An Exclusive Interview With Elika Aird
Where do you live, work, and play?
I live in Oakland, I work all over the Bay Area teaching at Stanford, corporate locations and studios in SF and Oakland. I like to play all over the Bay, near lakes, in the hills on hikes, by the ocean for time with friends or getting on a board and finding my balance riding waves.
How do you spend your days?
Somedays I teach 1 class and then some days I teach 4-5, so my days have a lot of variety to them. I usually do a short practice in the morning and often do a longer practice in the afternoon or evening. Overall, I’m on a mission to inspire and share the gifts of yoga/fitness to general populations and pre/postnatal women. Often I am meeting with couples who are my doula clients to guide them with birth education resources and prepare them for one of the biggest events of their lives. When I’m not meeting with people or teaching, I am working to prepare for workshops, doing lots of online promotion, connecting with other teachers to share some laughs and challenges and when I have time I love to take dance classes, lay in the grass and go out dancing with friends.
What are you passionate about?
I came into this world so excited about movement and music and its why most of the classes I teach have some dance influence and always have music (unless I forgot my phone). Im also passionate about educating and inspiring people about easy, no-stress ways to enhance their body, mind and spirit with short, actionable steps to boost mood and invigorate the body.
How did your journey to a yogic style of life begin?
I hurt my back in 1999, I was miserable going to the chiropractor weekly and then found yoga on TV after seeing a show called Exhale with Steve Ross. Soon after I went from fitness instructor/personal trainer to a yoga teacher after finding such a sense of peace and strength even during my body’s healing process. I had no idea what journey I was going to take when I did my teacher training in 2005, but I knew I wanted to share this deeply therapeutic and transformative practice with others.
Do you have any role models? If so, who are they?
My mom and my teacher Shiva Rea
How do you define wellness?
Wellness is living in-tune with body and mind’s needs and making adjustments as the seasons change, during life transitions and as the body signals to us something is a little off. Your hot sweaty yoga practice may not serve you the best in 90 degree weather if you are of the Pitta (fire element) Constitution. I know that balance is something we all struggle with and I try to embrace my imbalances as well as the balanced parts my wellness journey. Sometimes sleeping longer is what my body needs...some days I feel like a red velvet cupcake or a slice of pizza and I dont want to judge that or feel like a failed. If I eat this way everyday is when I’m not living in alignment with what serves my body, mind and spirit.
How do you make wellness a priority?
I have a standing date to run around Lake Merritt with friends twice weekly. And I try to bring yoga and dance into my days anywhere I can. I practice spontaneous (sahaja yoga) movements anywhere I feel moved to, especially outside in the grass whenever possible.
What advice do you have for anyone that is trying to incorporate more yoga into their lives?
I recommend starting with a basics class/video to make sure you have the foundations of yoga down and then go into more advanced classes. Too often people try to jump into advanced classes before having the roots of yoga down in their body and their practice and put themselves at risk and also create frustration.
What is your spirit animal?
Hawk
What is your theme song?
Spark the Fire by Gwen Stefani
Any final words of wisdom?
Echoing the thoughts of Nelson Mandela...My hope is that as I allow my Light to shine, I can unconsciously give someone else permission to shine their light also!
Where do you live, work, and play?
I live in Oakland, I work all over the Bay Area teaching at Stanford, corporate locations and studios in SF and Oakland. I like to play all over the Bay, near lakes, in the hills on hikes, by the ocean for time with friends or getting on a board and finding my balance riding waves.
How do you spend your days?
Somedays I teach 1 class and then some days I teach 4-5, so my days have a lot of variety to them. I usually do a short practice in the morning and often do a longer practice in the afternoon or evening. Overall, I’m on a mission to inspire and share the gifts of yoga/fitness to general populations and pre/postnatal women. Often I am meeting with couples who are my doula clients to guide them with birth education resources and prepare them for one of the biggest events of their lives. When I’m not meeting with people or teaching, I am working to prepare for workshops, doing lots of online promotion, connecting with other teachers to share some laughs and challenges and when I have time I love to take dance classes, lay in the grass and go out dancing with friends.
What are you passionate about?
I came into this world so excited about movement and music and its why most of the classes I teach have some dance influence and always have music (unless I forgot my phone). Im also passionate about educating and inspiring people about easy, no-stress ways to enhance their body, mind and spirit with short, actionable steps to boost mood and invigorate the body.
How did your journey to a yogic style of life begin?
I hurt my back in 1999, I was miserable going to the chiropractor weekly and then found yoga on TV after seeing a show called Exhale with Steve Ross. Soon after I went from fitness instructor/personal trainer to a yoga teacher after finding such a sense of peace and strength even during my body’s healing process. I had no idea what journey I was going to take when I did my teacher training in 2005, but I knew I wanted to share this deeply therapeutic and transformative practice with others.
Do you have any role models? If so, who are they?
My mom and my teacher Shiva Rea
How do you define wellness?
Wellness is living in-tune with body and mind’s needs and making adjustments as the seasons change, during life transitions and as the body signals to us something is a little off. Your hot sweaty yoga practice may not serve you the best in 90 degree weather if you are of the Pitta (fire element) Constitution. I know that balance is something we all struggle with and I try to embrace my imbalances as well as the balanced parts my wellness journey. Sometimes sleeping longer is what my body needs...some days I feel like a red velvet cupcake or a slice of pizza and I dont want to judge that or feel like a failed. If I eat this way everyday is when I’m not living in alignment with what serves my body, mind and spirit.
How do you make wellness a priority?
I have a standing date to run around Lake Merritt with friends twice weekly. And I try to bring yoga and dance into my days anywhere I can. I practice spontaneous (sahaja yoga) movements anywhere I feel moved to, especially outside in the grass whenever possible.
What advice do you have for anyone that is trying to incorporate more yoga into their lives?
I recommend starting with a basics class/video to make sure you have the foundations of yoga down and then go into more advanced classes. Too often people try to jump into advanced classes before having the roots of yoga down in their body and their practice and put themselves at risk and also create frustration.
What is your spirit animal?
Hawk
What is your theme song?
Spark the Fire by Gwen Stefani
Any final words of wisdom?
Echoing the thoughts of Nelson Mandela...My hope is that as I allow my Light to shine, I can unconsciously give someone else permission to shine their light also!