Tiffany is a yoga and motion trainer, author, poet and religious seeker. She is a devoted pupil of the energetics of yoga – particularly studying how this modality can create soul-expanding change in our trendy lives. Tiffany’s lessons use inventive flows, with a powerful give attention to embodiment to problem, uplift and empower the practitioner of their follow.
Inform us about your yoga journey
I’ll provide the cliff notes model…
My yoga journey began about 13 years in the past. I danced up till I used to be 20 years outdated once I gave up pursuing it professionally. Throughout the next 4 years I moved to London, acquired a 9-5 and prevented any class that came about within the studio. Finally, I had this calling to carry motion again into my life, however I used to be in search of one thing that wasn’t dance, and I assumed, why not attempt yoga?
I discovered this little hidden studio simply across the nook from my flat referred to as Yoga Place. I walked right into a random class on a Thursday evening with a trainer referred to as Leila Sadeghee; effervescent, humorous, an unimaginable storyteller. Her speak at the start of the category had me instantly enthralled – then the motion a part of the category began. I didn’t know the phrases, however I might form of comply with alongside after which my first savasana was an absolute journey! I felt a way of stillness and calm that I’d by no means felt earlier than and in that second I assumed ‘I would like extra of this’. So I went the following week, and the following week and the week after that.
And that’s form of the way it began.
I had been practising with Leila for just a few years when she requested me if I used to be going to take their YTT. I instantly mentioned no – who was I to be a trainer of this factor I loved a lot and felt I knew so little about. I used to be reluctant to say the least, however to her credit score she noticed one thing in me that I didn’t. Leila requested me sporadically over the following 2 years once I was going to dive in and at some point I stunned myself and mentioned ‘sure, I’m in!’
I look again now on how scared I used to be, the best way I questioned my capacity and the way perhaps I wasn’t prepared, however the stage of help, spaceholding and high quality of the coaching was phenomenal and fully remodeled my life in a means that I can’t even start to explain. I discovered a lot about myself, how I present up, how clever my physique is, a thirst for data that I hadn’t had since I used to be at college, this need to essentially get to know what it means to domesticate a religious follow and the way infinitely huge this life is.. And so yeah, right here I’m now. It feels as if these 13 years have gone in a flash, however there’s a lot that has occurred and unfolded I would wish just a few extra pages to essentially dive in. Finally, I’m full of an awesome gratitude, it’s actually an honour to proceed strolling this path.
What sort of yoga trainer would you say you’re?
I’m closely influenced by my dance background and the lecturers that I’ve had the possibility to study from have proven me the quite a few methods and depths through which I can inhabit and transfer my physique. So, if I have been to explain myself as a trainer I might say that; I encourage the motion to be an exploration into the numerous layers of consciousness (delicate and gross) that we are able to entry. Right into a remembrance of the capability of the physique to open up and create spaciousness, not solely in our bodily, but in addition in our emotional and energetic our bodies – you might say a information into uncovering the distinctive topography of you. And thru all of that, within the centre of all of it, is a deep properly of fierce freedom that if we are able to start to crack open even a bit of bit has the ability to remodel our life.
How has your yoga developed?
I believe as a dancer the bodily side of yoga was what initially referred to as to me – the work, the sweat, the bodily tiredness, the capability to sculpt my muscle tissue, to check my energy, to extend my flexibility – I used to be actually drawn to that because it felt acquainted.
However at that time I didn’t realise I used to be simply scratching on the floor of what was doable. By means of my trainer Leila and different unimaginable lecturers (Tara Judelle, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Paula Andreewitch and Adriana Rizzolo, amongst others) I used to be launched to integrative, somatic and experiential embodiment practices that moved past conventional asana and gave me so many new pathways to discover.
So for some time my bodily follow grew to become softer, extra delicate; It was much less about poses and that bodily excessive of an intense class and extra about refining my internal attunement to the intelligence of my physique. Exploring totally different pathways into consciousness and inevitably growth; by means of the organs, bones and area, for instance, whereas actually deeply listening to what my physique wanted. Alongside that I started to construct a gentle every day follow of mediation, mantra, prayer and the contemplative elements of the follow.
And now I’ve come full circle in some methods. I’m discovering a number of pleasure within the artwork of pose craft and exploring the number of asana obtainable, however I’ve a brand new appreciation for it. The embodiment through-line runs by means of all of it and I believe in the end the query I’m all the time asking myself is ‘how am I orienting myself in the direction of a deeper embodied consciousness whereas doing this or that?’. And there’s positively much less of the striving (although it nonetheless occurs!) to attain a sure purpose or to satisfy a sure aesthetic and extra of a constant schooling and deep appreciation of what my physique is able to.
Has your individual follow modified because of any further trainer coaching?
I’ve had the chance to be guided by some superb lecturers who’ve proven me new methods of being, transferring and have impressed me no finish, however three honourable mentions…
I’ll without end be grateful to Leila Sadeghee and her continued steering over the previous 13 years. If in case you have the chance to expertise a category, workshop or retreat together with her, DO IT! I can assure it is going to be an expertise that can shift your perspective.
Additionally, by means of varied lecturers I used to be launched to the work of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen and Physique Thoughts Centering and wow – it’s simply so wealthy and a very totally different means of experiencing this physique we reside in.
And lastly Physique Temple Dance created by Adriana Rizolo – not strictly a yoga coaching – however a deep dive into the ability of somatic motion and devotion as a therapeutic artwork.
However, I personally want to prolong the lens past formal trainer coaching and simply recognise that there are lecturers whose lessons, whether or not I’m going diligently each week or sporadically, have knowledgeable a facet of my follow and I’m grateful to them for exhibiting up in the best way that they do for me and all of their college students
What has been your greatest problem as a yoga trainer?
I imply are we solely allowed one?!
One of many challenges that’s current for me proper now’s comparability. And I believe it’s knowledgeable by the competitiveness of the yoga business, particularly in London because it’s extraordinarily saturated and likewise the yoga panorama as depicted on social media.
It’s nuanced and has many aspects to it after all, however in a world the place you appear to be required to have an “spectacular” asana follow, look a sure means, be a social media skilled, copywriter, an occasion producer, a journey agent, photographer/videographer and an ideal trainer it may be overwhelming. And a few folks appear to be doing all of it so effortlessly.
After which that may change into tied to ‘properly, if that’s the panorama that we’re working with, how do I be certain I do all of that so I could make a residing and likewise really feel fulfilled in what I’m instructing and help college students in the best way that I wish to help them?’
So, when that voice will get actually loud I’ve to dig for the reality – my reality – which is remembering why I educate. There’s a function to what I’m doing and I’ve this inner guiding mild which informs why I present up day after day after day in deep service to the those that come to class, whether or not they simply attend as soon as or week after week. That’s the golden nugget which silences the doubt.
How do you go about recommending yoga?
Clearly, I inform everybody who will pay attention how superb yoga is and that they need to attempt it IMMEDIATELY, ha!
But when folks have already made it into the studio and are simply beginning out I supply folks a few choices.
Relying on their motion expertise, I could recommend that attempt a rookies course to construct the foundations and get centered consideration as they study the frequent yoga poses – it’s such a great way to get further help and construct the arrogance to take an everyday studio class (a wider dialog however I want folks discovered it much less intimidating to take an everyday studio class regardless of their expertise).
Typically the concept of a rookies course places folks off, so then I encourage them to discover what’s on the market. I like to recommend lecturers that I take pleasure in as a result of I worth their steering and assume different folks would profit as properly. However, I perceive that everybody’s distinctive, everybody has totally different motivations/objectives/needs, so I inform folks to search out the trainer that finest serves them and what they’re in search of from their follow – attempt totally different types, totally different lecturers, totally different studios – see what you want and what you don’t like till one thing sticks.
There are such a lot of choices on the market and I imagine that discovering your group is essential to making a sustained follow (as a result of that’s what occurred for me. Thursday nights on the Yoga Place have been the spotlight of my week and I nonetheless have a few of these folks in my life at this time)
What does a day within the lifetime of Tiffany appear to be?
I discover this a tough query as a result of these all the time learn like the perfect day once I know there’s a messiness and a humanness to it that isn’t all the time conveyed.
Actually day by day is totally different, whereas my weekly schedule has a move as a result of I’ve scheduled lessons it could be extra correct to say what does your typical week appear to be
Get up. Espresso. Mediate or journal (although typically both will be changed by scrolling on my cellphone – I’m positively a human who in all probability has extra screentime than I ought to). Studio lessons and purchasers interspersed with e-newsletter writing, invoicing, emails, conferences and sophistication planning. My very own coaching, both some self-guided motion, a category or the gymnasium and typically I sit on the couch and do completely nothing and watch escapist television. The evenings are treasured and I typically spend them catching up with buddies over scrumptious meals and a glass of wine or at dwelling alone delving right into a ebook or dancing round in my kitchen to 90’s pop, 00’s r&b and naturally musicals.
And but, all of that ceases to convey the methods through which I maintain my inventive spirit – Speaking to buddies, going to the theatre, listening to music that stirs my soul, writing poetry, studying poetry, mantra, studying the harmonium in brief bursts, strolling or sitting within the park.
I assume all of that to say that my days can really feel extremely odd however are sometimes punctuated with lovely shiny spots
What’s your favorite quote or life motto?
One among my favorite quotes come from Martha Graham by way of Agnes De Mille
“There’s a vitality, a life pressure, an power, a quickening that’s translated by means of you into motion, and since there is just one of you in all of time, this expression is exclusive. And in case you block it, it would by no means exist by means of another medium and it is going to be misplaced. The world is not going to have it. It isn’t your enterprise to find out how good it’s nor how priceless nor the way it compares with different expressions. It’s your enterprise to maintain it yours clearly and straight, to maintain the channel open. You don’t even must imagine in your self or your work. You must maintain your self open and conscious to the urges that inspire you. Preserve the channel open.”
It jogs my memory of the likelihood and the utter necessity of following your coronary heart and the passions that transfer by means of you.
What’s arising for you in 2023 / 24?
2023 has been a giant yr for me with a lot of adjustments, so I’m going to lean into this transition into autumn and winter and harvest every little thing I learnt from this yr and take a while to show inward and mirror.
There are many issues brewing for 2024, and I can not wait to share them with you as quickly as they’re prepared! It’ll embody day retreats, Physique Temple Dance lessons, motion and writing workshops and some different surprises. I’m additionally going to be sharing extra of my writing and poetry subsequent yr, because it’s about time. So yeah, there’ll be a lot of enjoyable issues occurring in 2024, all but to be introduced, however I’m enthusiastic about what that new yr goes to carry
Discover Tiffany
Web site: www.tiffanysabrina.com
Instagram: @tiffanysabrina_
Teaches at: Tripspace, Indaba, Blok, Waking Goals and The Rogue Room
