Tiffany is a yoga and motion trainer, author, poet and religious seeker. She is a devoted scholar of the energetics of yoga – particularly studying how this modality can create soul-expanding change in our fashionable lives. Tiffany’s lessons use artistic flows, with a powerful deal with 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 previous after I gave up pursuing it professionally. Throughout the next 4 years I moved to London, acquired a 9-5 and prevented any class that happened within the studio. Finally, I had this calling to deliver motion again into my life, however I used to be on the lookout for one thing that wasn’t dance, and I believed, why not strive 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 in the beginning of the category had me instantly enthralled – then the motion a part of the category began. I didn’t know the phrases, however I may sort of observe 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 believed ‘I would like extra of this’. So I went the following week, and the following week and the week after that.
And that’s sort 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 stated 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 after I was going to dive in and in the future I stunned myself and stated ‘sure, I’m in!’
I look again now on how scared I used to be, the best way I questioned my means and the way perhaps I wasn’t prepared, however the stage of assist, spaceholding and high quality of the coaching was phenomenal and utterly reworked my life in a approach that I can’t even start to explain. I realized a lot about myself, how I present up, how clever my physique is, a thirst for information that I hadn’t had since I used to be in school, this want 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 stuffed with an amazing gratitude, it’s actually an honour to proceed strolling this path.
What sort of yoga trainer would you say you might be?
I’m closely influenced by my dance background and the academics that I’ve had the prospect to be taught from have proven me the quite a few methods and depths wherein I can inhabit and transfer my physique. So, if I had been to explain myself as a trainer I’d say that; I encourage the motion to be an exploration into the numerous layers of consciousness (delicate and gross) that we will 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 possibly can 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 nicely of fierce freedom that if we will start to crack open even somewhat bit has the ability to rework our life.
How has your yoga advanced?
I feel 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 potential. By means of my trainer Leila and different unimaginable academics (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 turned softer, extra delicate; It was much less about poses and that bodily excessive of an intense class and extra about refining my inside attunement to the intelligence of my physique. Exploring completely different pathways into consciousness and inevitably enlargement; by way of the organs, bones and house, for instance, whereas actually deeply listening to what my physique wanted. Alongside that I started to construct a gradual 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 numerous pleasure within the artwork of pose craft and exploring the number of asana accessible, however I’ve a brand new appreciation for it. The embodiment through-line runs by way of all of it and I feel in the end the query I’m at all times asking myself is ‘how am I orienting myself in direction of a deeper embodied consciousness whereas doing this or that?’. And there may be positively much less of the striving (although it nonetheless occurs!) to realize a sure aim or to fulfill a sure aesthetic and extra of a constant schooling and deep appreciation of what my physique is able to.
Has your personal follow modified because of any extra trainer coaching?
I’ve had the chance to be guided by some superb academics who’ve proven me new methods of being, shifting and have impressed me no finish, however three honourable mentions…
I’ll ceaselessly be grateful to Leila Sadeghee and her continued steerage over the previous 13 years. When you have the chance to expertise a category, workshop or retreat together with her, DO IT! I can assure will probably be an expertise that can shift your perspective.
Additionally, by way of varied academics 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 completely completely different approach of experiencing this physique we stay 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 lengthen the lens past formal trainer coaching and simply recognise that there are academics 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 largest 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 feel 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 in fact, however in a world the place you appear to be required to have an “spectacular” asana follow, look a sure approach, be a social media professional, copywriter, an occasion producer, a journey agent, photographer/videographer and an important trainer it may be overwhelming. And a few individuals appear to be doing all of it so effortlessly.
After which that may develop into tied to ‘nicely, if that’s the panorama that we’re working with, how do I make sure that I do all of that so I could make a residing and likewise really feel fulfilled in what I’m instructing and assist college students in the best way that I wish to assist them?’
So, when that voice will get actually loud I’ve to dig for the reality – my reality – which is remembering why I train. There’s a objective to what I’m doing and I’ve this inner guiding gentle which informs why I present up day after day after day in deep service to the people who 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 hear how superb yoga is and that they need to strive it IMMEDIATELY, ha!
But when individuals have already made it into the studio and are simply beginning out I provide individuals a few choices.
Relying on their motion expertise, I could recommend that strive a novices course to construct the foundations and get centered consideration as they be taught the frequent yoga poses – it’s such a great way to get additional assist and construct the boldness to take an everyday studio class (a wider dialog however I want individuals discovered it much less intimidating to take an everyday studio class irrespective of their expertise).
Typically the thought of a novices course places individuals off, so then I encourage them to discover what’s on the market. I like to recommend academics that I take pleasure in as a result of I worth their steerage and suppose different individuals would profit as nicely. However, I perceive that everybody’s distinctive, everybody has completely different motivations/objectives/needs, so I inform individuals to seek out the trainer that greatest serves them and what they’re on the lookout for from their follow – strive completely different types, completely different academics, completely 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 consider that discovering your group is vital to making a sustained follow (as a result of that’s what occurred for me. Thursday nights on the Yoga Place had been the spotlight of my week and I nonetheless have a few of these individuals in my life as we speak)
What does a day within the lifetime of Tiffany appear to be?
I discover this a tough query as a result of these at all times learn like the perfect day after I know there’s a messiness and a humanness to it that isn’t at all times conveyed.
Really day-after-day is completely different, whereas my weekly schedule has a circulation 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 publication writing, invoicing, emails, conferences and sophistication planning. My very own coaching, both some self-guided motion, a category or the fitness center 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 mates over scrumptious meals and a glass of wine or at house alone delving right into a e-book 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 wherein I maintain my artistic spirit – Speaking to mates, 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 suppose all of that to say that my days can really feel extremely extraordinary however are sometimes punctuated with lovely vibrant spots
What’s your favorite quote or life motto?
One among my favorite quotes come from Martha Graham through Agnes De Mille
“There’s a vitality, a life pressure, an power, a quickening that’s translated by way of you into motion, and since there is just one of you in all of time, this expression is exclusive. And if you happen to block it, it is going to by no means exist by way of some other medium and will probably be misplaced. The world won’t have it. It isn’t what you are promoting to find out how good it’s nor how precious nor the way it compares with different expressions. It’s your enterprise to maintain it yours clearly and immediately, to maintain the channel open. You don’t even should consider in your self or your work. It’s important to maintain your self open and conscious to the urges that encourage 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 way of you.
What’s arising for you in 2023 / 24?
2023 has been a giant yr for me with plenty of modifications, so I’m going to lean into this transition into autumn and winter and harvest all the things I learnt from this yr and take a while to show inward and mirror.
There are many issues brewing for 2024, and I can’t 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 plenty of enjoyable issues occurring in 2024, all but to be introduced, however I’m enthusiastic about what that new yr goes to deliver
Discover Tiffany
Web site: www.tiffanysabrina.com
Instagram: @tiffanysabrina_
Teaches at: Tripspace, Indaba, Blok, Waking Goals and The Rogue Room
