Mind, body, spirit — did one element or another first draw you to yoga? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

body and spirit

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

I feel more vulnerable and raw, it feeds my spirit more

How long have you been practicing yoga, and how frequently do you practice yoga now?

23 years on and off, and just a little now — mainly stretches and static poses

For you, what are the benefits of classes at a studio vs practicing yoga at home?

studio = adjustments, both physical and vocal

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

hatha, restorative, yin yoga, yoga nidra….

When you were starting out, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

easiest was just how natural it felt, hardest was comparing myself to other practitioners

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

flexibility, wisdom, awareness of body and breath

A character in When the Stars Lead to You, your debut novel, says “morning yoga [is] the very best yoga.” Is that also a strong-held conviction for you in real life?

not at all, I’m not a morning person!

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

breathing, short body scans, journaling

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

dancing!

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose(s) and where?

all the time, in bed, on the couch, especially in a nice warm bath

You have a choice: take a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

outdoors on a beautiful day!

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

[editor’s note: congratulations to Annette Wardell for winning a national competition to become The Face of Vegan Happy Clothing]

Yoga is a holistic experience for many — mind, body, spirit. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

I was initially attracted to yoga as a means of calming both body and mind during rehearsal periods and before performances — the pranayama is a wonderful way of anchoring the diaphragm, so essential to healthy and sustained singing

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

now all yogic elements are equally important — mind, body and spirit are inextricably linked through regular self practise — as a long time vegan, one of the core yogic teachings or yamas, Ahimsa, has become one of the most treasured elements of my daily life and of my yoga practise

How long have you been practicing yoga?

I’ve been practising yoga in one form or another for about ten years

How frequently do you practice now?

I try to practise every day now, although with a hectic performing career this isn’t always easy — I take a travel yoga mat with me everywhere I go, so that even in far flung hotel rooms practise is always possible

How does yoga affect your life as a professional opera singer?

yoga has enhanced my life as an opera singer immeasurably — it has strengthened my balance and core, my breath control has improved-hugely important for opera singers, and connecting to my calming breath has banished any lingering nerves forever!

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

Vinyasa is my go to, but I have been known to glow my way through an Ashtanga class or two

When you first took up yoga, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

as someone with a super active mind, blocking out distractions and calming my inner voice has always been challenging for me — I’m hyper mobile, so the physical challenges of yoga feel relatively easy compared to the mental ones

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

the benefits of regular yoga practise have been incredible — better quality sleep, stronger core and balance, lower blood pressure, stronger muscles and and a much calmer, relaxed outlook

For you, what are the benefits of classes at a studio or with a group vs practicing yoga at home?

I love the social aspect of group classes, and having an expert on hand to realign, check postures and lead is great — but due to the nature of my job, solitary practise has become the norm, and I treasure the peace and tranquility which comes with it

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

I meditate regularly using the Breethe app, and as an opera singer I have a set of fabulous breathing exercises which I use before singing practise and as stand alone exercises

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose(s) and where?

I’m always moving into random yoga poses at home — wheel pose during TV adverts, tree pose when I’m waiting for the kettle to boil, and a strange variation of warrior while I brush my teeth

You have a choice: take part in a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

I’d much rather take a class outdoors surrounded by nature — there’s something about connecting to the elements that is ultimately spiritual and incredibly freeing — any distractions seem much easier to ignore when they are part of a bigger natural soundscape

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Mind, body, spirit — did one element or another first draw you to yoga? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

I knew very little about it and I was curious to know what yoga was

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

body originally, spirit more recently — I love the peacefulness

How long have you been practicing yoga?

since I was pregnant with my daughter, now in her 40s! — she’s much better at yoga than I

How frequently do you practice yoga?

2-3 times per week

For you, what are the benefits of classes at a studio vs practicing yoga at home?

I love my yoga class for the direction and encouragement

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

not really, but the gentler the better

When you were starting out, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

getting the posture and holding it — but I still have trouble blocking out distractions

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

less body pain, greater flexibility

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

a friend recently told me about walking meditation and we do it together

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

I walk a lot and love my water aerobics classes

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose(s) and where?

absolutely! — mostly stretches at my kitchen counter, but I’ve been known to strike a tree pose almost anywhere

You have a choice: take a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

easy one — I choose outdoors, even if it’s not a beautiful day — but circumstances mostly keep me indoors

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Mind, body, spirit — yoga is a holistic experience for many. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your spiritual nature?

initially I thought it was for ‘exercise’ — almost immediately, however, I noticed the greatest impact on my mind — from day one my yoga practice helped me gain mastery over my anxiety

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

it still tends to every facet of my being, but now is predominantly a spiritual practice for me

How long have you practiced yoga?

I began dabbling about 22 years ago, but have been studying and practicing with commitment for 13 years

How long did you practice yoga before you started teaching it?

lightly for about 12 years, but seriously for 3 — since then I have not stopped studying — my study and practice have only intensified

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

I study, practice, and teach Traditional Tantric Hatha and Classical Yoga — under the guidance of the Himalayan Tradition

When you were starting out, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

as a former dancer, I ‘thought’ the postures came easily, but soon realized I was missing the point entirely — loosening my effort was the most challenging, and making peace with the neurotic tendencies in my mind

From your experience as a teacher, can you generalize about what comes easiest for beginners and what is more challenging?

dissociating yoga from exercise seems to be the most challenging because in the west we’ve sold yoga as a workout — it isn’t — it’s a spiritual practice which utilizes the body to gain access to the breath, the breath to gain access to the mind, the mind to gain access to the soul — reframing students’ expectations which are based on a western misinterpretation of yoga is my greatest challenge as a teacher

What are the more difficult poses for beginners to execute?

Savasana and a Meditation Seat

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

more peace within my own mind and continuous joy in the midst of challenging circumstances

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

I practice a traditional Yogic meditation called Vishoka Meditation, as well as traditional Yoga Nidra — these both incorporate pranayama (techniques for gaining mastery over the breath)

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

I do — I love to hike, swim in the ocean, garden, and play with my dog

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose(s) and where?

I often find myself utilizing yoga asanas to create more freedom and ease in my body — I try to be subtle about it in public so as not to draw too much attention, but when I’m at home I’ll stretch and twist and enjoy savasana just about anywhere

You have a choice: lead a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

I love practicing outside and find it to be more comfortable and accessible for a lot of people — it’s a great way to reconnect to something bigger than ourselves

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Mind, body, spirit — yoga is a holistic experience for many. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

curiosity about the practice in general, wanting to learn something new

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

feeds my spirit the most

How long have you practiced yoga, and how long did you practice before you started teaching it?

practicing for 19 years, teaching for 11

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

love them all — Hatha if I have to pick one

When you were starting your yoga journey, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

easiest — breathing; more challenging — full presence in the practice

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

experiencing life with greater ease, grace & purpose

From your experience as a teacher, can you generalize about what comes easiest for beginners and what is more challenging?

easiest — exploring poses; more challenging — settling the mind

I understand you work with sound healing, particularly Crystal Alchemy Singing Bowls. Is that a regular part of your yoga sessions?

yes — they provide a lovely atttunement

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

yes, many! — mindfulness has become this way of moving through the world for me — I also love metta meditation and heart coherence

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

hiking, cycling, weight-lifting, and stand up paddle boarding

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose and where?

standing crescent moon pose whenever I need to perk myself up a bit — I’ll do this anywhere

You have a choice: lead a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

how about an open air studio overlooking the ocean — there’s something magical about weaving the elements of the natural world into a practice

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Yoga is a holistic experience for many — mind, body, spirit. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

ha! I was 11 years old when I first began to dabble in yoga because I wanted to be cool like my older sister who was trying out Kareen Zebroff’s yoga on T.V. — in my early 20’s I was more serious and was equally interested in all aspects (body, mind, spirit), although to start I mostly focused on the body

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

for sure these elements are more in balance now … (and when they are out of balance, they are all out of balance together!)

How long have you been practicing yoga, and how frequently do you practice now?

if you included my dabbling in yoga, I have been practicing yoga for 50 years — for me, yoga is like brushing your teeth and for sure I practice some form of yoga every day

How long did you practice yoga before you started teaching it?

20 years (not including the dabbling)

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

I have practiced many styles but what calls to me most are the slower, more gentle approaches to asana and pranayama (breathing) so that the practice becomes a moving meditation

When you first took up yoga, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

my greatest challenge in yoga (and life) has always been to learn not to try so hard — like many, I began the practice of yoga wanting to “rock the poses” and look amazing — with time and practice and steady, mindful breathing, I slowly began to learn not to push, or force, or strive but instead relax and soften and open and become less concerned with how I looked and more receptive to what the body (and life) was trying to show me — I think this was one of my reasons for wanting to teach — they say we should teach what we most want to learn — I wanted to feel more connected . . . with myself, with others and with the earth

From your experience sharing yoga with children, can you generalize about what comes easiest for young people and what is more challenging?

kids are such natural yogis — they are like little gurus — they have so much to teach us about being in the body and in the moment — of course, “every body’s different” and some kids are easily discouraged or distracted — sharing ways to focus energy, calm energy, release energy can be very powerful (and fun) and kids tend to latch onto this quite quickly — I always tell kids that being “good” at yoga doesn’t mean touching your toes or perfect balance, it means being good at listening to your body, listening to your feelings, listening to your heart

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

oh wow! I think the benefits are endless — yoga helped me through my teens and through my pregnancies and the births of my babies — it has helped me with confidence and patience and a stronger back and calmer mind — I “played” yoga with my children and that yoga became our lifeline through the storms of teens — (later, through university and professional careers, two of my daughters taught yoga and another shared yoga with children and other teachers in her school) — yoga helps to improve my health and my sleep and my relationships and truly touches every aspect of my life in a powerful and profound way — I believe yoga is a gift we give ourselves

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

yes, I practice pranayama, (breathing practice) meditation, (in different forms, walking, sitting, body scans, sound etc.) mantra and yoga nidra

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose(s) and where?

absolutely, I often balance or practice a hip stretch while brushing my teeth, I’ve been known to squat while watching TV or sit in hero’s pose if I’m digesting a large meal, or tuck into tortoise pose during ads, and sometimes I will swing my legs up the wall while chatting with my sister on the phone

You have a choice: lead a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

as much as I love to connect with nature, if I am leading the class, I would choose the indoor space in order to better build and contain the energy

If I gave you an expenses-paid yoga retreat, where would you go?

Polynesia!

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Mind, body, spirit — yoga is a holistic experience for many. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

none of the above — I simply attended a class at my local health club because a good friend who moved away had loved yoga and I was missing her — it was love at first stretch as I realized it was what my body needed

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

I think those elements were in pretty good balance when I started, and the discipline of yoga has kept them that way, but the huge additional benefit I have from yoga is the pleasure and satisfaction I get from teaching it to others

How long have you been practicing yoga, and how frequently do you practice now?

I started practicing about 10 years ago and I practice (or teach) almost every day

How long did you practice yoga before you started teaching it?

only a couple of years — very soon after discovering how good yoga was for my aging body, I wanted to learn more and did a course of teacher training, never intending to teach, but just to get deeper into the practice — to my surprise, I loved the teaching side of it and began forging opportunities to teach people of my own age (seniors) — I think I have been on a mission ever since to show people my age and older how much they can benefit from the practice physically and mentally

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

Hatha yoga has always been my favorite but I also love experimenting with all other styles

When you first took up yoga, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

the most challenging part for me is the yoga philosophy — as a scientist, I am always questioning, and sometimes have trouble accepting some of the spiritual concepts

From your experience as a teacher, can you generalize about what comes easiest for seniors and what is more challenging?

in my experience teaching hatha and chair yoga to seniors, I find that the first challenge is always overcoming their tendency to feel they “cannot possibly do that” — once they realize nothing has to be done to perfection, each student seems to take away something different from the classes — to paraphrase a well known saying, it is sort of “trom each according to their ability; to each according to their need”

What are the more difficult poses for seniors to execute?

that is impossible to generalize because in the age group I mainly teach (65-90+ yrs), almost everyone has at least one physical limitation or another — I emphasize equanimity, balance, posture and strength and offer lots of modifications for any poses that might be difficult, while not being afraid to encourage the students to go deeper

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

certainly yoga provides me with a calmer mind and greater flexibility of mind and body — it is a great way to keep the body feeling young(er)

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

no

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch? If so, which pose and where?

yes, often a balance pose, and any number of stretching poses

You have a choice: take a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

I love teaching classes outside and take my individual practice outside whenever I can — I have no problem with distractions and I find the sounds of birds and insects and the sight of trees in the breeze highly meditative — I would love to practice near the ocean to feel the rhythm of the waves echoing my breath and often use this imagery in my classes — feeling a part of nature and inhabiting your body in a mindful way are part of what yoga is all about for me

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Yoga is a holistic experience for many — mind, body, spirit. But did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

I wanted to meet my inner self and get to know myself better

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

my mind, body, and soul are way more in balance than before — I trust more in life and in myself

How long have you been practicing yoga, and how frequently do you practice yoga?

I started years ago, since 4 years — I do it daily — I don‘t want to pass a day without yoga

How long did you practice yoga before you started teaching it?

4 years

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

Vinyasa and Yin Yoga — I like to flow creative through Asanas and I like to flow slowly sometimes so I do Yin Yoga

When you were starting your yoga journey, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

concentrating on the breathing and to silencing the mind was the most difficult part, and so I realised that I was way too stressed every single day

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

my health became way better — no back pain anymore — I feel more grounded and connected — got to know my inner self and my inner path — less anxiety and more trust and a calm mind

Yoga heals the soul and body!

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

I meditate regularly and do breathwork; pranayama and did a few rebirthing sessions — they changed my life! — I also practice energy work and work with the chakras

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

hiking and horseback riding

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just assume a pose and stretch? If so, which poses and where?

I stretch daily — I do for example cat and cow and twists regularly — I can do this everywhere

You have a choice: lead a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

I mostly teach outside and my yogis love that, so definitely 1! — there is no better place to practice yoga than next to the ocean — nature is healing

I’m aware you’re a passionate traveler. If I sent you an expenses-paid yoga retreat, where would you go?

Asia, Thailand or India — I would also love to go back to New Zealand for yoga, it’s such a special place — I would love to teach my own retreats in these places!

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Yoga is a holistic experience for many — mind, body, spirit — but did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

for me, most definitely the body initially, I was trying to repair damage I had done from running to my back and knees — but the calming aspect came as an added bonus

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

it’s probably more in balance now – there has been a lot of change in my life in past two years, I have changed countries and jobs and it’s been a positive but not stress free change and yoga gives me space to release the physical and mental stress of the transition and focus on the joy of the change

How long have you been practicing yoga?

on and off twenty years, it is like an old friend that comes back into my life whenever I need it

How frequently do you practice yoga?

at the moment I am on a roll of about two to three times a week as I am trying to wrestle my body back from the jagged teeth of menopause — regular yoga is helping me feel back in control of a body that often does not feel like my own just now and often feels out of my control

For you, what are the benefits of classes at a studio or with a group vs practicing yoga at home?

I am inherently lazy so I prefer a class as I will challenge myself more if I am in a structured class but sometimes on a sat morning there is nothing nicer than having a coffee, lighting a candle, rolling out the mat and having a quiet stretch

You’re a psychology professor — is there much of a connection between your professional and scholarly interests and your yoga practice?

there isn’t a direct link between my academic research and my yoga practice in that I don’t research it as a topic but I am generally interested in how well-being and human behaviour so there are parallels

When you were starting out, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

all of it was hard, I am inflexible, have rubbish balance and a very, very busy mind but I like a challenge and I like the feeling of seeing the change in these as you practice, I still find the busy mind the hardest

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

greater flexibility and less pain, it keeps me well enough to run which I love but as I get older also the feeling of calm

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

I need to be outside and need regular fixes of the sea — I find it so restorative being outside so I like to swim outdoors or run — that’s my meditation

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

yes, as above, I swim and I run – which all makes me sound fitter than I am – both I do slowly

Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just strike a pose and stretch?

in the office, I sit at the computer a lot so I will often stretch out my back after long time seated

You have a choice: join a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

always, always, always outdoors and even better if near water

—interview © Marshal Zeringue

Mind, body, spirit — did one element or another first draw you to yoga? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?

definitely the body element, I loved how the asanas felt in my body — I’m not a very spiritual person and this aspect of the practice developed over time

How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?

100% more in balance now, they have equal weight — yoga helped me quieten my anxious mind, and I’ve found my own definition of spirituality over the years

How long have you been practicing yoga?

10 years

How frequently do you practice yoga?

every single day, in one way or another — (sometimes it’s 10 minutes of pranayama, sometimes it’s 3 hours of asana)

How long did you practice yoga before you started teaching it?

2.5 years

Do you have a preferred yoga style?

therapeutic yoga — a blend of vinyasa, yin, pranayama, mobility and self-massage

When you were starting your yoga journey, what came easiest and what was more challenging?

I was naturally flexible, so that was the easy part — the hardest part was letting go of my need to be able to perform all of the postures

What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?

feeling more peaceful in my life in general — and a strong connection and appreciation for my body

Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?

I do a lot of pranayama (breathwork) and gratitude practice — I intentionally pause to appreciate the good moments in my life — highly recommend it, game changer

Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?

I lift weights and do pole dancing — I also love bouldering but don’t practice often enough

You are French, teaching in Germany, and anyone who connects with you online knows your English is better than that of many native speakers. Do you find any difference in students of different nationalities?

thank you for the compliment! I have so many different nationalities in my students and I absolutely love that — I wish I had a funny answer, but to be honest, I don’t see much difference between nationalities — the only thing that comes to mind is that Americans are generally a lot more enthusiastic about everything, haha!

You have a choice: lead a yoga class (1) outdoors on a beautiful day, overlooking the ocean, or (2) in a well-designed, very comfortable minimalist indoor space. Which do you pick?

indoor, every time — I was taught to always limit distractions as much as possible, and I live by this — (this would probably make my students laugh because my chinchilla is in my home studio and she loves to participate in my classes…)

—interview © Marshal Zeringue