How did you get started at Dfly?
I was gifted a 10 class pass from a friend and we attended a few classes together. I had practiced yoga previously but never in the heat.
What is/was your yoga/barre experience before Dfly?
I have been practicing yoga on and off for about 14 years. My first classes were Hatha and then Shadow Yoga (modern yogis) all at Yoga Shala in Portland, OR. When we moved to Wisconsin I started to use a yoga app to practice at home and then pandemic and so it’s been great to get back to a studio.
What do you enjoy most from attending Dfly classes?
Well, I love the heat as well as every instructor I have experienced thus far. I also like the idea of a yoga community. I have yet to actually connect beyond simple small talk with anyone in a class but I like the energy of practicing in a group.
Have you experienced any changes in your total well-being since taking classes?
Coming back to a studio feels like a return to self. I have kids and they have required a lot of energy and time– joining and going to classes is a wonderfully selfish, take care of me act. Sure, my youngest just turned 8 but I am still having moments of “Who was I before motherhood? What did I like?”
How often do you attend classes? Favorite class?
I strive to come 4 times a week. My favorite class is Kay’s 10:30am Saturday morning class. I love that studio with the windows and Kay is amazing. I am happy to “take what I need and need what I take” and I believed her immediately when she said it. I appreciate her commitment to adding a little dharma to our practice and she radiates positive vibes.
When my classes were running out and I was unsure about joining, I overheard Kyle tell someone that he was starting 5:30am classes and I knew that I needed to join and attend those classes. I love coming to yoga half asleep and practicing before I do very much else. He is also amazing and I have really felt awesome on those Tuesdays and Thursdays. As he suggests, I do tell myself thank you for waking up and making this happen– it is not always easy.
Please feel free to share any other thoughts you have about Dfly, hot yoga, or your life as we would love to know more about you.
I practice on the mat, but I also try to practice in my life in general – I read the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali every day and would love to be more committed to all 8 limbs. One of my early yoga instructors turned me on to Richard Freeman’s Yoga Matrix and I still listen to the CDs (yes, CDs!) and feel inspired by the sheer depths of practice available. As an American woman in her 40s, I feel more comfortable in my skin than I ever have (the magic of 40? I think so) and I am so stoked to be doing something that makes me sweat and strong and never makes me want to get on a scale or measure my “success”. I love the clarity and focus that come with practice and I hope to continue on this journey with Dragonfly! Thank you!
Instructor Kay Lera: “Angela is dedicated to her practice. She “gets” how to do yoga. She practices with purpose and seems to know when to notch it up as well as when to take it easy. Well deserved, thank you for your positive energy!”
