one of the only Hot Yoga Instructors there. I was asked to assist in the second or third Teacher Training. I Co-Lead Teacher Trainings for CPY-PL, literally up to the day that I went into Labor with my first child;)

3. What makes your classes unique?

My Classes or not just a class they are experience. They are fun. They are a yoga party! I make a different playlist every class. I make people smile, laugh, feel good from the inside out. I remind people how we are all the same, going through the same struggles w/ different titles. I remind people to be grateful for themselves. I tell my classes all the time, ” I need you all, just as much as you need me.”

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

Music is EVERYTHING in my class!

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

My next event is with my friend DTO, on 1/26 with Meditative Vibes. Please follow me at sarayogahair on Instagram and saramartinthomas on FB

You can purchase tickets for the 1/26 event HERE

Attention Yogis and Yoginis: Are you interested in doing a 5Q Interview?  Fill out your unique responses here.

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

Yoga has brought me deeply into the knowing of my TRUTH. It has guided me through my darkest times of chronic and debilitating pain, sickness and depression. It has taught me to always see the gift in the challenge and struggle. It has shown me how extremely strong I am and how BEAUTIFUL the world is!

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

I started teaching in 2007. As i struggled with my own issues, I saw the power of of yoga in my own life which inspires me to help others through their own challenges. I feel so grateful that this is my life’s path 🙂

3. What makes your classes unique?

I’m a big believer that yoga is not a work ‘out’, it’s a work ‘IN’!! I bring in inspirational quotes and weave them throughout class to help remind my students that they are MAGNIFICENT!!! That they are loved!! To find a greater connection to their spirits and heart.

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

Music sets the tone for class. It helps to inspire teacher AND student. It is flow, it is grace. It connects us to something deeper within ourselves.

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

I am working with Meditative Vibes. We have a great event on January 26th at the Del Mar Plaza from 1-4 with live music by DTO. I am found most on Facebook.

Attention Yogis and Yoginis: Are you interested in doing a 5Q Interview?  Fill out your unique responses here.

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

Yoga is a pathway of transformation through embodied awareness + awakening. Allowing what shows up on the mat to help inspire or heal or activate balance inside and out for me. Mantra, mudra, movement + meditation for balance and peace. In challenging times yoga sadhana has been my lighthouse, guiding me deeper into access this eternal and internal source of “light” and in times of ease or celebration, it’s a way to express my soul through movement and align with the “universal dance” of sacred movement and devotion in motion. yoga has been a source for me since I was 14 years old in my first year of high school in 1984 and I can’t imagine where I would be without this practice~ the practical tools within the philosophy and embodied practices of both yoga and Ayurveda are invaluable to my life.

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

I began teaching in 1993 in Mammoth Lakes, California at the age of 23. I didn’t actually pursue this career in my beginnings, I was going to a class that was attended by about 3-5 people on average and the teacher asked me if I would teach the class while he went to study with his teacher. I was taken back by this idea, I had never been to India, I hadn’t been practicing for 20 years, I thought to myself, “how is this possible!?” So, I called my teacher Gayna Uransky who was an intermediate Iyengar teacher who could certify teachers back then and asked her what she thought ~ she said: “teach, that’s how you will learn what you need to know.” And so it began. Realizing I had a TON to learn I signed up for the Yoga Works teacher training in 1999 with Maty Ezraty and Lisa Walford and then a few years later began my journey with Shiva Rea and now teach others to guide Prana Vinyasa yoga classes. It’s truly my passion and my path.

3. What makes your classes unique?

Hmmm… well… first thought that comes to mind is that I’m teaching them! And second thing is that each class has its unique experience also because of the friends that come to flow. I truly vibe with what’s happening at the moment and use the elements to help ground, nourish, activate, circulate or create balance through the lens of the elements. Some personal influences are the moon cycle, season, weather, what’s going on in the “world”, planetary influences, personal statement and of course picking up the flow of the current vibe of the friends and the room and reading their body language. And so, I choose music and movement that is inspired by all of these things. Music is super important to me too! No “background” elevator style music, please! I love to use music to truly inspire the friends in the flow to deeper activation, inspiration, and healing through the music. And honestly every class is unique because of the person offering the class, right? Even if a class is “scripted” (I hear this is a thing??) or the same general sequence like in Ashtanga, the unique quality is the teacher, the students, and choice of music.

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

Music, if used with intention, is an essential tool in the flow of a yoga class for inspiring, activating, releasing, nourishing and expanding the potential of the experience to really bring it all together. If music is used for the background then I say don’t use it all, the breath is more potent than sound whispering in the background without purpose. Live music is, of course, the most amazing if the artist is in that organic connection to the flow of the room ~ it’s like magic! This creates an alchemy that is profoundly transforming as well as an experience that will be held in the cells forever!

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

I have a 200/300 hour Prana Vinyasa Teacher Training coming up February 2019 in San Clemente, California. My website is http://kelleydoyleyoga.com

And you can find all the details there!

Facebook

Instagram

Attention Yogis and Yoginis: Are you interested in doing a 5Q Interview?  Fill out your unique responses here.

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

I started practicing yoga almost a decade ago as part of an entire lifestyle overhaul. In my journey to lose 70+ pounds, exit an unhealthy relationship, and invest in more positive mental, emotional, and spiritual connections. I enjoyed yoga at first as a fun workout. I loved pushing myself physically, regulating endurance through breath, and feeling part of a warm community. The more often I practiced, the better I felt. Fairly rapidly I found that I absolutely craved yoga on a daily basis. I was feeling the effects of my practice not just physically, but I felt calmer, happier, more stable, more accepting of myself and the world around me. I wasn’t sure why at first, but I knew I had found something very important. One day after class, my instructor suggested that I join the upcoming teacher training. The minute I stepped into that sacred space of YTT I knew- my soul knew- that I was in the right place. It felt like the perfect key effortlessly opening a stubborn lock. In teacher training, I opened myself, discovered myself, allowed myself to look at my beauties, my strengths, my true voice, and my trembling vulnerabilities in a deeper way than any other spiritual path had previously taken me. It has been a whirlwind ever since- I began teaching almost immediately, have completed my 500 hour YTT, and have an insatiable thirst to learn everything I can about yoga- different styles, specialties, anatomy and biomechanics, adjustments and bodywork, Ayurveda, chi/prana/Reiki techniques, you name it! The more I learn about the science of yoga, the more I see it as pure magic. The more I learn about the human body, the more I see it as pure magic. We are such miraculous machines, and connecting movement, breath, and awareness bring us infinitely deeper within, and reflexively, allows us to sense our interconnectedness. I love sharing the gift of yoga with others because I truly believe that through the journey of the self we find one another, and through the journey of connection we find the divine.

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

I began teaching two years ago, fresh out of teacher training. During my training, I blossomed so much, and my teaching skills were quickly recognized by my peers and facilitators. The practice and my deepening knowledge of yoga made me so passionate about sharing with others what I had found and more. It felt so right to me, it felt like home to me, and I knew that it was my dharma. All I want is for others to be able to know themselves, love themselves, and share their light with the world with this magical tool called yoga.

3. What makes your classes unique?

My classes are very approachable. I teach with authenticity and an honoring of my genuine self. My students love that I keep it real, that I don’t have a phony “teacher voice” and that I am not all rainbows and sunshine. Along with intelligent cueing, a deep understanding of anatomy, a fun energy that makes people enjoy themselves, I also incorporate humor, a no b.s. attitude, and a colorful word or two every now and again. My students feel that they can approach yoga exactly as they are, because I meet them exactly as I am, and accept them without pretense.

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

Music is a big part of my classes. I feel that it is so essential to setting the mood, the tone, and shaping the mental and emotional experience of the class. I love using music to ramp up energy, or chill the mood, or to suggest new ideas or feelings that back up and enhance what I am teaching. Also in the larger scheme, as I progress on my journey as a yogi and human, I am discovering new music that resonates with me, weaving it into new playlists, and sharing that in my classes. So there is a musical journey that can be experienced in class, and also as my students travel with me over the weeks, months, and years.

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

I can be found teaching at Yoga Six in Carlsbad, Solana Beach, and 4S Ranch locations, and at the Soul of Yoga in Encinitas. Also, I am the lead singer in a funk band (Thanks YTT for eradicating my performance anxiety!), so you can catch me at shows all around San Diego. Check out www.upfunk.band for that.

You can also follow me on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

Attention Yogis and Yoginis: Are you interested in doing a 5Q Interview?  Fill out your unique responses here.

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

Breathing deeply I become present to the moment. In silence, I hear the calling of the wind. In silence, I feel the soft touch of the wind. In silence, I taste the cool breeze of the wind. Like a whisper, the wind comes gently, and in that same moment, floats away.

The element of Air holds a resounding presence as it playfully circles around us and dances in the desert air. Similar is my devotion to spiritual practice and her fluid nature of “learning from successes”. As a teacher and healer, my medicine is founded on the principles of unconditional love and acceptance, as I strive to instill the same core teachings into my students through asana, pranayama, Bhakti yoga, and different holistic healing modalities.

“The principal ingredient of life is L O V E.”

My forward moving and mindfulness practice has allowed me to become an accomplished practitioner of crystal bowl sound healing, a certified Life Coach, and a 200-hour Certified yoga instructor. I have over five years’ experience in Behavioral Health, a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology and working on a Masters in Science, Human Services. I teach all-level yoga classes and candlelit gentle flow with yoga nidra at Gilbert Yoga in Arizona, on a weekly basis.

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

My journey teaching yoga first began in 2014 at Spirit of Yoga in Tempe, Arizona.  Searching vastly for a yoga studio that resonated deeply with my personal practice, I began teaching at Gilbert Yoga, in Gilbert, Arizona in July of 2018.

I also take pride in hosting Women Encouragement and Support Groups each month in order to help empower women and provide a safe place to heal and grow together.  This has allowed me to transition into a leadership position. Women Empowerment and Healing involves empowering and supporting each other to raise our vibrational frequencies in sacred while holding space for one another.  Their mission is to support women in their compassion holding each other sacred.

3. What makes your classes unique?

My yoga classes are designed to gain personal awareness and connect with Source as well as the spirit within.  My path of medicine is to guide others while they unlock the vault of fear and move into their heart space; letting go of fear and allowing personal truth to shine through. It is my highest honor to guide students during their personal practice and to be fully supportive of the process.

Incorporated into Savasana is a shamanic drumming, in hopes to awaken source within.  Each class is an opportunity for a rebirth and renewal of energy.

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

Music helps provide vibration frequency and sound healing into each yoga class.  I’ve discovered DTO’s music earlier this year, at Bhakti Fest in Joshua Tree, California.  Ever since I’ve been incorporating their chakra vibrational sounds into my classes as a way to evolve students deeper and align them with the resonating frequencies of the universe.

I also incorporate hertz meditation and higher vibration frequencies.

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

Currently, I host classes each week at Gilbert Yoga, Fridays, and Sundays at 6 pm.

Friday’s class is an all-levels flow, helping to increase flexibility and strengthen the core.

Sunday’s class is a candlelit gentle flow with Yoga Nidra aimed to provide students with the opportunity to transcend into delta level brain waves, providing the opportunity for deep rest and relaxation.

Upcoming, in January 2019, I am co-creating a 4-day event integrating Native American methodology and wellness at North Mountain Visitors Center.  It will involve workshops, meditation, and hiking. It is currently being designed and programmed. Please stay tuned.

I can be found on Social Media:

Facebook

Instagram: Rysyn_Phoenix

Private account:  _ashley_who_

I also have a Blog

My class schedule

Currently, my private services can be scheduled through wixsite and acuity scheduling:

https://ashleylabier23.wixsite.com/website-2

https://secure.acuityscheduling.com/appointments.php

http://ashleylabier.com (is in transition).

My Contact information:

Email: ashleylabierllc@gmail.com; or info@ashleylabier.com

Cell: 413-262-9276

More information can be found @ https://greatgraduates.com/listing/ashley-labier/

And please visit Mozelle Martin’s Webpage

For publishing information, beginning January 2019, please visit Mozelle Martin’s Webpage http://MozelleMartin.com

I also host an event called “Craft Yoga and Cocktails” at Bitters Bar and Food, in Scottsdale Arizona, happening every other Sunday at 11:00 am.

I’d like to also take the opportunity to support Gilbert Yoga’s Kirtan, The Band of Now,

https://www.facebook.com/thebandofnow/

https://www.thebandofnow.com/

Please check out their website for upcoming Kirtan events across the state of Arizona;

and Arizona Kirtan Community’s event page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArizonaKirtanCommunity/

For Kirtan’s by various artists throughout the valley.

Recent Facebook Live Interview with Ashley!

Attention Yogis and Yoginis: Are you interested in doing a 5Q Interview?  Fill out your unique responses here.