Annabelle is a relatively new teacher at The Yoga Lounge, and teaches a fun, playful Vinyasa Flow class every Sunday at 2pm.
Y.L. How did you discover yoga?
A.V.To be honest, I discovered yoga through boredom. I had nothing better to do one day a few summers ago, and then after the class I realized I really didn’t. I went every day for a month after day 1 and haven’t stopped since.
Y.L. What excites you about your own practice?
A.V It’s always evolving, I think that’s the best part.
Y.L. How would you describe your classes and your teaching style?
A.V. I teach vinyasa flow classes which are a balanced recipe of alignment, play, deep breaths and ease. We flow through all movements riding with the breath, working from the basics to the not so basics in an easy way, leading to the integration of all your layers and parts.
In my teaching I simply do my best to voice the messages that are coming through me that day, making them relevant for the bodies in the room. I never want to pressure anyone’s practice to be any certain way. All I am to do is to serve people, to serve their highest wisdom and to, over time, help them realize their own wild beauty and intelligence, and to give them the space to process this. The most important part is to tune in to the messages we receive in the moment, and all I am trying to do is to create space for others to receive this.
Y.L. What inspires you, personally? OR What gets you going every day?
A.V.This is the most difficult question by far…it’s a big cliche but everything inspires me. Everyone I have ever met and every place I have ever been. My top inspiration is my intention to serve others and the highest good. Everything else is secondary.
Y.L. Where do you think yoga, as a movement, is heading?
A.V. I think yoga has been moving for a long long time, and it will keep doing so. People tend to think its a fitness fad or it’s now too mainstream or whatever…I think it needed to go mainstream, that was completely necessary. And now it has. Everything is in a constant state of flux, nothing is ever really static. I think it will keep changing and I think that’s beautiful, and necessary. The raw realness will always stay. I think it will always be a beautiful way for people to plug into themselves, because that’s at the core of it all.