Well, I was first introduced to yoga by my mom when I was a lot younger. I practiced with her at a small studio near our house and enjoyed the physicality of it. I thought it was such an amazing workout. Little did I know at the time how much more there was to yoga and how much more it would become a part of my life. I’ve been practicing for over 20 years now, as I am still a student as well as a teacher. I’m still learning, still growing each time I practice. Currently, I teach vinyasa, Hatha, and restorative yoga, as well as meditation, in studios, gyms, corporate gyms and classes online.
Wow! Your background is impressive. Why do you teach yoga?
I teach it because I believe in it. I believe that yoga can change your life, because it changed mine. It changed my perspective on my life and when I practice it just feels good. I love being able to guide others through their practice as a teacher. I know that my practice isn’t picture-perfect and there are some poses I will never be able to do, and that’s ok. As I tell my students all the time, it’s not about the perfection of poses, it’s all about the breath—can you breathe fully in this moment?
I really enjoy teaching. I love giving people time where they can feel good—mind and body. A place where they can let go of stress and worries, and just relax and feel better.
Yeah, we totally get that. We relieve stress by leaving it all on the gym floor. But, how is yoga different from other forms of exercise?
It is completely different from other forms of exercise because it’s not truly exercise. Technically, the poses are just one of eight parts of yoga. They prepare you with the strength and stillness needed to sit and meditate, and work on your inner self. Yoga is a way to connect your mind to your body using your breath, and therefore it can stimulate inner peace and presence.
It’s not just a form of exercise, however it’s ok if you choose to only enjoy the physical practice of yoga. There are many benefits of the physical practice of yoga such as flexibility, strength, stamina and balance.
Well, from what we’ve seen, yoga can seem pretty tough! What are the top five things we can expect from a yoga session?
It’s very individualized how each person responds and what they receive from their yoga practice. It’s not only dependent on the type of yoga, as there are many styles, but also the teacher, the space that they are in, and what they are willing to work through.
With that said, you can expect to have a mind-body awareness with each practice, it will also keep you flexible and strong, it can energize you while releasing stress, it may improve your posture and decrease pain. That is the definition of self-care. Yoga can be whatever you need it to be, and it meets you where you are in your body and in life. You don’t need to be flexible or a dancer or anything else but you. Just start and you’ll see changes in your mind, your attitude and in your body.
So we want to know: how can yoga benefit hikers, before and after a trek?
Yoga poses can benefit hikers through warming up the body before and cooling down afterwards. The dynamic stretching that some yoga offers will help prepare the body for the workout ahead. It may also help settle the mind so that you can be more present to take in all the beauty around you while you hike. Afterwards, the deeper stretches will definitely help to increase flexibility and prevent future injury to the body. It can help calm the mind and relax the body after intense workouts like hikes.
Awesome! Do you have any advice or resources for people to keep practicing during these times of self-isolation?
Yes, start today! Just start…it doesn’t matter if it’s 10 minutes or 60 minutes. This is a great time to get started if you’re new to yoga and you can start to learn the poses before you head into a class. You can easily find free yoga online (YouTube, Yogaworks, Glo, various studios have their own online classes, etc.) or reach out to a friend. Chances are you know someone who knows a yoga studio or teacher, and you can check their schedule for online classes.
For those that are already familiar and have a yoga practice, take this time to be consistent with your practice. Schedule it into your day and stay consistent, and see how far you’ll go. Not just physically, but see how much better breath control and attention you will have as you practice becomes more imbedded into your daily life.
That’s sounds great. Maybe I’ll start a 30-day virtual challenge.
30 day challenges are fun, but just do you. I started yoga for the physical workout because that’s all I saw in it. As I continued over the years and practiced with different teachers all over the world, I started to see even more changes in myself and couldn’t let it go. Don’t create high expectations for yourself and if you don’t enjoy it, that’s ok. Come back to it at another time in your life when you might be more receptive. But consider that stretching is always a good thing, and meditation and breathing are always a good thing to do . Start with a beginners class or a gentle class, and use this time to explore and see what works for you. There is so much available out there and yoga is worth trying.
Okay, understood. One last question. Yoga retreats are a big part of a 4.2 trillion dollar global wellness tourism industry, have you ever been on one? What are your thoughts on them?
Of course! I’ve attended and hosted yoga retreats. They’re excellent when you need complete revitalization of your mind, body, and your soul because you would be away from your normal element of distractions. A lot of retreats are just that, a quiet place to rest and relax. Retreats can be the perfect time to focus on yourself. Yoga allows you the space to go within and work through who you are and who you want to become. It helps you become a better person while also helping your body physically feel better. When you feel better, you act better.
If you’re not sure what retreat is right for you, ask around. Look for recommendations from people you know. Choose a retreat like you would choose your classes, by looking at the type of yoga, the teachers, and how you will be spending your time there…do you want a physically demanding class twice a day or are you looking for a more relaxed setting where you can breathe and let go? Do you want to chill on the beach or relax in the mountains? The possibilities are endless!
Thank you for this, Brandee. I already feel more relaxed.
Hope we answered some questions for you all. Especially for anyone who was on the fence about trying out yoga for the first time. And since we won’t be Om-ing on the mountain any time soon, you may as well get your yoga on while you’re socially distancing.
Happy stretching, Nicky & Brian
