I met Emily at Team Anna’s Honor Them with Action event back in February. We were paired up as canvass partners and we instantly hit it off. I admire her positive outlook on life and her determination to help those around her.
-Angela, Team Anna intern
- What drew you to yoga as a career path?
We all have interests and hobbies, and growing up I loved learning and school. I would teach my fellow students early on and enjoyed the challenge of new subjects. That love of education never wavered, but I didn’t understand the system it was confined to. Then, two years after I had graduated from UCF with a Bachelor’s in Interpersonal Communication, I found my first yoga class, and my love for education was reignited. I’ve been teaching for a year now and am beyond grateful to be able to give back to the community that supports such a diverse and unique teaching experience involving movement, exploring, creating, and learning how to take lessons off the mat and into life. I’m currently certified and teaching kids, gentle, and hatha yoga, as well as exploring opportunities to learn and grow my teaching and offerings in the hopes that all people can find a safe space in my class.
- What gives you hope right now?
Being able to see the positivity in our circumstances is the key for me. There are so many positive people and organizations that have stepped up during this time which gives me hope that we can be a well connected, loving community and we will come out of this stronger. I’ve seen such amazing displays of generosity, kindness and human compassion within my community as well as in our new found virtual ones. I can’t help but go to sleep excited instead of worried, thinking about what beautiful things I’ll be able to witness tomorrow.
- How can we support you during this hard time?
Within this virtual world, you can support me personally by liking my business page, Em and Flow Yoga on Facebook, and by following me on Instagram @EmAndFlowYoga. I’d love to connect and share all your positive or joyful moments from this time!
By supporting yourself and family with some rest and relaxation you can support not only me but also the entire mental health and wellness community. Finding ways to enjoy your current situation also has a way of opening up your mind to consider what feels good and what doesn’t. With this time we could find that humans are happier when we are creating, moving, exploring instead of our tendency to focus on staying ‘busy’. I believe this will bring some self-inquiry to people, which is a stepping stone in a strong mental state. Anything that creates positivity will help the people close to you, but will always have a butterfly effect.
- How has yoga been a comfort to you during the Covid-19 pandemic?
All of the beautiful teachers who have stepped out of their comfort zones to comfort us, and all the studios providing free or affordable online options have saved me in this quarantine. Yoga can be quick, long, fast, slow, tiring, or energizing. Basically anything you want it to be! And now more than ever, it’s all been at our fingertips. I have been practicing and studying more than I’ve been teaching for the past couple of months. I’ve loved how much I’ve learned and will be able to give back to my students from teachers across the globe.