1.) Tell me about your personal journey with yoga. Why is it important to you?
Yoga became instrumental in my life when I was in high school. I still remember being 16 and attending my first month of yoga at Soul of Yoga in Encinitas, I met some incredible teachers that inspired me to grow more each day, to return to my breath when I felt at a loss, and to always keep an open heart and mind to whatever came my way. After graduating high school I tried to keep up with my yoga practice, but felt my life was becoming full of excuses to why I couldn’t get on my mat. I began university and after a year, I realized I was not at a place in my life I wanted to be, so I packed up my bags, found a job at a yoga retreat center in Austria, and bought a one-way ticket. Through my months that I spent working and then later on moving to Milan and London, I kept yoga at the forefront; my breath became my daily practice. No matter where I was I could feel safe with yoga, I summited Trolltunga in Norway and found my yoga practice there as I did on my mat in a flat in London. I wanted to break away from any notion that you had to be on a mat, you had to wear a certain style of clothing, or be beyond flexible in anyway. I realized it became more about being flexible in my mind and I still am always seeking this. To continue to grow, to continue to breathe, and to always show up on my mat regardless of how I feel that is what is vital to me, that is how I define yoga. Have you breathed today
2.) When did you first begin teaching yoga? What made you transition into a leadership position?
After moving back from Europe a second time, I gained knowledge and my certification from Yoga Works in Santa Monica. I focused on teaching very one on one with family and friends at first. I have gone on now with my return back to university to taking a more in the moment approach as a teacher. I will get called to teach a class here and there. I have taught at my college to a class of young freshman as of recently and it inspired me to continue learning and practicing as a yogi and a teacher. I don’t think there will ever be a point in my life where I will have mastered, or stopped growing in any sense of what I feel yoga is.
3.) What makes your classes unique?
I want to be focused on each individual which is why when I have taught classes I feel I like to take it slow, to stop when I see someone struggling, I want everyone to feel seen and to feel that where they are in that moment is 100% magical to where they need to be.
4.) How does music benefit your guidance in a yoga class?
I find that music can help me in my own practice and in guidance of yoga class with an extra flow, with the magic of music and how certain yoga poses feel extra juicier to your muscles and body with that perfect sound in combination.
5.) Tell me about your next event and where we can follow you online.
I am always growing and learning. I am currently a student at Sarah Lawrence and am focusing on Psychology and Documentary work. I am mainly studying how Post Traumatic Stress and Traumas can find healing through yoga and mindfulness work. I maintain an all around healthy lifestyle and will forever be seeking moments where I am able to collaborate, create, practice yoga, and be a teacher that wishes to inspire and to give the understanding that wherever you are, however you are feeling if you breathe, if you are able to be in that moment that is all that anyone could ever ask of you. You are enough. Just breathe.
My instagram is @reedmylips18
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