EMILIE PERZ

“ It’s important to understand the role of the yoga teacher which is to help heal and hold space for people going through a crisis. ”

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us can you tell everyone who you are and what you do?

A. I’ve been a dedicated yoga practitioner for over twenty years and have used this practice as a way to uplift and elevate the world around me. Sadly, my father passed away while I was transitioning from high school to college. Shortly after, I began suffering from stress induced panic attacks that left me in the hospital. Months of heavy antidepressants only made matters worse, so at the advice of a friend, I tried my first yoga class. The breath techniques (pranayama) practiced at the end immediately sedated my anxiousness and gave me a feeling of power over my mind and body connection. I made a promise to carry on with yoga every day, and ten years later, it led to a full-time career.

Q. What inspired you to want to get into Yoga & Fitness?

A. I began practicing yoga after my father’s sudden death when I was 17. I was always a super active child and I excelled in many

things including horseback riding, running, singing, theater, radio, art. Immediately following my father’s death I began suffering from crippling anxiety that left paralyzed with fear of socializing and being in public. I even switched schools in an effort to restart my life. A friend invited me to yoga in hopes that the practice would help with my daunting panic attacks. I was hooked that very first class. It’s incredible to think that one self-help tool can lead to a life of helping and healing others. But truth be told, this practice transforms your life by awakening you to your unlimited potential.

Q. Tell us about “Sequential Body” and the motivation behind it?

A. Sequential Body is an ondemand yoga and fitness channel dedicated to community and wellbeing. I designed this online channel during the pandemic as a way to bring like-minded conscious people together to celebrate in yoga, fitness, and personal transformation. Our classes are ultra-unique blending heartfelt themes with movement, music, and laughter. We have innovative classes such as Beauty Fit Flows (BFF) and Beauty Boosts (BB) to sculpt bodies into perfection while tuning into the heart. Unlike other platforms, Sequential Body beauties can text me daily for inspiration, help and guidance. It’s the perfect fitness platform to stay motivated and inspired.

Q. Who is your sports hero?

A. I love Serena Williams, dedication to her sport is inspirational and it’s great that she’s been a trailblazer for and role model for all women especially women of color.

Q. Can you tell us one of your favorite styles you most enjoy teaching?

A. I love heated power yoga that involves lots of movement. It’s great to be able to be able to provide students a quality full body work out while also helping them heal their minds and bodies through the addition of heat.

Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years?

A. We are pivoting directions in early 2021 to start speaking out about the integral need to employ yoga teachers in medical settings such as clinics and hospitals. Whether we are talking about addiction or injury, yoga teachers are aligned with an arsenal of therapeutic practices to help manage pain, depression, anxiety, etc. I couldn’t think of a better time than now for yoga teachers to be working alongside doctors to treat the human spirit; especially when we are living in an onslaught of fear, worry, and doubt. Our future society is going to be affected by PTSD from the Covid- 19 pandemic. It’s important to understand the role of the yoga teacher which is to help heal and hold space for people going through a crisis.

Q. How has Yoga changed your life?

A. It’s made me come to believe Mind, body, connection is real, and employing yoga teachers in medicine is necessary for a kinder, more connected society. This is a beautiful thing.

Q. What are some of the challenges you’ve experienced as an International Yoga educator?

A. Prior to COVID, it was a struggle to make time to visit all the places where I’ve left my footprint in for example, I have students in Mexico City and London that I wouldn’t be able to teach due to physical distance. However, now with SB I’m able to teach via live stream, I’m able to connect with teach students all over the world.

Q. How important is mediation to your Yoga Practice?

A. It’s crucial. When leading a meditation, I try to be clear, concise and very articulate with everything I say because I know my students are listening and digesting what I say. I practice mindful meditations and focus on heart language I want to elicit and express in the classroom. Often times, I pick a feeling, such as gratitude, and meditation on my own hearts experience with it to create the theme, tone, mode of class.

Q. Do you have any workshops or projects coming up this year?

A. Not at the moment, but be sure to read the latest updates on SB. I have some exciting things in the works but I’m not able to share just yet.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. On IG, @EmiliePerzYoga.