Matt
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.
What was the most impactful lesson from your life so far?
I think the most impactful lesson I’ve learned is this: life is what you make it. I’m not really the kind of person who says “everything happens for a reason,” but I do believe we all have the opportunity to cultivate meaning, reason, or value out of every experience. In my opinion, “the meaning of life” is your own creation—it’s more of a question than an answer. What do you want to make of it?
As long as you answer that from your own spirit, from your own heart, and for yourself, then however you choose to invest your time, energy, and attention will be teeming with meaning—something entirely unique, irreplaceable, and irreplicable.
As for experience, it’s hard to pick just one, but I’d say the heartbreaks in my life have helped me build some of my greatest strengths. I had a thought come through last year that stuck with me: your muscles literally rip in order to build themselves back stronger. Maybe your heart is the same. Maybe when it feels like it’s ripping, it’s just part of the process of cultivating strength. Now, when I feel my heart hurting, I remind myself that even though “right now” is tough, each step forward makes me stronger.
What your favorite movement when not practicing yoga?
Dancing , loosing track of space/time in a wave of music . It’s gas for the spirit.
“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.”
