Haley Martell

I didn’t get into any kind of regular exercise until I was in my early/mid-twenties. Physically, I enjoyed strong, challenging work of HIIT, kickboxing, that kind of thing. At the time, I thought all exercise and movement had to be that wildly vigorous “to work”. The intense routine I pushed on myself never lasted long-term. There was something missing that I couldn’t identify. Years ago, I took a yoga class on a whim on vacation, just looking for some exercise and a fun new experience. It was exactly what I wanted and needed…I knew I had to find a studio immediately when I got home. 

Yoga satisfies that need for strength and challenge for me. It's also so much more than that. It slows my busy mind, it helps me focus, and I’m constantly learning new ways to let go and be kinder to myself. Trust me, the list could go on!

Overall, yoga has clarified a lot and taught me how to listen to myself. It took awhile to learn that the goal isn’t to achieve the ‘best looking’ or ‘hardest’ poses. It’s not to make sure you do as much (or more) than your neighbor. The goal is just to be you, on your mat, honoring your body. A huge burden was lifted when I was able to remove the pressure of having to work ‘the hardest’ and just take class!

Since that discovery, practicing acceptance and listening to our bodies are two topics I really love sharing and working on in my classes. It has been such a gift to teach for the last 5 years, and I look forward to witnessing how my and others’ practices continue to evolve in years to come.