We see you—yogis, meditators and wellness seekers. We see you creating meaningful connections and making changes both big and small (and all important). We see you in your yoga classes, at your workshops, in your workplaces and among friends. We see you and we want you to know, YOU inspire us!
To celebrate our inspirational tribe we asked one of our favourite tribe members, Helen Camisa—powerful woman, comedian and yoga teacher—about how her community helps her shine and what she loves about teaching yoga to all different body types. Check out what she had to say here.
Q: Can you tell us about a time when you felt supported by a group of women?
A: I am lucky to say that I feel supported by women all the time. The women that I have met in the yoga community have become incredible friends to me, and we check in regularly and meet up as much as we can. We might simply have a meal and a laugh. Or, sometimes we sit in a circle and do a check in with each individual person. We even have an ongoing Facebook chat for those people that no longer live in Vancouver, so that they can remain a part of the gang. It feels incredibly supportive and I don’t know where I’d be without these women. My heart feels very full because of them.
Q: What made you decide to start teaching yoga?
A: I did my teacher training with no plans to teach. I simply wanted to learn more. But the change in myself (especially in the way that I treat myself and relate to my body) has been so profound, that I really wanted to share it.
Q: If you could give one tip to other yoga teachers who want to make all students feel comfortable in their classes no matter their experience level, body shape, race, sexuality or gender what would it be?
A: I think the way that we welcome people at the beginning of class is huge. Creating a comfortable space for everyone and reminding people to do what feels right for them gives them the freedom to explore (and hopefully fall in love with) the practice on their own terms.
Q: What do you love most about teaching yoga?
A: The students. I love them!
Q: What do you like about teaching Full Bodied yoga classes?
A: I love that it offers people who may not have tried yoga, a space to come and play and feel comfortable.
Q: If someone with a bigger body was considering going to a yoga class for the first time what advice would you give them?
A: Do it! You don’t need to be somewhere where they offer yoga for bigger bodies. You just need to find a space and a teacher that resonates with you, and the rest will come. That’s how I got started.
Helen Camisa
A comedian, storyteller and Vancouver yoga teacher who teaches yoga to people with all body types across the city. Helen’s passion is helping people feel good in their own skin. A teacher since 2012, Helen loves to share yoga with anyone who expresses an interest, especially those, like herself, who might never have considered themselves yogis in this lifetime. Follow Helen on Facebook and Instagram for quirky and entertaining posts and to find out more about Helen or check out her teaching schedule go to helencamisa.com.
