Episode 20
Finding Yoga, ft. Victoria
Episode 20: Journey to Inner Peace: Unveiling the Power of Yoga
Welcome to The Mirror Project!
Welcome to The Mirror Project! We’re your hosts, Christine and Alexandra. We are thrilled to dive into a topic that brings balance and peace: yoga. Joining them is a special guest, Christine’s sister, Victoria (affectionately known as Torre). Torre's journey with yoga began as a quest for mindfulness and has since blossomed into a fulfilling practice as a yoga teacher. Tune in to hear about the pivotal moments that led her to the mat, the challenges she faced, and how yoga has guided her through life's transitions. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or simply curious about the practice, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration. Grab your mat, take a deep breath, and join us as we explore the transformative power of yoga
Guest Introduction
Christine introduces her phenomenal little sister, Torre, who is not just a dedicated yogi but also an all-around athlete and avid learner. From gymnastics to rock climbing, and now a career in marketing, Torre's journey is as dynamic as her personality. She completed her 200-hour yoga certification during her senior year at USC and has been teaching yoga ever since. Her diverse interests range from rock music to Quentin Tarantino films. We're excited to have her share her insights and experiences with us today!
Stay Connected
Before we dive in, make sure to hit that like, subscribe, or follow button on your favorite listening platform. Let's make this journey together!
Victoria’s Yoga Journey
Torre dives into her initial discovery of yoga, recounting the personal quest that drew her to the mat. She reveals the type of yoga she practices and the inspiration behind her journey to become a certified instructor. With a captivating overview, Torre explores the diverse styles and approaches within the expansive yoga umbrella.
Transitioning with Yoga & Post-Graduation
Torre opens up about seamlessly integrating yoga into her life post-certification, including her experiences teaching while still in school and now balancing her practice with a full-time marketing job. She also shares her aspirations for the future of her yoga journey and contemplates whether she might return to teaching.
Engage with Us on Socials
Join us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more content and engagement!
Victoria’s Resources
Offering valuable insights, Torre navigates through the trendy fads to uncover the traditional and deeper practices of yoga. She delves into the rich roots of yoga and what it takes to complete a 200-hour certification. Torre provides practical advice for beginners attending in-person yoga classes and shares useful resources for those practicing at home, including tips on chair yoga.
Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, where Torre earned her 200 hour certification: https://kripalu.org
Closing Thoughts
We wrap up this inspiring episode with Torre’s journey from discovering yoga to becoming a certified instructor. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or just starting, yoga offers something for everyone. Torre’s insights into integrating yoga into daily life, understanding its roots, and finding useful resources were truly eye-opening. Join us next week as we dive into the world of dating—exploring the highs, the lows, and everything in between! Thank you for tuning in, and until next time, be curious and stay inspired!
Support Our Journey
Enjoying the show? Support us through our Buy Us a Coffee! Every contribution fuels our passion project. We're immensely grateful for your generosity.
Join Us Next Time
As we close, don't forget to hit that like, subscribe, or follow button on your preferred platform. Keep the conversation going, and we'll catch you on the next episode!
Transcript
Hello, and welcome to the mirror project.
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:We're your hosts, Alexandra,
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:Christine: and Christine,
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:Alexandra: and we're so glad
you were joining us today.
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:We are diving into a topic
that has the power to bring
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:balance and peace to our lives.
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:Yoga joining us as a very special guest,
Christine's sister, Victoria, her journey
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:with yoga began as a personal quest for
mindfulness and has since blossomed into
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:a fulfilling practice as a yoga teacher.
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:We'll hear about pivotal moments
that led her to the mat and the
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:challenges she faced along the way
and how yoga has been a guiding force
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:through many transitions of life.
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:Whether you're a seasoned yogi or
somebody who's curious about the
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:practice, this episode will offer
valuable insights and inspiration.
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:So grab your mat.
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:Take a deep breath and join us as we
explore the transformative power of yoga.
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:Let's get started.
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:Christine: All right.
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:I'm super excited because today
we have a very special guest
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:joining us someone who's not just a
phenomenal yogi but also an absolute
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:delight of a little sister Torre.
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:She's the youngest in her family and
she's been living it up in Nashville
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:since graduating from USC just last May.
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:Torre's kicking off her career in the
world of marketing, but while she was
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:still in school, she got her 200 hour
yoga certification and even taught
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:yoga during her senior year of college.
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:Talk about dedication.
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:But wait, that's not all.
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:Torre's an incredible athlete.
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:She's done it all.
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:Gymnastics, competitive cheerleading,
rock climbing, running a half
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:marathon, hiking and kayaking.
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:Seriously, if it's active and
adventurous, she's probably mastered it.
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:When she's not busy being an athletic
powerhouse, Tori loves to curl up with
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:a good book or challenge her mind with
the New York Times Connections game.
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:She's also a huge fan of
rock music and her current
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:playlist has a groovy 70s vibe.
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:top of all of that, she's currently making
her way through the entire filmography of
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:Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan.
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:Seriously, when do you sleep?
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:We're so glad to have her on the show
today to share her journey and insights.
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:So without further ado, let's
give a warm welcome to Torre.
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:Hi Torre.
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:Welcome.
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:Torre: Hello, thank you
so much for having me.
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:I'm very excited to be
on the podcast today
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:Christine: Yeah.
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:We're so happy you're here.
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:Alexandra: happy to, we're
so happy to have you here.
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:It's the same line,
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:Christine and I,
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:Christine: Yes, exactly.
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:We're just one brain.
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:Before we delve into today's riveting
topic, make sure to hit that like,
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:subscribe, or follow button on
your Preferred listening platform.
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:Take a moment to do it now
before it slips your mind.
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:Trust us, we're not getting
started without you.
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:Let's make this journey together.
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:Alexandra: all right.
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:So before we dive in, is there
anything Christine didn't cover
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:in her intro of you that you'd
like to share with the listeners?
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:Christine: Oh, well, I'm sure I
have, I certainly have much I could
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:share, but Tori, did I miss anything?
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:Torre: No, is there
supposed to be something?
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:Alexandra: No, that was just an option for
you if you wanted to share other things.
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:In that very glowing review of you uh,
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:Christine: that was a little too glowing.
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:Torre: you, Christine.
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:Everyone's gonna think I'm
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:Christine: I know
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:Torre: I'm not that cool.
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:Christine: The real
stuff's going to come out.
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:We have a siblings episode
coming out later this year.
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:So that's when we'll have
both you and Nicole on.
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:So the real thing's
going to come out then.
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:Torre: be Nicole and I bickering.
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:Christine: know it's going to be great.
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:Everybody's going to laugh.
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:It's going to be a good time.
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:Torre: Alex, prepare yourself.
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:Christine: have
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:Alexandra: I'm already prepared.
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:I'm
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:excited
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:Christine: knows she's
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:Alexandra: I'm
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:like,
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:Christine: have to be the mediator
because I mean, when the three
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:of us get going, look out.
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:Alexandra: All right,
everyone to your corners.
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:Quite literally the corners on the screen.
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:All right, we'll get in.
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:Okay.
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:So Tori, how did you first find
yoga and what's your yoga story?
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:Torre: Yeah, so, like how Christine
mentioned, I grew up doing gymnastics
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:and cheerleading and dancing different
things in that and There was often
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:yoga introduced in that environment,
whether to stretch, warm up the body
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:or to kind of have a reset and take
care of the body because those are
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:really hard in your joints, those
types of activities in those sports.
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:So during middle school and high
school, had it here and there, it was
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:sort of just, Oh, why not do a little
yoga class to feel good and feel a
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:little bit more relaxed type of thing.
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:Very casual.
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:When I got into college, though, I was
searching for an outlet to work out in a
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:way that kind of mimicked the activities
that I used to do when I was still in
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:high school and a little bit younger.
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:But that kind of fit my schedule when I
was going between classes and things like
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:that, just to help me establish a routine.
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:And My friend Lisa actually is her
name she introduced me to a hot yoga
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:studio called studio fire and where
my college town was located and I
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:was like, okay, we'll give it a go.
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:We'll try it.
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:I went with a couple of my sorority
sisters as like a little event type
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:of thing to see how I would fare
doing it because this is my first time
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:doing hot yoga as well and I ended
up really liking it, and it just,
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:it was a way, I felt really, it
felt, heh, it felt really good to do.
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:I felt like, When you do hot yoga, you
just sweat everything out of your body.
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:So it was just a very good detox for me.
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:And I got to really step back into the
yoga space, get more serious about it.
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:Now, a lot of people will say,
Hot yoga is not true yoga.
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:Agree 50 50 with that.
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:There's certain um, classes that
you can take that are a little
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:bit, stray a little bit away from
what the true yoga practice is.
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:But I like to go and be involved
in the typical vinyasa flows
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:to sit in a heated room.
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:That's really what I did.
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:And that became my routine.
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:I would go four days out of the week.
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:It helped my mental health a lot at the
time I was struggling just with like
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:school personal stuff Relationships
changes that happen as you go through
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:being in Your early 20s as a college
student Allowed me to have that little
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:escape and I fell in love with it became
my sanctuary type of thing and I had
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:this moment where I was saying if this
makes you feel this way, why don't
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:you put yourself in a position where
you can give that to other people as
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:well and help them through that way.
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:So that's kind of a very rough overview,
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:Alexandra: No, I love that.
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:Torre: of my little journey, why
I decided to become an instructor.
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:Yeah,
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:Alexandra: Do you still,
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:Oh, absolutely.
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:I think that's a great journey.
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:And I think that's very
relatable to a lot of people.
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:Cause I remember being in high school and
where I grew up in Southern California,
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:there was studio, I think it was yoga.
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:Shakti, Shanti, one of the two it
was a really great studio and had
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:a similar journey, like just the
transitions of life was super helpful.
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:Would you say that hot yoga is still
what you're practicing today or
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:have you kind of veered into other
avenues and different paths of yoga?
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:Torre: Yeah, so I've explored both when
I got my certification, I was actually
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:trained in a different style of yoga.
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:We'll get into that
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:in a little bit.
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:But what I taught and what I
practiced during that experience
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:was not in a hot room or an infrared
room is what they would say.
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:So.
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:50 50, I do really like to
go to some hot yoga classes.
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:I think it's really good
to detox the body, reset.
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:If you ever do a yin yoga class
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:It is so, you just reborn.
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:It's amazing.
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:But I also do like to go with a
more traditional class as well.
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:And a normal setting, a normal room.
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:Where you're not heated and you can
really focus on just like the movement
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:Like either room you're focusing on
the movement that your body is doing
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:and the breath work and everything.
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:One is just a lot less sweaty.
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:And a little you feel like
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:you're working out a little bit less It's
more of a meditative experience because
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:you're not actively sweating to the
extent that you would in the other room
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:Alexandra: Yeah.
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:Torre: say 50 50 do both.
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:I know a lot of people In the community
prefer one over the other There's
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:a lot of debate on whether Like hot
yoga is traditional yoga different
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:things like that At the end of the
day You're moving your body to the
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:flow and movement of your breath
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:Alexandra: I sometimes find that
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:so hard.
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:It's like I'll get off sync, right?
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:You know, even in some, I've
recently started doing some yin
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:yoga, which is super hard to stay.
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:I mean, I love more traditional yoga.
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:I know you talked about like the 50,
50 of not a super fan of bodybuilding.
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:super fast movements and just
kind of rushing through poses.
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:So even a traditional class, but the
yin yoga is kind of staying there.
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:And I'm like, this is hard game.
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:I mean, this is like the edge of pain.
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:And I'm like, I didn't have
to stay here for longer.
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:And so then the breath
just gets totally off.
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:And I'm like, I don't know if I'm
supposed to read in out, hold it.
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:Torre: yeah.
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:Alexandra: so I know you mentioned kind
of wanting to give back that feeling
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:to other, but was there a specific
moment or event that happened that
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:you're like, This is where I want to
now become a certified instructor.
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:And what was that process of
looking for that training?
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:Torre: Yes, a specific moment I'm not
sure if it was one specific Moment where
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:I was like, yes, like this is why I want
to do this It was more of just over time
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:and accumulation of things Where I noticed
improvement in my mental health and my
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:physical health as well Just an overwhelm.
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:Oh, well and just an overall better
quality of life came from it And yeah I
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:always want to do things that help people,
whether that's in my career, my hobbies,
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:being around my friends and family.
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:I want to be able to help them create
a positive experience in a welcoming,
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:warm environment for everyone.
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:Cause if you aren't doing that,
what are you doing with your life?
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:You've got to make people happy.
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:You've got to be happy yourself.
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:So this was an opportunity where,
me being still a college student,
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:I could do something like that.
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:And also, step into a community
of people that are like minded.
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:And, involve myself in that.
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:So, what I ended up doing was, I got in
touch with My favorite yogi or my favorite
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:instructor at that studio at the time.
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:Her name was Logan She is amazing.
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:I will give you guys her contact
and for her social information.
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:You should follow her She is a very big
inspiration to me and Asked her how she
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:got started in it what she would recommend
Different avenues in that realm and I also
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:spoke with my Mom actually very odd how
this kind of came about, but mentioned
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:I was looking to do something like this.
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:She said, Oh, my mom is a
certified yoga instructor.
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:You should talk to her.
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:So I ended up speaking with her as well.
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:And she was very honest about, okay, well,
what do you want your experience to be?
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:And do you want it to be a little bit more
youthful more centered around a fitness
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:experience or do you want it to be more
mindful, more spiritual, more meditative?
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:And I was like, okay, well, I definitely
want to have a very strong knowledge
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:of the practice and the health benefits
and I don't think I want to be so much.
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:And the fitness industry side of it
more so just like the root is yoga?
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:Where did it come from?
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:How is it helpful to you?
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:That just resonated with me a little
bit more I have friends that went
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:the other route and they loved it and
they're fantastic instructors as well.
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:I think Just that environment was also
going to be a little bit more feasible
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:for me Because she recommended I
went through a center called Krupalu.
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:They're based out of Massachusetts.
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:So Western Massachusetts in the Berkshires
and At the time it was:
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:still kind of coming back from COVID.
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:They were offering their training online.
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:It's like this is perfect
I'm still in school.
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:I can't be dedicating Six hours a
day in one studio room for like I
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:forget how long it was like 10 weeks.
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:Maybe it was very long time.
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:It's 200 hours
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:Alexandra: being in South Carolina,
that would be a long trek up there.
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:Torre: Yes, so all in all the roads
kind of pointed to that experience and
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:It just made a lot of sense for me.
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:I loved it.
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:So going with Kripalu I learned Like the
origins of yoga health benefits of it.
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:I learned a lot about the human body, the
anatomy, which was great to learn what to
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:do when parts of your body are hurting.
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:And you need to know that when you're
teaching and guiding people, if
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:someone has a limitation, you have
to be able to work with them and know
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:what to protect, how to protect them.
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:And if someone's to come to you and
say, this is hurting me when I do this,
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:you have to be able to know, okay.
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:That must be your Like
certain ligament or whatever.
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:I don't know.
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:This is how to Change to still do it
but in a way that it works for your
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:body and you always have to listen to
your body So that was really awesome
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:I can't say you want to receive
that in another type of training but
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:that was really my impactful for me.
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:I'm glad that I had that base foundation.
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:Going through Kupa Klu, I was taught
to lead haha, haha, yoga, but I learned
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:and as a student, practiced Vinyasa.
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:So those, I still like to practice both.
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:Vinyasa is more of a cycle form
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:So you.
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:are adding on to the same cycle as you go.
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:It's that's the best way to explain it.
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:It's just you constantly doing motion
a flow over and over again But every
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:time something is added into it and
then hatha is you Through the flow
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:you're kind of working your way up
to what we would call a peak pose.
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:So it would either be A balancing pose
or a pose that you would hold for an
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:extended period of time to challenge the
mind and the body to stay focused on the
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:breath and to not focus on the burning
sensation that you may feel when you're
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:sitting in chair for a minute and a half.
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:But to focus on what your
body is saying, releasing that
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:tension almost, very powerful.
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:And then also like coming down
from it and then to Shavasana,
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:so That's kind of my journey.
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:I'm grateful for that experience.
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:I If I were to ever get certified
for my 500 hour or any other, type
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:of Journeys within that realm, I
would definitely go back to Krupalu.
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:Beautiful center.
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:I think now they're all back on site.
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:So their trainings are conducted there.
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:But it's awesome.
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:It was a really cool experience
too, especially doing it online.
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:Because my, the people in my
cohort were from all over.
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:Lot of them were from New England area.
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:But, I had some people from Chicago,
I had someone that was in Costa Rica,
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:people down in Florida and the Carolinas.
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:Someone was a nomad, so
she was on a sailboat.
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:They sold their house and all
of their belongings and they
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:just would take people's boats
from one point to the other.
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:Alexandra: That's pretty cool.
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:Torre: And that she lived on a boat
and she practiced yoga on a boat.
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:She
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:Christine: Oh, wow.
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:That's really cool.
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:Alexandra: That almost makes me think
of I really enjoy paddleboarding.
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:And when I was living in Southern
California, they would do, there
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:was a lot of people who would
practice yoga on a paddleboard.
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:And stuff.
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:And I was like, I'd love to be
able to have that sense of balance
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:to do this on top of something
that's floating on the water.
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:So I can imagine sailing, you know,
kind of working with the, how the
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:boat moves along with what you're
doing to your body is pretty cool.
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:Christine: Yeah.
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:I did have a question for the 500 hour.
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:Would that mean you have
to do an additional 500 or
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:would it add on to your 200?
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:Torre: Yeah, it would
add on to your 200, so
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:you would do I believe the
way that Kripalu did it they
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:had two 75 hour classes.
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:Or programs that you could do, so
you would do them separately, and
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:then you would work your way to
getting the full 500 hours done.
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:Christine: Oh,
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:okay.
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:Torre: at 200 hours, what most folks will
do, folks, well, what most yogis will do.
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:Sorry.
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:Christine: It's all good.
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:Torre: My manager at work
always says folks, so.
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:Christine: Shout out.
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:Torre: hours, what.
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:The 200 hours, what most Yogi's will
start with most Yogi's instructors
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:will have that and then they'll go
back to get the 75 when they have
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:time and then the following to get
the full 500 hour certification.
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:And then.
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:Alexandra: Is there anything beyond
the 500 hour certification or just
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:the, like 200 hours and then 500 hours?
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:Torre: I believe there is, but it
would more so be a specialization and
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:certain types of yoga practices so
they could specialize and pediatric.
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:Is that what you like working
with kids or working with adults?
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:You can do different trainings there.
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:At least that's what I know Kripalu
had, they had different offerings there.
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:They will get into like different types
of yogas a little bit later, but they
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:have one for like chair yoga where
you could get certified to teach that.
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:And I want to say, yeah, just
like the different styles of
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:yoga too, you can get trained in.
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:And so, again Hatha
different things like that.
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:Yeah, I would say the Vinyasa and
Hatha yoga are gonna be the main
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:types of yoga practices that you will
learn and you're normal within the
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:500 hour trainings, but then you can
go and get specialized in those other
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:ones like Yeah, there's another one
that's escaping my mind at the moment.
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:I'm sorry
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:Christine: It's okay.
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:Alexandra: was actually going to say, this
is a perfect segue into my next question
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:for you, which is, can you briefly talk
about what's under the yoga yoga umbrella?
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:Cause you talked about the, Yin and
the Vinyasa, but you also talked in
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:more fitness focused and hot yoga.
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:So what is all encompassing
under this umbrella from the
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:spiritual mindful to the physical?
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:Torre: Yes, there's so much.
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:So, obviously, as I've spoken, there's
the different practices I said.
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:Vinyasa, Yin, there's so many more.
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:There's so many to the point that I
don't even know all of the practices
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:that exist out there, which is
awesome because there's quite
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:literally something for everyone.
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:As I mentioned Vinyasa, again, that's
more of a cycle you build as you go.
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:Hatha, you work your way up
to a peak pose and then come
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:down to prepare for Shavasana.
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:Yin Yoga is It's very, it's a very
slow moving focus just on deep
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:stretching the body usually you're
just laying down the entire time, doing
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:different poses to release tension
within the muscles and the joints.
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:Christine: me up for that.
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:Torre: yeah.
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:But it's all to breath.
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:Your main focus is always to focus
on your breath to allow those
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:sensations to flow out of you.
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:Then, and there's so much more to that.
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:I, again, it expand, extends
from my mind and my experience.
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:But that's where my realm has really
stayed for the past like, seven years.
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:Again, of course, there is the more, Woo!
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:Fitness!
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:Work
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:outside of yoga hot yoga can get,
Certain hot yoga classes can get very
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:Fast paced Folk that some might have
a little like weights added into it.
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:I know core power yoga.
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:That's a very famous yoga Studio, they
have locations are all across the u.
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:s.
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:And they're more of a bar yoga mix
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:Where they will incorporate weights and
bands and different exercises within a
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:yoga flow there are at the studio that I
used to go to, they had classes like that.
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:They also had hit exercises
and yoga incorporated into one,
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:which is super interesting.
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:You get your heart rate up and then you
bring it back down with a quick flow.
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:That was a great workout.
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:There's those types of things.
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:That kind of then start getting
into the world of Bard classes and
391
:matt pilates classes and like they
incorporate yoga into some of those
392
:Experiences to release tension in the
body and stretch and everything which
393
:is great as you can see it's in a lot
of different types of forms of fitness.
394
:But then there's that world of it
where some people consider that yoga.
395
:Some people will say that's
not true yoga I'm indifferent.
396
:I think as long as you're moving your
body and you feel good who cares what
397
:it's called enjoy it But That's those
two sides of the umbrella and then Within
398
:yoga there you can Get creative with it.
399
:You can specialize it a little bit.
400
:So of course yoga for kids and yoga for
older elders, those are two different
401
:areas people can specialize in To
teach that there's I know I mentioned
402
:a little bit earlier chair yoga.
403
:So for people that can't really stand or
that can't be mobile too much if they're
404
:in a wheelchair or anything like that You
can still practice while sitting down.
405
:You can do it on a paddle board.
406
:My, the instructor that was
really influential for me, Logan
407
:she actually teaches yoga on
paddle boards in South Carolina.
408
:And it's really cool.
409
:I haven't had the chance to do
it yet, but it is awesome to be
410
:able to just Center yourself to
the point where you can do that.
411
:Alexandra: Okay, I'll go to a
class if you go to a class, so
412
:I'll go with you.
413
:Christine: after you guys are done.
414
:Torre: Perfect.
415
:Alexandra: take a girl's
trip to South Carolina.
416
:Torre: Yes, but with that it's
Again as you can see there's
417
:so many different things.
418
:It's so widespread now Which is amazing
because it just started out as one
419
:Idea and one It's very the
core of it is very spiritual.
420
:It's very meditative.
421
:You are connecting within your
inner self to try and reach your
422
:What's the word what's the word?
423
:It's not Divine or anything.
424
:It's like awareness that is almost
a separate from like reality
425
:Alexandra: Almost a little
bit like enlightenment kind of
426
:Torre: thank you.
427
:Yes the goal of the original Or not
the original but like the original
428
:The goal of the core of yoga and the
meditative practice there is to reach
429
:that enlightenment Or enlightened state
if you will Which is super powerful to
430
:just try and work towards to listen to
the body listen to what it's telling
431
:you and to just Everything out all the
noise just like it's gone It's like
432
:you are focused on you and yourself
and what is going on with internally.
433
:And then everything else is
just around you, like you're
434
:in your own little bubble.
435
:Which is really awesome if you can get
to that point some yogis, I know they
436
:Whenever they practice it's just them
and the mat and nothing else matters
437
:They a storm could be going on around
them and they're just like solely like
438
:in tuned with themselves Which is really
powerful so yeah that again that is
439
:Christine: The umbrella
440
:Alexandra: Yeah.
441
:Torre: and then everything falls
442
:Christine: and all the things underneath.
443
:Torre: things.
444
:Yeah.
445
:Alexandra: Super helpful.
446
:Torre: Yeah, but again like that idea
in that Definition that I just kind of
447
:briefly explained is what I've focused
on and Learned a little bit more about
448
:and during my training and I encourage
Yogi's whether you are doing a hot
449
:yoga class versus a traditional yoga
class first chair Whatever to explore
450
:that and see if that is something that
spikes interest in you because Who
451
:doesn't love to have a little meditation
here and there to clear the mind?
452
:That's where the mental
wellness really helped me
453
:and was really impactful for me.
454
:Christine: that's amazing.
455
:I, it's so, so beautiful that you
brought all that up because I've also
456
:over the years of learned I think
there's a misconception when it comes
457
:to meditation that you're supposed to
458
:Block everything out.
459
:Right.
460
:And when things pop up to at least for
me, I was given this wrong definition
461
:that when you're meditating, try and clear
your mind and not think about anything.
462
:And when things pop up,
like push that away, but
463
:that's Actually your, your
464
:mind telling you like, Oh, this is
coming up and it, and you should.
465
:Listen to or follow that thought for a
moment and why and dig deeper as to why
466
:is this coming up in this point in time,
because I think a lot of people don't I'm
467
:easily distracted by the noises like of
the world and It's really easy to lose
468
:that connection with your inner self.
469
:And I don't know if I truly have
a good relationship with my inner
470
:beings or inner thought, because
sometimes that's kind of scary.
471
:You don't know what's going to come up.
472
:Alexandra: Well, Tori, correct me if
I'm wrong, but it's more like Meditation
473
:and yoga is a practice and somebody who
struggles with perfectionism feeling
474
:like I need to be perfect at it.
475
:Christine said, like when I first
tried meditation, I was like, my
476
:mind has to be entirely blank.
477
:But that practice has evolved.
478
:Is there anything that you would tell
people who have never done yoga before?
479
:What to expect if they go
into a yoga class, you know?
480
:Torre: What do expect?
481
:Honestly, depending on what
type of yoga class they're going
482
:into, that might change slightly.
483
:I think just overall.
484
:I would just say expect to Or not
expect but while you're going into
485
:that experience try and listen
to your body Listen to what it's
486
:telling you as something If you are
like asked to do emotion that your
487
:body's I don't know about that.
488
:Don't do it Modify it for you.
489
:Listen to that signal if you are in
shavasana and Your mind is really
490
:busy Acknowledge those thoughts.
491
:Listen to what is being told to you.
492
:And then in that moment, just tell
yourself, I'll get back to you in a minute
493
:or five minutes from now type of thing.
494
:Just be gentle with yourself.
495
:Be kind to yourself while going
into those experiences because
496
:yoga is not one size fits all.
497
:It is different for everyone, no
matter who you are, what level
498
:you're at in your practice.
499
:It's.
500
:Again, I've said it earlier
in this conversation.
501
:It is putting movement to breath.
502
:Expect to do that.
503
:That is, it's so, it doesn't
matter if you're not flexible.
504
:It doesn't matter if you
can't touch your toes.
505
:Who cares?
506
:You're there.
507
:You showed up for yourself.
508
:That's awesome.
509
:You should be proud of that.
510
:Listen to your body.
511
:Inhale, exhale, do,
listen to your instructor.
512
:They are there to guide you through it.
513
:They're not there to teach you.
514
:Well, of course they're
there to teach you.
515
:Of course but essentially they're
kind of just a guide through the
516
:experience and they've picked you
up and then they drop you off.
517
:One thing kind of to the point I wanted
to mention when Christine was talking
518
:about Your mind being busy when thoughts
come up during the practice too, and
519
:you want to like, push them away.
520
:one Of my teachers, when I was
getting my training, would always
521
:say, If thoughts arise during this
experience, that is okay, just observe
522
:them like they're passing clouds.
523
:So, while they are there, just watch them.
524
:You don't have to entertain
or worry about them.
525
:They are just a little cloud in the
sky, and it moves on its way eventually.
526
:And once you
527
:have that perspective of it, you
realize that your body can let
528
:go of those things a lot easier.
529
:Because I'm the type of person when I
focus on something, I don't let go of it.
530
:Alexandra: Right.
531
:Torre: So if the thought comes up
532
:Christine: feel like
that's a Borowsky trait.
533
:Torre: Yeah, I'm not gonna be able to
let go of it But if you just attach
534
:yourself from the thought It is that's
my piece of advice to like kind of help
535
:Christine: Yeah, that's really beautiful.
536
:It gives you back the power
in that moment, right?
537
:I'm not going to let
this thought control me.
538
:I'm going to acknowledge
that it showed up.
539
:Maybe I'll revisit at another time.
540
:But like you said, you
don't have to engage.
541
:I think that's such like a, just a
great mental shift that I'm going
542
:to remember from this point on.
543
:Alexandra: I think it's also because
I've been also working on that as well.
544
:I mean, the therapy, but just on
my own practice kind of getting
545
:so attached to certain thoughts
and that they may mean something.
546
:And sometimes it's just a passing thought.
547
:So I wonder if that objectivity
is a little bit that helps you
548
:kind of get to that enlightened
state you were talking about.
549
:And you know, I think for me, it's
just, I have to keep practicing
550
:because sometimes I'm like, it's easy.
551
:Right?
552
:Oh, okay.
553
:Just passing clouds.
554
:The next time it's like, Nope, have
to follow that train wherever it goes.
555
:Torre: Yeah again, it's it's What
I really like about yoga too is
556
:it's a constant practice of it.
557
:You can become a teacher and then a
few years later you can become just a
558
:student again for the next couple years.
559
:And then you can become a teacher
again and it is a very evolving You're
560
:never stepping back or, I guess, It
could be moving forward to an extent.
561
:I feel like we're always
moving forward in things.
562
:As we just learn more, you're
always growing as a person.
563
:But you're never stepping back
when it comes to yoga because
564
:you're listening to yourself.
565
:Maybe I need to focus on
this area of my practice.
566
:Or focus on being kinder to my body if
certain things come up in other areas.
567
:Areas of life different
stuff things like that.
568
:It is It's not surprising, but it is a
very go with the flow easy chill Thing
569
:to do and a thing to be part of your
life there's no pressure with it at all.
570
:Why whenever someone says to me,
Oh, I'm scared to try yoga, I'm
571
:not flexible, or I'm scared that
I'm not going to be good at it.
572
:It doesn't matter if you're
good or if you're bad, if you're
573
:inflexible or not It's your journey.
574
:Alexandra: I feel like
that makes it so much more
575
:Because, you know, I see you, you see
pictures of people who've been practicing
576
:yoga for a very long time and have.
577
:Earned and built up that flexibility and
can do the really intense inversions.
578
:That looks so cool.
579
:And then I remember as a newbie, I was
like, I will never be able to do that.
580
:And it was very hard to approach it
going, I'm not, I won't, I can't do that.
581
:So it's very nice to hear
that expected to, and that
582
:Where you are is like,
that's your practice,
583
:you know?
584
:So that's cool.
585
:Hopefully listeners who are
interested in trying yoga and
586
:have not now feel like they can.
587
:Christine: Yeah, I hope so, too.
588
:exactly.
589
:Alexandra: craving more of our company.
590
:Join the fun over on YouTube at near
project pod, dive deeper into our world,
591
:engage with us on a whole new level.
592
:Don't miss out on the excitement
593
:Christine: All right.
594
:Well, why don't we transition a
little bit and maybe talk a little
595
:bit about how yoga has been a part
of your life post certification?
596
:Because I know you were teaching
while you were a senior in college.
597
:So just talk about that.
598
:How did,
599
:how did you Once you got certified,
how did your life change or
600
:what would you like to share?
601
:Torre: Yeah, so I got certified The
fall of my junior year in college
602
:and I started teaching in the winter
and Then I kind of taught for a
603
:year from the winter to winter.
604
:I took a break after the Like for this
spring, half of my senior year, I stopped
605
:teaching just because work and internships
and I preparing to move and everything.
606
:But that was a great experience.
607
:It was fun to meet the, some people
in the community in my local area.
608
:They got to know me chat with
other Yogi's here and there.
609
:I definitely moving forward when
I do get more back into teaching
610
:again, would like to involve myself
in the community a little bit more.
611
:It was just a very busy time for
me, I couldn't dedicate as much as
612
:I wanted, but that's okay because
613
:Christine: Yeah.
614
:Yeah.
615
:Torre: I was able to contribute what I
could and I understood that my, in my
616
:The owner of the studio understood that
as well, and they were understanding.
617
:Christine: I mean, it's impressive that
you were doing that even for senior year
618
:as a Hectic year for college students.
619
:So the fact that you did that for
half of your senior years, amazing.
620
:And I'm a little proud.
621
:I'm a proud sister.
622
:Torre: Thanks, Dean.
623
:I appreciate that.
624
:But yeah so, That was that piece
of me teaching, and since then, I
625
:obviously have moved to Nashville.
626
:Christine: Yeah.
627
:So, so you were saying you've taken,
you've stepped back after graduation,
628
:you moved out to Nashville, you've
started putting down roots there,
629
:found a really good friend group.
630
:Start your career.
631
:So what role does yoga play in your
life now that you're working full time
632
:and in a different field completely,
like I mentioned at the start, you're
633
:starting your career in marketing.
634
:So how does yoga fit
into your busy life now?
635
:Torre: Yeah, so, it's definitely more
of a when I really need to get in
636
:touch with myself again type of thing.
637
:And to release tension from the body
with the other forms of physical
638
:activity that I have in my life.
639
:So, I ran a half marathon.
640
:This past year and I'm very much
into lifting weights now to like just
641
:strengthen my body a little bit more
Because then with that when you're
642
:stronger you can do more things But
using yoga to help center myself keep
643
:my body keep the movement flowing tune
with how I'm feeling So it's sort of
644
:just like an aid to the other areas of
my life and a little escape when I get a
645
:little bit too stressed out and need to
detach from the world around me for an
646
:hour or so just to come back into myself
and remember why I started yoga all so
647
:Christine: That's beautiful.
648
:So it's very much like for you right now,
like you were mentioning earlier, there's
649
:phases in life that people go through
once they do achieve a certification,
650
:like they'll teach for a bit, but, and
when you were saying like, it's not
651
:a step back, I kind of imagined it.
652
:It's like not a linear journey.
653
:It's very much there's branches and
they might come back to the center
654
:where you started, but or they'll go
off completely in a different direction.
655
:So I think that's just a really beautiful
way to look at it, because at least
656
:for me, I think I can sometimes get
caught up in the linear fashion of
657
:life supposed to be like 1 line from
point point Z, but The real beauty of
658
:it is the fact that it isn't linear.
659
:So I think that's really beautiful
to see how yoga practice can reflect
660
:that and remind people of that.
661
:Alexandra: I think that's such a fallacy
that we've sold ourselves, right?
662
:Like life is, like you get from point A
to point B by striving this straight line.
663
:And it's no rare, rarely is it that way,
or at least I'm learning that hard lesson.
664
:But, that's really cool.
665
:That is it's, it's very cyclical.
666
:It seems like in terms of if you think
about people's health or mental health,
667
:it's very much you move forward.
668
:And like you, you don't think you're
moving forward because you feel like
669
:you're taking 10 steps backwards, but
it's really just like that moment of.
670
:the next round, so that's pretty cool.
671
:Would you say that if somebody wanted
to deepen their practice of yoga, that
672
:it would be worth pursuing the 200 hour
certification for their own pursuit
673
:and their practice, even if they don't
674
:want to teach.
675
:Torre: Yeah, I within my cohort,
there was a handful of people
676
:that were just there because they
wanted to deepen their practice
677
:and Get more involved in that
experience for themselves And a lot
678
:of people do that as well a lot.
679
:I've known I've heard stories.
680
:I haven't known them personally of
people that Didn't have any background
681
:really in yoga, but got the certification
just to learn about it and they were
682
:fitness instructor in different areas.
683
:I think they focused with like
martial arts or something like that
684
:and they got certified in yoga to
understand it better and to become
685
:more just knowledgeable in that area.
686
:So like it's not just to become
an instructor to get certified.
687
:It's like anything.
688
:You want to learn how
to knit or cook or code.
689
:Develop websites and things like that.
690
:You take classes and educate
yourself on how to do that.
691
:This can be seen in that way as well.
692
:And you get to learn how to guide people
through it, but you are also learning
693
:how to guide yourself through it.
694
:Christine: Very cool.
695
:Torre: Obviously.
696
:Christine: All right.
697
:Well, before we move on to our
next topic, why don't can you share
698
:with us what future hopes you have
when it comes to yoga and would you
699
:ever become an instructor again?
700
:I think you mentioned
that you'd like to, but
701
:Torre: Yes, definitely would like to
down the line, I think, especially being
702
:here and being so new to this area,
living in Nashville wanting to learn a
703
:little bit more about the yoga community
and becoming more involved in that and
704
:then potentially becoming an instructor
within that community down the line.
705
:But for right now, I think i'm gonna
continue focusing on myself for a little
706
:bit just so what I do feel like i'm
not as much in the time of transition
707
:But in a time of this is my new home
Can kind of lean into that space
708
:a lot more than what i'm currently
doing Which will be exciting Thanks
709
:Alexandra: So why don't we
jump into our last section or a
710
:group of questions for you tour?
711
:So I know we've talked about
practice and for mental health
712
:and finding that inner core.
713
:If somebody doesn't have a whole lot
of time to go to a one hour yoga class
714
:and the transport time to get there
and home every week, what are some
715
:resources or things that you could
recommend to people to do to start
716
:building that practice daily or weekly?
717
:Torre: Yeah, it's super simple, but
YouTube is a great way to do that.
718
:It's there's different classes from
beginner to advanced 15 minutes to
719
:like an hour long practice, like flows
720
:on that site, which is great.
721
:Thank you too much, so much to the
Yugi's that put those out there.
722
:I think my recommendation would be to
try what's best for you, what intrigues
723
:you the most, what resonates with you.
724
:Usually the yogi will give a brief
background in their bio of what they've
725
:done, their experience, and if they
specialize in something as well.
726
:I think a great way to like kind
of lean into it is if you have,
727
:if you can, add like 30 minutes to
your morning or even 15 minutes.
728
:Starting out with a quick sunrise
flow would be a really great way
729
:And start your day on
a little positive note.
730
:Christine: Yeah.
731
:Torre: night right before
732
:Christine: need to get back into that.
733
:I used to do that.
734
:I need to get back into it.
735
:Torre: It doesn't have to be like a whole
Okay, gonna set aside an hour to do this.
736
:It can be as simple as a morning stretch
or Just relaxing the body before you go
737
:to bed Like there's yoga flows that you
can do in your bed as you're like getting
738
:ready to go to bed like go to sleep
739
:Alexandra: Oh,
740
:Torre: So I definitely encourage
whatever you think would fit best
741
:within your routine To just Do a
quick search in YouTube what pops up
742
:and I encourage you to follow Whoever
resonates with you that on their socials
743
:Because that way you can get even
more involved and if you're inspired
744
:by something explore that curiosity
745
:Because you never know what
that may lead to down the line.
746
:It's like how it kind of led me
down a certain path, you know
747
:Alexandra: Very cool.
748
:That definitely makes it so much
more approachable and you're like,
749
:okay, I can start somewhere that I
don't have to feel bad if I can't
750
:get to a yoga class during the week.
751
:Okay.
752
:And you've mentioned it a few times
throughout our conversation, but chair
753
:yoga, are You choose to specialize
in or you're going to specialize in
754
:or, you know, what is the benefit
of chair yoga over some other ones?
755
:Torre: I don't know if
I will specialize in it.
756
:If I do, it might be at when I'm older.
757
:But I mean, I guess the benefits of it is
just it gives people the opportunity to
758
:do something where maybe they felt like
they have like they couldn't do it before
759
:it really expands the accessibility To
a whole nother community of people that
760
:Maybe can't get to a yoga studio or I feel
like they don't have the mobility for it
761
:To still allow to have that experience
in that movement It's really powerful
762
:I think being able to adapt and have
such a Well known and meditative, but
763
:also like fitness experience and world
Just reach every type of audience that
764
:you can think of it's really awesome
and I think chair yoga does a great way
765
:of opening another yeah another door
that a Community of people can access.
766
:It's again making yoga For
everyone no matter who you are
767
:Yeah, yes, I don't know too much
about you chair yoga like what you do
768
:Personally, I know that my instructors
at Krupalu, one of them had a
769
:specialization in it which was really
cool to hear about their experience.
770
:And again, like their reason for
doing that was just to be able
771
:to teach yoga to more people.
772
:But yeah,
773
:Christine: Yeah, very nice.
774
:Alexandra: Is there anything that
we haven't asked you, but you are
775
:dying to share or want to share?
776
:Torre: I think I kind of rambled
a lot, so I don't think I have
777
:anything else that I could share.
778
:Christine: Well,
779
:Torre: it was
780
:Christine: Yeah, no, it was awesome.
781
:Thank you so much tour
for the for talking to us.
782
:And what we can do is in our show
notes include all the resources
783
:that you mentioned where you
got your certification who that
784
:um,
785
:instructor who, you know, sort
of changed your whole life.
786
:life here.
787
:When it comes to yoga, we can
include her handle and any other
788
:resources you want to share.
789
:I think I have one thing that I
can't believe we've neglected to talk
790
:about, but in terms of the trendy or
the fads of yoga, and I know you've
791
:experienced this Tori, but can we just
take a moment to talk about goat yoga?
792
:Torre: Yes.
793
:I, okay,
794
:Christine: are your thoughts?
795
:Torre: sorry, goat yoga is not yoga.
796
:Goat yoga is seeing cute
little goats play with you.
797
:And you get to do yoga
poses, but it's not a flow.
798
:You're not like, You're not adding
movement to breath with that
799
:Um, you're just doing yoga poses and
goats are climbing on top of you.
800
:I've done goat yoga Here in
nashville highly recommend.
801
:They're very cute.
802
:They do poop on you
803
:Christine: So just
804
:beware!
805
:Alexandra: maybe don't wear
806
:your cutest yoga outfit.
807
:Torre: If you do go to goat yoga
wear a sweatshirt Wear a sweatshirt,
808
:because The hooves will cut you,
809
:and that will hurt.
810
:I wore a sweatshirt when
I went, and I was okay.
811
:I didn't get any pain from it.
812
:But I have some pretty funny
photos, so I'll share that with you
813
:Christine: Yeah, we should
we would love that, yeah.
814
:If you're cool with it, maybe
we'll even post it on our socials.
815
:Torre: Goat yoga!
816
:No, but it is fun.
817
:If you ever want to do something
different, go with a friend.
818
:I would say maybe start with puppy yoga.
819
:Christine: Oh,
820
:Alexandra: I've seen some pictures of
that recently where like a puppy was
821
:like sweetly sleeping on somebody.
822
:I'm like, oh, I don't think
my dog will ever do that.
823
:That was so cute.
824
:Christine: Oh, that's awesome.
825
:I would be down for puppy yoga.
826
:I think I'm good on the goat yoga
front, but Sign me up for puppy yoga.
827
:Alexandra: As long as
there's no snake yoga.
828
:Torre: No.
829
:Alexandra: I'm okay.
830
:I'm okay.
831
:Or
832
:spiders.
833
:Torre: I've, I think I've
only seen puppy and goat.
834
:But.
835
:Have not done puppy yoga.
836
:But I feel like it would be fun.
837
:Christine: And who knows?
838
:I mean, they're always
creating some new crazy things.
839
:So it'll be interesting to see
what comes up in the future
840
:that has yoga attached to it.
841
:But yeah, all righty.
842
:Anything else,
843
:Alexandra: running through all the animals
that you could have put with yogurt.
844
:I'm like, Oh, horses, pigs, teacup pigs.
845
:It's it's going to
846
:Torre: Honestly, I think that exists.
847
:Alexandra: Oh, okay
848
:Torre: It might.
849
:It might.
850
:Honestly, again, every type of yoga
you could ever imagine exists probably.
851
:Which is awesome.
852
:I love that people can take it and
adapt it and get creative with it.
853
:I think that's really cool.
854
:You just find what works
for you and what you like.
855
:Christine: All right, cool.
856
:Torre: So,
857
:Christine: Okay, cool.
858
:Well, that's a wrap on today's
episode about finding yoga with
859
:our amazing guest, my sister Tori.
860
:We hope Tori's journey from
discovering yoga to becoming a
861
:certified instructor has inspired
you to explore your own yoga path.
862
:Whether you're a seasoned yogi
or just curious about starting,
863
:remember that yoga offers something
for everyone, from traditional
864
:practices to modern adaptations.
865
:Tori has shared some invaluable
insights on integrating yoga into
866
:daily life, even with a full time job,
and gave us a glimpse into her future
867
:hopes for continuing her practice.
868
:Her tips on stripping back the trends to
get to the heart of yoga, understanding
869
:its roots, and finding resources for
both beginners and seasoned practitioners
870
:alike were truly eye opening.
871
:We hope you enjoyed learning
about the depth and breadth
872
:of yoga as much as we did.
873
:Next week, we're getting ready for a
completely different kind of journey
874
:as we dive into all things dating.
875
:We'll be exploring the highs and
lows and everything in between,
876
:so you won't want to miss it.
877
:Thanks for tuning in, and until next
time, be curious and stay inspired.
878
:Alexandra: Are you enjoying the
banter and insights we're serving up?
879
:If so, consider tossing some support our
way through our buy us a coffee page.
880
:Every bit helps in fueling
this passion project of ours.
881
:Find the link in our show
notes and visit our link tree.
882
:We are immensely grateful
for your generosity.
883
:As we wrap up, remember to hit
that like subscribe or follow
884
:button on your preferred platform.
885
:Until next time, let's keep the
conversations going and we'll
886
:catch you on the next episode.