Bio

Hellooooo!

Being active comes naturally to me. Yoga, on the other hand, didn’t always come naturally, at least not at first. In fact, I tried Yoga many times before finding a style that works for me.  Honestly, I was either bored by Yoga or just bewildered. This continued off and on for a few years. It’s a good thing I’m stubborn. I’d circle back into dabbling into Yoga from time to time because I knew it was “supposed to be” good for me.

A former athlete with a bit of grade school dance training, years of practice in sports like soccer, track, cross-country, volleyball, and cheerleading (forgive me, I did it for the outfit, and hey, it was Texas!), created a craving for movement, flow, and focus in both body and mind. This varied background also gave me a strong, flexible body with a mean turnout. Yet such advantages can only do a girl so much good. An unhappy, tense time in my life made me realize that I needed more than a post-workout endorphin high. I needed serious chillaxing and to find a way to cultivate a deeper peace and a calmer state of mind and heart, especially while living in the bustle of New York City. Besides, being athletic, fun as it  can be, can cause damage, wear, tear, and stress on the body. Over time, the very movements that create such joy can become the source of pain and anguish. We must heal from within. Yoga was the answer for me.

I remember one Yoga class in particular,. My stressed and exhausted body, mind, and spirit were all enlivened afterwards—buzzing with something I hadn’t felt in years—harmony and a peaceful, blissful energy. That night I slept so deeply, and so much tension seemed to have drained out of me from a simple hour’s worth of work. It was like being let in on some big secret. From that moment on, I was hooked.

Soon thereafter, I found my Yoga mentor, Charles Jojo Tyler, who has pioneered a vigorous and dynamic style of Vinyasa Yoga called Yoga4Soul. Linking breath to flowing movements, it’s an all-in-one practice. Students build cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, strength, and relieve stress while exploring the soulful side of themselves. It also didn’t hurt that my arms were toning up nicely within two weeks of beginning to take Jojo’s class regularly. “This really stuff works,” I remember thinking, and not just on the mental and spiritual level.

Part of the Yoga4Soul gang. We gots mad skillz.

Some time later, I  completed Tyler’s teacher training program with the vague idea that I might pick up part-time teaching work. An unexpected loss of a lackluster day job was a blessing in disguise–it pushed me towards a full-time teaching schedule very soon after completing teacher training. Now I teach in an athletic, yet accessible style within the Yoga4Soul Vinyasa format, and also draw from other influences of movement, energy, and the mind, including belly dance, ballet, Pilates, philosophy, and nature.

I’m always seeking to  to deepen the well of skills and knowledge I have to draw from, plus, I’m kind of a bookish nerd at heart. My love affair with continuing ed has led me to Pilates mat certification and also to certs in general group fitness/personal training.  Yoga, of course, remains my primary focus.

My goal is to make every session fun and challenging to all levels, incorporating music, sometimes a touch of humor, and perhaps a bit of (light-handed) philosophy as well. Seeing students grow, learn, and make positive changes in their lives is an honor and a blessing, as is being able to live, work, and practice in New York City, which so many talented yogis, fitness professionals, and artists call home.

Contact: BriaYoga4Soul at gmail dot com