What brought you to yoga?
Dance brought me to yoga. I grew up dancing in an environment where dance and yoga existed holistically together. I've been doing it for as long as I can remember! I was very sick when I was 6 years old and dance and yoga came into my life after that as both a source of joy and normalcy as well as an integrative therapy for healing.

What is your approach to teaching?
I try to teach in a very informative and educational way. I loop in physiology and anatomy with spiritual practices and do my best to explain how the two are interconnected. I strive to always be a student while I am a teacher. I am always seeking ways to deepen my teaching practice, educate myself, and most importantly, make my teaching environment as authentic and accessible as possible. Yoga is for everybody and every body!

Why did you choose to teach at 5KY?
I chose to teach at 5KY after finishing my 55-hr Yoga4Cancer training. I was looking for avenues to explore yoga therapy. I found Five Keys and find it to be a beautiful integration of authentic spirituality and physiological healing. I feel that I can teach as my truest and most authentic self at Five Keys!

What makes your soul sing?
In addition to yoga, creating and sharing art makes my soul sing. I am a dancer and performer at my core identity. Additionally, nothing makes my soul sing more than preparing a meal to share and commune with loved ones. I love to use the vibrational, loving energy of home cooked foods to bring my loved ones together and create joy. Most of all, spending time with and mothering my little chihuahua, Elaine, is my greatest joy of all in this life.

You can find Laura at 5KY on Mondays at 6 pm starting Nov. 22nd.

We might call this post "How to Breathe Correctly".  But pranayama is about much more than breathing. 

Pranayama is a Sanskrit word made of two parts: "prana," which means vital energy and "yama," which means control.  So pranayama means to control one's store of vital energy.  This is accomplished through exercises involving the breath.

Pranayama is the fourth limb of Raja or Ashtanga Yoga and is listed after Asana.  Accordingly, pranayama is often taught as a next step after a beginner starts to understand how to practice yoga poses correctly.

Pranayama both enhances our experience of asana, as it allows us to regulate our breathing to practice yoga poses more steadily and comfortably, and is the first step toward meditation, as it balances our energies and settles the mind.

All breathing is practiced through the nose in yoga.  However, if you feel claustrophobic or you're having trouble getting your breath, try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth a few times and return to breathing through your nose, and then, the pranayama practice as you're ready.

It may seem esoteric, but actually pranayama practices are very simple.  The most important thing for the beginning practitioner is not to strain or overdo these practices, which is why it is usually recommended to practice these exercises under the guidance of an experienced teacher. 

There are also several breathing techniques that, while not formal pranayama practices, are very useful in teaching the beginner how to breathe comfortably and correctly before trying to practice pranayama in earnest.  Practice all breathing and pranayama techniques for at least a few rounds and up to a few minutes each.

I explore all these preparatory exercises and pranayama practices below with gifs.  Because the breath is really subtle, you'll have to pay close attention to see what is happening in the gifs.

1) What brought you to yoga?

I was initially drawn to yoga as a way to deepen the connection to my own body and awareness. At first, I did not feel like yoga was for me but with the continued encouragement from a mentor to just "show up", I was able to truly open up to the endless possibilities the practice of yoga offers. It was not an easy path but one I am eternally grateful for. 

2) What is your approach to teaching?

As a practitioner of yoga, I am first and foremost a student who is constantly learning and evolving. My approach to teaching is through a psych-sensitive and trauma informed lens and student centered- my classes focus on students cultivating a sense of discernment and agency in their own  practice.

3) Why did you choose to teach at 5KY?

I feel very attuned to the mission and approach to the practice of yoga that Five Keys embodies. The first time I walked into the studio, it just felt right and I'm grateful to be here. 

4) What makes your soul sing?

Something that makes my soul sing is a cup of hot black tea on a rainy day, preferably paired with a good book!

You can find Hannah at 5KY on Fridays at 5:30 pm.

Want to learn how to relax even more?  Join us for yoga in the evenings - online or in person - and learn how regular practice can improve the quality of your sleep.

1) What brought you to yoga?

My journey through yoga started from a disordered state - but along the way, I was exposed to the truth of yoga: that yoga is a tool of connection. Once I discovered that yoga isn't about perfection or fitness, my yoga really started. I practice to find peace in my body, and have found profound psychological benefits from yoga.

2) What is your approach to teaching?

I teach to honor all beings where they are at right now. My goal with each class is to hold space for folks at all levels by offering accessible + inclusive classes filled with ample modifications and options. I teach trauma-informed, psychologically sensitive yoga and acknowledge that most folks who come into public classes have experienced some trauma, depression, or anxiety, just as I do. By bringing this perspective to the practice, I hope to break the stigma that surrounds mental illness and help others find ease, peace, relief, and maybe even home in their own bodies. 

3) Why did you choose to teach at 5KY?

5KY radiates welcoming energy!! I feel at home at 5KY and don't feel like I have to fit into a certain depiction of what a yoga teacher should be. One of the greatest gifts yoga holds is community, and I'm grateful to be a part of the 5KY community. 

4) What makes your soul sing?

Things that make my soul sing (that aren't yoga or teaching, cuz of course those do too!): dancing like no one's watching even if everyone is, a well-crafted horror movie, baking, supporting my friends, and my morning coffee + reading ritual. 

You can find Sierra at 5KY on Sundays at 1:15 pm.

5KY’s cornerstone is and always will be the Yoga for the Special Child method. Although this method is specifically designed for kids with disabilities, it is entirely adaptable to any population. Who among us doesn’t have special needs? And aren’t we all just big kids?

I’d say, only if we work at it do we retain that childlike sense of wonder that is our theme this month. We speak a lot about practicing as if it’s the first time on our mat. This helps develop that wonder and curiosity about our body and mind, which helps us transcend them.

I think this life lesson - like so many we learn on our mat - is incredibly important off our mat as well. As boring adults, I envision us like commuters on the El at rush hour: pushing forward, heads down, earbuds in, totally disconnected from the life around us, just so we can move toward our goal.   

1) What brought you to yoga?

I came to yoga to follow in the footsteps of my older sisters; youngest sibling behavior at its finest! It took a negative turn as my eating disorder took charge, so I went away from yoga for a few years. I came back about 5 years ago and haven’t looked back! It’s a practice that helps me feel strong and centered, empowered and open—all the both/and energy.

2) What is your approach to teaching?

My approach to teaching is trauma-informed, practitioner-centered, and intention-themed. I like to give lots of options and customization and am fiercely committed to hitting home that I’m simply a guide; each person is their own best teacher, and the wisdom of their body is all they need to follow. I also like to make jokes and be fun and silly throughout class too! 

3) Why did you choose to teach at 5KY?

I chose to teach at 5KY because I love the intimate nature of the studio and community. It’s small and tight-knit and supportive, and I love that each student and teacher is known and loved in their own right. I also really like that it was founded with the intention of bringing yoga to often-overlooked populations in yoga practices. Lastly, Erin and Rita have been so supportive of queer-inclusive programming, which is super important to me, and that feels so wonderful.

4) What makes your soul sing?

My soul sings with dance parties, queer joy, cats, theatre, symbolism in poetry and books, empowered yoga practices, and the feeling of sunshine on your face when sitting by a lake. I love finding the small moments of joy!

You can find Cee at 5KY on Thursdays at 5:45 pm.

1) What brought you to yoga?

I did a little yoga during college and found myself feeling extremely calm and in a better mental state afterward. When I graduated and was constantly struggling with my mental health, I was drawn to yoga as a way to help me regulate my mind and emotions.

2) What is your approach to teaching?

I try to approach teaching with a bit of lightheartedness. My goal in each class is to give my students a break from their daily lives and stresses so they can experience the mental benefits that I experience from yoga.

3) Why did you choose to teach at 5KY?

I chose to teach at 5KY because it was the only studio (of the many I applied to) where the owners have really helped to mentor and encourage me to become a better teacher. I love the community and the energy of everyone who teaches and takes classes at this studio. 

4) What makes your soul sing?

Passion and joy make my soul sing! When I see other people discussing or going after what they love and are passionate about or I see people experiencing a deep joy, it really lights something up inside me!

You can find Asra at 5KY on Mondays at 7:30 pm.