Model: Stacey Rosenberg

Photography: Faern

Interview: Erica Rodefer

1. Tell us about your sense of style. What do you use to express yourself? Clothes? Jewelry? Posture? Words? Music?

My personality is best expressed through my clothes and my jewelry. I resonate with rich colors and tend to wear big earrings! Most of my time is spent in yoga clothes so I have a lot of tunic tops and wraps that I use as layers and allow me to easily go from the yoga studio to the city streets in style! Beyond my style, people tell me that my posture is an authentic expression of who I am as a teacher and a citizen of the world.

2. Has your yoga practiced changed how you see yourself?

Most definitely! Yoga has truly helped me to become more comfortable with who I am. The practice has taught me to look for the good and embrace all of the diverse parts of myself, and to see the beauty even in my quirks and imperfections. This of course is always a work in progress but continues to evolve as my practice and studies deepen.

3. What made you decide to practice yoga for the first time? How is yoga different from what you expected?

It was a long time ago and though I did not “know” what yoga was, my heart felt a deep recognition of the word. That recognition pulled me to give yoga a try. I am not sure I had any expectations, but what I definitely do remember is that I loved how I felt for several days afterward, and wanted to go back for more!

4. Tell us about your first yoga teacher. How did he or she impact you? How do you share those lessons with others?

For the first several years I practiced in a monastic school that was fairly rigid and serious. Within that setting, though, the first teacher that inspired me brought heart and joy and held a space for playfulness within the practice. It was so long ago that I don’t remember anything in particular that she said, it was more about her way of being that really made an impression on me. Looking back I can see that her positive attitude and authentic happiness was magnetic and a result of her practice. I very much
wanted that for myself!

5. What motivates you to practice on those days when you just don’t feel like it? Do you have any tips for the rest of us?

Different things motivate me on different days. When I am feeling tired or uninspired I go to child’s pose. Often times by just getting myself to the mat, a practice will usually unfold: Downward Dog leads to Uttanasana, a few hip openers, a handstand… I follow the lead of my body and a sequence is revealed from the inside out. My students are the biggest source of my inspiration. Knowing that I have to teach and my desire to serve the students by planning the best possible class gets me juiced up to practice. If I could offer one tip, I would suggest that you commit yourself to practicing 10-15 minutes per day. Once you get to the mat you will often stay for double or even triple the time to which you originally committed. And even if you only end up practicing for those 15 minutes, I believe you will definitely feel more in your body and in your heart for your efforts.

  September 17th is California Coastal Cleanup Day!

Join Stacey Saturday, September 17th! Each year she offers a free yoga class on the beach to get the day started!

Join us for Sunrise Yoga 8-9am on Ocean Beach – Great Highway @ Fulton and stay to clean up the beach 9-Noon. Please bring warm layers, a yoga mat and a reusable cup. Breakfast courtesy of Whole Foods Market. First 50 guests will receive a free yoga mat from Gaiam.

 

Stacey Rosenberg is a Certified Anusara® Yoga Instructor in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the globe.  Her classes are dynamic and playful and provide a fun, safe, and nurturing environment that invites students to move deeply into their own hearts and transform their lives.  www.namastacey.com