'This beautiful practice helped me to overcome the darkest days of my life...'

Nikola is a yoga teacher in Australia.

1. What style of yoga do you teach? And, where are you located?

 I teach vinyasa, hatha, yin and power yoga but my classes are usually a mix of different styles. I never really prepare classes upfront as I need to feel the atmosphere in the class to decide what is best for my students at that time. At the moment, I only teach online.

I live on the Gold Coast, Australia, but I am originally from the Czech Republic.

2. What is your intention behind teaching?

 My intention is to pass on something that my students can bring home with them after the class. To share what I love with others. I decided to become a yoga teacher because this beautiful practice helped me to overcome the darkest days of my life and I believe it can help others too. I also love connecting people to each other and give them space to meet likeminded individuals in my classes. And of course, another intention is to connect people to themselves and to their inner purpose.

3. Who are your mentors in yoga? 

Every teacher that has ever taught me, gave me something unique for my own practice and growth. That is true not only for my yoga teachers. I believe that the biggest impact on me and the way I teach was my Swedish teacher at the university that is forever my inspiration in every aspect of life.

As I travel a lot, I don’t have teachers for longer periods of time so I am trying to take as much as I can from every individual I meet on my journey. I wouldn’t say that I have ever had someone that I call a mentor though.

4. What have they taught you? 

 The greatest teachers in my life taught me how to be a better person.

5. Please mention a book that you have read about yoga that has had a positive impact on you? 

 Bhagavad Gita, Eastern Body, Western Mind, Yoga In Daily Life, The Language of Yin. I also love the book about yoga written by Czech authors Eduard Tomas and his wife Mila Tomasova.

6. What lesson are you currently learning in your Asana practice? 

 Listen to my body. I had an injury in December last year that is still healing, and I am not able to do many asanas as I was before. I am learning to take things easy, do not push myself too hard and be kind to myself.

7. How often do you practice? 

 For me, yoga is a way of life so in that sense I practice every day. I practice asanas and pranayama every day but some days when I don’t feel like it, I just skip. I practice meditation a few times a week, I love guided meditation. My favourite form of meditation is definitely ecstatic dance.

8. How do you implement the other 7 limbs of yoga into your life other than Asana? 

 I am trying to implement all the aspects of yoga into my daily life by the way that I live, how I take care of myself and how I interact with others.

9. Why is being present so important to you? 

 Every moment is special and unrepeatable. If we don’t fully enjoy it, we may never experience the same thing again and that would be really sad.

10. How can we keep up with you on social media? What is your IG handle and/ FB name?

IG: yoginitale

FB: Yogini Tale

‘…Always ask why!’

Nina Walters is a Yoga teacher based in San Fransisco.

1. What style of yoga do you teach? And, where are you located?

I teach a vinyasa based yoga with emphasis on dynamic movement and mobility. I am located just north of San Francisco, but spend a lot of time in Europe (mainly Denmark)

2. What is your intention behind teaching?

For people to be present; present in their bodies, present in their minds… even if just for a second. I hope to give my students the knowledge that they are something deeper than their instinctual patterns and therefore have the power within them to change whatever they want to change and, as a bi-product create a healthy and usable body. 

3. Who are your mentors in yoga? 

Annie Carpenter and Shane Davies and my main mentors, but I draw inspiration from all over and way beyond just yoga. I love and study everything from functional mobility to ice-bathing. 

4. What have they taught you? 

To always ask why! 

5. Please mention a book that you have read about yoga that has had a positive impact on you?

 Threads of Yoga by Matthew Remski and Anatomy Trains by Thomas Myers (not really a yoga book, but every yoga teacher should have a copy)

6. What lesson are you currently learning in your Asana practice? To sit with discomfort, to let myself experience discomfort and observe my instinctual reactions.

7. How often do you practice? 6 days a week 

8. How do you implement the other 7 limbs of yoga into your life other than Asana?  Pranayama is a big part of my day to day life, as it is my main stress-buster. I try to meditate a little every day but I should do more!

I try to balance my lifestyle with the Yamas and niyamas by being conscious of my behavior and footprint on the world in general. I try to balance my instinct for Tapas (self-discipline of which I have plenty) consciously add a little more Santosha (contentment - accepting what is right now).  I love the balancing act between those two. 

9. Why is being present so important to you? We do not realize our own power and ability until we can step outside our instinctual behavior, and to do that we must experience presence. 

10. How can we keep up with you on social media? What is your IG handle and/ FB name? @ninajarnumyoga and facebook is the same

I think that all people should realize that all the power and the light is within us.

Roberta Burico is a yoga teacher based in Italy.

1. What is your name and where are you based?
My name is Roberta Burico. I'm living in Italy, Rome.

2. What style of yoga do you teach? And, what are your intentions behind teaching?
I teach Hatha Yoga, in some cases with Vinyasa's elements, and Vinyasa Yoga.

In every style I like giving attention to the breath. I started teaching to share and to convey my passion. I think that Yoga can bring to a state of greater well-being, physical and mental. Since I practice Yoga my point of view has changed, it helps me to find myself and the light inside me. I think that all people should realize that all the power and the light is within us.

3. Who are your mentors?
My mentors are all around the world. I study here in Rome but I love to travel around the world and to bring my practice with me.

4. What have your mentors taught you?

I studied Yoga and medicine during my TT in Rome. I learned the importance to breathe, to free the mind and to heed inside and that Yoga is an individual practice to share without  a competition.

5. Please mention a book that you have read about yoga that has had a positive impact on you? 

L' insegnante di Yoga autor Mark Stephens. 

6. What lesson are you currently learning in your Asana practice? 

I am working on arm balancing asanas and generally in power and balance asana. I work also to feel what my body wants, day by day.

7. How often do you practice?

Every time that I can also for a little personal practice or to meditate.

8. How do you implement the other 7 limbs of yoga into your life other than Asana? 

Everyday I try to bring all Yoga limbs in my routine. I practice Pranayama and I strongly believe in Karma, so positive energy brings positive things.

We are surrounded by all energies that we transmit.

9. Why is being present so important to you? 

Only present moment really exist, we don't take our attention to past and future, and to live fully the present moment leads to a fulfilling life.

10. How can we keep up with you on social media? What is your IG handle and/ FB name?

IG account and Facebook is @Robertaburico.

12 Inspirational Quotes by K. Pattabhi Jois.

K. Pattabhi Jois is globally known for being the incredible yoga Guru that he was. While he spread the practice of Ashtanga yoga, he also inspired many with his teachings and profound words of wisdom. 

Here are 12 quotes by K. Pattabhi Jois:

1. ‘Do your practice and all is coming’.

2. ‘Anyone can practice. Young man can practice. Old man can practice. Very old man can practice. Man who is sick, he can practice. Man who doesn't have strength can practice. Except lazy people; lazy people can't practice Ashtanga yoga.’

3. ‘It is very important to understand yoga philosophy: without philosophy, practice is not good, and yoga practice is the starting place for yoga philosophy. Mixing both is actually the best.’

4. ‘Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory.’

5. ‘Yoga is your mind control capacity.’

6. ‘Body is not stiff, mind is stiff.’

7. ‘Yoga is for internal cleansing, not external exercising. Yoga means true self-knowledge.’

8. ‘Yoga is universal…. But don’t approach yoga with a business mind looking for worldly gain.’

9. ‘When the breath control is correct, mind control is possible.’

10. ‘Yoga is an internal practice. The rest of just a circus.’

11. ‘So whether you do your first downward dog at 14 or 44, it’s not your history but your presence on your mat that counts.’

12. ‘The full ashtanga system practiced with devotion leads to freedom within one's heart.’

Sourced from A-Z Quotes and Wordpress

‘We do have control over what is happening right now.’

Natalie Costello is a yoga teacher and photographer based out of L.A. 

 1. What style of yoga do you teach?

Sculpt and soon to be Yin!

2. What is your intention behind teaching?

To clear the head by staying present, connecting to the mind and body through breath, movement, and holding postures for quite some time.

3. What have your mentors taught you?

How to be a smart teacher, create a safe/efficient sequence, walk with intention around the room, have precise cues, modify/adjust clients, create themes for class, have personality, connection with everyone, and how to project the voice over the music. I could go on forever!

4. Please mention a book that you have read about yoga that has had a positive impact on you?

Eastern Body, Western Mind. It helped me have a deeper understanding of the chakras and how to apply it during practice.

5. What lesson are you currently learning in your Asana practice?

Various ways to do one pose or modify. The benefits of each pose along with the meridians they target. 

6.How often do you practice?

4-5 days a week.

7. How do you implement the other 7 limbs of yoga into your life other than Asana?

I bring Yama by helping others as much as possible, spending time with them and listening. I bring integrity into my work life and want the best for everyone.

I practice Niyama by going on long hikes, meditating, and nourishing myself with food specific for my body and reading books that lead to self improvement. I keep my work and home environment clean so I wake up to a fresh start each morning having a glass of water with my phone off to stay grounded and calm the mind.

I practice Pranayama through yoga especially in a yin class. Here, the teacher constantly reminds me to focus on my breath and to control it while I completely relax my muscles.

I practice Pratyahara by limiting my intake of coffee and learning how to be alone to focus on my inner self.

I practice Dharana by resting without falling asleep. It calms my mind, and allows me to not focus on anything.

I practice Samadhi everyday by doing all the limbs of yoga. It’s a lifelong practice.

8. Why is being present so important to you?

Because I am truly living my life in the present. Focusing on the past or future can bring anxiety or depression. We have no control over it. We do have control over what is happening right now. 

9. How can we keep up with you on social media? What is your IG handle and/ FB name?

Natalielcostello. 

Daniel Mullaney inspires us with his continual yoga practice

Image by Chris Davis

Daniel Mullaney is so inspiring. The classes that he teaches are balanced out with his own experience, the body and the breath. Although I took his class a while ago, I remember leaving inspired.  

Now let him inspire you... 

1. How long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching yoga for two years.

2. What motivated you to start teaching and what have you learnt from teaching?

I didn't intend to teach when I did my first teacher-training. I wanted to deepen my practice and probably thought I could somehow "win" yoga! When I did teach my first class, something clicked. I really enjoyed it. I think ultimately what drove me to start teaching more and what continues to motivate me is the chance to share some of the process I've experienced that has been so beneficial in many areas of my life.

3. What is something that you have learnt from a fellow teacher?
To be myself, to teach and speak from my experience.

4. How many times a week do you practice?

I practice daily. Sometime in the morning, sometime later on in the day and usually with a day to rest somewhere in the week.

5. Who inspires your practice?
There are so many sources of inspiration. I get inspired by seeing people do what they love to do, whatever it may be. Passion is infectious. As for yogis,I feel blessed to have had quite a few impactful teachers who continue to guide me. Nikki Carter, Jason Crandall, Yancy Schwartz, Jared McCann, and soo many others have been big sources of inspiration.

6. Why is it necessary for you to practice?
There's lots of reasons. My mind is loud and quick to shout. My practice, especially meditation, gives me a buffer before I react. When I put in my time , I feel better: physically, mentally and emotionally.

7. What message do you like to spread through teaching?
I think this is something that shifts and changes based on where I'm at with my practice or whats going on in the week. For the most part, I want students to be more aware; of their stories, their strengths, their potential, but ultimately, I want them to meet themselves where they are.

8. Where are you currently teaching?
YTTP SF/Berkeley

9. How has yoga helped your character develop?
Everyday I have a chance to get a little more in touch with myself. It's not always stuff I want to get in touch with, but I have the opportunity to be aware and from there I have a chance to accept or become a little more willing to make a change.

10.What has kept you practicing all these years?
There's no end. It's just a continual process with peaks and valleys and something to be learned every step of the journey.

 11. What is your Instagram, Twitter and Facebook name? @chillwaveyoga