Meet Niamh. The teacher (if you’d like to read about “the student” click here). She joined the MLPC team this season after finishing her Soul Aligned 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Alex. We’ve been shining a light on our YTT Grads and this week I interviewed Niamh to share about her style of teaching, intention and how her YTT experience went. This season Niamh’s been starting off our week with a Mindful Flow 1 session with her incredible playlist. What’s so special about her session is that we have a segment at the end where we journal about the flow’s intention. Meet your yoga teacher Niamh below…
Where in the world are you? Tell us more about yourself?
Niamh: I live in Bangkok, Thailand, but I'm Canadian. I work as a counselor/art therapist at an international school.
How was the Soul Aligned 200 Hour YTT with Alex and what pushed you to become an instructor?
Niamh: The soul aligned YYT was amazing, I'll be honest I wasn't sure at 1st if I should do it or not..so much self doubt was in my head, but after the 1st week, I fell in love with the journey.
When did you start practicing yoga (before you started teaching) and how did yoga change your life?
Niamh: I started yoga probably 8 years ago, when a friend started her own yoga business and a bunch of us did private group classes with her. I used it more for a rest day activity.
Last year I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and my health hit rock bottom. Yoga literally saved my life. I was so weak all I could do was meditation, then slowly I moved into breath work and only in May was able to do a 30 min yoga asana class. I am now able to do yoga 5-6 times a week and I've fallen in love with it. It soothes my body, soul and mind.
If you had to describe your teaching style, how would you?
Niamh: hmmmm... I would say a steady flow and a little fast at the beginning and move deep into the postures at the end.
What is the intention you try to instill in your students?
Niamh: I love a good theme, I want people to move through a practice with an intention, to do the work physically and mentally, because we are all stronger than we say we are and to end the practice knowing they showed up for themselves and will be able to show up for other s because they know who they are.
What is your favorite posture? Your least favorite posture?
Niamh: My favorite poses are shoulder stand and wide legged fold
Least favorite- chair pose...I'd rather sit on a real chair...lol
“The soul aligned YYT was amazing, I'll be honest I wasn't sure at 1st if I should do it or not..so much self doubt was in my head, but after the 1st week, I fell in love with the journey.”
Niamh
What is your favorite Mat? And why?
Niamh: Definitely my Jade Yoga mat, I've had it for 10 years and I go back to it over and over. I have two Maduka pro mats and I slip off them all the time.
Set the scene for your perfect practice - paint us a picture!
Niamh: We are outside and there is a beautiful breeze. We move through a flow with the intention of feeling grounded, rooted and calm. As we flow, every breath we breathe in the beauty of the world around us, and every exhale we send that joy to back into the world.
What’s the biggest myth about yoga instructors? Set the record straight!
Niamh: We can't do every pose like in the magazines!
What will you be teaching next?
Niamh: I'm doing Mindful Flow 1 and Journaling in the next season. I can't wait! I may even change the themes around.
Any advice to newbies teachers/students? (And oldies?)
Niamh: Bring who you are to the mat, because your view of the world is unique and beautiful and that's what people will be drawn too
Where do you see yoga in the next five years?
Niamh: Hopefully, weaving yoga and art therapy into an amazing therapeutics arts center.
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Thank you Niamh for this awesome interview! Make sure you join her live sessions next season and book your spot before they run out! Her class will be at 6:30am Abu Dhabi
Did you enjoy this interview? If you did please leave a comment or like this post. Can’t wait to share more interviews with you.
May you all be safe, happy, healthy, and free.
Yasir
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