Project Speak: Teacher of the Week

Project Speak Presents Elena Brower

Headshot Dec2012

“Don’t doubt your ability to sit in your own heart and connect…

you do it all the time as a student, which is why you wanted to teach in the first place.”

-Elena Brower

Tell us about the first time you practiced yoga. Can you remember how you felt?
Yoga Zone, 56th St on the east side of NYC, 1993/4.  I felt alive, excited, and ready.

Why did you become a Yoga teacher?
Cyndi Lee asked me to consider joining her TT at OM when it first opened 15 years ago on 14th Street. I had no idea what to expect but I had a great feeling. Ended up creating art to answer each question for the TT application. It was the sweetest thing.

How did you feel the first time you taught a class?
Truth: scared out of my MIND.
What do you want to share with new teachers?

Don’t doubt your ability to sit in your own heart and connect… you do it all the time as a student, which is why you wanted to teach in the first place. That ability to be present within yourself while connecting to your teacher or your students is your greatest asset. Sit in your own heart when you teach.

And watch what happens when you speak, and especially when you don’t.
What is your favorite yoga resource?

Silence.

What quote inspires you?

It’s actually a question I’ve begun asking myself no matter what I’m doing.

“Does this educate my essence?”  – Girard Haven
Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I’m proud of you, Jess. You’re following your dream and that is downright breathtaking. THANK YOU.

 

 

Elena is a mama, founder and co-owner of VIRAYOGA, and co-author of Art of Attention. After graduating from Cornell University in 1992 with a design degree, she worked as a textile and apparel designer for 6 years, and has studied with master yoga teachers for over 10 years. Through her teaching, influenced by several traditions including alignment-based Hatha and Kundalini yoga, Elena offers yoga as a way to approach our world with realistic reverence and gratitude. Her classes are a masterful, candid blend of artful alignment and attention cues for your body, mind and heart. You can learn more about Elena by visiting her website: www.ElenaBrower.com.

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Stay tuned for updates coming your way next week.