5Q Interview with Darcy Cantrell
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:
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