March Teacher of the Month: Lisa Giordano

What in your practice inspires you to teach: Simply put, on my mat I become me. We're all on this journey of life, and at times it can feel like were an unwilling passenger. But, through a regular yoga practice one begins to become undone. I wanted yoga to be in my life forever and I thought the way to ensure that would be to make it part of my career. I love teaching–it holds me accountable to being the person that I know I can be. It forces me to show up and in turn my students show up. I love it!

 
Tell us a little about your yoga journey and how this influences what you bring across in your teaching? It started as a blind journey into a Bikram studio with a family member who had a hip injury simply telling myself I would be ok. In other words, ninety minutes of postures in one hundred and eight degree heat, I sweat and burned in areas I didn’t even know existed. By the time Savasana came around, I collapsed in a pool of sweat on my mat unaware of anyone around me even the person I came with.  I attributed this stillness to pure exhaustion but it wasn’t until months later that I realized I spent most of my life running and moving away from everything that I didn’t want to face, fear, attachment, stress, love, and failure.  It was on my mat that I could finally stop running, face the sensations and totally surrender. Everyday, in every way, I was getting stronger.  Years later I joined Kaia Yoga in Greenwich and soon after began my many teacher trainings. Everyday is a new day full of lessons.  I hope to bring across authentic, welcoming, and playful classes so that my students can learn, explore their bodies and stop the chatter in their minds long enough to be the best person that they can be and show up.

What is your favorite activity outside of yoga and how does yoga help this activity? Of course, spending time with my daughter, friends and family are at the top but also traveling.   I am always ready for an adventure. I have trekked through Peru, sailed through Greece, traveled throughout Australia and have been lucky enough to live in London for a few years and explore most of Europe with my daughter.  I would also say that I am addicted to the ocean.  If I could live, boat, or walk on a beach everyday it would be my perfect meditation.   The experience of new cultures, traditions and lifestyles only confirmed that we are all one and similar in so many ways.  Every day is an adventure and I am open to possibility.  

What makes teaching at Kaia yoga a unique experience? Students, students, students….Teaching at Kaia has introduced me to an entirely new network of people and friends.  Of course I still keep in touch with all of my old friends (even though most of them don’t do yoga), But I also spend an incredible amount of time with those who love to practice. Students at Kaia find themselves part of a community.  I am amazed at how I look to my students sometimes to tell me the names of other practitioners for they know one another.  Gina and Stan have created something special.  There is something for everyone at Kaia from the vast majority of classes being offered, teachers on the schedule and there’s even something for the kids with kid’s class offerings.