Introducing Yoga with Ashley
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi all! My name is Ashley and I’m a counselor and yoga instructor at IOME. I grew up on a ranch in Western Nebraska and went to college in Nebraska and Kansas before making the move to Northern Colorado a few years ago.
Growing up, my family would go on day trips to Fort Collins at least once a month to go thrift shopping and see the mountains, which is what inspired me to want to live in this area from a young age. I enjoy everything Colorado has to offer, including rock climbing, hiking/backpacking, the beauty of the mountains, as well as the health conscious and active atmosphere!
What has your journey with yoga been like?
I remember my first yoga class was in junior high, when my PE teacher’s daughter (who had recently studied to become a yoga teacher in India) came to visit and taught a class to us one day at school. I loved it so much that I started practicing at home with an Ashtanga Yoga home workout DVD and continued practicing off and on until college.
In college, I took many yoga classes and joined the yoga club on campus. I deepened my practice quite a bit during this time, and eventually started teaching free classes for my fellow students and was president of the yoga club for a year. After college, I again practiced off and on until deciding to take the plunge and invest in a yoga teacher training in Loveland, Colorado. :)
Why do you practice yoga?
I practice yoga for so many reasons! It is so great to strengthen your body and mind. Not only can it be an awesome work out, it also can be relaxing and recharging after a long day at work. When practicing at a gym/studio (or our office space in Eaton!), it brings people together to have a shared experience and support each other with whatever each person is working on, whether that is a physical goal (like getting into a certain pose) or a mental goal (promoting self-love or self-acceptance).
Does yoga count as self-care?
Absolutely! Self-care is defined as “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness” and yoga definitely fits into that description. Some of the many benefits of yoga are improved physical strength and flexibility, improved mental health, decreased stress and anxiety, increased immunity, improved balance, better sleep, improved self-esteem, and so much more!
Who do you think should practice yoga?
I have heard so many people say, “I can’t do yoga because I’m not flexible” and that is simply not true! Anybody at any physical level can practice yoga. You don’t have to be super naturally flexible (I’m definitely not) or in the best physical shape to practice. All you need is to show up on your mat and give yourself grace with wherever you are at!
If you are interested in beginning your yoga practice, I will be teaching yoga classes at our office space in Eaton (121 1st St, Eaton CO 805) every Wednesday starting August 24th at 5:15pm. For more information, click HERE or sign up for a class HERE!
If you have questions about yoga at Eaton or yoga in general, please feel free to email me at [email protected] 😊 I would love to hear from you!