Jun 21, 2023·edited Jun 21, 2023Liked by Andrea Ferretti
I feel so compelled to teach yoga, I don't feel like I have much choice about it. Despite the challenges to teaching yoga, I can't NOT share something that has given me so much. Yoga has taught me and continues to remind me how to love and accept myself, how to love all other living beings, and how to live my dharma. Yoga led me to my dharma, and so my charge is to help others find their dharma. Teaching feeds me as much as it feeds others, so I can't imagine another career path.
Congrats on the 300th episode! I've been listening and learning from you and Jason for years and am so grateful to you both. <3
As with many people, it was in my first experiences of practicing yoga that led me to want to share with others as a teacher. I had done many other physical movement practices before. Yoga brought me a level of vibrancy with life that nothing else had. As I got curious about the philosophy behind it, my studies gave me that feeling that this was the home I had been seeking for a long time. It was in following this path to my essential nature that I gained so many life skills in handling all the ups and downs with better eveness, less drama, more love and honoring of what is right here in front of me. This is what I felt was helpful to bring to the world, and as I teach, I cannot help but bring in how to live our practices beyond what is done in class, on our mats and cushions.
When I was doing my Yoga Teacher Training in 2016 my father was dying. I wasn't certain I was even going to be able to finish the training as his health was declining rapidly, but I did, and I quickly packed my bags to be with him and my family. One early morning, when I was alone with him in hospice, he expressed to me that he wanted me to live a long time. I asked him why and he said, “so that you can help a lot of people”. At the time, he didn’t know I had just finished my teacher training and to be honest, I didn’t know if I really wanted to be a yoga teacher. Now, 7 years later, I teach Hatha and Chair Yoga on a regular basis and I understand what he meant. His words give me purpose. Every time someone comes up to me before of after class to tell me their pain is decreasing, they can breath better, their quality of life is improving, they feel stronger and more confident, and in the case of one senior with dementia, their illness disappears during class, there is no question why I teach yoga. Yoga helps people of all ages and abilities with life’s struggles. Somehow in that quiet moment with my father, he knew I was capable of helping others, and now I know it is as a yoga teacher. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I live a long life ;)
My why for doing yoga is because it has followed me through every stage of my life and it is always my best way of renewing and healing both my mind and body.
I just became a yoga teacher, and I cannot believe the way yoga has moved me and my soul. I am fascinated with both the philosophy and the movement practice itself. But most importantly, it’s a place where I feel whole 💗
I really had to think about why I teach yoga! I can go on in great detail as to why I am am a student! I would say I teach because I had a transformation of my mind. I learned life lessons that will stay with me forever. I wanted to reach people that weren’t the strongest or most flexible, people that struggled to get out of bed, I wanted to make yoga accessible for everyone.
My favorite teaching moment has been teaching chair yoga for a senior group. I was a surprise class. They weren’t excited to see me and let me know. I was able to convince them to go to take the class- at least try it. I started with a meditation, reluctantly they closed their eyes and began to breathe. Within 10 minutes the room was silent! The energy had changed. I thought to myself “yoga is something special”. When the class was over the group was smiling and cheering. They had done it. I was happy to be a part of that experience with them.
I teach because my hope is when people take class with me that they feel seen and included.
I've practiced the physical side of Yoga for many years on and off. When opportunity presented itself, I'd seize the moment to practice, in a class or at home. As I got older and my children got older, more opportunities became available to do just that- more consistently. Unfortunately, my husband and I are surrounded by older family members who are suffering from brain disease and/or preventable physical ailments. Through my practice I decided that neither of those issues would dictate my life. I went head first into a deeper practice for my own means of escape from constant caretaking and worrying, while also seeing it as a means of rerouting possible genetic paths that could dictate my future if I chose to live like those family members. I needed to take the reigns and Yoga did just that for me. The deeper I got the more I knew I wanted to teach. I wanted to see if/how certain choices we make in life could potentially change peoples futures through Yoga. Physically, Mentally, Emotionally- we can be in charge of our own lives with Yoga as a path. I teach students in a way that is not about Instagram, not about bending in ways that no others can. I teach for the physical side so that as we age from crawlers on up, we can live fully off the mat- through strengthening and mobility work on the mat and chair. I teach for the mental side so that as we live fully, we can draw from our experiences on the mat or in the chair to be kind to ourselves, to those around us, to respond rather than react, to leave others feeling good about themselves and their lives, and to create community (even as an introvert). I teach for the emotional side so that we can lead with kindness within and to those around us, so that we can sit with ourselves and be ok with that, and to be open to possibilities. I teach because this is my one life and I want to live it kindly and fully. Yoga is Life.
Dear Andrea, Thank you for this awesome forum and for all of us to share our yoga "Why". It is so special to read about everyone's yoga journey and learn a little bit more about each other.
I remember falling in love when my children were young and life was so chaotic. The class was at 6 am and it was called "Inhale" with Steve Ross on Oxygen. That was my sacred time and I was so happy when recording became an option
I decided to become a yoga teacher after walking in the 3 day breast cancer walk. I met so many amazing people and realized that I wanted to be part of the health industry.
I have been teaching now for over 10 years and I have better relationships with everyone in my life. Andrea , you and Jason have been a big part of my skill and confidence as a teacher because of your trainings, but, more importantly because of who you are. I do not know my right from my left and you let me know that I can still be an AMAZING teacher without those skills. I have now become a teacher who specializes in Inclusion and Modifications for students with injuries, conditions, or just other people who are challenged with their right and left side. Thank you for helping me to embrace my weaknesses and allow them to become my strengths!!
When I was in 5th Grade I was cast as the Blue Fairy in a community production of Pinocchio. I pulled it off not due to natural grace (which I was assured I didn't posses). I had good stage presence and decent voice projection for a 10 year old. (Still do, actually, for a 47 year old). I grew up as a playmate to an older, tougher brother, so I was more attuned to stacking cords of wood than floating through majestic trees like a pixie in a fairy tale. I don't have a dance background. I did not compete in gymnastics. I was a runner, a college athlete, an aggressive, hard charging worker of my body. None of that seemed to match with yoga. I only tried yoga as an "easier" pathway back to fitness after my second baby. It was always secondary to my real fitness pursuits. But as the years went by and my body got more battle worn, I kept returning to my mat looking for something that would heal me. I felt like I belonged on the Island of Misfit Toys more than in the yoga space. Yoga was hard for me, and I felt like I was constantly playing catchup. I didn't think I belonged in yoga but I needed it. But even when I was struggling, I kept trying to figure out how could I make this work in MY body because I wanted to keep coming back. Even if I was a misfit in a room of elegant fairies. After teaching other fitness classes for years, I wanted to get my 200HR but I didn't know if I was "believable." It finally occurred to me. There are more than Blue Fairies out there. There are other Misfit Toys that need ME. Someone who can approach the art of yoga, and learning yoga, from a different perspective. I have gone from being a user of my body to becoming a partner with my body. And I think that means something. But you know what else I discovered? I wasn't miscast in that production. As much as I am a misfit, I also AM the Blue Fairy. The Blue Fairy is a guide; she tries to help Pinocchio find his way by allowing him to make mistakes, to learn, and to grow along the path to becoming a real boy. And that's what a yoga teacher does; they guide their students but allow them to take their own journeys towards being real: attuned to their bodies in a meaningful and lasting way. Who wouldn't want to bring that experience to others? That's my "why." I'm so grateful for it. (insert pixie dust here).
Hi Andrea. I really enjoy your podcast and have taken one of Jason's courses. I am also an anatomy driven yoga teacher so he has taught me a lot. I became a yoga teacher in 2017. I always thought I would be a studio teacher, which I am. However, I am also a high school counselor so I love working with teenagers. When I got certified, I figured I would practice on them! The baseball coach was a big fan of yoga so said I could do a few sessions with the team. WELL, a few sessions turned into the whole season, per their request. The change I saw in them was unbelievable. Their injuries decreased and their mindset became so much stronger. This led me to open my own business. I now teach yoga in many athletic programs in my tiny state of Delaware and have had to hire a few teachers to help me. Whenever I leave a yoga session with a team, I am simply LIT UP! It's always a good experience. Kids today need to learn about mindfulness, breathwork, and yoga more than ever. I feel this was my calling to do just that! So that is why I do what I do!
First off congratulations on your 300th episode!!!!!
I love the questions you asked! Gave me time to tune into this morning. Thank you!!
Think back -- when did you viscerally know that this was going to be a life-altering practice for you and why?
My first experience with yoga was shortly after I received my first fitness certification just wanting to learn more about all types of movement to better serve my classes. The experience was three VHS (yes it was the 90s) classes created by Bryan Kest. Those videos changed my life. I felt not only a difference in my body but also in my mind.
When did you decide to become a yoga teacher and why?
The first time I authentically shared my why was only recently in a documentary called Your Brain on Yoga. I have had anxiety and OCD since I was 4 years old (only officially diagnosed though in 2007 at the age of 34). All I knew was that when I practiced yoga my mind and body felt better so I wanted to share that. Only way later to learn the science of that why which is yoga increases levels of GABA in the brain which is lacking by those with OCD.
What are the most important things you hoped to convey to your students?
The single most important thing I strive to convey to my students everyday is to be in tune with their body; listen to it, be present so you can hear what it is telling you. It doesn’t matter how you look; it matters how you feel. We can all live more fulfilling lives when we FEEL good inside our body.
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of teaching yoga? Can you remember a specific story?
There are so many but one of my favorites is that I taught “legs up the wall” in a class and a newer student came back the next week telling me when her mom felt anxious and couldn’t sleep she taught that pose to her. And doing that pose at night before bed helped (and still does she tells me) her mom relax so she could fall asleep and stay asleep easier at night.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Jennifer. I love hearing that yoga helps with OCD. It is not a condition I am as familiar with, but since COVID I know of 3 girls under age 10 who have been diagnosed, so this is great to know!
I continue to practice yoga because I love to experience the dichotomy in yoga of using my body to remind me that I'm not my body. I teach yoga because I believe so completely in the transformational experience and I believe in others' ability to seek this for themselves. It feels unnatural to not pass the education, information, knowledge, and experience I've received from my teachers on to others.
There’s an unquestionable knowing of why I was drawn to be a yoga teacher… and why I have practiced and taught yoga now full-time for the past 23 years. Yes, there’s all the great physical and mental benefits that are tangible……for myself and for my students. For me though yoga is this “container” that allows me a platform to inspire others to know that they are sacred beings. And in this knowing and coming home to their sacred being sparks a deep compassion for themselves and all living beings.
On my path of teaching and practicing yoga I have fallen head over heels in love with yoga and have experienced my own personal positive transformation and have seen that in my students. I have also experienced complete burn-out as a yoga teacher and student. I have actually hated yoga and lost complete faith in it during this time of burn-out.
Why do I still practice yoga and teach yoga after 23 years along a path that has included complete love for yoga and complete loss of faith in it? I practice yoga to take care of myself so I can continue to teach yoga. I know that my own self-care is a selfless act and is most important. My yoga practice supports me as a teacher so I am physically and mentally able to continue to show up and reach out a loving hand to my fellow human beings so they know they are sacred beings, worthy of love, embodied with their own unique gifts to share with the world, and compassionately interconnected to the whole of humanity.
I keep practicing yoga as part of a slow and persistent transformation that began in May of 2020 when I woke up to my own thoughts. I saw clearly for the first time that I create my own reality. When I took up yoga in a steady at-home practice, it became part of my journey of transcending ancestral trauma and limitations. At 49 years old, I did a headstand for the first time and have done one every day since. To ask, why do I practice yoga is like asking, Why do I breathe? Why do I take walks? Why do I try to love deeper every day. It is because it is now part of my life.
I feel so compelled to teach yoga, I don't feel like I have much choice about it. Despite the challenges to teaching yoga, I can't NOT share something that has given me so much. Yoga has taught me and continues to remind me how to love and accept myself, how to love all other living beings, and how to live my dharma. Yoga led me to my dharma, and so my charge is to help others find their dharma. Teaching feeds me as much as it feeds others, so I can't imagine another career path.
Congrats on the 300th episode! I've been listening and learning from you and Jason for years and am so grateful to you both. <3
Crying as I read this. <3
This is beautiful!
As with many people, it was in my first experiences of practicing yoga that led me to want to share with others as a teacher. I had done many other physical movement practices before. Yoga brought me a level of vibrancy with life that nothing else had. As I got curious about the philosophy behind it, my studies gave me that feeling that this was the home I had been seeking for a long time. It was in following this path to my essential nature that I gained so many life skills in handling all the ups and downs with better eveness, less drama, more love and honoring of what is right here in front of me. This is what I felt was helpful to bring to the world, and as I teach, I cannot help but bring in how to live our practices beyond what is done in class, on our mats and cushions.
Thanks so much for asking.
Here's to less drama, more love and honoring what is right in front of us!!
When I was doing my Yoga Teacher Training in 2016 my father was dying. I wasn't certain I was even going to be able to finish the training as his health was declining rapidly, but I did, and I quickly packed my bags to be with him and my family. One early morning, when I was alone with him in hospice, he expressed to me that he wanted me to live a long time. I asked him why and he said, “so that you can help a lot of people”. At the time, he didn’t know I had just finished my teacher training and to be honest, I didn’t know if I really wanted to be a yoga teacher. Now, 7 years later, I teach Hatha and Chair Yoga on a regular basis and I understand what he meant. His words give me purpose. Every time someone comes up to me before of after class to tell me their pain is decreasing, they can breath better, their quality of life is improving, they feel stronger and more confident, and in the case of one senior with dementia, their illness disappears during class, there is no question why I teach yoga. Yoga helps people of all ages and abilities with life’s struggles. Somehow in that quiet moment with my father, he knew I was capable of helping others, and now I know it is as a yoga teacher. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I live a long life ;)
hi Carole -- would you mind if I use the photo from the Coast Yoga web site in a social media post featuring your comment?
I replied earlier but it doesn't seem to have sent. Yes, you can use my photo. My hair is white now though. lol. I need to update my website :)
Breathtaking. Thank you for sharing, Carole.
My why for doing yoga is because it has followed me through every stage of my life and it is always my best way of renewing and healing both my mind and body.
I continuously marvel that it adapts to my every life stage. It's like a constant companion.
Amen.
My why is to co-create a more empathetic and inclusive world.
Amen to this, Kate!
Short and sweet, but I've boiled it down to that over the years.
I just became a yoga teacher, and I cannot believe the way yoga has moved me and my soul. I am fascinated with both the philosophy and the movement practice itself. But most importantly, it’s a place where I feel whole 💗
Beautiful -- so happy to read all of these. Thank you, Jenna!
I really had to think about why I teach yoga! I can go on in great detail as to why I am am a student! I would say I teach because I had a transformation of my mind. I learned life lessons that will stay with me forever. I wanted to reach people that weren’t the strongest or most flexible, people that struggled to get out of bed, I wanted to make yoga accessible for everyone.
My favorite teaching moment has been teaching chair yoga for a senior group. I was a surprise class. They weren’t excited to see me and let me know. I was able to convince them to go to take the class- at least try it. I started with a meditation, reluctantly they closed their eyes and began to breathe. Within 10 minutes the room was silent! The energy had changed. I thought to myself “yoga is something special”. When the class was over the group was smiling and cheering. They had done it. I was happy to be a part of that experience with them.
I teach because my hope is when people take class with me that they feel seen and included.
Oh, Andrea. What a GREAT story. Cheers to you for creating that space for folks over and over again.
My Why...
I've practiced the physical side of Yoga for many years on and off. When opportunity presented itself, I'd seize the moment to practice, in a class or at home. As I got older and my children got older, more opportunities became available to do just that- more consistently. Unfortunately, my husband and I are surrounded by older family members who are suffering from brain disease and/or preventable physical ailments. Through my practice I decided that neither of those issues would dictate my life. I went head first into a deeper practice for my own means of escape from constant caretaking and worrying, while also seeing it as a means of rerouting possible genetic paths that could dictate my future if I chose to live like those family members. I needed to take the reigns and Yoga did just that for me. The deeper I got the more I knew I wanted to teach. I wanted to see if/how certain choices we make in life could potentially change peoples futures through Yoga. Physically, Mentally, Emotionally- we can be in charge of our own lives with Yoga as a path. I teach students in a way that is not about Instagram, not about bending in ways that no others can. I teach for the physical side so that as we age from crawlers on up, we can live fully off the mat- through strengthening and mobility work on the mat and chair. I teach for the mental side so that as we live fully, we can draw from our experiences on the mat or in the chair to be kind to ourselves, to those around us, to respond rather than react, to leave others feeling good about themselves and their lives, and to create community (even as an introvert). I teach for the emotional side so that we can lead with kindness within and to those around us, so that we can sit with ourselves and be ok with that, and to be open to possibilities. I teach because this is my one life and I want to live it kindly and fully. Yoga is Life.
Warmly, Amy Farajian
This is beautiful, Amy. Thank you for sharing -- with us and with your community!
Put really concisely - I teach yoga to create a space for people to come back themselves.
So simple, and so vital!!
Dear Andrea, Thank you for this awesome forum and for all of us to share our yoga "Why". It is so special to read about everyone's yoga journey and learn a little bit more about each other.
I remember falling in love when my children were young and life was so chaotic. The class was at 6 am and it was called "Inhale" with Steve Ross on Oxygen. That was my sacred time and I was so happy when recording became an option
I decided to become a yoga teacher after walking in the 3 day breast cancer walk. I met so many amazing people and realized that I wanted to be part of the health industry.
I have been teaching now for over 10 years and I have better relationships with everyone in my life. Andrea , you and Jason have been a big part of my skill and confidence as a teacher because of your trainings, but, more importantly because of who you are. I do not know my right from my left and you let me know that I can still be an AMAZING teacher without those skills. I have now become a teacher who specializes in Inclusion and Modifications for students with injuries, conditions, or just other people who are challenged with their right and left side. Thank you for helping me to embrace my weaknesses and allow them to become my strengths!!
Love you so much, Janice. Your enthusiasm, devotion, skillfulness, and heart will ALWAYS outweigh any damn right/left BS lol.
Love you too
When I was in 5th Grade I was cast as the Blue Fairy in a community production of Pinocchio. I pulled it off not due to natural grace (which I was assured I didn't posses). I had good stage presence and decent voice projection for a 10 year old. (Still do, actually, for a 47 year old). I grew up as a playmate to an older, tougher brother, so I was more attuned to stacking cords of wood than floating through majestic trees like a pixie in a fairy tale. I don't have a dance background. I did not compete in gymnastics. I was a runner, a college athlete, an aggressive, hard charging worker of my body. None of that seemed to match with yoga. I only tried yoga as an "easier" pathway back to fitness after my second baby. It was always secondary to my real fitness pursuits. But as the years went by and my body got more battle worn, I kept returning to my mat looking for something that would heal me. I felt like I belonged on the Island of Misfit Toys more than in the yoga space. Yoga was hard for me, and I felt like I was constantly playing catchup. I didn't think I belonged in yoga but I needed it. But even when I was struggling, I kept trying to figure out how could I make this work in MY body because I wanted to keep coming back. Even if I was a misfit in a room of elegant fairies. After teaching other fitness classes for years, I wanted to get my 200HR but I didn't know if I was "believable." It finally occurred to me. There are more than Blue Fairies out there. There are other Misfit Toys that need ME. Someone who can approach the art of yoga, and learning yoga, from a different perspective. I have gone from being a user of my body to becoming a partner with my body. And I think that means something. But you know what else I discovered? I wasn't miscast in that production. As much as I am a misfit, I also AM the Blue Fairy. The Blue Fairy is a guide; she tries to help Pinocchio find his way by allowing him to make mistakes, to learn, and to grow along the path to becoming a real boy. And that's what a yoga teacher does; they guide their students but allow them to take their own journeys towards being real: attuned to their bodies in a meaningful and lasting way. Who wouldn't want to bring that experience to others? That's my "why." I'm so grateful for it. (insert pixie dust here).
Uh-mazing!!!
Love this Blue Fairy!
Hi Andrea. I really enjoy your podcast and have taken one of Jason's courses. I am also an anatomy driven yoga teacher so he has taught me a lot. I became a yoga teacher in 2017. I always thought I would be a studio teacher, which I am. However, I am also a high school counselor so I love working with teenagers. When I got certified, I figured I would practice on them! The baseball coach was a big fan of yoga so said I could do a few sessions with the team. WELL, a few sessions turned into the whole season, per their request. The change I saw in them was unbelievable. Their injuries decreased and their mindset became so much stronger. This led me to open my own business. I now teach yoga in many athletic programs in my tiny state of Delaware and have had to hire a few teachers to help me. Whenever I leave a yoga session with a team, I am simply LIT UP! It's always a good experience. Kids today need to learn about mindfulness, breathwork, and yoga more than ever. I feel this was my calling to do just that! So that is why I do what I do!
Love reading this. How fortunate they are to have you!
First off congratulations on your 300th episode!!!!!
I love the questions you asked! Gave me time to tune into this morning. Thank you!!
Think back -- when did you viscerally know that this was going to be a life-altering practice for you and why?
My first experience with yoga was shortly after I received my first fitness certification just wanting to learn more about all types of movement to better serve my classes. The experience was three VHS (yes it was the 90s) classes created by Bryan Kest. Those videos changed my life. I felt not only a difference in my body but also in my mind.
When did you decide to become a yoga teacher and why?
The first time I authentically shared my why was only recently in a documentary called Your Brain on Yoga. I have had anxiety and OCD since I was 4 years old (only officially diagnosed though in 2007 at the age of 34). All I knew was that when I practiced yoga my mind and body felt better so I wanted to share that. Only way later to learn the science of that why which is yoga increases levels of GABA in the brain which is lacking by those with OCD.
What are the most important things you hoped to convey to your students?
The single most important thing I strive to convey to my students everyday is to be in tune with their body; listen to it, be present so you can hear what it is telling you. It doesn’t matter how you look; it matters how you feel. We can all live more fulfilling lives when we FEEL good inside our body.
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of teaching yoga? Can you remember a specific story?
There are so many but one of my favorites is that I taught “legs up the wall” in a class and a newer student came back the next week telling me when her mom felt anxious and couldn’t sleep she taught that pose to her. And doing that pose at night before bed helped (and still does she tells me) her mom relax so she could fall asleep and stay asleep easier at night.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Jennifer. I love hearing that yoga helps with OCD. It is not a condition I am as familiar with, but since COVID I know of 3 girls under age 10 who have been diagnosed, so this is great to know!
I continue to practice yoga because I love to experience the dichotomy in yoga of using my body to remind me that I'm not my body. I teach yoga because I believe so completely in the transformational experience and I believe in others' ability to seek this for themselves. It feels unnatural to not pass the education, information, knowledge, and experience I've received from my teachers on to others.
Oh, I resonate with this --"It feels unnatural to not pass it on..."
There’s an unquestionable knowing of why I was drawn to be a yoga teacher… and why I have practiced and taught yoga now full-time for the past 23 years. Yes, there’s all the great physical and mental benefits that are tangible……for myself and for my students. For me though yoga is this “container” that allows me a platform to inspire others to know that they are sacred beings. And in this knowing and coming home to their sacred being sparks a deep compassion for themselves and all living beings.
On my path of teaching and practicing yoga I have fallen head over heels in love with yoga and have experienced my own personal positive transformation and have seen that in my students. I have also experienced complete burn-out as a yoga teacher and student. I have actually hated yoga and lost complete faith in it during this time of burn-out.
Why do I still practice yoga and teach yoga after 23 years along a path that has included complete love for yoga and complete loss of faith in it? I practice yoga to take care of myself so I can continue to teach yoga. I know that my own self-care is a selfless act and is most important. My yoga practice supports me as a teacher so I am physically and mentally able to continue to show up and reach out a loving hand to my fellow human beings so they know they are sacred beings, worthy of love, embodied with their own unique gifts to share with the world, and compassionately interconnected to the whole of humanity.
-Lynne Jacobs
I'm so happy that you shared this story of losing faith coming back to it as a selfless act. It really is, in the long-term.
Why do you keep doing yoga?
I keep practicing yoga as part of a slow and persistent transformation that began in May of 2020 when I woke up to my own thoughts. I saw clearly for the first time that I create my own reality. When I took up yoga in a steady at-home practice, it became part of my journey of transcending ancestral trauma and limitations. At 49 years old, I did a headstand for the first time and have done one every day since. To ask, why do I practice yoga is like asking, Why do I breathe? Why do I take walks? Why do I try to love deeper every day. It is because it is now part of my life.
So beautiful, Corie. Thank you for sharing this sentiment. I feel it.