Why did you become a Yoga instructor?
It was a very natural transition for me to go from Kung Fu to Yoga (both are martial arts and yoga is often referred
to as the 'martial art of the soul' for how it reveals much inner truth
to you as you progress). Yoga allowed me a sense of sanctuary during a
very dark time in my life and for that I will be forever grateful. I
love that the discipline is such a COMPLETE workout: developing strength
with balance, agility, and breath control but also allows one to center
the emotional life and calm the constantly over stimulated mind /
nervous system.
What
makes a great Yoga instructor?
Knowledge mixed with compassion and a
nurturing quality. The minutiae inherent within the many different
styles of yoga can be overwhelming if one attempts to parse the greater
detail, so knowing how to communicate a short hand version of some of
these concepts and seamlessly integrate them within a class' theme is a
skill that takes a long while to refine. Also, being able to adapt a
class on the fly to your students and have the right pacing based on the
type of class can not be underestimated.
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| Jess in dancer profile. |
What
motivates you?
Finding the perfect mix of music, sequence movement and
mental intent ... when you find it the result is this 'moving
meditation' which feels organic and effortless. In my own practice, it is the
process of learning how to relax and trust my body during a very
advanced practice that keeps me motivated and coming back for more every
day.
Favorite
Yoga Pose:
Lately I've really been enjoying variations of Hanumanasana
(Flying Monkey Leap). I LOVE the incredibly deep stretch in the
hamstrings / inner hips as you surrender the body to the pose and begin
to extend the spine up and roll back the shoulders to open the heart
deeply. It is incredibly activating in multiple muscles of the body and
allows one to deeply plant the sit bones / pelivc floor.
Inspirational Quote:
'Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and to
endure what cannot be cured.' BKS Iyengar
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