5Q Interview @hillaryagrayoga

 

 

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

My yoga journey isn’t linear at all. Like my life, my yoga practice has its ups and downs. I started practicing in middle school when my aunt took me to my very first power yoga class. I just thought it was a cool and unique workout, not something I’d commit my life to figuring out. After a long road of pain, hurt, trauma and depression I found my yoga mat again. My yoga practice is sacred and my yoga mat is where I find solace. I know yoga is important to me because it has seriously impacted my life in huge ways: I am able to find comfort and wholeness in my body, I am not so eager to jump to rage, aggression or apprehension as a first response to stress, I am able to love others more and find gratitude in little things, I can release tension that’s been stored in my body for lifetimes or more, my health has improved significantly/I feel strong, and I feel more compassion towards others.

 

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

I began teaching yoga in Honolulu, Hawaii in September 2015. I chose to become a teacher because I knew that if I could find a safe place to explore my emotions, thoughts, feelings and body and work through all of the self-limiting thoughts I had then I could help others find the same in their bodies and practices. I can be described as an introvert so I spent most of my life fearing the thought of public speaking. At times, when I’m teaching, I have this outer-body experience where I just look at myself guiding students in and out of postures and I’m not even sure it’s really me. Teaching in front of students allowed me to find confidence in speaking up for myself out of the studio space. I found my voice because of teaching and I speak up for what I want.

 

3.) What makes your classes unique?

Full disclaimer: I’m a goofball. My name literally means “cheerful” or “merry” and I make sure to get at least one person to laugh in my class. I love when students get out of their heads and take themselves/their practice lightly. I offer a lot of layers in more advanced postures because I know not every student is going to be able to lift his/her hips of the ground in Eight-Angle pose (Astavakrasana). I like telling my students that it’s ok to be wherever they are today and I allow my students to find what works best in their bodies and go from that point.

 

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

Music is a huge component of class! If I want students to feel a certain emotion, like feel energetic in core then I set the tone with my music choices. Music can get people out of their own heads and into other sensations of the body. Sometimes the song lyrics or sound speak more to my overall theme than my words can express. Music enhances this experience!

 

 

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

Please join Amy Rae, DTO (live music) and myself at CorePower Yoga Del Mar on Saturday, March 11th at 3pm for a Fusion & Flow yoga class. After class we’re all heading to the Tasting Room in Del Mar for bites and drinks!