I am beyond thrilled to introduce you to the newest Curvy Yoga teachers! I’m sure you’ll enjoy getting to know them as much as I have the past few months. If you’re in their area, be sure to stop by a class sometime! To learn more about getting certified yourself, please click here. 

Shannon Dakin

Location: Indianapolis, IN (USA)

Tell us a little about your relationship with yoga — both your practice and your teaching.
Yoga helps me to base my self worth/esteem on how I feel rather than what I look like. It allows me to feel that I am perfectly imperfect.

I try to make yoga accessible for anyone and everyone. There is a modification for everyone and anything. Your yoga will be as individual as you are.

Why do you want to bring Curvy Yoga to your community? 
I was scared for a long time to walk into a class and know I might be the biggest person in the room. I know what that feels like.

I want to show that yoga is accessible. To remove any kind of intimidation or hesitation from someone (anyone!) entering a yoga class. 

What can folks expect when they take a class from you? 
A safe place to explore how you’re feeling right then and right there. Yoga is in the feeling and the letting go of the ideal of “the perfect pose.”

Yoga isn’t in the perfect pose; it’s in the crappy one you struggle with. The one you are really feeling. Music, humor, sharing and play are all parts as well.

What has been your favorite part of the certification process? 
How it has brought to light my own self talk and how I have begun to notice a distinct change in how I speak to myself. Not everyday is a great day, but the bad days are fewer by far, and that is great. I’m more mindful of my own inner dialogue.

How can people get in touch with you? 
They can find me on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus. They can also email me at shannondakin(at)gmail(dot)com.

Erin McVittie

Location: Mullingar, County Westmeath (Ireland)

Tell us a little about your relationship with yoga — both your practice and your teaching.
As a yoga teacher, I should say that I can’t survive a day without practicing yoga an hour and a half each day to achieve my sense of enlightenment.  As a human person, I have to admit I do the best I can.  Yoga has taught me to listen to my body and inner self, and sometimes my inner self does not feel like doing downward dog or tree pose.  But, I am working on consistency and try to introduce that into my lesson plans to share what I have learned.

Why do you want to bring Curvy Yoga to your community? 
I have never bought into stereotypes, and (sadly) it seems the yoga community is chock full of them.  Practicing yoga has so many benefits on so many levels, that every body should be able to reap those benefits.  I find a lot of people (including myself at times) are disillusioned by the images that go along with yoga in books and magazines, so I would like to help break that mold.

What can folks expect when they take a class from you? 
People can expect that I will work your body, but I will also crack little jokes and try to get you to smile.  Not only does smiling help distract you from difficult postures, it helps you realize that yoga is important, but not as serious as it’s made out to be.  I also try to let my students know that my class is one of the few places where no expectations are placed on them.  If one of my students wants to lay in savasana for an hour and a half, so be it.

What has been your favorite part of the certification process? 
Chatting with ANNA! 🙂  I have really enjoyed learning different sequences and modifications (options).  I did not realize how stuck in a pattern I was, and the certification process has really helped me change things up a bit.  It has helped me step out of the box and embrace my creativity a bit more.  I have loved this process.

How can people get in touch with you? 
They can find me at the studio where I teach (and their Facebook page) and on my Facebook page.

Many thanks to these wonderful teachers for being so open to the journey. I look forward to seeing all the incredible teaching they continue to do! If you’re interested in learning more about how you can bring Curvy Yoga to your community, please click here.