This Curvi Yogi is LEARNING! Meet Bree!

By / #ThisCurviYogiThursdays, black girl yoga, black yoga teacher, Camel pose, Chin stand, Cow face pose, Ganda bherundasana, Gomukhasana, self-care, self-love, Ustrasana, yoga, yoga & meditation, yoga for all, Yoga for beginners, yoga for everybody, yoga for everyone, yoga journey, yoga practice

This Curvi Yogi is LEARNING!

Chin stand or Ganda Bherundasana

Meet Bree, a yogi whose yoga journey has allowed her to slow down, be present and to embark on a journey of self discovery!

  1. What is the affirmation that resonates with you right now in your life? Why did you pick this affirmation?

Release what no longer serves you.

This affirmation resonates with me because it brings balance within when the universe throws me a curve ball. I can be a mental and physical hoarder and excessive clutter in either sense severely affects my thought process. When I feel as though I’ve boxed myself in a maze, I take a moment to pause. As I take a deep breath and expel the air saying the affirmation, I slowly regain a sense of clarity and the maze becomes another journey on the path, not an obstacle. 

  1. How did you start your yoga practice?

My practice and love for yoga spawned back in April 2015 with a yoga challenge from Instagram. In the beginning I had practiced solely for the flexibility to gain more confidence as a dancer. However since then it’s turned into an eye-opening journey of self-discovery! Learning to love my whole being, shining light on my darkness, and finding something to be grateful for on a day-to-day basis.

  1. As a Curvy Yogi, what obstacles have you had to overcome in your practice?

Many of the obstacles I’ve had to overcome are in my mind. Since the start of my practice, the physical yoga has been the easiest aspect; I can be on my mat for hours on end! However, meditation, practicing forgiveness towards myself and remembering not to get lost down the rabbit hole is not an easy feat. I constantly have to take a step back to see the whole picture and remember that like yoga, life is a process.

  1. What is your favorite yoga pose? Why?

My favorite pose is a tie between cowface pose, as it’s focused on stretching deep muscles in the hips and pelvis, and chin stand, because I love the challenge of finding the strength and balance to hold it. Being a natural mover it’s frustrating when any areas are tight as they can hold painful limitations on joints and hinder full range of motion. In turn these postures help to strengthen and counter balance my strength training with deep stretches.

Cowface Pose (Gomukhasana)

  1. What is your least favorite yoga pose? Why?

My least favorite pose is any and all heart openers. Physically, I’ve become more sensitive to the area as I tend to overstretch the muscles surrounding the sternum and ribs. Mentally and honestly, I’m just very self-conscious of my chest. When I’m stretching or breathing to create space in this area, many sad moments from my past are dredged to the forefront of my mind. In that moment I do my best to breathe through the emotions and let the thoughts leave without force.

Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

  1. Do you use props in your practice? If so, what is your favorite prop to use? Why?

I have way too many props and don’t play with them nearly as much as I used to! However my favorite props are bolsters and pillows as they offer support to my sharper edges in seated postures. Having the extra cushions have allowed me to sit for longer periods of time until a tight area becomes a comfort zone.

  1. What advice would you give to other Curvy Yogis who are trying to build their practice?

If there was any advice I’d give to others about building a practice is to give yourself time. Learn to listen to your body and don’t stress, it IS yoga after all. Lastly, when you feel overwhelmed don’t forget your breath.

Thank you Bree for sharing your practice with us!

You can find Bree on Instagram here.

#ThisCurviYogiThursdays