Teacher Spotlight: Meet Lynsi

Tell us a little about you.

I grew up in Dubuque, Iowa and came to Omaha to attend Creighton University. I have stayed ever since graduating and have found a home in the Omaha community. Off the mat, I work at Gallup and feel fortunate to love what I do and the people with whom I work. I feed my insatiable curiosity by reading. I spend as much time outdoors as I can, either cycling or in a hammock.

What is the biggest impact that yoga has had on your life?

My yoga practice is deeply intertwined with my meditation practice, so it is hard to credit one. Both have deepened my awareness in my body and mind. I have noticed that I tend to “grip” certain ideals, whether it is a desire of how I want a practice to go or a desire of how I would like an aspect of my life to unfold. Through yoga and meditation, I have been able to notice this tendency, and hold out an open hand, to let go of what the ideal is, and be inviting to whatever may come my way. I have learned that whatever comes my way is likely to serve me better than the ideal I was gripping in the first place.

When do you apply the lessons of yoga in your daily life?

Consistently throughout my day, I have become more aware, curious, and accepting of my thoughts through mental noting. When I am in a pose, I may acknowledge that it looks or feels different than the same pose I did the day before. Through practice, I have become more curious about the differences. This translates to my daily life when I encounter something that I do not expect. Maybe my breath pattern picks up at an unexpected time, and I sense that I am feeling uneasy. I acknowledge it and get curious.

What are your 3 go-to poses if you need a quick practice?

Forward fold. I think I am forever in tight hamstring club. I do this every single morning and think I will have to do it every morning until death do us part.Pigeon. The constant repetitive motion cycling and running is hard on my IT bands, so I need to give them some love.Downward dog. I am a fan of a dog with movement, especially dropping one hip at a time. It feels great for my spine.

What is your favorite style of yoga right now and why?

This is so tough. When I am the best version of myself, I am practicing a variety styles. Recently, my body craves slow movement with longer holds so yinyasa has been my jam.

What is unique about your classes and your style of teaching?

One of the reasons that I chose to do teacher training at One Tree was because of how inclusive the studio is. I hope to foster a sense of community in my classes, as if we are all “efforting” together. I have met some of my favorite humans through yoga, so I hope I facilitate an environment where others feel they can come as they are and bring their whole self to class.