About Laoise
What does yoga mean to you?
Yoga to me means coming home to myself, connecting with the divine energy, caring for my mind, body and soul.
How would you describe your teaching style?
I love diversity in my own practice which I like to bring to my classes too. The common thread in my teaching style is to simply create a safe space for people to come as they are, and to encourage people not to try so hard! I feel that we are always running around trying to tick the boxes of success, fitness and happiness. In my classes, I like to encourage my students to let go off all ‘shoulds’, and just move in a way that feels nourishing and authentic. On some days, that may be challenging ourselves physically or focusing on alignment. On other days, that may be taking it easy. Whatever day you are having, you are always welcome!
What is your favorite yoga pose?
I love doing headstands, I could do them for hours! There is just something so fun and peaceful about balancing on your head. I love a good challenge, so I have been practicing different shapes and twists recently, and I feel so satisfied to see the steady improvement as I deepen my practice.
Who inspires you?
I am lucky to have been surrounded by many incredible people over the years; my friends, family, lecturers, community members. I love reading and academics, so Dr. Brene Brown is someone I look up to a lot. She has studied human emotions for decades, and she relays this information in an accessible way through books and podcasts. She has helped me to understand myself and others, encouraged me to be brave, to show up as my imperfect self, and to embrace failure as an inherent part of life.
What is your superpower?
Empathy. I have invested a lot of time in understanding and healing myself over the years. This has involved embracing the parts of myself I was taught to be ashamed of, and accepting the full range of emotions I have experienced. Through this journey, I have been able to extend this acceptance to those around me. I believe that if you accept yourself, it’s much easier to accept others. If you are able to be kind to yourself even when you mess up, it feels natural to extend this grace to others too.
What recharges you?
Time in nature; surfing, climbing, hiking, outdoor yoga, and anything that brings out my inner child!
What makes you happy?
So many things bring joy to my life. I am totally in awe of nature and the existence of this interconnected universe, and I feel so lucky to be a part of it. For me, joy is cultivated through observing life’s many wonders; leaves unfurling in the spring, waves crashing along the shoreline, toddlers learning how to speak or crawl, our ability to come together as a community, our capacity to love one another so deeply.
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