This week I asked my husband, Andrew, if he would be interested in writing a blog post on his views on Tayoga or just yoga in general. I thought it would be good to have others' views on here instead of just my own. He came up with the brilliant idea for Tayoga Conversations. The plan is to have a back and forth conversation with different people in the community to help the Modesto yoga community grow. I plan to chat with fellow teachers, students, family, and friends, so stay tuned for future conversations. Here's the link for all future conversations (conversations.tayoga.cc).
Well, I figured I shouldn't subject others to something I'm not willing to do myself - so below is the first conversation, featuring me in the hot seat with Hubby Huff on the other side of the conversation. Enjoy!
A: How did you get started with yoga and at what point did you decide to complete teacher training?
Tayoga: I got started with yoga in the winter of 2015. A friend was going to a donation based hot yoga class at The Studio in Turlock, CA. I was recovering from a knee injury/surgery at the time and thought yoga would be perfect for my recovery. Boy was I right! Yoga and I have been best friends ever since. I used to have my husband (back then boyfriend) drive me to Turlock 2-3 times per week so I could go to this class and then he would head down the street and wait for me at 10East.
Elevate Community Yoga, where I now regularly attend studio classes, was having their first ever yoga teacher training starting in February 2018. The timing could not have been more perfect. It was a slow time at my full time job and the weekends we had off during the program worked out well with trips we already had planned. You might say it was meant to be. I always thought it would be fun to teach yoga since I love it so much but I never really gave too much thought to it. You might say God gave me a nudge in the right direction.
A: Haha, definitely some funny momenets. Changing gears from yoga, how did you wind up in Modesto [Area]?
Tayoga: I was born and raised in Manteca, CA so I didn't go very far! I went away to school to become a Registered Dietitian which is my current full time job. I have worked in Modesto since 2011. Modesto is also where I met my husband. He was born and raised here. We love Modesto and are proud to call it home.
Well, I figured I shouldn't subject others to something I'm not willing to do myself - so below is the first conversation, featuring me in the hot seat with Hubby Huff on the other side of the conversation. Enjoy!
A: How did you get started with yoga and at what point did you decide to complete teacher training?
Tayoga: I got started with yoga in the winter of 2015. A friend was going to a donation based hot yoga class at The Studio in Turlock, CA. I was recovering from a knee injury/surgery at the time and thought yoga would be perfect for my recovery. Boy was I right! Yoga and I have been best friends ever since. I used to have my husband (back then boyfriend) drive me to Turlock 2-3 times per week so I could go to this class and then he would head down the street and wait for me at 10East.
Elevate Community Yoga, where I now regularly attend studio classes, was having their first ever yoga teacher training starting in February 2018. The timing could not have been more perfect. It was a slow time at my full time job and the weekends we had off during the program worked out well with trips we already had planned. You might say it was meant to be. I always thought it would be fun to teach yoga since I love it so much but I never really gave too much thought to it. You might say God gave me a nudge in the right direction.
A: It sounds like you transitioned from curiosity to love for yoga very quickly! What would you say is your favorite style of yoga to practice, and is that different than your favorite style to teach?
Tayoga: Yes, I definitely fell in love with yoga quickly. It was good for me both physically and mentally. My favorite style of yoga to teach and to practice is Vinyasa. I love the variety of it. I like to say Vinyasa is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get! One of my favorite things to do when my husband and I travel is to find a yoga studio and try out a class. I love to get new ideas to share in my own classes.
A: Maybe to help shed yoga of it's stereotypical seriousness, can you let us in on a lighter moment you've experienced - What was the most funny thing that's happened around you (or to you) during a yoga class?
Tayoga: I get quite a bit of laughter throughout my classes since I like to teach new and sometimes weird poses or transitions. I also like to play fun songs that people can't help but laugh at when they come on. This last week the one that got the biggest laugh was "I'm Blue" by Eiffel 65, just to give you an idea. Another funny instance actually occurred during the first class that I taught after graduating from YTT. At the time, I didn't think it was funny, but, the more time passes, the funnier it becomes. To give you a quick back story, technology and I do not get along very well - my husband can attest to this. During my first class ever, I went to turn the music up a little louder for the more intense portion of the class. Of course, the volume did not want to turn up after a couple tries, so I just stopped trying. After about 10-15 more seconds, apparently all of my volume up presses finally caught up and the music became EXTREMELY loud! I had to literally shout at everyone to take a child's pose while myself and the studio owner tried to figure it out. Oh, I was so embarrassed at the time, but now that I look back at it, it would've been weird if my first class did not have technology issues.
A: Haha, definitely some funny momenets. Changing gears from yoga, how did you wind up in Modesto [Area]?
Tayoga: I was born and raised in Manteca, CA so I didn't go very far! I went away to school to become a Registered Dietitian which is my current full time job. I have worked in Modesto since 2011. Modesto is also where I met my husband. He was born and raised here. We love Modesto and are proud to call it home.
A: What is your favorite Modesto [Area] spot?
Tayoga: My favorite Modesto yoga spot is Elevate Community Yoga in Roseburg square. Other than yoga, my favorite spots are my home, Commonwealth, and Gallo Center for the Arts.
Tayoga: I am content with where I am in my life. I have wonderful family and friends and the most amazing husband ever. If I could do something differently, it would probably just be minor things since I wouldn't want to mess up where I am at now. Since I know that I love yoga, I would have started practicing it sooner. Maybe I'd be able to do a handstand by now! If I could avoid breaking my knee, that would be great, but I am convinced that breaking my knee led to yoga and meeting my husband, so I wouldn't want to mess that up. I'd probably still become a Registered Dietitian, but use it a different way other than the hospital/clinical setting, just to shake things up a bit.
A: One final thing - How can people find you (if they want to take your class, etc.)?
Tayoga: I regularly teach the Friday 9am Vinyasa class at Elevate Community Yoga in Modesto. I also have my own website which has my full schedule (www.tayoga.cc).
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