Meet Susan. Our friend in the South of France. She’s a good friend of our Yoga Teacher Gretchen in the French Alps. Susan joined us last season in Mindful Let Go (Kundalini) and in more classes this season. We loved her energy during our classes so much that we decided to get to know her more. Here’s our star for the week…
Hi Susan! Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Who is Susan?
Susan: Well technically I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, USA. Having parents with rich cultural backgrounds I grew up with music art and foreign languages in my ears and eyes. At age 24 I traipsed off to Italy disguised as an ‘au pair’ babysitter for an Italian family I had worked for in LA while finishing my AA [Associate in Arts] degree. This ended up with me travelling to other countries such as Germany and then Israel where I met and married my French husband and had my son. We moved to France in 1987 (I had my daughter in 1989) and I have been here ever since in spite of having lost my husband to a horrible disease at a very young age in 1993. I moved down south to the Mediterranean Sea of Marseilles in 1994.
I have been working as a Maritime Operations Assistant since 1999 in the head office of one of the biggest shipping companies in the world CMA CGM.
What inspired you to start practicing yoga?
Susan: I love stretching and the philosophy of yoga.
Have you ever had any experience with yoga before joining the MLPC?
Susan: I think my first Yoga class was in Los Angeles as a teen when my mother took classes with a lovely French Yoga teacher. It was much later in Marseilles that I discovered hot yoga and I actually liked it! The pricing at that time was affordable and I loved the after effects of the practice.
What’s your connection to the MLPC?
Susan: My lovely friend and teacher Gretchen Pascalis told me about it.
How did you end up being so committed to yoga?
Susan: I am a faithful type of person and when I like something whether it be granola and yogurt or Yoga I stick to it! Also until the pandemic [Covid-19] at the company where I work we have a Gym that offers different classes – Yoga being one! That certainly helps to have a class just downstairs before going home or at lunchtime.
“I love stretching and the philosophy of yoga.”
Susan
Did you face any challenges during the month of November?
Susan: The pandemic still sheds a bit of gloom around me especially everytime my grandchild gets sick. I babysit her at least once a week.
I think right now the biggest challenge for me is staying strong, positive and in touch with people.
What are the biggest benefits you’ve reaped from your yoga practice?
Susan: Yoga definitely makes me feel good and regulates my energy and hormones. This is especially important at my age.
What’s your favorite posture?
Susan: I love stretching .. downward dog might be my favorite posture. It is a relaxing pose for me.
What’s your most difficult posture?
Susan: Oh there are many.. side planks, balancing postures. I have completely lost my balance and these postures are very challenging for me.
What is your favorite type(s) of yoga? And why?
Susan: I think Vinyasa gives me a little of everything .. spiritual, physically challenging. Kundalini is fantastic on a spiritual level. I love the chanting! It is also sometimes very physically challenging. I also am very much a fan of hot yoga although I do not practice anymore.
Any words of wisdom to those just starting out?
Susan: I advise beginners to learn to breathe correctly and enjoy the flow. If you cannot do something it doesn’t matter you will feel good for trying!
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Thank you Susan for being our guest on the blog this week. We’re so happy you’re part of our community. Catch Sunday in one of our awesome classes. Check out the schedule below
Appreciate your awesome time reading our blog. Have a question or a comment? Well you’re in luck as we have the place for that below.
See you soon, until then, may you all be safe, happy, healthy, and free.
Yasir
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