Teacher Spotlight on Sebastian Merrill
Practice with Sebastian
Sebastian teaches Form & Flow Level 1/2 in-studio on Tuesdays at 5:30 PM, Foundational All Levels on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, and Form & Flow Level 2 on Thursdays at 9:15 AM, in-studio and online!
Do you remember your first yoga class? What was it like? Why did you enroll?
My first yoga class was on a rooftop in Delhi, India in early spring. I was studying abroad, and the focus of my studies were Hindi and National Identity and the Arts. Learning about yoga, a practice that originated in South Asia, felt like a natural addition to my studies. I feel grateful to have begun my yoga practice in India. Many of the elements that we commonly associate with a Western yoga practice - special yoga mats, stretchy yoga clothes - were not present in these first classes. Instead, we connected directly with the stone of that rooftop, received our heat from the sun, wore traditional shalwar kameez and kurta pajama.
Are there any preconceived notions you had about yoga that changed over time?
When I first studied yoga, I was quite focused on the physical, asana, form of the practice - I thought yoga was all about the poses. As my practice and my studies have deepened, I have come to realize that asana is a limb of a much larger tree. My studies and my teachings have come to integrate the yamas and niyamas, or ethics of a yoga practice, as well as pranayama, or breathing techniques.
What have you gained from your yoga practice?
I am transgender and my yoga practice deepened as I began my physical transition. I had never felt at home in my body, and practicing yoga gave me a way to connect with my body even as it was changing. My yoga practice has enabled me to feel present and at home in my body, this vessel of perpetual change and growth.
Why did you want to become a teacher?
As a trans person, I have personally experienced yoga spaces that did not feel inclusive of all bodies. I wanted to become a teacher in order to help create more inclusive spaces for people with all different bodies and abilities.
How would you describe your teaching style?
My yoga teaching is alignment focused, trauma informed, and incorporates elements of yoga philosophy and breathwork. Consent and self-empowerment are also crucial elements to my teaching style.
How do you want a student to feel after your class?
I want my students to feel empowered! To know that they are worthy and perfect just as they are and to feel that they made the right choices for themselves throughout class. I also want students to feel comfortable sharing feedback or questions with me or the studio manager. I am continually learning and open to growth and change as a teacher.
How does yoga inform your activism?
I am passionate about creating a more inclusive and just world for all people. This is true both on and off the mat.
