Teacher Feature: Emily Smith

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Emily has been involved with Freeport Yoga Company from the very beginning; even before the construction of the studio, and when it was all just a jumble of ideas on paper. She is an integral member of this thriving yoga community and continues to evolve as a teacher.  Her classes are taught with an intelligence and precision that is rare.  It has been remarkable to see her dedicated students not only grow, but also sustain healthy and strong yoga practices over the months (and years!), thanks to her stellar teaching.  If you’ve yet to take a class with Emily, you can catch her Tuesday/Thursdays at 9:30am for Align  & Flow and/or Wednesdays at Noon for Yin Yoga!  Read on to learn a little more about Emily!

What made you try yoga for the first time?   A mysterious hip injury.  It was agony getting in & out of the car.

What’s your favorite book and why?  Oh dear.  I have so many.  The answer to that changes daily. The first book I can remember not wanting to put down was A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway.  More recently, some favorites are – Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann, and The Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell.  I love a book that sweeps me away and takes me to another time and place.

What inspires you?  My kids.  Being outside – on the water or in the woods – surrounded by natural beauty

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure? A nap in the sun.

How do you stay balanced?  How do you unwind? Yoga, of course.  Reading.  Listening to music.  Taking a walk in the woods or on the beach.

What’s your favorite part about teaching yoga?  The people I meet, and the endless opportunities to learn and explore and share.

How do you try to live a mindful life?  I am working on not “reacting”, but rather carefully choosing my actions.  I am also working on “non-grasping”.  A fellow yogi once said, “letting go does not mean getting rid of.”  I am exploring how to make that work for me.

Words (or quote) to live by? “There has never been, nor will there ever be, a life free from problems.  It is not the presence of problems, but how we tackle them, that determines the quality of our lives.”

Best trip you’ve ever taken? Italy with my kids and extended family.  It was such a treat to re-visit some familiar places, but see them in a whole new way through the eyes of my young children.  All inhibitions were stripped away.

What’s your favorite yoga pose and why?  I can’t pick.  It depends on the day.  Savasana always works;)

The best thing about living in Maine is . . . .  September.

Favorite playlist? I’ve been listening to country music for the past several months, which is a big departure for me.  I never EVER thought I would be listening to country music.  I am finding it strangely comforting and entertaining.

What do you love about Freeport Yoga Company?  The warm, friendly atmosphere.  I often hear new students say how comfortable they felt walking in the door for the first time.  It’s not intimidating.  I’m proud of that.

 

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