Teacher Spotlight – Christine

Classes that you teach: Vinyasa, Yoga Sculpt and Sculpt Barre

That is a tough one.  I tend to put my teaching first most of the time.  However, I know that I can not grow and improve as a teacher without a consistent practice.  I strive to practice 2-3 times per week with a variety of yoga instructors that I admire.  The popularity of Zoom classes has really helped me accomplish this.

For Yoga – Have patience and grace with yourself, yoga takes time and a consistent practice

For Barre – No dance experience is required, just a desire to strengthen, tone and create long lean muscles.  Barre can be a very accessible way to begin your health journey or to add variety to your current practice.

For Yoga – Sirsasana, yogi headstand, because I am an inversion junkie and it helps me relieve migraines

For Barre – I like the repetitive releves that strengthen my ankles, calves and glutes.

For yoga – Dhanurasana, bow pose, because I struggle with spinal flexibility

For barre -No dance experience is required, just a desire to strengthen, tone and create long lean muscles.  Barre can be a very accessible way to begin your health journey or to add variety to your current practice.

Surrender to what is, Let go of what was, Have faith in what will be

I had a stressful corporate job for 20 years, which required long hours and made me come home cranky and exhausted.  When Pressed opened, it was on my way home from the Park-n-Ride that I took to work.  My husband recommended that I try to take a class to reduce my stress.  I had heard of yoga, but had never really tried it.  I liked the idea of a toasty warm room, so I thought I would give it a shot.  At the age of 43, I began my yoga journey.  I am not exaggerating when I say that it changed my life.  It gave me a way to separate work/home life, reduce stress, make new friends, get into shape and begin to feel good about myself for the first time in a long while.  I knew I had to share that with others – to help others find ways to improve their mental and physical health.

I wanted to teach barre as well as yoga because it is such a good compliment to a consistent yoga practice.  Barre works the smaller muscles to create long lean lines and partners well with yoga to increase flexibility.

Upbeat, energetic, encouraging and challenging

Acknowledge that every day is different.  Some days the physical practice of yoga comes easier, some days the mental practice comes easier, some days it is a challenge to find time to get on your mat.  Just accept yourself where you are at and release expectations you have of yourself.  Listen to your body whisper so it does not have to scream at you.

I want them to leave every class feeling less stressed and like they have made a healthy choice for themselves.   I also want them to have fun and build a sense of community and supportive friends.

I do my best to apply yoga yama and niyamas to my everyday life. I especially try to live non-violently to all living beings (well, maybe not to spiders) and with a spirit of generosity and contentment. On a lighter note, yoga has increased my flexibility so much that I can now get items from the top shelf of my kitchen cabinets.  🙂

Keep an open mind, listen to your body, introduce yourself to other students and ask questions of your instructor before/after class

When I am not at Pressed, I can be found in one of 4 places: