Teacher Feature: Anaya
Sometimes someone walks into the studio and you know they are supposed to be here. As a teacher, it’s the way they move their bodies and take care of themselves. It’s the way they listen to cues and implement them but also follow their own wisdom. It’s the way they smile in their practice. For me, it’s just an energy that feels warm. This is exactly what happened when Anaya came to her first class here. I had no idea she was a teacher. I just loved having her in class. She was sweet, kind and connected to presence. So after class we began talking and it turne out she was moving here FROM Texas. And we had a teacher moving TO Texas. Anaya had on a sunflower tee and Ashley (who was moving) has a sunflower tattoo on her shoulder. Somehow I knew this was fate. Ashely is a beloved teacher who I have known a long time. We were going to miss her.
But in walks this spirit who then shares with me she is also a yoga teacher. I had to know more… so we went for coffee and chatted and it was a done deal. Anaya immediatlely became part of our team. She hasn’t lived here long, but she already knows WAY more people than I do. She’s a mover and a shaker and connects instantly to those around her.
Anaya’s classes are incredibly sweet and just what you need. The combo of movement and stillness. Challenge and softness. The perfect balance. During Savasana, you even get a head massage and essential oils if you wish. And on Saturdays, you get the gift of a soundbath to close class. What could be better than that! So this month, as our community focus is SHARE… it had to be Anaya. She is always sharing her gifts, sharing yoga, sound, presence even our first ever Fall Market and Open House with each of you.
When you step into Anaya’s class, she also has a magic moment where she asks you to be brave and share a part of yourself- saying hello to someone in class before you officially begin. As an introvert who craves quiet, this is hard for me. BUT I have found it leads to a deep sense of connection. And when I practice after the communal greetings, I am connected to everyone in the room. It’s not just about me any more. And isn’t this just what we need? Communal healing? Yes, please.
From Anaya:
What brought you to yoga? I am an experiential person, & I've always loved exploring movement in different ways. That curiosity took a long, winding path from just a few yoga classes on the beach to spending three months in a yoga intentional community during my search for a different way of life. This is where I learned that yoga was so much more than the postures & I dove even deeper a few years later when I discovered the research on the effectiveness of yoga in trauma recovery. It has been part of my own recovery & allowed me to support others in their recovery.
What is your favorite part about teaching? My favorite part of teaching is being of service to others, when someone shares that something I've said or done has made a difference.
What inspires you to create the connection moment at the beginning of class? I've moved around a lot & always felt like an outsider wherever I went. Being invited in was something I deeply wanted to feel & I know I'm not alone in wanting that. Community & connection are possibly more important than ever in today's world. I want people to have a place where they truly feel welcomed & invited in. Everyone deserves to have that. I do give the caveat that if someone is not in the head or heart space to do this, as with every part of my class, it's an invitation, not a command to participate.
What inspired you to create the fall market? My three personal pillars are creativity, wellness, & community. This hits all three. I love gathering people together & witnessing others' joy. Also, Greenville Yoga has been such a special place for me since I moved here; I find myself looking for ways to be more involved & support the community.
Thank you Anaya, for your entusiasm and bright light. You push us all to grow and for that we are grateful.
