5Q Interview @Zosolisa, aka Lisa Yeme!

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

Yoga entered my life about 13 years ago while living in LA. I was pursuing a career in dance when I decided to take a yoga class and it was such a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t used to moving in a room without a mirror and the fact that I could make the practice work for my body and not have to copy a teacher’s exact movement was so liberating! I loved how it made me feel and I signed up for a teacher training right away and upon completion I immediately began teaching. In 2004 I moved to San Diego and for about seven years I just taught yoga on the side while I worked in an office. Over the years life’s difficulties came up as they do for everyone, and I’ve always found my solace in teaching and practicing yoga. In 2013 I completed a 500 hour teacher training with my teachers Raghunath and Sondra Loring at Sadhana Center for Yoga in Hudson, NY. It was truly a transformational experience, we dove deep into the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. We practiced strong vinyasa and chanted, meditated, ate together, hiked, cooked, sang and cried together. We practiced Bhakti yoga – being completely in service to others around you, devoting yourself to something bigger than you. I made some strong bond with my yogi friends and teachers and they helped push me to where I am today. At the start of 2014 I stopped working in an office and began teaching yoga full time. I’ll never forget the moment I drove out of the parking garage for the final time, walking away from 10 years in a cubicle. I laugh cried! I was so overjoyed, excited and scared about taking the jump but I haven’t had a single regret since. I am fascinated with the wide range of people I encounter regularly. Every single day is different and I’m constantly challenged in a way that keeps me excited to learn more. I can tap into my creative side putting class sequences together and making playlists. I get to be a part of a community that is pursuing peace, happiness and health. I learn people’s amazing stories of their tragedies and triumphs and I get the privilege to witness their growth over time. And I continue to grow and heal being a part of it all. Everything I ever share in class is something I’m personally studying or practicing myself. They say if you want to learn – teach. And that is my passion. To serve, to love, and to give.

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

I began teaching yoga in 2005 when I was actually quite new to the practice itself. I had already been teaching dance for a few years at the time so it wasn’t hard to teach the physical movement. But it took several years to be ready to study the philosophy and anatomy deeper. I started teaching for CorePower Yoga in 2012 and I’ve learned so much from being a part of this community. I’ve been involved with coaching teacher training since 2014 and I’m so grateful for the experiences I’ve had. Teacher training is a journey, it’s an opportunity to help people break past the barriers they’ve created for themselves and it’s always special and life changing. I certainly never imagined my life would take this direction but I’m so grateful and humbled to get to share something I love so much on a daily basis. I hope to continue to push myself to grow in my own practice and studies so that I may keep sharing what I learn along the way!

3.) What makes your classes unique?

I find every single class unique. Every teacher has something to share, every teacher is a mirror and my contribution is a small piece to the huge yoga puzzle out there. I am only a messenger. I always have a purpose when I teach, I want to share what I’m working on because I am a forever student. Because of my dance background I love to create interesting sequences that feel good in the body. I want my students to feel challenged and empowered. I love music so that is an important element in my classes, I give my class playlists a lot of attention. I am always creating new playlists and seeking out new music. I follow the path of the moon and astrology and often share my findings, I share quotes from books I’m reading, and I offer insight on deeper yoga concepts from the ancient texts. The amazing thing about yoga is it is so vast, there is never a shortage of information to share. It keeps me very engaged and allows me to plant seeds of inspiration in my students.

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

All my life I’ve had a deep appreciation for music. I grew up listening to classic rock and Motown, I love the legends. I also grew up outside of Seattle during the grunge era and so I have a special place in my heart for moody rock and roll. I love jazz, blues, hip hop and electronica. Music can change the vibe and experience and help students turn off and tune in. One of the hardest aspects of yoga is staying present, it’s a constant struggle. I see students react and go deeper into the meditation of their practice when they’re enjoying the music. I have a great respect for practicing in silence as well, I know there is an important time and place for that. But I also know that music is such a part of my personality that I teach even more from the heart when I’m connected to the music that’s playing.

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

You can follow me on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/LisaYemeYoga/

Instagram: @zosolisa

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/zosolisa

My next event is dear to my heart! I am co-teaching with my amazing friend Valentina Martin at her studio Flow Fusions with YOU! We are so grateful to teach together to the extraordinary music of DTO! This event will be a special collaboration with yogis that have a deep respect and appreciation for one another. We are all so inspired by each other it’s going to make for a really wonderful experience!

Sunday, March 5^th 11am-1pm at Flow Fusions

https://www.facebook.com/events/1327944997325257/

With Spring just around the corner, let’s wake up from the darkness of Winter and light up from within! Discover your body and mind connection through freedom of movement and conscious connection. We’ll work to release physical and energetic blockages and create space for healing and restoration. We invite you to join us on a journey to AWAKEN!

We’ll be bringing together the live, magical, musical sounds by DTO of Buddha Music Group, the teachings of Lisa Yeme and Valentina Martin followed by organic, gluten-free, vegan snacks prepared by Mary Hofelich.

Yoga Class + Live Music + Life-Enhancing Food + Community

1.5hr Level 1/2 Yoga Class, 11am – 12:30pm.
Snacks & Community Connection, 12:30pm – 1pm.
Food items to be announced soon!

$30 includes class and snacks
A portion of proceeds will go towards DTO & Lindsey May’s Kids Yoga Class; Music + Movement by Plant Powered Kids as well as to Performers Without Borders, a registered 501(c)3 that teaches Performing Arts to vulnerable children in countries of high child poverty. Valentina has done a volunteer project with them in Nicaragua! More info about PWB here:http://www.pwb.ngo/

We will also have a donation jar, all of which will be donated to these organizations that are promoting movement, music, yoga, and circus -support for our future – kids!

Sign up here: http://www.unityhoops.com/event/awaken-yoga-event/

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