"Moving from Sydney to Munich was exactly the trigger I needed!"
Mar 05, 2021
Do you know how Jacqui got into yoga? In an interview with @jacquinoelyoga, find out what made her decide to do a yoga teacher training and how her practice changed when she had a child of her own.
Dear Jacqui, how long have you been practicing yoga?
I have been practicing yoga since 2016. I started with a class at a local gym because I was looking for a way to move my body and get some exercise. I wanted to reverse the effects of sitting and working in an office every day and improve my overall fitness. Before that, I didn't really know much about yoga. Many years ago I tried a few yoga classes, however to be honest I hated them! I thought yoga wasn't for me because it was too slow and boring. I carried that view with me all these years. Still, I wanted to give it another chance every time, but I kept coming out of class without enjoying it. One day it was different, I don't know what it was, but I started to enjoy it. I believe yoga comes to you at the right time, when you need it the most and when you are ready to incorporate it into your life.
How does yoga affect you?
After the first class I attended in 2016, I felt like a new person. I wondered why I had never stuck with yoga before! I remember it was a flow class at lunchtime and I felt so good and happy afterwards. I had a demanding and quite stressful office job, yet once on the mat I was able to switch off and completely forget about stress. I was able to completely focus on the present and when your mind becomes free like that, magic happens! I felt so light and free. The combination of moving my body, connecting with my breath and being present was the ultimate release for me. I quickly started doing more yoga and also tried out many different styles such as Vinyasa, Yin, Hatha, Acro and Aerial.
Why did you decide to do the yoga teacher training?
The feelings described above are exactly the reasons why I decided to become a yoga teacher. I had the feeling that my eyes were opened. I wanted to share these feelings and benefits with everything around me with other people. I fell in love with the way yoga made me feel in my mind, body and soul. Seeing all these happy and beaming faces after class is what motivates me to keep going and keep sharing my practice with others.
When we decided to move from Sydney to Munich in 2018, I thought to take advantage of this change and also do the yoga teacher training right away. Becoming a yoga teacher was something I had been thinking about for a year, and moving around the world was just the trigger I needed. So a few months after moving to Germany, I did the yoga teacher training and became a certified Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin yoga teacher. And this continuous learning doesn't stop! The following year I did another yoga teacher training in Pre- and Postnatal Yoga, as well as Baby Yoga and Massage. In the meantime I am in another training in a completely different style of yoga, namely Ashtanga and Rocket Yoga.
Do you have any other hobbies besides yoga?
For a while I also did ballet. I trained professionally in this until I was 22 years old, but unfortunately after some injuries I was unable to continue. My love of ballet never faded and when I lived in London I found a group of enthusiastic adult ballet dancers to train with. I haven't danced for a few years now, but I still love incorporating the dance movements into my yoga flows.
Music and playing the piano is another one of my passions. I've been playing the piano since I was 5 years old, and it's another way I find relaxation. I could switch off for hours while playing the piano!
I also love to cook and try different dishes from around the world. As my parents own a restaurant back home in New Zealand, food has always been a big part of my childhood.
Has much of your yoga practice changed since your daughter was born?
Yes. It took me several months to get back into a physical yoga practice after my daughter was born. I didn't feel ready to do more than simple stretches for the first few months. There are so many physical changes after childbirth, which are different for every woman. The most important thing is to listen to your body and not rush things.
I used to practice while she was sleeping. But now she always wants to play on the mat as soon as I roll it out. That's why I practice around her or just include her in the practice. It gives us a great opportunity to spend time like this and she sees that her mother is also taking care of herself. I hope that she will learn to take good care of herself as she gets older.
What advice would you like to give to yoga beginners?
Keep trying! Keep coming back and trying brand new styles, with new teachers. There is a yoga style and yoga teacher for everyone. I too tried yoga so many times until I found a yoga style and teacher that suited me, at the right time. For the yoga practice you also have to be mentally open to accept it. Yoga offers many benefits! Besides the physical work with the body, yoga also helps you with stress, anxiety, depression, getting to know yourself better, etc.
Just give it a try, you have nothing to lose!