Teacher Spotlight: Jamie

1. How did you come to practice yoga?

About 25 years ago my husband took a yoga class in Fargo, ND where we lived at the time. He told me I would like it. I started taking classes and continued. His claim to fame is that he got me started in yoga and mine is that I taught him how to drive a motorcycle. He doesn’t have a yoga practice and I don’t have a motorcycle, but I will always practice yoga.

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

I was encouraged by yoga teachers to think about teaching. I took 3 sessions of YogaFit and started teaching. When I took a class atOneTreeYoga with Theresa Murphy, I knew there was so much more to learn to be the best teacher I could. I was in the OTY class of 2010 that included a two week intensive with Tias Little. I continue to study with Tias and other teachers, take workshops and attend retreats. I feel like I am just scratching the surface of this lifelong practice. I put in my 500 hours at OTY and am very close to completing my 500 hours with Prajna Yoga.

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

The styles of yoga I teach are Hatha, Vinyasa, Basics, Align and Flow, Yin, Restorative, Aerial, Kids and Seniors. My goal with every class is for the student to leave feeling better than when they came. I love using props and modifications to make poses accessible. I especially like to see students smile when they accomplish something they didn’t think was possible. I worked as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist many years ago, so anatomy and alignment are very important when I teach and practice.

4. What is your favorite pose? Why?

My favorite pose is Ardha Chandrasana (half of the moon pose). It opens the throat, heart and hips. It works on balance and can be done with many different props and modifications.

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

When I am not practicing yoga I enjoy gardening, cooking, canning, sewing and being close to nature. I like early mornings with my husband before bootcamp. I also love tending to my chickens!

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

I teach Seniors yoga west at 10:30 on Tuesdays
Align and Flow east at 11:30 Fridays
Seniors east at 1:00 Fridays
I also enjoying subbing when needed