YOGI OF THE MONTH

April 2023 - Nancy Wilson

What first brought you to yoga and how long have you been practicing?

I took my very first yoga class when I was 44 years old and now I am 69. The only reason I took that class is because my supervisor at the fitness center said that we were going to add yoga to the schedule and I was going to teach it. I taught my first class 6 months later! That worked for a while but I finally realized that I needed formal training. So I attended a certification program in Richmond (a couple of years prior to Susan Johnson attending the same program). I taught several yoga classes a week for 22 years, and now I occasionally substitute for Susan.

What is/are your intention(s) for your yoga practice?

When I stand on my mat, I sense behind me the 5000 years of yoga teachers and practitioners. I sense in front of me all the teachers and practitioners yet to come. My intention is to do honor to that lineage. 

What is your favorite pose and why?

Warrior 2 makes me feel sassy and bold. Twisting poses reduce my anxiety and tension. 

What is your favorite class at InsideOut Yoga?

Depending on my schedule, sometimes I attend the Vinyasa class and sometimes the Slow Flow class. I like that balance. 

How has the practice of yoga influenced your life?

It has most definitely brought wideness and depth to my spiritual life. Also, I like the good surprises that consistent practice can bring to our bodies. Mostly, I treasure the dear people who practice with me. 

What advice would you have for a beginning yoga student?

  1. Show up.

  2. Keep showing up. 

What is your occupation?

Retired after 30 years at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Retired after 29 years at the Riverside Wellness and Fitness Center in Gloucester where I taught all kinds of exercise classes. 

What activities do you enjoy?

Very active with the Northern Neck Orchestra and the Courthouse Community Orchestra (cello). I like puttering about in my flower gardens pulling weeds. I am a jigsaw puzzle junkie. I have run a few marathons. 

What is your favorite thing about living in the Northern Neck or Middle Peninsula?

I grew up on a farm in the Northern Neck (Kinsale) where the people in my life loved the land, loved family, loved church. It comforts my soul to hear people speak with a Northern Neck accent. I regret that it has faded from my own speech.