Hey y’all! Shanti Om. I’m Emily, but most of my friends call me Em. I teach yoga and SEL at an elementary school in Houston. My teaching path these last 7 years has led me to new adventures and I’ve learned a lot about myself. I never imagined teaching yoga and never thought I could do it full time, yet here I am.

In the middle of my masters program I decided to get my 200 hour teacher training and it was the best decision I’ve ever made for myself. My depression and anxiety were progressively getting worse and I was hating teaching so much I wasn’t sure I should even stay in education. I delved deep into myself and learned about self-awareness and presence which helped me not only understand myself better, but also be more grateful for the people and experiences in my life. Yoga, on and off the mat, has given me the tools to take care myself, value and deepen my relationships, and feel better mentally and physically.

I started doing recreational yoga and because I grew up playing sports and such, it came easy to me. I quickly learned through my teacher trainings that being an “athlete” and being flexible had nothing to do with yoga. Sure, it helps and the more you practice asana, the more flexible you can become, but it isn’t the end goal. What appealed to me most about yoga was the off-the-mat self-work. While asana can be difficult and sitting still in meditation can seriously be difficult, dealing with your thoughts and feelings is something not a lot of people enjoy. But I can tell you from personal experience that putting in the difficult work, that’s honestly never ending, can help you start to see things in a different light and maybe even enjoy yourself sometimes!

After realizing how much yoga helped me and because I’m a teacher at heart, I was drawn to teaching yoga to others. I am finishing up a certification for yoga therapy and I love seeing someone grow and heal. When a child’s face lights up from doing a fun yoga sequence, that look of pure serenity when they come up from savasana, and seeing someone’s shoulders drop after even just 3 deep breaths, proves that I am on my right path.

My hope is that I can give the tools I use for healing to others so that they may learn more about themselves, who they want to be, and what brings them joy. Yoga has helped me value myself more as well as finding new ways to enjoy my hobbies. I’m an avid reader, love to watch anything that makes me laugh, be silly at any chance, and do crafty things like make bracelets and redecorate spaces. I’ve learned to stop and appreciate these things more through reflection and being more present in the moment.

Life can be rough in this century and people hear all the time that we need to slow down and enjoy the little moments in life, but how do you do that? How do you enjoy little things when your mind has 25 tabs opened and thoughts are flying 90 miles a minute? Yes, it’s easier said than done. And yes, you may have to constantly remind yourself to stop and listen. But I can assure you that putting in the work can help you relax a little and spend more precious time in moments you never want to forget. I look forward to sharing my passion and knowledge with you.

Namaste, Em