1. How did you find your way to yoga?
I am relatively new to yoga. I have been practicing for about two years. A close
friend brought me to Lila on the last day before she moved out of state. I
immediately fell in love with yoga and the studio, and cherish this as an amazing
parting gift. In the past, I was never able to sustain a regular physical regimen,
but yoga easily found its way into my daily life. I am at Lila 4 days a week and
practice at home on other days. I’ve always been very much in my head and feel
like this is the first time I’ve completely occupied my body.
2. What do you do for a living?
I am a visual artist and make sculptures that explore the history of nature. I also
teach art part time, currently in the MFA program at the Rhode Island School of
Design. You can see my work at: www.laurenfensterstock.com
3. Are you able to incorporate your yoga practice into your career or into
your daily life off the mat?
Yoga is a great counterpoint to working in my studio and teaching. The yoga
studio is the one place where I can be a total failure without consequence. If I fall
over or can’t complete a pose, then I just try again. It is a huge relief to find that
precious place where I can be a student instead of teacher, amateur instead of
professional. I’ve been working diligently on my practice and take it very
seriously, but I am able to let go of expectations in the yoga studio in a way that
is difficult elsewhere in my life.
4. What is the best thing about the Lila yoga community?
On a programmatic level, every Lila class offers a unique sequence, so I never
get bored or grow to rely on the comfortably familiar. The intimate size of the
community allows teachers to really get to know students’ unique challenges.
Lila teachers always seem to be following student progress and thinking about
each student’s overall development. It’s like having a yoga architect helping to
guide my long-term progress.
On a personal level, there is an intimacy to the community that feels amazingly
supportive and nonjudgmental. I have come to know a few fellow yogis outside
the studio, but many I just see on the mat and still consider friends. I find it so
funny that there is a group of people I only know because we go to a room to
make shapes together!
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.