As part of our merger with Moxie Yoga, we are excited to welcome Rosa Lynley to the team!
Tell us about yourself! What are some things that your students might not know?
I moved to San Francisco when I was 19, and even though I had to eat cereal every night for dinner because our rent was so high, I loved the energy and culture of living in the city. I spent many years working in restaurants and even owned a catering company before teaching yoga and meditation full time. I credit all those years in customer service with making me comfortable chatting with just about anyone.
I’m an avid reader, but for six months after having my daughter, I didn’t have the focus to read anything longer than a short article. The first book I was able to get through after her birth was ‘The Fifth Season’ by N.K. Jemison.
How did you become interested in yoga?
I originally became interested in yoga because it was a perfect cross-training exercise for long distance running. I was an obsessive trail runner in my 20’s and would often run 30-40 miles a week. At that time I had no knowledge of or interest in yoga philosophy. Within a year of practicing yoga — first at a local gym, and then at studios around San Francisco — I had completely reoriented toward the meditative and spiritual aspects of yoga.
Tell us about your yoga journey. What style did you start in and with whom do you study now?
I began my study of yoga asana with master Iyengar teacher, Ramanand Patel, who has been my teacher since 2011. Although I’ve learned so much from the Iyengar school of yoga, over the years I’ve become more and more drawn to teachers that incorporate more free-flowing movement such as David Moreno.
My most influential teacher of all has been Dr. Carol Whitfield PhD, with whom I have studied meditation and Advaita Vedanta for over a decade. She lived and studied in India for many years and has a deep knowledge of Sanskrit and yoga philosophy.
Describe your teaching style. What can folks expect when they attend your class?
While deeply rooted in the Iyengar system of working with the breath and body alignment, my classes incorporate more organic movement and flow. For me the purpose of yoga is to bring ease and balance to the nervous system, to prepare the body in this way for meditation. Each yoga posture can be approached as an opportunity to see how the mind responds to any challenge, making it possible for us to learn more mature ways of responding in every day life. Can the mind simply observe what is in this moment, or does it immediately judge the experiences that arise, seeking to change or avoid them?
It’s also important to me that everyone can access the movements and shapes in my classes. I’m always seeking to meet each student at their own level and find challenges that safely expand their limits.
Any exciting projects or plans on the horizon?
Helping my oldest son figure out his path toward his dream to be a professional ballet dancer.
That’s all for now! Visit Rosa’s website and follow Rosa on Instagram: @rosa_lynley_yoga.
