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Speaker 1: Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly conversation

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Speaker 1: about mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions

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Speaker 1: we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.

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Speaker 1: I'm your host, Doctor Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist

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Speaker 1: in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or to find a

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Speaker 1: therapist in your area, visit our website at Therapy for

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Speaker 1: Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you love listening to

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Speaker 1: and learning from the podcast, it is not meant to

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Speaker 1: be a substitute for a relationship with a licensed mental

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Speaker 1: health professional. Hey y'all, thanks so much for joining me

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Speaker 1: for session three forty one of the Therapy for Black

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Speaker 1: Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our conversation after a

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Speaker 1: word from our sponsors. Welcome back to another episode of

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Speaker 1: the Therapy for Black Girls January Jumpstart mini series. All

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Speaker 1: month long, we'll host conversations with talented black women leaders

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Speaker 1: across creative and professional mediums to assist you in putting

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Speaker 1: the p and prioritizing your personal growth. If you've been

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Speaker 1: holding back on doing you, this is your sign to

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Speaker 1: jump headfirst into the possibilities of a new year. It's

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Speaker 1: a new year, which means it's time to bend and

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Speaker 1: stretch your body to new heights. In this episode, we'll

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Speaker 1: be giving you some tips and tricks to accomplish your

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Speaker 1: dreams of becoming a yogi in twenty twenty four. Joining

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Speaker 1: me for today's conversation is yoga instructor and wellness advocate

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Speaker 1: it Austin Matics. Austin's yoga journey begins sixteen years ago

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Speaker 1: and has since expanded into a multifaceted wellness program. Her

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Speaker 1: practice focuses on building customized and effective instruction that any

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Speaker 1: individual can implement into their own wellness practice to promote

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Speaker 1: better health, increased mindfulness, and a holistic lifestyle. During our conversation,

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Speaker 1: Austin shares how to develop a yoga practice that works

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Speaker 1: for your personal needs. Her favorite yoga post is for

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Speaker 1: a mental health release and where beginner yogis can look

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Speaker 1: for cost effective resources and classes. If something resonates with

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Speaker 1: you while enjoying our conversation, share it with us on

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Speaker 1: social media using the hashtag TVG in session, or join

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Speaker 1: us over in the Sister Circle to talk more about

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Speaker 1: the episode. You can join us at community dot therapy

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Speaker 1: for Blackgirls dot Com. Here's our conversation thanks so much

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Speaker 1: for joining us today, Austin.

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Speaker 2: Thank you, Doctor Droid. Such an honor to be on

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Speaker 2: this podcast. I'm really excited.

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Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you so much. So tell me a

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Speaker 1: little bit about what inspired you to get into yoga

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Speaker 1: and what was your introduction to the practice.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I was introduced to yoga when I was twelve

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Speaker 2: years old in sixth grade. It was a part of

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Speaker 2: my school's fitness program. So my first instructor was named

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Speaker 2: Sarah Sullivan. She had this bright red hair, and she

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Speaker 2: came in and taught us all yoga, which is such

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Speaker 2: a huge privilege, I realize now.

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Speaker 1: So it was just kind of like a pe class

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Speaker 1: in your sixth grade.

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Speaker 3: I went to.

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Speaker 2: I went to an all girls school, and so they

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Speaker 2: tried a lot of experimental ways to get us to move.

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Speaker 2: And I had been doing gymnastics for about seven years

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Speaker 2: before that, and I had just stopped at age twelve.

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Speaker 3: So me doing yoga was a big.

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Speaker 2: Lesson in just learning not to have to be perfect

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Speaker 2: all the time, and I could still do things that

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Speaker 2: were challenging and make me stronger, make me more flexible.

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Speaker 2: But I didn't have to worry about someone yelling at

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Speaker 2: me if I didn't point my toes, and so I

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Speaker 2: had this moment where I can just have fun and

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Speaker 2: make this my own. So that was my introduction to

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Speaker 2: yoga at twelve years old.

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Speaker 1: And is it something that you've just stuck with since

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Speaker 1: then or have you picked it up and put it

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Speaker 1: down or what was that process? Like?

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Speaker 3: It came in waves.

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Speaker 2: I did yoga for a while when I was in

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Speaker 2: school because it was a part of my curriculum, and

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Speaker 2: I explored studios outside of that as I got older,

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Speaker 2: but it really wasn't until I graduated from college where

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Speaker 2: I took it to the next level and it really

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Speaker 2: became a part of my life. When I graduated college,

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Speaker 2: I didn't know what I was going to do next

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Speaker 2: like most graduates, and everything feels like a really big step.

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Speaker 3: You're afraid to make the wrong move.

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Speaker 2: So I had my first experience with anxiety there, but

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Speaker 2: I didn't know it was anxiety, so that made it

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Speaker 2: even worse. So I was having trouble driving, having trouble

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Speaker 2: being in public spaces, and I didn't know what was

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Speaker 2: happening to me. So my mom was like, why don't

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Speaker 2: you do more yoga. I needed to go to therapy

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Speaker 2: as well. Which I ended up doing. But I was like, Okay,

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Speaker 2: I'll start doing yoga. And so when I went back

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Speaker 2: to my practice after having this experience with anxiety, I

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Speaker 2: was able to see yoga as more of a mental

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Speaker 2: health benefit as well as a physical benefit. I was

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Speaker 2: able to be present in these poses that were really

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Speaker 2: challenging and really tough, like I had to only think

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Speaker 2: about the pose. I couldn't think about anything else otherwise

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Speaker 2: I'd fall down. So I really got to experience what

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Speaker 2: it's like to really tune into your body, tune into

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Speaker 2: the present moment, and see how you can change your

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Speaker 2: thought patterns through yoga.

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Speaker 1: So do you remember yoga as something that kind of

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Speaker 1: came easily to you or what were the most difficult

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Speaker 1: parts for you?

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Speaker 3: Yeah?

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Speaker 2: So, as I mentioned, I had done gymnastics before, so

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Speaker 2: I knew how to move my body, but it was

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Speaker 2: through the lens of executing something at a perfect level

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Speaker 2: that I would be scored on, that I would be

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Speaker 2: compared to other people on.

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Speaker 3: So it was really.

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Speaker 2: Beyond the physical but the mental aspect of really tuning

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Speaker 2: into what my body is feeling and what my body

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Speaker 2: needs now versus what my teacher is telling me to

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Speaker 2: do or what my coach is telling me to do.

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Speaker 2: So I had to really learn or unlearn that perfection

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Speaker 2: aspect and wanting to be the teacher's pad and wanting

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Speaker 2: to get all of the rewards of doing something.

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Speaker 3: Right where it's really just for you.

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Speaker 2: So I had to take a step back and tune

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Speaker 2: into my own body instead of just doing the poses.

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Speaker 2: So I was a learning curve with the mental health

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Speaker 2: and emotional aspect more so than the physical.

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Speaker 1: Got it. You know, I'm trying to think about like

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Speaker 1: twelve year olds and myself as a twelve year old,

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Speaker 1: you know, having a ten year old now thinking about

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Speaker 1: they're very conscious of their body, and like, I'm aware

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Speaker 1: of what it must have been like to be as

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Speaker 1: of your kind of learning yoga. How did you navigate

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Speaker 1: the body consciousness that sometimes comes with that kind of movement.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a great question.

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Speaker 2: I think because I grew up in a space with

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Speaker 2: a lot of women, going to an all girls school,

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Speaker 2: I didn't have so much of a societal pressure thinking

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Speaker 2: about the male gaze or anything like that. So I

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Speaker 2: was able to really do yoga in a space that

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Speaker 2: felt safe for me starting off, and that's something as

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Speaker 2: a teacher. Now, I tried to integrate into all of

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Speaker 2: my classes, but going into social media and now that

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Speaker 2: I record myself and show videos of myself online, I'm

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Speaker 2: more aware of my body and I had to have

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Speaker 2: a moment where I'm like, Wow, I don't want to

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Speaker 2: post sometimes because of how I look, and it really

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Speaker 2: takes me a moment to dissect what am I feeling

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Speaker 2: and where is this coming from. Is this my own

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Speaker 2: voice such judging me, or the voice of somebody else.

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Speaker 2: So I'm fortunate in that when I was a young person,

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Speaker 2: I didn't really experience that I wouldn't have that kind

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Speaker 2: of awareness.

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Speaker 3: But now I'm aware of the way my body.

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Speaker 2: Changes when I do yoga, and I just start from

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Speaker 2: a perspective of gratitude that my body can even do

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Speaker 2: these things and recognize where that judgmental voice is coming from,

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Speaker 2: if that's my own or if that's something that's been

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Speaker 2: taught to me over time.

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Speaker 1: It's really interesting to hear you say this, Austin, and

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Speaker 1: I'm curious about whether you had that same conscientiousness about

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Speaker 1: what your body looks like teaching in person, or did

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Speaker 1: that only come from the social media gaze.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a really great question.

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Speaker 2: I think teaching in person, I want my students to

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Speaker 2: feel like, no matter what they look like, they can

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Speaker 2: do yoga. Because I've been doing yoga for sixteen years,

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Speaker 2: i have confidence in my poses, and I know that

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Speaker 2: my body type is traditionally acceptable in the yoga space

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Speaker 2: and beyond.

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Speaker 3: So I don't.

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Speaker 2: Experience the same things as some of my other students might.

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Speaker 2: So it's been my mission to help people really understand

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Speaker 2: that yoga is a practice for you.

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Speaker 3: You don't have to work to do yoga. You have

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Speaker 3: to let yoga work for you.

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Speaker 2: And so I'm more so creating a space where my

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Speaker 2: students aren't necessarily looking at me as the ultimate inspiration,

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Speaker 2: rather an opportunity to see what's possible in a posed

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Speaker 2: because I show different variations. So maybe we're starting off

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Speaker 2: with this basic level, but then I'll show you, Okay,

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Speaker 2: we can work towards extending our leg up and so

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Speaker 2: not so much being a model, but also just showing

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Speaker 2: what's possible and letting my students know that, regardless of

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Speaker 2: where they're at, just the fact that they're on the

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Speaker 2: mat is the yoga practice.

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Speaker 1: Thank you for that. Yeah, I do think that there's

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Speaker 1: something about social media that as this voyeuristic piece that

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Speaker 1: doesn't seem to happen in person. So I appreciate you

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Speaker 1: sharing that you know, in person, it is very much

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Speaker 1: like Okay, how can I be a model for my teachers?

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Speaker 1: But on social it changes into something else.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, totally, And on social media people get really experimental

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Speaker 2: as well. And so sometimes people see other fitness influencers

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Speaker 2: or yoga influencers, and I like to have fun with

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Speaker 2: my practice too, but sometimes we're doing things that really

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Speaker 2: aren't even yoga poses. We're just having fun and doing

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Speaker 2: an expression of yoga. So sometimes students come in and

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Speaker 2: want to do something, which I'm happy to help them

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Speaker 2: achieve their goals, but also taking a step back and

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Speaker 2: saying like, this is not really a.

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Speaker 3: Traditional expression of the posts.

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Speaker 2: So if you want to go there, that's your choice,

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Speaker 2: but don't feel like because you're not hitting the post

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Speaker 2: like somebody is in this video doesn't mean you're not

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Speaker 2: doing it right.

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Speaker 1: Got it? So, what are some of the resources, maybe

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Speaker 1: some podcasts or classes or videos that were helpful for

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Speaker 1: you when you started again as an adult?

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Speaker 3: Yeah, coming up.

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Speaker 2: It's so funny because sixteen years ago there wasn't as

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Speaker 2: many podcasts or Instagram and all of that, and so

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Speaker 2: now there's so many resources for yogi's and people that

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Speaker 2: want to get started. Keno McGregor has an amazing podcast

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Speaker 2: and it talks about just life as a yogi, wanting

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Speaker 2: to create discipline, practice, different phases you might go in

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Speaker 2: your yoga practice when you've been practicing for a long time,

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Speaker 2: dealing with boredom in your practice. There's a million yoga

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Speaker 2: videos that are free that you can take for beginners,

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Speaker 2: which also helps you build a practice at home, which

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Speaker 2: I think is fantastic to really own your practice in

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Speaker 2: your own space. So Qino also has great yoga videos

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Speaker 2: on YouTube, and Deanna de Carlo also has great resources

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Speaker 2: on her YouTube and her own website that you can

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Speaker 2: subscribe to.

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Speaker 3: So there's a lot out there.

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Speaker 2: And from books, I read a lot of historical yoga books.

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Speaker 2: Light on Yoga is one of my favorites.

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Speaker 1: Got it okay? So what should be in somebody's starter

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Speaker 1: yogi peck? What kinds of things do we need to

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Speaker 1: get started with that practice.

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Speaker 2: I'm a very minimal person. I like to have a

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Speaker 2: good mat, and I should say a good mat is

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Speaker 2: a mat that you don't feel like you're slipping on.

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Speaker 2: So I think something that people encounter a lot is

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Speaker 2: they'll start sweating and their and feet will get sweaty

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Speaker 2: and they're slipping, and that's a whole another obstacle that

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Speaker 2: they have with their practice. But find a mat that

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Speaker 2: you don't slip in, and if you can't find one,

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Speaker 2: there are yoga towels that you can put on that

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Speaker 2: will prevent you from.

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Speaker 3: Slipping and get a good grip. So a yoga mat, a.

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Speaker 2: Good matt towel, some blocks if you don't have access

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Speaker 2: to blocks, big books work for that, and a nice strap,

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Speaker 2: a yoga strap. If you don't have a yoga strap,

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Speaker 2: you can use a T shirt. I like to get

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Speaker 2: creative with what I have, and then I'll add just

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Speaker 2: an outfit that you feel comfortable in, and it doesn't

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Speaker 2: really matter what it looks like, but that you feel

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Speaker 2: comfortable moving in.

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Speaker 1: Got it? Okay? So tell us because there are a

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Speaker 1: couple of things that I did not know you needed

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Speaker 1: for yoga, and so then I'm sure our audience also

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Speaker 1: needs some help. So what do you do with the

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Speaker 1: blocks and the strap that you mentioned?

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Speaker 2: Yes, blocks are my favorite because you're able to use

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Speaker 2: them for support imposes. One thing that's important in yoga

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Speaker 2: is get into a pose and trying to relax.

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Speaker 3: That's really the essence of yoga.

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Speaker 2: So we're in these different postures and the intention is

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Speaker 2: to try to find.

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Speaker 3: A way to relax.

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Speaker 2: So these blocks can be helpful to keep you steady. Also,

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Speaker 2: if you're working on your flexibility, sometimes we get into

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Speaker 2: poses that are meant to help us stretch, but we're

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Speaker 2: still struggling to stay in the pose and the stretch

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Speaker 2: kind of gets lost in that.

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Speaker 3: So if you're able to use blocks.

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Speaker 2: As support while you're in say pigeon pose, you can

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Speaker 2: let the rest of your body relax while you're stretching

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Speaker 2: out your outer hip. So it can be used in

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Speaker 2: a lot of different ways. Some people think the blocks

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Speaker 2: are for beginners, but I love my blocks to this day.

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Speaker 3: And straps are good for stretching out your shoulders you

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Speaker 3: want to bring your hands up stretching out your shoulders

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Speaker 3: that way, Or if you're working on grabbing your back

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Speaker 3: leg in a pose, you can wrap that strap around

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Speaker 3: and go through the movement of grabbing your back leg

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Speaker 3: until you're more comfortable doing it without the strap. So

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Speaker 3: there's a bunch of ways that you can use straps,

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Speaker 3: and some days you need them, some days you don't,

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Speaker 3: but they're always good to have as a resource.

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Speaker 1: So maybe we should go back a little bit and

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Speaker 1: talk about what is the purpose of yoga, Like how

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Speaker 1: do the poses then translate to relaxation and kind of

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Speaker 1: distressing in all of those things.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, the essence of yoga is building the mind body

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Speaker 2: spirit connection. So when you're doing a yoga practice, you're

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Speaker 2: putting your body through a bunch of different poses that

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Speaker 2: can be at different levels of comfortability, and in its essence,

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Speaker 2: you are getting help with your mobility, your flexibility, but

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Speaker 2: you're able to learn really about yourself and how you

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Speaker 2: react in moments of uncomfortability. When you're in a pose

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Speaker 2: that might be new to you, you might notice how

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Speaker 2: you talk to yourself. You might notice that you're starting

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Speaker 2: to get a little bit negative, or you might want

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Speaker 2: to give up, or your mind is going in a

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Speaker 2: bunch of different directions. But the intention of yoga is

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Speaker 2: to connect into yourself. Have a moment where you're really

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Speaker 2: doing a study on yourself and notice where am I

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Speaker 2: feeling strong? Where am I feeling like I need a

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Speaker 2: bit more support or a more tension release in this stretch,

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Speaker 2: or how do I react and respond mentally when I'm

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Speaker 2: in a moment that's uncomfortable.

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Speaker 3: So there are physical.

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Speaker 2: Benefits and mental health benefits, but the essence of yoga

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Speaker 2: is to allow yourself the time to get to know

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Speaker 2: yourself and connect to yourself.

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Speaker 1: More from our conversation after the break, So, what are

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Speaker 1: some of the foundational poses that are a good starter, Like,

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Speaker 1: anybody with any skill level can do. What are some

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Speaker 1: of those?

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Speaker 2: One of my favorites is utanasna. It's a forward fold.

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Speaker 2: You just bring your feet hypsistance or more apart and

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Speaker 2: you fold forward. There are so many poses that people

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Speaker 2: do on a regular basis that they don't even know

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Speaker 2: our yoga poses, and that's one of them. It's great

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Speaker 2: for hamstring stretch. It's also great for a spinal decompression

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Speaker 2: because you're just letting your head hang down. It also

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Speaker 2: helps with any anxiety that you're feeling. Giving you that

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Speaker 2: release with your head being lower than your heart can

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Speaker 2: help calm the nervous system as well. Another one they'll

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Speaker 2: add is a sequence it's called Sun salutation, A Seryanama

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Speaker 2: scara A and that's a foundation of a lot of

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Speaker 2: different strands of yoga. They're a bunch of different kinds

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Speaker 2: of yoga that you can do, but this Sun salutation

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Speaker 2: A is a foundational sequence and a lot of them,

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Speaker 2: and it's a series of I think probably five or

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Speaker 2: so poses that you cycle through, but it activates your

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Speaker 2: whole body. And I should say with almost any yoga posts,

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Speaker 2: there are variations and modifications that you can do to

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Speaker 2: tailor each pose based on whatever your experiences in that moment,

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Speaker 2: level of ability and access. So you should make the

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Speaker 2: poses your own and make your practice your own. I

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Speaker 2: change my practice based on how I'm feeling that day,

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Speaker 2: So don't feel like yoga is something that is stagnant

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Speaker 2: or that you cannot adjust and taylor to be your

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Speaker 2: own practice, you know us.

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Speaker 1: And it feels like there's probably some mindset work, and

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Speaker 1: it sounds like that is a part of the work

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Speaker 1: of yoga. But to even get on the mat and

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Speaker 1: just start it sounds like there needs to be some work.

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Speaker 1: Going back to earlier conversation around body and security and

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Speaker 1: feeling like maybe I don't look good when I do this,

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Speaker 1: or I don't look like this instructor what kinds of

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Speaker 1: things would you say to somebody who maybe is struggling

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Speaker 1: with that before they can even get started with a

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Speaker 1: yoga practice.

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Speaker 3: That is really true, doctor Joy.

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Speaker 2: There's so many things that happen before you can even

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Speaker 2: get on the mat, and I hear often I'm not

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Speaker 2: flexible enough to do yoga, or I need to practice

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Speaker 2: before I take your class, And as an instructor, I

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Speaker 2: really want students to know that the class is the practice.

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Speaker 2: You do yoga to get more flexible, and you do

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Speaker 2: yoga to reach those mobility goals that you might have,

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Speaker 2: or the strength goals or the mental health goals. So

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Speaker 2: when you step onto the mat, yoga is really just

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Speaker 2: a commitment to be kind and compassionate to yourself as

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Speaker 2: you go on a journey of exploring your body through

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Speaker 2: different poses. So the work happens on the mat. There

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Speaker 2: really is no extra work as far as flexibility or

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Speaker 2: anything that needs to be done. The class is there

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Speaker 2: to create a space where you can explore and get

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Speaker 2: better and over time you'll notice your body changing. But

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Speaker 2: as far as your mindset, it's really just having compassion

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Speaker 2: towards yourself and being present for the experience. Sometimes we

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Speaker 2: can come into an experience already thinking this is hard,

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Speaker 2: I can't do this. That thought process can create tension

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Speaker 2: in your muscles. Literally, when you're like I can't do this,

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Speaker 2: you build resistance in your body. So your brain is

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Speaker 2: you you can't do something before your body can even decide.

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Speaker 2: So I think coming onto the mat with an open mind, compassion,

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Speaker 2: and no judgment on what's going to take place during

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Speaker 2: the class, but knowing that this is a place to

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Speaker 2: practice and that overtime, if you stick with it, you

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Speaker 2: will see results.

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Speaker 1: So it feels like there are often lots of different

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Speaker 1: types of yoga and hot yoga and all of these things.

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Speaker 1: What kinds of things should we know as beginners? Are

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Speaker 1: there certain kinds of classes that are probably not good

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Speaker 1: for a beginner to start with. Can you talk us

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Speaker 1: through how to make some decisions around some of those things.

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Speaker 2: Absolutely, that's a great question. So I think first just

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Speaker 2: knowing that there's a bunch of different types of classes

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Speaker 2: that are out there for you. So as a beginner,

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Speaker 2: it's important to know that you can take a beginner

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Speaker 2: class and not resonate with it, but there is another

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Speaker 2: class that's a different style that you might So somebody

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Speaker 2: who likes hot yoga may not like a vinyasa class

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Speaker 2: that doesn't have any heat. So when you start on

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Speaker 2: off just being open minded and knowing that there is

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Speaker 2: an array of different classes also a ray of different

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Speaker 2: teachers that have different teaching styles. Not every class is

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Speaker 2: the same, but I would start off with the beginner

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Speaker 2: class and just have an open mind, see if there's

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Speaker 2: a bunch of different studios in your area, and also

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Speaker 2: use YouTube.

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Speaker 3: As a resource.

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Speaker 2: Maybe look up some different classes and see what their

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Speaker 2: descriptions are and if that's something that resonates with you,

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Speaker 2: and just be open to trying something new. In my practice,

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Speaker 2: I get tired of the same kind of classes that

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Speaker 2: I often take, which is a power of anyasa class,

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Speaker 2: and when I get tired of that, I'll pivot to

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Speaker 2: a different class, a hatha class, which has longer holds

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Speaker 2: and they spend more time focusing on your form and structure.

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Speaker 2: So there's different classes that can activate and provide different things.

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Speaker 2: So it's kind of a trial and error and exploration

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Speaker 2: phase that you need to embark on when you first begin.

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Speaker 1: And you mentioned that you like to keep it simple

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Speaker 1: for your beginner. Really all you need is go mad

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Speaker 1: in the blocks or a stack of books like you mentioned.

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Speaker 1: But I think we've all probably heard that like, yoga

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Speaker 1: can be really expensive and there may be some financial barriers.

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Speaker 1: Can you talk a little bit about why that might be.

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Speaker 2: Absolutely, I think there's definitely an industry around yoga now,

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Speaker 2: with clothing brands, studios, and also just an image around

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Speaker 2: yoga that we see in the media. Privileged people with

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Speaker 2: the time to go take a class in the middle

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Speaker 2: of the day are allowed to do, which is kind

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Speaker 2: of self care at largest viewed that way. I know

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Speaker 2: my parents did not have the privilege of taking yoga classes,

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Speaker 2: so I can now be viewed as something that is

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Speaker 2: for people who are in a higher tax bracket or

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Speaker 2: have more time, and I think industries like studios and

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Speaker 2: clothing brands can sometimes contribute to that. But I will

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Speaker 2: say that there are so many free resources and teachers

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Speaker 2: who really just want to teach as many people as

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Speaker 2: I can and share the benefits of yoga with as

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Speaker 2: many people as they can. So there are sliding scale

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Speaker 2: classes that you can take that are donation based and

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Speaker 2: you can give what you can. Additionally, there are free

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Speaker 2: classes at the Beach that I've taught myself that you

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Speaker 2: can take depending on where you live, of course, but

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Speaker 2: then again there's YouTube where you can.

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Speaker 3: Take classes for free there, so.

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Speaker 2: I think that's something that's been a new trend of

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Speaker 2: teachers really trying to counteract that perception of yoga because

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Speaker 2: definitely there were financial barriers, and I know when I

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Speaker 2: was starting out, something that contributed to me kind of

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Speaker 2: doing yoga and waves was not having the money to

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Speaker 2: pay one hundred and eighty bucks for a monthly yoga class.

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Speaker 2: So there's definitely financial barriers, but I think with some

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Speaker 2: research on sliding scale classes and free classes in your area,

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Speaker 2: you can circumvent.

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Speaker 1: Those GOADNI thank you for that. So one of the

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Speaker 1: big parts of having a new year and picking up

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Speaker 1: a new hobby is goal setting along the way. So

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Speaker 1: can you talk with us a little bit about some

443
00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:09,320
Speaker 1: milestones that beginners might want to look for in their

444
00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,800
Speaker 1: yoga journey, So maybe at the one month, at the

445
00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:13,920
Speaker 1: six month, and maybe at the year mark, how can

446
00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:15,040
Speaker 1: they track their progress?

447
00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:18,919
Speaker 2: Absolutely, I think a good way to track your progress

448
00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:23,600
Speaker 2: is just committing to a frequency. So how many classes

449
00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:26,159
Speaker 2: do you want to take this month or this week?

450
00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,160
Speaker 2: So if you're like I want to take one class

451
00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:32,160
Speaker 2: a week this month, set that goal and see how

452
00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:32,560
Speaker 2: you do.

453
00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:35,480
Speaker 3: Another one is based on a skill.

454
00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,520
Speaker 2: So if you're like, I want to start touching my toes,

455
00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,520
Speaker 2: I think at a six month mark, if you're diligent

456
00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,720
Speaker 2: in your practice, saying okay, let's see how I am

457
00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,800
Speaker 2: when I first started, and at the six month mark.

458
00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:52,720
Speaker 2: Another one is trying something new. So everyone has something

459
00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:54,840
Speaker 2: that they're like, oh, I don't think I could do this.

460
00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:58,040
Speaker 2: I think at a four month mark, once you're a

461
00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,640
Speaker 2: little bit more comfortable with the basics. Is trying something

462
00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,320
Speaker 2: that you wouldn't think that you can do before, because

463
00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:09,240
Speaker 2: everyone's stronger than they think. And I love when students

464
00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,800
Speaker 2: surprise themselves and try something that they didn't think that

465
00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:13,320
Speaker 2: they could do.

466
00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,120
Speaker 1: Can you say a little bit about a pose that

467
00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:19,160
Speaker 1: really made you feel successful once you mastered it?

468
00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:20,000
Speaker 3: Oh?

469
00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,800
Speaker 2: Yeah, So this pose is king pigeon. You're in a

470
00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:25,000
Speaker 2: pigeon pose.

471
00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:25,720
Speaker 3: Like one leg.

472
00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:28,800
Speaker 2: It's hard to do to explain on the podcast, but

473
00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,760
Speaker 2: basically you're in pigeon. Your front leg is on the

474
00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,800
Speaker 2: ground and your back leg comes up behind you.

475
00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:38,960
Speaker 3: And so when I first started, I.

476
00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,119
Speaker 2: Was like, I will never be able to do that,

477
00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,639
Speaker 2: even with all my years of gymnastics. I was like,

478
00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:45,280
Speaker 2: I don't know if I'm ever going to be able

479
00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,359
Speaker 2: to do this, but you know what, I'm just going

480
00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:52,400
Speaker 2: to try the foundational skills. Every pose you can break down,

481
00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:54,439
Speaker 2: So I knew that I needed my back to be

482
00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:58,719
Speaker 2: more flexible for this. My hip flexers to be more flexible.

483
00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,200
Speaker 2: It's kind of like when you have a big project

484
00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:04,320
Speaker 2: coming up and you're like, I just need to pick

485
00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,879
Speaker 2: at this from the basics, break by brick, and then.

486
00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:09,320
Speaker 3: Eventually it all come together.

487
00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,120
Speaker 2: So I set the intention and let it go while

488
00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:15,640
Speaker 2: I was still practicing the foundational aspects. And now it's

489
00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,520
Speaker 2: a pose that is very easy for me. But I

490
00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:20,800
Speaker 2: always look at it as the first pose that I

491
00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:26,240
Speaker 2: was like, Wow, yoga works, and I am worth the

492
00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:30,439
Speaker 2: effort it takes to learn something new. I can spend

493
00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:33,959
Speaker 2: time with myself and practice, and through that practice I

494
00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,880
Speaker 2: can improve. I'm capable of doing things that were once

495
00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:38,760
Speaker 2: impossible to me.

496
00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:53,959
Speaker 1: More from our conversation after the break, so Alstin, can

497
00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:57,160
Speaker 1: you say more about how the poses built on one another? Right?

498
00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:00,760
Speaker 1: So the beginner poses that you mentioned, do those things

499
00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:04,639
Speaker 1: stack up to get to this pose that you're talking about.

500
00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:10,560
Speaker 2: Yeah, So this pigeon pose activates your outer hip, your

501
00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,640
Speaker 2: hip flexer, and your back. So there are poses that

502
00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:19,200
Speaker 2: are less intensive on those aspects that you can do

503
00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,760
Speaker 2: to then create the strength that you need to create

504
00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:26,320
Speaker 2: the flexibility that you need. And each pose has variations,

505
00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,000
Speaker 2: which is really helpful in yoga because this is what

506
00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:33,640
Speaker 2: allows yoga to be a really expansive practice because no

507
00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,320
Speaker 2: matter what level you're at, there's a variation of that

508
00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:40,040
Speaker 2: pose that is likely accessible to you. So if you

509
00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:43,359
Speaker 2: want to do a more calm practice, you can just

510
00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,080
Speaker 2: go for half pigeon, or you can go for lizard pose,

511
00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:49,200
Speaker 2: which also activates the outer hip, but it isn't taking

512
00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:49,920
Speaker 2: your foot.

513
00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:51,280
Speaker 3: And bringing it to the back of your head.

514
00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:56,119
Speaker 2: So poses and yoga do build onto one another. And

515
00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,720
Speaker 2: in the beginner class you learn the foundations and you

516
00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:02,240
Speaker 2: learn just how your body functions and the different muscle

517
00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:06,119
Speaker 2: groups that you'll need to strengthen and create flexibility in

518
00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,480
Speaker 2: space before moving on to the next level. So yoga

519
00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:12,239
Speaker 2: is super expansive. It's something that you can tailor and

520
00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:16,480
Speaker 2: fully make your own through these poses that are adaptable

521
00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:18,159
Speaker 2: and that build onto one another.

522
00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:22,720
Speaker 1: Got it, So how much time do people realistically need

523
00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:24,919
Speaker 1: to be able to practice yoga, because I think a

524
00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:26,800
Speaker 1: part of starting new hobby is is like, Okay, I'm

525
00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:28,600
Speaker 1: interested in this thing, but like, where does it fit

526
00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,080
Speaker 1: in my busy schedule? So can you talk with us

527
00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,560
Speaker 1: a little bit about how you fit it into your schedule,

528
00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,000
Speaker 1: maybe some suggestions for other people who may be interested.

529
00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:40,160
Speaker 2: Absolutely, that's been one of the things that I've struggled

530
00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:43,439
Speaker 2: with the most. Building a consistent practice is trying to

531
00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,159
Speaker 2: find time while I work a full time job to

532
00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:50,399
Speaker 2: do yoga. So there's a few options, and I think

533
00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:55,080
Speaker 2: one important aspect of building a disciplined yoga practice, or

534
00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:58,120
Speaker 2: consistent yoga practice, I should say, is knowing that every

535
00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:01,399
Speaker 2: day is different. When I was first starting out, I

536
00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:04,159
Speaker 2: was wanting to be the most intense, the longest classes

537
00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,040
Speaker 2: every single day, and I burned out I stopped having

538
00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,399
Speaker 2: time to do it. But then once I realize that

539
00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:14,080
Speaker 2: sometimes it's just about having my mat open. I always

540
00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:17,080
Speaker 2: have my mat open in my house, and sometimes my

541
00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:21,960
Speaker 2: practice is five minutes by myself. So it's figuring out

542
00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:24,440
Speaker 2: what does my schedule look like and what's realistic for

543
00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,680
Speaker 2: me to do today, and not feeling down on yourself

544
00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,959
Speaker 2: or bad if it's just a five minutes stretch. And

545
00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,800
Speaker 2: I'll also say that it's great now to have online

546
00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:37,480
Speaker 2: resources in case you don't have time to go into

547
00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:40,560
Speaker 2: a studio. If you're able to then use the end

548
00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:43,000
Speaker 2: of your day to open up your laptop or go

549
00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:45,440
Speaker 2: on your phone and look at a video even on

550
00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:49,600
Speaker 2: TikTok or Instagram and use it from your house.

551
00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:50,880
Speaker 3: So that saves time.

552
00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:54,280
Speaker 2: But finding a time every day that works for you

553
00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:55,280
Speaker 2: is also helpful.

554
00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:57,960
Speaker 3: If you say, okay, my mornings are free, I'm.

555
00:28:57,800 --> 00:28:59,640
Speaker 2: Able to go to a studio in the morning or

556
00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:02,080
Speaker 2: able to to roll out my mat and do something

557
00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:05,320
Speaker 2: in the morning. But knowing that not every day you

558
00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:07,760
Speaker 2: need to do an hour an hour half long class.

559
00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,400
Speaker 2: Five minutes is okay, But it's just the act of

560
00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,080
Speaker 2: getting on the mat and saying that I'm going to

561
00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:16,320
Speaker 2: commit to having this time for myself is the most

562
00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:16,960
Speaker 2: important thing.

563
00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,680
Speaker 1: Got it. So you've already mentioned that you started again

564
00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:23,720
Speaker 1: with yoga to help manage some anxiety symptoms, and it

565
00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,240
Speaker 1: sounds like it has helped you with some perfectionism kinds

566
00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:28,440
Speaker 1: of things too. Can you say a little bit more

567
00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:31,320
Speaker 1: about how practicing yoga has impacted your mental health.

568
00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:35,080
Speaker 2: Absolutely, I would say yoga is one of the things

569
00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:38,560
Speaker 2: that completely transformed my mental health and my self image.

570
00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:42,840
Speaker 2: I was going through a tough time in a relationship

571
00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:46,000
Speaker 2: that wasn't serving me, and when I'll speak for myself,

572
00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,800
Speaker 2: but when I was in a situation that didn't feel good,

573
00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,160
Speaker 2: it affected myself image and made me feel like I

574
00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,720
Speaker 2: deserved lesser treatment or I wasn't able to focus on

575
00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:59,080
Speaker 2: myself more that I wasn't significant And so once I

576
00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:02,280
Speaker 2: was out of that relationship, I was able to focus

577
00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:03,320
Speaker 2: on my yoga practice.

578
00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:05,760
Speaker 3: And that's when I really built my at home practice.

579
00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:09,640
Speaker 2: So it's by myself working on these poses and having

580
00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:12,440
Speaker 2: that king pigeon in my mind of oh, I wonder

581
00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:16,160
Speaker 2: if I can ever get to this post. So just

582
00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:20,160
Speaker 2: the act of taking time for myself was something that

583
00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:23,840
Speaker 2: was transformative for me because I was able to get

584
00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:26,400
Speaker 2: to know myself a lot more and I was able

585
00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:29,680
Speaker 2: to even then realize, wow, I haven't spent time with

586
00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:32,840
Speaker 2: myself and I didn't have a great self image. I

587
00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,120
Speaker 2: didn't believe that I could ever do a handstand or

588
00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:38,719
Speaker 2: do the splits again. But also giving myself the space

589
00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:42,720
Speaker 2: and the grace to work on something and not be

590
00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:46,440
Speaker 2: good at something, spending time with myself and allowing myself

591
00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:50,280
Speaker 2: the compassion of saying, look, I'm not flexible right now,

592
00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:53,160
Speaker 2: and I accept that, but I can work on this.

593
00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:59,000
Speaker 2: So yoga has helped me move through uncomfortable moments, recognize

594
00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:03,480
Speaker 2: that powerful, that I'm strong, that I can continue to

595
00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:05,680
Speaker 2: work on something and be good at something, and I'm

596
00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:08,480
Speaker 2: worthy of the time it takes to learn something new,

597
00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:12,520
Speaker 2: and worthy of just having time spent on me. A

598
00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:14,880
Speaker 2: lot of the times in yoga class, people are not

599
00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:19,280
Speaker 2: used to having an hour of just listening to your body,

600
00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:21,640
Speaker 2: even that action of saying, oh, I noticed that I

601
00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:23,880
Speaker 2: have a muscle here that I never even knew existed,

602
00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:29,080
Speaker 2: but now it hurts, or I am now trying something

603
00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:30,560
Speaker 2: new for the first time, and I have a lot

604
00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:34,040
Speaker 2: of negative self talk. I would talk really negatively about

605
00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,240
Speaker 2: myself when I was going through something new, but I

606
00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:38,680
Speaker 2: realized that did not help me at all, and I

607
00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,480
Speaker 2: was like, huh, maybe that's what stops me from doing

608
00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:45,040
Speaker 2: a lot of hard things because I'm avoided. I'm trying

609
00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:49,520
Speaker 2: to not acknowledge myself, not acknowledge my quote unquote shortcomings.

610
00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,480
Speaker 2: That really, when I just spent more time focusing on them,

611
00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:56,560
Speaker 2: I was able to improve. So yoga was really pivotal

612
00:31:56,640 --> 00:32:01,800
Speaker 2: for helping me realize things that I wanted to adjust

613
00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:05,080
Speaker 2: and spend more time with about myself, and also realize,

614
00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:08,400
Speaker 2: like my value, my inherent value is a human being

615
00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:13,320
Speaker 2: and my capability of adapting and changing and building appreciation

616
00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:16,400
Speaker 2: for this body that gives so much to us on

617
00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:18,520
Speaker 2: a daily basis and can evolve with us.

618
00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,040
Speaker 1: So are there any other mindfulness practices that contribute to

619
00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:24,520
Speaker 1: your yoga practice or just your overall mental health.

620
00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:29,280
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm practicing Buddhists, so I do meditation as well,

621
00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:32,760
Speaker 2: and anyone, regardless of your religion or your beliefs, could

622
00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:37,200
Speaker 2: do meditation. I think that's been pivotal as well yoga's

623
00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:40,760
Speaker 2: sometimes people call it a moving meditation, So the other

624
00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:45,160
Speaker 2: end of that is sitting meditation, and similarly to being

625
00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:48,040
Speaker 2: in an uncomfortable position where you have to learn how

626
00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:51,040
Speaker 2: to sit with the uncomfortableness, meditation is great for that

627
00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:54,600
Speaker 2: for me where I always want to be doing. You

628
00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:57,080
Speaker 2: can tell I'm a virgo, so I'm very perfectionist and

629
00:32:57,080 --> 00:33:01,160
Speaker 2: i always want to do something, So meditation definitely helps

630
00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,600
Speaker 2: me with sitting with my emotions sitting with my stillness,

631
00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:06,480
Speaker 2: which then reflects some what I'm able to.

632
00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:11,280
Speaker 3: Do on the mat. Another thing is cooking. I love cooking.

633
00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:15,000
Speaker 2: I think that's another form of meditation and creativity for me,

634
00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:18,520
Speaker 2: which has really helped me with yoga too, because I'm

635
00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:21,400
Speaker 2: able to realize how things that happen on the mat.

636
00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:25,840
Speaker 2: Lessons on the mat then reflect on how I cook

637
00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:28,160
Speaker 2: or how I teach, or how I talk to my

638
00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:31,840
Speaker 2: friends and talk to myself. So through those things, they

639
00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:35,760
Speaker 2: all talk to each other. My yoga, my meditation, my cooking.

640
00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:39,000
Speaker 1: So we've had many therapists here on the podcast, Aten

641
00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:41,600
Speaker 1: and some of the people who practice like more somatic

642
00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:45,480
Speaker 1: forms of therapy talk about the release that often happens

643
00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:48,400
Speaker 1: with a particular stretch. Can you talk a little bit

644
00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:50,600
Speaker 1: about some of the emotions that might come up with

645
00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:53,800
Speaker 1: people that they are not even realizing are connected to

646
00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:57,480
Speaker 1: a stretch, And are there any particular stretches or poses

647
00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:00,520
Speaker 1: that are helpful for maybe dealing with like difficult ems.

648
00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:05,760
Speaker 2: Absolutely, that release that you get when you're deep in

649
00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:06,840
Speaker 2: a stretch.

650
00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:07,760
Speaker 3: There's nothing like it.

651
00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:10,239
Speaker 2: I've been there, just like I'm in a stretch and

652
00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:13,520
Speaker 2: I just burst out into tears and you don't really

653
00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:16,880
Speaker 2: know what's happening to you, but you're realizing it's because

654
00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:21,239
Speaker 2: a lot of our emotions are held in our muscles.

655
00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:23,600
Speaker 2: Just like I was saying earlier, when you're stressed out,

656
00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:27,120
Speaker 2: your shoulders tense up. That then creates knots in your

657
00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:29,439
Speaker 2: shoulders that you have to massage out and work through.

658
00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:33,760
Speaker 2: So the mental really does have a reflection on the physical.

659
00:34:33,840 --> 00:34:37,359
Speaker 2: So some poses that are really helpful with that kind

660
00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:41,840
Speaker 2: of release is like a lizard pose, which helps stretch

661
00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:44,440
Speaker 2: your inner groin and your outer hip. A lot of

662
00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:48,839
Speaker 2: people experience really tight hips and an emotional release when

663
00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:53,319
Speaker 2: they spend time really stretching their hips. Another one is

664
00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:57,680
Speaker 2: king pigeon that I've mentioned earlier that has been really helpful,

665
00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:01,359
Speaker 2: and happy Baby, where you're putting your feet in the

666
00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:04,399
Speaker 2: air and you have your knees and by your armpits.

667
00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:08,120
Speaker 2: Those are great. And I'll say something that's really helpful

668
00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:11,560
Speaker 2: if you're looking for an emotional release or tension release

669
00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:15,160
Speaker 2: and a stretch is give yourself the time. A lot

670
00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:18,240
Speaker 2: of these stretches you might not feel them right away,

671
00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:21,440
Speaker 2: so be willing to sit there for a few minutes.

672
00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:24,720
Speaker 2: I tend to sit there for three to five minutes,

673
00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:27,600
Speaker 2: depending on your ability, But you don't have to get

674
00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:31,840
Speaker 2: into the post fully right away. Find your edge, find

675
00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:33,640
Speaker 2: a moment where you're like, oh, I feel a bit

676
00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:36,279
Speaker 2: of a stretch, but I'm not in pain. I can

677
00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:38,319
Speaker 2: stay here. It's manageable for me to stay here for

678
00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:42,759
Speaker 2: a while. So continue to stay there, breathe, and then

679
00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:45,799
Speaker 2: you might feel after a minute or two you're able

680
00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:48,360
Speaker 2: to go a little bit further, and a little bit further,

681
00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:53,160
Speaker 2: then you'll notice, oh, there's a release happening here, and

682
00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:55,799
Speaker 2: it's really nothing like it. I've seen it happen with

683
00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:58,560
Speaker 2: my own students where we're in a pose and holding

684
00:35:58,600 --> 00:35:58,879
Speaker 2: it for.

685
00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,840
Speaker 3: A while and they're like, Okay, I feel that. So

686
00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:02,759
Speaker 3: it's very real.

687
00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:05,840
Speaker 1: And is there anything that you suggest for your students

688
00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:08,080
Speaker 1: after that kind of release? I mean, the immediate thing

689
00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:11,000
Speaker 1: that comes to my mind is like journaling after a

690
00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:13,440
Speaker 1: yoga class maybe, But are there things that you instruct

691
00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:14,800
Speaker 1: them to do with that release?

692
00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:19,440
Speaker 3: Yeah? I think it's really taking it slow, drinking water

693
00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:24,160
Speaker 3: and sitting with your emotions, taking a moment to acknowledge them,

694
00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:27,800
Speaker 3: and sometimes in yoga class just the nature of the class,

695
00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:30,080
Speaker 3: you can want to just move on to the next thing.

696
00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:33,160
Speaker 2: But a lot of the times it's just important to

697
00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:36,640
Speaker 2: just be present, take a moment. You can go at

698
00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:39,480
Speaker 2: your own pace in class for sure, and if you

699
00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:43,680
Speaker 2: need to take space and take time to process, that's

700
00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:46,440
Speaker 2: really helpful because then you're able to fully know Okay,

701
00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:51,520
Speaker 2: I was able to access that emotional release through this pose,

702
00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:55,480
Speaker 2: and you learn about yourself through that pose, and you're

703
00:36:55,520 --> 00:36:59,479
Speaker 2: then able to replicate that or continue to do that.

704
00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:00,080
Speaker 3: Kind of work.

705
00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:03,920
Speaker 2: So yeah, journaling and from a meditation, just acknowledging the

706
00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:07,800
Speaker 2: moment and letting it really move through you is important

707
00:37:07,840 --> 00:37:09,560
Speaker 2: instead of just rushing to the next thing.

708
00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:13,200
Speaker 1: So I'm curious to hear how you are hoping your

709
00:37:13,360 --> 00:37:16,239
Speaker 1: own yoga journey will evolve with this new year. Are

710
00:37:16,239 --> 00:37:18,640
Speaker 1: there any things you're hoping to practice new this year

711
00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:20,040
Speaker 1: or what are you thinking?

712
00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:24,759
Speaker 2: Yes? Yes, always having goals is something that's definitely helped

713
00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:29,200
Speaker 2: my yoga practice continue and build longevity. So this new year,

714
00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:33,160
Speaker 2: I really want to do a yoga retreat in India

715
00:37:33,719 --> 00:37:37,600
Speaker 2: and spend like a month away and learn from a

716
00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:41,560
Speaker 2: teacher there. I also want to continue working as an

717
00:37:41,560 --> 00:37:45,360
Speaker 2: instructor and getting my three hundred hour certification, working with

718
00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:49,319
Speaker 2: instructor to help me improve even as a teacher and

719
00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:52,839
Speaker 2: reach my fullest potential. There Being a teacher has been

720
00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:56,000
Speaker 2: one of the greatest honors ever. So I really want

721
00:37:56,000 --> 00:38:00,359
Speaker 2: to continue to learn and see how I can really

722
00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:02,640
Speaker 2: bring the benefits of yoga to my students.

723
00:38:02,719 --> 00:38:04,680
Speaker 3: So those are a few of my goals.

724
00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:07,759
Speaker 1: I'm curious, because I forgot to ask you this earlier,

725
00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:11,160
Speaker 1: what should people be looking for in a yoga teacher,

726
00:38:11,239 --> 00:38:14,000
Speaker 1: because you mentioned sometimes people are getting real risky with

727
00:38:14,080 --> 00:38:17,120
Speaker 1: the poses. So how do you vet like a safe teacher,

728
00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:19,160
Speaker 1: somebody who's going to actually teach you in a way

729
00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:20,280
Speaker 1: that's not harmful.

730
00:38:21,120 --> 00:38:24,880
Speaker 2: Yes, for sure, I would pay attention to teachers who

731
00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:30,440
Speaker 2: are informed about foundation, so they talk about your foot

732
00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:32,560
Speaker 2: should be here, your hips should be open here, so

733
00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:34,799
Speaker 2: taking time to set up a pose instead of just

734
00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:38,239
Speaker 2: moving through it. And this is for beginner classes. And

735
00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:41,160
Speaker 2: also just the tone of a teacher. Sometimes people like

736
00:38:41,239 --> 00:38:44,560
Speaker 2: teachers that are more firm, but also some people like

737
00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:45,960
Speaker 2: teachers that are a bit more gentle.

738
00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:48,719
Speaker 3: And also depends on what you're looking for in a yoga.

739
00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:52,080
Speaker 2: Class, because some people can be coming just for the

740
00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:55,440
Speaker 2: physical benefit, and if that's the case, then you might

741
00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:58,400
Speaker 2: find teachers out we'll talk about Okay, it's time to

742
00:38:58,440 --> 00:39:00,680
Speaker 2: activate your core and get those apps. And we're more

743
00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:05,120
Speaker 2: focused on a visual representation of the practice instead of

744
00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:08,120
Speaker 2: a mental So those are some things that I would

745
00:39:08,120 --> 00:39:11,000
Speaker 2: be sure to look out for, just like what perspective

746
00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:14,120
Speaker 2: the teacher is coming from. And please know that there's

747
00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:16,279
Speaker 2: so many different types of teachers out there that you

748
00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:19,360
Speaker 2: can find a teacher that works for you, whether that's

749
00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:22,040
Speaker 2: online or in person, but it does take a bit

750
00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:22,480
Speaker 2: of time.

751
00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:25,200
Speaker 1: So where can we stay connected with you, Austin? What

752
00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:27,840
Speaker 1: is your website as well as any social media challenge

753
00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:28,640
Speaker 1: you'd like to share?

754
00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:35,279
Speaker 2: Yes, absolutely, My Instagram is underscore ausmed ausmad, and that's

755
00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:38,399
Speaker 2: the same with my TikTok. I have videos on different

756
00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:41,920
Speaker 2: yoga poses. I go into the mental health benefits of yoga,

757
00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:44,520
Speaker 2: and I'll be sure to share any classes that I

758
00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:46,680
Speaker 2: have in person or online.

759
00:39:46,239 --> 00:39:48,680
Speaker 1: There perfect We'll be sure to include that in the

760
00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:51,000
Speaker 1: show notes. Thank you so much for spending some time

761
00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:52,040
Speaker 1: with us today, Austin.

762
00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:54,360
Speaker 3: Thank you, Doctor Joryce. Such an honor.

763
00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:57,040
Speaker 2: I love your work, so I'm really excited to be

764
00:39:57,080 --> 00:39:58,080
Speaker 2: on this podcast with you.

765
00:39:58,920 --> 00:40:04,759
Speaker 1: Thank you. I'm so glad Austin was able to join

766
00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:07,520
Speaker 1: us for this conversation. To learn more about her and

767
00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:09,959
Speaker 1: the work she's doing, be sure to visit the show

768
00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:12,960
Speaker 1: notes at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash Session three

769
00:40:13,080 --> 00:40:15,520
Speaker 1: forty one, and don't forget to text two of your

770
00:40:15,520 --> 00:40:18,440
Speaker 1: girls and tell them to check out the episode right now.

771
00:40:19,440 --> 00:40:22,080
Speaker 1: If you're looking for a therapist in your area, visit

772
00:40:22,120 --> 00:40:26,120
Speaker 1: our therapist directory at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash directory.

773
00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:29,120
Speaker 1: And if you're looking for a support system to aid

774
00:40:29,160 --> 00:40:31,600
Speaker 1: you in your New Year journey, join us in the

775
00:40:31,680 --> 00:40:34,799
Speaker 1: Sister Circle. It's our cozy corner of the Internet where

776
00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:39,800
Speaker 1: we celebrate support and practice vulnerability. Each week this January,

777
00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:43,279
Speaker 1: we're setting the foundation to turn our resolutions into realities.

778
00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:46,839
Speaker 1: You can join us at community dot Therapy for Blackgirls

779
00:40:46,840 --> 00:40:51,360
Speaker 1: dot com. This episode was produced by Frida Lucas, Elise Ellis,

780
00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:55,919
Speaker 1: and Zaria Taylor. Editing was done by Dennison Bradford. Thank

781
00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:58,520
Speaker 1: y'all so much for joining me again this week. I

782
00:40:58,560 --> 00:41:01,959
Speaker 1: look forward to continuing this conversation with you all real soon.

783
00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:05,040
Speaker 3: Take good care, m