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Featured Teacher: Cynthia
1. Where are you originally from?
San Francisco, CA; USA
2. How long have you been teaching?
1 year
3. Who was your very first yoga teacher and what was he/she like?
My first yoga class was when I was in college in a small studio in Berkeley. I can't remember the name of my teacher, but what I remember most about the class was the vibe and how everyone seemed very connected with the teacher.
4. How long have you been practicing?
5 years
5. Originally, what attracted you to yoga?
I originally started taking yoga classes purely as a form of exercise, but grew to love it the more I practiced.
6. What motivates you to practice today?
I love the way it makes me feel - there are days I feel very connected, present, and open, and there are days that I don't feel as open and present. I like that everyday and every practice is different and it helps me feel more connected to my body and what I'm feeling. I always feel like I'm learning.
7. How would you describe your personal practice?
I would describe my personal practice as a good balance of different postures. I usually try to emphasize the postures that are more difficult for me, like a variety of backbends, so that I may find more freedom in what is generally very intense for me.
8. Before you became a yoga teacher, what did you do?
I've worked in Marketing and in Property Management/Real Estate
9. What do you love about teaching?
I love sharing with others what I have learned from practicing yoga and trying to help others achieve what they want to achieve through yoga. It is always a joy to see how students develop and progress and the happiness and freedom it brings them, and in teaching, I learn from them as well.
10. What do you find challenging about teaching?
That each student has a different and sometimes very specific intention for why they practice, and it is a challenge to try and satisfy most, if not all, of these goals.
11. Describe your ideal class (as a teacher).
My ideal class would be specifically to feel that I have helped students meet their goal, and generally for the students and the teacher to feel each other's energy and have a great class.
12. Describe a class that you would find challenging or difficult (as a teacher).
I think a class with students where skill levels range from absolute beginner, to very advanced, would be very challenging, as the teacher could not tailor it to just one skill level.
13. What teacher has had the biggest impact on your practice?
There are so many teachers that have had an impact on my practice, but I would say the introduction to Anusara and its principles of alignment with Patrick Creelman has had an immense impact on deepening my knowledge and my practice.
14. What is your most embarrassing moment in the studio (as a teacher or student)?
Hmmm, can't really say there was any particular moment that comes to mind.
15. Where is the strangest placing you've practiced yoga?
To be honest, I have no strange places that I've practiced yoga at. It's always been in a home or in a studio. Near the beach, if that counts!
16. Aside from yoga, what other hobbies or interests do you have?
Aside from yoga, I really enjoy rock climbing, all kinds of dance, including Tango, salsa, and swing, spending time with family and friends. And I love love love big dogs.
17. Describe your most profound yoga experience.
My most profound yoga experience probably occurred towards the beginning of my practice. I would always take the bikram inspired hot yoga. I remember that in the beginning I enjoyed it because I felt like I was getting a good workout. But there was a precise moment and class that the instructions of postures and breathing really began to click, and that was when I realized there was so much more to yoga than just exercise.
18. If you weren't a yoga teacher, what would you be?
Not sure, but it would probably have something to do with Yoga, traveling, or dogs.
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