Teacher Spotlight - Abigail

1. How did you come to practice yoga?

Growing up, I danced regularly as well as participated in gymnastics so when I moved to Omaha in 2011, choosing to do yoga seemed like a logical transition. I was accustomed to a lot of physical activity and wanted to continue that in college. In 2012, I found One Tree Yoga and solely practiced the hot series. During my early years of yoga practice, I was also working on my undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska Omaha studying public health.

2. When did you decide that you wanted to be a teacher? How long have you been teaching?

In 2016, I decided to explore other styles of yoga. With the addition of Vinyasa and Hatha yoga in my practice, I became incredibly curious about the yoga tradition and wanted to know more. I decided to pursue teacher training in the fall of 2016 at One Tree Yoga while also starting my master’s work in health behavior. I completed my RYT-200 in May of 2017 and have been teaching ever since. I enjoy how my education intertwines with the values of yoga.

3. What style(s) of yoga do you teach? What do you like about it/them?

I teach the Hatha style of yoga. I love teaching Hatha because it prioritizes alignment, which better prepares my students for a safe and rewarding practice. While I love a strong Vinyasa practice, I admire the fact that there’s no pressure to “flow” in a Hatha class. I feel as though this allows me to craft an intentional sequence for my practice as well as for my students. I have found that my Hatha practice positively influences my Vinyasa practice and vice versa. I also teach the Hot series. I enjoy the Hot yoga series because although it’s the same 26 postures every class, there’s always something new that comes up that sparks my curiosity.

4. What is your favorite pose? Why?

My favorite pose varies depending on the week, but lately I’ve been really loving Ardha Chandrasana, half-moon pose. I love how much is going on in this particular pose. There’s a balance component, hip/glute component, as well as an open twist. YUM!

5. What do you like to do when you’re not at yoga?

I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, as well as being outside. My soon-to-be husband, Tanner is a big part of my life and we really enjoy cooking, traveling, and hiking when we can. Tanner’s an avid weightlifter which has rubbed off on me a bit, so I enjoy other physical activities like lifting weights and running as well. I also teach yoga and stress management at the University of Nebraska Omaha, which is a job that I have quickly come to love.

6. Where can we find you on the One Tree Yoga schedule?

You can find me at the east studio on Tuesdays for Hatha from 9:30-10:45 a.m. and Sundays for Hot from 8:30-10 a.m. and at the west studio on Thursdays for Hatha from 9:15-10:30 a.m.