Presenting Ulla. Our new team member in Germany. We are so proud of Ulla, she’s the first BIPOC Scholarship Program graduate as part of MLPC’s initiative to spread and include as many people as possible in this amazing practice. Ulla was one of the amazing yoga teachers who finished the Soul Aligned 200 Yoga Teacher Training with Alex. After graduating last season, she is now offering her unique style of combining dance movements with the familiar yoga poses. Along with awesome music and R&B sounds that make her class an amazing flow in rhythmic moves. We are so lucky that she agreed to answer our blog questions and gave us the chance to get to know her a little more… enjoy…
Where in the world are you? Tell us more about yourself?
Ulla: I’m based in Cologne, Germany. I’m passionate about Yoga, Dance and movement in general. My heart has a weak spot for good food, getting inspired by others and living authentically. I came back to Germany around 10 years ago to start a pharmaceutical degree, but time has definitely led me somewhere else.
How was the Soul Aligned 200 Hour YTT with Alex and what pushed you to become an instructor?
Ulla: It’s so hard to put into words what the weeks with Alex were like because it was everything at the same time - fulfilling, emotional, intense. I loved every part of it. It helped me find back to myself, as I noticed things aligning in my life and I had other lovelies to share my struggles with and talk to everyday. Alex is amazing and I'm so thankful for the opportunity she gave me to join her 200 YTT as part of a scholarship program specifically for BIPOC. Something that I was quite annoyed with over the years, is how white the rooms I was used to practicing yoga in were. Topics like cultural appropriation, Inclusion and diversity were not integrated at all. It’s not about being perfect but about trying and making sure these rooms are open for everyBODY. That’s what I loved about my teacher training with Alex, she made sure to cover all these topics and more.
When did you start practicing yoga (before you started teaching) and how did yoga change your life?
Ulla: I started practicing Yoga 10 years ago in Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE. It’s hard to say how it changed my life because I’m not the kind of person to say “this and that changed my life forever”. It’s more about the lifestyle and journey it took me on (& that I’m still on today). I see yoga as one thing that has the power to change small things in my life whenever I practice or teach Yoga myself. It’s always “coming back to myself” after a good yoga practice.
If you had to describe your teaching style, how would you?
Ulla: Fluid, Dynamic, & Not Traditional.
What is the intention you try to instill in your students?
Ulla: To be brave and try something new, to trust their intuition and to just get moving and not think too much about how anything looks.
“It’s so hard to put into words what the [YTT] weeks with Alex were like because it was everything at the same time - fulfilling, emotional, intense. I loved every part of it.”
Ulla
What is your favorite posture? Your least favorite posture?
Ulla: My favourite posture is definitely a good heart opener like Camatkarasana (Wild Thing) and my least favourite is hard to say. Haha.
What is your favorite Mat? And why?
Ulla: I don’t have one at the moment as I'm constantly switching between three different mats that all have a different grip but I love them all!
Set the scene for your perfect practice - paint us a picture!
Ulla: My perfect practice would start with a 10 minute warm up, something really gentle and smooth music in the background. Followed by some fire movement, lots of dynamic and a reminder to BREATHE.
“I see yoga as one thing that has the power to change small things in my life whenever I practice or teach Yoga myself. It’s always “coming back to myself” after a good yoga practice.”
Ulla
What’s the biggest myth about yoga instructors? Set the record straight!
Ulla: That we all have our life together 24/7, are never late and are really gentle, calm people. NO! All of these are not true! No one has their life together all the time, but it’s all about finding a tool that helps you deal with that stress. Imperfection is the new perfection.
What will you be teaching next?
Ulla: Maybe a more traditional yoga class for dancers that involves some flexibility practice.
Any advice to newbies teachers/students? (And oldies?)
Ulla: Just go for it. The experience will teach you more than the planning itself.
Where do you see yoga in the next five years?
Ulla: Changing. Yoga will definitely be used more and more in different styles around the world as people are looking for something new to happen!
Thank you Ulla!!! Get to experience Ulla’s awesome FREE Mindful Flow 1 (flow x rhythm) every Thursday at 2pm Abu Dhabi / 10am UK. Check out the schedule below to book your spot
Always a pleasure sharing with you our lovely teachers. If you liked this interview show your appreciation and leave us a comment below.
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As always I leave you with, may you all be safe, happy, healthy, and free.
Yasir
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