Kelsey Brown is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor at CorePower Yoga in Denver, Colorado and a long-time friend. In fact, we have known each other so long that I have had the honor of witnessing Kelsey’s yoga journey over a couple of decades.
What do you appreciate about the Denver yoga scene?
Denver has a thriving yoga scene which makes yoga incredibly accessible for so many people. Studios, teacher trainings, workshops and yoga education are abundant in this town.
What does yoga mean to you?
I always come back to one of the teachings about yoga from the Bhagavad Gita that says, “Yoga is the journey of the Self, through the Self, to the Self.” There are subtle changes happening all the time in our physical/emotional/spiritual bodies. When we pay attention to that inner wisdom flowing inside us, we begin to know ourselves better so that we can live happier, fuller lives. Yoga gives us the opportunity to reconnect with our essential self so that over time, we begin to know that we can access our inner wisdom at all times, not just on the mat.
What are you working on in your practice at the moment?
Physically, I’m always working on strengthening my inversion practice. I love standing and balancing postures, but I struggle with inversions! Otherwise, this fall I’ve been focused on finding gratitude for exactly where I am and stopping to appreciate what’s there. I’ve been focusing on slowing down my breath in each asana and moving more intentionally so I can find engagement in every single area of my body.
What do you love about teaching?
One of my mantras is that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. I love that teaching yoga forces me to get out of my comfort zone every single class because that’s how I grow. Teaching is incredibly humbling. Yoga has gotten me through grief and stress and also taught me to enjoy more. If I can give a student at least one drop of what yoga has given me over the years, I’ve done my job right. I love the idea that I’m giving back by helping people heal if they need it.
What was one of the biggest takeaways from your training at Corepower Yoga and how has it shaped your teaching style?
To me, yoga is as much about getting a good, rewarding physical workout as it is a spiritual practice. I love that CPY considers those two aspects of the practice to go hand-in-hand. The CPY community is so incredibly inclusive and supportive of its teachers. Sure there are formulas and guidelines to stick to so that the quality of the practice is upheld, but I always feel encouraged to be myself and to allow my teaching style to evolve so that it represents my own unique voice.
Anything else you want fellow yogis to know?
Remember that yoga is a practice. It takes time to get comfortable with certain poses. Beginner yogis can be surprised by how physically demanding yoga is when they first start practicing. It’s always okay to go at your own pace and to observe other students. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else in the room and let yourself really get lost in it. Ask the teacher questions if something doesn’t feel right and don’t forget to breathe — it’s good for you!
