Staff Spotlight: Angela

It's time for another Staff Spotlight! This week I sat down with Angela to learn more about her, her practice, and her teaching. Angela's one of the first teachers to come on board at The Yoga Room - we go way back - but even still I learned some new things about her in this extended interview.

When did you start practicing yoga?

In college. I was intrigued by it. I started reading about Kundalini Yoga. What I read was that you have to be really careful practicing Kundalini, because if you don’t know what you're doing, you could drive yourself mad. And I thought, “Oooh! What is this!?” But I didn’t practice it. Hatha has always been my path.

My main practice was through reading and on my own because there were no yoga classes around. Later on there was a meditation group that I attended. I didn’t learn until later that we practice āsana to prepare our bodies for meditation.

Why do you practice yoga?

When I started practicing consistently, it was because I was teaching elementary school, so I practiced for stress relief and relaxation. I found it very effective.

When I lived in Hawaii there were just a few classes around. The class would be in somebody’s living room, then the next thing you knew, they weren’t doing it anymore. One lady taught yoga at the Y for awhile, then when attendance became low they dropped the class. Finding a yoga class was hit or miss. Only when we went to India in 1996 and spent 7 months there, the puzzle pieces of yoga and meditation started fitting together. It became more than just for relaxation.

When we came back from India I started looking for classes, and they were still few and far between, so I’d use yoga videos. My first video was given to me by my good friend Toni and it was Buns of Steel Yoga with Marguerite Baca, on VHS, and I still have it to this day! I would do that one daily, and when I could find classes I’d go to those too.

I’d bought books when we were traveling in India, and so I’d make my own little practices.

And then we moved here, and you know, yoga’s everywhere. I’d go to classes, and then I took a beginners series, just to make sure I was doing things right. And then when I sold my business, that’s when I realized I wanted to teach yoga. That was 8 years ago.

I practice now because it still makes me feel good. I feel alive, I feel life flowing through me. I feel yoga helps me take care of myself as I get older. That’s why my practice and my teaching are directed toward adults, and people my age and older, because we’re all aging, we’re all going through growing pains, we never stop, until we’re dead. Life is always unfolding and I think it’s a wonderful thing. And if I can assist people in their path and keep myself healthy, it’s a win-win for everybody!

What does your practice consist of?

Some days it’s gentle, some days it’s a little more amped up. And I have to be honest, I don’t practice āsana every day. I’ll do a little something every day, whether it’s a breathing practice, a meditation, or chanting. 

I primarily do gentle movements, taking my spine through its range of motion, because I know what I have going on (in my body) and what I need to do to alleviate any tightness or tension.

I incorporate different things into my practice, but not all in one day. If time permits, I might do a few things or all the things. And that’s the yoga, listening to what you need, rather than “have to,” “need to,” “should do,” “ought to.” When we think like that we get into trouble because it causes too much stress!

How do you maintain your motivation for your practice?

The way yoga makes me feel is motivation enough. Because if I don’t do it, if i don’t take care of myself, how is that going to affect (my husband) Raymond? How’s that going to affect the people around me? Because if I feel good and I’m happy, then other people will feel good and happy. If I’m grouchy and irritable and I take it out on the people I’m closest to, that’s no good. It happens, but yoga is my tool for maintaining the peace!

To me, happy means centered, joyful. We all have a certain level of happiness within us. But stress can put a lid on it and push it down within us. But when we open up and release the stress and tension, the happiness bubbles up, you can’t help it.

What part of your practice do you gain the most from?

Meditation. It gets my head right! It’s centering, it’s calming, it’s soothing. And I have to be honest with you, some days it’s really short and difficult, and some days it’s longer, but I welcome the stillness and the peace of mind. I like to go on my back porch, when weather permits, and sit outside and meditate. I feel connected and grounded.

In my meditation practice I focus on my breath and just observe what comes up and let it go. Not pushing it away, but just observing what comes up. Just bringing my awareness back to the breath.

And there are also days that I like a guided meditation. I use the Insight Timer app. You can search for whatever kind of meditation you need, by topic and duration, or you can use the sound of the singing bowl.

I also love chanting, I use a mala, and that’s a meditation as well. My go-to chant is the Ganesh mantra: Om gam Ganapataye namaha.

And another one I use, but I haven’t done in a while, is to release fear: Shante prashante sarva bhaya upasha mani swaha.

What made you want to become a yoga teacher?

I love to teach, I’m a teacher, that’s what I do. I was an elementary school teacher, a high school teacher, an elementary school teacher again, then I owned a business that was teaching. Somewhere in between all of that I worked in a doctor’s office. I really liked that - it was good. When we left Hawaii and moved back to Texas, I was interviewed to a manage a medical office. During the interview I was talking about teaching and that lightbulb moment when the kids gets it, and the lady interviewing me was like, “Wow, it’s good that you’re so on fire about that...” Her comment gave me pause, and that's when I realized my passion for teaching and knew that's where I needed to be.

I knew I wanted to get out of school teaching, and yoga was making me happy and I wanted to share that with others.

When people recommend my yoga classes, they often say that my classes are uplifting. I do let a sense of pleasure be the guide, not that we’re cracking up, well, we do laugh, we do laugh!

The other day a student brought in an inspirational story about “zeal” and “enthusiasm” and the students said that these words describe my classes perfectly. I agree they suit my teaching. I want people to feel great!

One day I received a sweet note from a lady who had been through some tough stuff. She took the time to let me know that she’d felt very comfortable and very supported in my class, that her spirits were lifted for the first time in a long time. That right there is what it’s all about. If we at The Yoga Room can help people feel comfortable and welcome, can make them smile and feel happy and content, mission accomplished!

When did you start teaching?

In 2010, right after I finished yoga teacher training. Then I started teaching at The Yoga Room in early 2011.

What are your main objectives in your teaching?

I want for people to learn more about themselves. At the beginning of every class, I encourage people to check in with how they’re feeling. In my mind, I envision that each person is like a snow globe that’s been shaken. We take time to let everything settle, then we check in physically, then we check in with the breath, and then check in with the mind. You don’t need to change anything, but just notice where you are, because we begin where we are. Then we go through the practice, and then we check in again at the end. And that’s when people notice that they DO feel different, better, than at the beginning of class.

What are you currently working on in your practice or as a teacher?

After Hurricane Harvey, I was so depleted. I felt like I needed to fill my vessel. Self care. I felt that I’d lost my joy. I made a social media challenge for myself and I received so much feedback from that, that people were feeling the same way and that the challenge really helped them. It was good. It was good! Five days into it, I was like, there’s my joy! But I continued on for 30, actually 45 days.

As yoga teachers, we’re not always floating around in a state of bliss. We don’t always have it all together. Nobody’s got it all together. We’re all a work in progress. Yoga is constant maintenance so we don’t get off kilter.

I’m going through a lot of change because of perimenopause. My yoga practice helps me keep an even keel and helps me get back on track. Self-care is what I’m working on in my practice.


Angela is such an asset to our team. Her long-standing practice informs her teaching, and when the stars align and we find time to get together, we have great discussions about each of our unique experiences practicing and teaching yoga. She helps me learn and grow.

Every teacher brings her own style to the studio, and Angela's style is definitely happiness and joy. Come see her at one of the many classes she teaches at The Yoga Room every week:

• Mondays: 10:30 a.m. Gentle and 5:30 p.m. Gentle
• Tuesdays: 9:15 a.m. Moderate
• Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m. Gentle and 5:30 p.m. Gentle
• Thursdays: 9:15 a.m. Moderate
• Fridays: 10:30 a.m. Gentle

We hope to see you soon!

Miss (Yoga) Manners

Chances are, when you visit a new place for the first time, you like have some idea about what to expect. And chances are, if you knew you were doing something that made others uncomfortable, you'd like to know about it.

This week's newsletter is dedicated to just that - etiquette. It's a quick and friendly review of etiquette tips to make sure you (and everyone around you) feel comfortable in our (or any!) yoga studio.

Shoes and Personal Belongings
When you visit a yoga studio, you'll likely be expected to remove your shoes, for a couple of reasons. One is to help keep the floors clean for everyone, the other is that shoes can affect your ability to balance well. If you're uncomfortable removing your shoes, it is ok to wear clean socks for the yoga practice, but please note that socks can feel a bit slippery in some poses.

At The Yoga Room you can place your shoes on the shoe shelf in the lobby. Any additional personal belongings, such as your purse, wallet, or keys, may be placed in a cubby in your classroom for safe keeping during class.

Arrival Time
Please arrive at least 5-10 minutes before your class begins. This gives you time to take off your shoes, handle any needed paperwork or payment, and visit the restroom before class begins. When a student arrives late for class, it can be disruptive to the rest of the students who have set down and organized their mats and props, and it can also be disruptive to the teacher's train of thought.

Cell Phones, Pagers, and Smart Watches
Unless you are a medical professional who is on call, please leave your cell phone in your car or make sure it is switched off or to airplane mode. Putting your phone in vibrate mode is not a good choice, as a vibrating cellphone can be a distraction in an otherwise quiet class, especially during relaxation or breathing practices. Let the yoga practice space be a safe haven where you take one hour to unplug from technology and connect with your body, your mind, and your spirit.

Clothing
Wear modest clothing for yoga practice. Yoga pants or longer shorts and a t-shirt or tank top are appropriate. Please note that the fabric of some yoga pants becomes transparent when stretched. You can test your yoga pants by stretching the fabric over your outstretched hand and observing how much light shines through. Most people are comfortable with a top that is slightly form fitted so that it stays in place in the various yoga postures.

Talking Between Classes
Since we have two practice rooms at The Yoga Room, there's often one class (or an Individual Instruction appointment) in session when the other class lets out. Loud talking in the lobby, the classroom, and even outside in the breezeway, can be disruptive to the concentration of both the students and the teacher who are in class. Please remember to use a quiet voice when speaking with classmates, teachers, and the reception staff.

Talking During Class
In a typical yoga class, the teacher speaks and sometimes demonstrates the instructions, and the students listen, watch, and practice. Students are encouraged to hold questions or comments until the end of class. Of course, if a posture is painful or uncomfortable, the student should quietly call the teacher over to seek additional guidance.

In workshop-type instructional environments, the teacher may ask direct questions to encourage reflection and discussion for the benefit of everyone.

Chewing Gum
Please refrain from chewing gum during class. Chewing gum disrupts your breathing and creates a distraction from your practice.

Perfumes, Scents, and Odors
Breathing is a very important aspect of the yoga practice. We breathe consciously during the āsana practice, in relaxation, and of course during prānāyāma (breathing practice). As such, it's important for the air in the room be fresh and free of any type of scent or odor.

Please make sure that your body is fresh and clean, and please refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, scented lotions, essential oils, or any other type of scent. You may love your favorite scent and believe that it is mild and pleasant, but one or more of your classmates, or even your teacher, may be sensitive or allergic to even the mildest of scents. Scents are even known to trigger migraines in some people.

Yoga Mats
Please keep your yoga mat clean by washing it periodically with a tiny bit of laundry or dish soap. You are welcome to use our mat spray between washes. It is located in the basket with our rental yoga mats.

Please be respectful of others’ yoga mats and do not step on them without permission.

Miss Manners' Yoga Philosophy for Advanced Practitioners
It is interesting to observe the relationship between the purpose of yoga and yoga studio etiquette. The purpose of yoga is to quiet the mind, which means that we are training the mind to be calm and remain undisturbed by everyday sensory distractions. Yoga etiquette addresses potential sensory distractions that may arise in a yoga studio environment.

• Shoes affect cleanliness and touch/balance.
• A person's late arrival affects that person's stress level and the sight and hearing senses of the other practitioners.
• The beeping and buzzing of cellphones affect the sense of hearing.
• Clothing affects the sense of touch and can also be a mental distraction.
• Talking occupies the mind of the speaker and the hearing sense of the listener.
• Chewing gum creates a physical/taste/breathing distraction for the chewer and a sound and potential sight distraction for the other practitioners.
• Perfumes, scents, and odors distract the sense of smell and can also cause a physical response (migraine headache).
• A dirty yoga mat can be a visual and possible smell distraction for oneself and one's fellow practitioners.

We are all affected by so many sensory stimuli in our daily lives: traffic, internet, news, loud music, pollution, discussions, debates, etc. The yoga studio is an oasis where we can soothe our senses and capitalize on the opportunity to train our minds and our ability to focus, so that little by little, we become liberated from sensory distraction.

I know that philosophy discussion was pretty deep - I'd love to hear any comments, questions, or observations you may have about yoga etiquette and/or yoga philosophy. Please email me at zelinda@rryogaroom.com if there's anything you'd like to share or discuss.

And please feel free to forward this to any friends who are thinking about starting a yoga practice. Hopefully, knowing what to expect in a yoga studio setting will help them feel comfortable and confident to try their first class.

Hope to see you soon!