Kelly Curtis, RYT
For me, yoga is aspiring for balance on and off the mat, and I hope to bring that experience to my classes.
Ten years ago, a dear friend was teaching PiYo, a mix of pilates and yoga. I had tried yoga a few times before but had spent five years focusing my practice on pilates, so I was intrigued to give this combination a try! I was also considering getting certified to teach pilates at this time, but I was wrapping up my Bachelors and Masters degrees, preparing to start my full time career, and had my young daughter to take care of; it just felt like the wrong time to add teaching into the mix. After that, I continued to practice a fitness style of yoga on my own when I had time.
It wasn’t until a year ago that I discovered classical yoga and experienced the benefits of adding relaxation and pranayama (breath control) to my practice. A lot has changed in my life over the last couple of years, and with my daughter grown and moving onto the next chapter in her journey, it was time to start thinking about what my next chapter would look like.
During a trip in January 2023, I started to rekindle the desire to teach that had developed 15 years prior when I began pilates. I had just wrapped up three weeks of long hours at work, and saw that the resort I was staying at offered yoga. Since I was building my practice back up, I signed up. Like many of us, it’s hard to walk away and unplug from our jobs, and it really clicked for me that my yoga practice was helping me unplug, even for just a little while. I wanted to not only experience that for myself, but I wanted to give that release to others. When I got home from that trip, I saw an invitation to an information session on becoming a yoga instructor. This was what my next chapter was going to be! I attended the information session for Mandala Moon Yoga studio’s teacher training and told myself, I’m just going to learn what this is about and will maybe take it next year. The very first slide put aside all my concerns, “If you’re here, you’re ready”. I completed my 200-hour training in July 2023, and I was privileged to study anatomy under Floradell Clarke, who brought about a curiosity I thought I had lost, and Dena Beratta, who is a masterful teacher, bringing years of guidance and knowledge to her students. Dena helped expand my knowledge of yoga philosophy and history, deepened my practice of asanas (postures) and pranyama. I continue to build on what I’ve learned within my own practice in the hopes of helping to guide others along their own journeys.
The impact of this training has been felt both on and off the mat; I have not only gained balance, but also confidence, and through my classes, I hope to provide an inclusive experience that allows space for you to focus on your own growth and personal journey. I look forward to the opportunity of sharing my learnings with you to help guide and grow your own practice.
Ten years ago, a dear friend was teaching PiYo, a mix of pilates and yoga. I had tried yoga a few times before but had spent five years focusing my practice on pilates, so I was intrigued to give this combination a try! I was also considering getting certified to teach pilates at this time, but I was wrapping up my Bachelors and Masters degrees, preparing to start my full time career, and had my young daughter to take care of; it just felt like the wrong time to add teaching into the mix. After that, I continued to practice a fitness style of yoga on my own when I had time.
It wasn’t until a year ago that I discovered classical yoga and experienced the benefits of adding relaxation and pranayama (breath control) to my practice. A lot has changed in my life over the last couple of years, and with my daughter grown and moving onto the next chapter in her journey, it was time to start thinking about what my next chapter would look like.
During a trip in January 2023, I started to rekindle the desire to teach that had developed 15 years prior when I began pilates. I had just wrapped up three weeks of long hours at work, and saw that the resort I was staying at offered yoga. Since I was building my practice back up, I signed up. Like many of us, it’s hard to walk away and unplug from our jobs, and it really clicked for me that my yoga practice was helping me unplug, even for just a little while. I wanted to not only experience that for myself, but I wanted to give that release to others. When I got home from that trip, I saw an invitation to an information session on becoming a yoga instructor. This was what my next chapter was going to be! I attended the information session for Mandala Moon Yoga studio’s teacher training and told myself, I’m just going to learn what this is about and will maybe take it next year. The very first slide put aside all my concerns, “If you’re here, you’re ready”. I completed my 200-hour training in July 2023, and I was privileged to study anatomy under Floradell Clarke, who brought about a curiosity I thought I had lost, and Dena Beratta, who is a masterful teacher, bringing years of guidance and knowledge to her students. Dena helped expand my knowledge of yoga philosophy and history, deepened my practice of asanas (postures) and pranyama. I continue to build on what I’ve learned within my own practice in the hopes of helping to guide others along their own journeys.
The impact of this training has been felt both on and off the mat; I have not only gained balance, but also confidence, and through my classes, I hope to provide an inclusive experience that allows space for you to focus on your own growth and personal journey. I look forward to the opportunity of sharing my learnings with you to help guide and grow your own practice.