Meet Tamara, our Sober Curious Community member. She joined our community back in February. I first met Tamara when her little zoom box popped up on one of our Mindful Anchor sessions with Coach Jenny. After a few 30 day sober yoga challenges, Tamara joined the very first Sober Curious Yoga YTT and is now leading some of the Sober Curious Community sessions. She enjoys classes like Mindful Sweat with Lindsay. I interviewed her for our community blog and here’s what she had to say...
Hi Tamara! Tell us a little bit about yourself! Who is Tamara?
Tamara: Tamara is an introspective, funny, truth seeker who spends her time doing research on the role of bias in perpetuating gender disparities in psychiatry, being a psychotherapist, professor and yoga teacher and dog mom to my two babies: Harry & Eddie. I am a highly sensitive person who craves (read: needs) connection with others and to be surrounded by my tribe. I love reading, traveling and grocery shopping, especially at discount warehouses. :-)
How did you meet Alex?
Tamara: I met Alex through the MLPC community during the part of the COVID-19 pandemic when we were still quarantined, social distancing, etc. I signed up for her 30 day sober yoga challenge and have been involved since that time. I think the MLPC and sober curious programs are fantastic! The sober curious programs will reach a niche of people for whom traditional recovery programs are not palatable or for people who are generally looking to improve their life habits via yoga.
What inspired you to start practicing yoga?
Tamara: One of my old running friends took me to my first yoga class. I remember feeling very limber, connected and spiritually uplifted after the class. I haven't stopped practicing regularly since.
Have you ever had any experience with yoga before joining the MLPC?
Tamara: Yes, I have been practicing yoga since 2007. Today, I am a certified RYT-200 in the vinyasa (Rolf Gates) tradition. I was teaching hot vinyasa classes regularly until my home studio closed unexpectedly during COVID.
What’s your connection to the MLPC/SCY?
Tamara: I am currently enrolled (and almost finished with) sober curious yoga teacher training and am preparing to lead a pod during the first ever (exciting!!!) sober curious school, which starts in a couple weeks!
How did you end up being so committed to yoga?
Tamara: Yoga does something to my soul. It's like that saying "when you know, you know." I knew after practicing yoga once that I would be doing it for life. Yoga teacher training was one of my best life decisions so far.
Did you face any challenges during the month of May?
Tamara: Of course! To be human is to suffer and face challenges. I am a PhD student and struggled with multiple iterations of my dissertation proposal during May. But overall, May was a good month because our community started opening back up after COVID quarantine and it felt amazing to be able to go out to dinner with friends and go grocery shopping (see above about my love for grocery shopping) without a mask!
What are the biggest benefits you’ve reaped from your yoga practice?
Tamara: The biggest benefits are spiritual in nature. I'm still learning to notice and redirect myself when thinking and acting from an ego driven place. My heart is 10x more loving and compassionate than it was pre-yoga teacher training.
What’s your favorite posture?
Tamara: I'm not sure how anyone's fave posture couldn't be savasana! After that, pigeon pose/hip openers (except lizard...that one sucks).
What’s your most difficult posture?
Tamara: Lizard or any kind of handstand type poses. BLECH!
What is your favorite type(s) of yoga? And why?
Tamara: I love practicing vinyasa in a hot studio. I love the sweat and the heat. Because I'm weird.
Any words of wisdom to those just starting out?
Tamara: Start with not judging yourself. This is very difficult at first, but the practice of lovingly addressing yourself will work miracles in your life (and on the mat)!
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Thank you Tamara for taking the time to answer our questions! We appreciate you being a part of our community and we can’t wait for the Sober Curious Yoga School next month!
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Until next time, may you all be safe, happy, healthy, and free.