Matt (he/him)
Well, the first time I ever did yoga was in my living room with a friend who was training to be an instructor. I was pretty active, surfing and skateboarding at the time, so it was a great ‘stretch’. The same yoga studio she was training with opened a location across the street from my apartment building, so my friend got me a gig cleaning the studio in trade for free yoga. I started practicing more and slowly discovered the impact it was having on me, especially mentally and emotionally.
I’ve been practicing since then, but my practice has broadened; I’d say I try to live my life in a state of Svadhyaya. I meditate throughout the day rather than in just one place or time, and my life is my vinyasa, haha, but really though. I’ve been teaching for around a decade now and enjoy creating a space that I have personally benefited so much from.
The most impactful aspect of my experience has been the time I’ve gotten to share with people, both taking classes that were monumental for me and offering classes that others seem to enjoy and get value from. I like helping people, and if I can offer someone something that may enhance their livelihood in any way, I’d be happy to do so if the invite is there. That’s who I do it for.
And if I’m honest, I also do it for myself. I really enjoy Vinyasa Yoga and love coming up with sequences that align with who’s in the room and what we’re aiming to do that day, class, or hour. Teaching yoga is not only an offering, it’s a practice in itself, and just like my asana or Svadhyaya practice, I will be forever learning and refining.
“The Alchemist came to me when I was just beginning to discover the magic of the universe. Since then, I’ve been following that same guiding force, and it’s led me on the most beautiful journey I can only describe as magic.”
