Mind, body, spirit — did one element or another first draw you to yoga? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?
I was drawn to yoga to quiet my mind at first — since then I wanted to be more fit and flexible — I also wanted show my teenagers to be physically active by example
How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?
yoga feeds my mind and body mostly — it puts me at peace
How long have you been practicing yoga?
I started on a limited basis in 2019 — in January 2022 I realized that I was getting the results I wanted so I started doing yoga mostly every day for at least an hour — sometimes I practice up to 3 hours
How frequently do you practice yoga?
I practice about 95% of my days
For you, what are the benefits of classes at a studio vs practicing yoga at home?
I like attending classes for the structure and social interactions — if no classes are available I practice at home
Do you have a preferred yoga style?
I prefer ashtanga and vinyasa
When you were starting out, what came easiest and what was more challenging?
I had difficulty with balance and blocking out distractions (monkey mind) — balancing poses were difficult and I wanted to be able to do them quickly but I realized I would achieve the level I wanted only with practice and persistence
What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?
the physical aspect has been the biggest benefit for me — through yoga with a general lifestyle change, I lost about 50 pounds — it increased my energy level, balance and overall health
Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?
no, I don’t meditate outside of class
Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?
biking, hiking, stand up paddleboarding
Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose(s) and where?
I often practice poses in the kitchen — sometimes I will practice while standing in line to check out a store, although I feel like other shoppers find this odd
If I gave you an expenses-paid yoga retreat, where would you go?
I’m not really sure where I would go
—interview © Marshal Zeringue