Why do you prioritize your yoga practice?
I prioritize it for my mental health. I feel like it’s easier to get to my center when I am consistent with my practice. Without a consistent practice, it’s easier to lose sense of myself…when I’m going with the pace of the world, it’s easy to feel lost in all of that. But I have noticed that when I have stayed consistent with my practice, when the world does feel crazy or things just feel like a lot, I can come back to my center and find my peace within.
How has yoga helped you physically?
First and foremost, yoga has saved my knees! When I was 25, doctors told me I had knees of a 60 year old. I couldn’t even walk straight down a set of stairs. Yoga has helped strengthen all the muscles etc around my knees and improved my joint mobility – eventually, all my knee pain has gone away!
I love yoga because it’s helped me find myself. There was a long time in my life when I was afraid to be myself, and I masked that fear with drugs and alcohol. Yoga has helped me learn how to be cool with and love myself without those habits. I also love the community we have here, and I know that plays a huge role in my mental health.
Do you have any favorite poses?
I’ve been working on a deeper malasana squat with a straighter spine. And I also love a good camel pose! It’s helped my low back feel amazing. It’s a pose I never thought I could do, but now I love it.
How has your yoga practice changed over time?
I see yoga differently than when I first started. At first, I really cared about the physical part of the practice, but then as I kept practicing I noticed the mental benefits – not just that one hour here on the mat, but the mental benefits the other 23 hours of the day are rad too. Now I know how to sooth myself when life is hitting me in the face and shit gets crazy – and that is a very valuable skill to have!
What’s one thing you’re excited about for 2024?
I’m excited to be outdoors with my family this summer! And I feel excited to further my practice and knowledge as a teacher. I’m not sure what that will look like yet, but I’m excited to have the desire for more mental stimulation and to become a better teacher…possibly within the areas of breathwork or anatomy – stay tuned!
What’s one thing you’re proud of?
I am proud of my daughters. And I’m proud of myself, I’m proud of being a teacher at TYU, I’m proud of my consistency to hit 700 classes! All the benefits that have come from those 700 classes…it’s crazy to think about!
Hunter! You are simply a delight. We are so proud of you, and so deeply grateful to have you in our yoga family – as a teacher & as a student!
xoxo,
the yoga underground
Have you had a wonderful yoga journey at the yoga underground? We’d love to spotlight you! Email us at yogaundergroundutah@gmail.com and let us know. We love you!
