Mardi Magoo

Path: I come to yoga by way of theatre, dance, prayer, motherhood and friendship, allowing spirit to move through my body, mind and heart, to bring me right here. I have a strong background in theatre, improvisation, dance, and early childhood education - building emotional and physical awareness through theatre exercises, rehearsal and performance; remembering how to play while teaching pre-school for five years; and feeling the greatest love of all with my favorite teachers, my kids. I have a young yoga practice of my own (studying mainly with Ti Harmony since 2001), and some experience with youth yoga instruction (taught yoga for a year at Carrboro Elementary School). What I bring to class is a deep appreciation and a desire to share what i know about the practice of yoga - a dance of strength, balance, flexibility, attention and love. Inspiration: My kids, no doubt. They inspire my joy, my growth, my open-heartedness, my fear, my anger and my struggle. It's a lovely balance, really. Practice: I practice in class a couple times a week. I practice off the mat all the time - listening to my body while i'm working at the computer, sitting in a way that feels the most aligned and balanced; walking in the woods with my dog and feeling my breath move in my belly; allowing awareness to deepen while i wash out a poopy diaper; eating a meal with love and intention - it's all yoga, right? balance, flexibility, endurance, playfulness, strength, love, awareness - these are qualities of experience that i cultivate in my yoga practice on and off the mat. Favorites for grounding: eating good food, walking in the woods, nursing my son, cosmo...and tree pose roots me nicely. Favorites for kickin' it: dancing! big bonfire! making joyful noise with folks!...and locust pose kicks my butt, does that count? Intention: I wish someone had helped me remember how to breathe well, long before i was 30 years old. I wish i had known sooner that i can consciously open my heart, that my body is an extension of spirit, that love really IS all you need. These are some things i am learning from yoga, and I'd love to share these small wisdoms with as many young people as I can find.