Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Hall.
Hi Angela, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a north Texas native living in Fort Worth with my husband and son. My professional background is in marketing and creating memorable experiences and events. I fell in love with yoga after taking a free community class over 12 years ago and never looked back. At the time, I was recently divorced, working two jobs, and starting graduate school – I had a lot going on! I’m not athletic or particularly blessed with coordination, but in yoga, I found strength, flexibility, and grace. I’m not just talking about my body, either. The most delightful thing about practicing yoga is how your emotions and mindset can become more stable and resilient through awareness.
Eventually, I remarried, started working a full-time job, bought a house and had a baby. Through it all, yoga has helped me balance the stress and overload of LIFE! I continued to practice 5-6 times a week, and people often assumed I was already a yoga teacher. I finally committed to completing a teacher training in 2019 and taught at a Fort Worth studio, where I practiced and trained until the pandemic caused them to close down.
I quickly learned that teaching virtually did not work for me, so I kept my personal practice going until an opportunity arose to begin teaching in the community at public classes, private events, and in a studio. As a result, I created my business, “An Average Yogi,” to have a place to share the opportunities to practice with me and promote a spacious, inclusive, and fun yoga experience for all bodies.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Teaching yoga to the community, often in a public outdoor space, has a lot of challenges. Namely, the weather. I have built up a following of dedicated yogis who will come out in 55 degrees or 105 degrees, but it is certainly easier to build a consistent practice when you have a protected climate-controlled space. That is not a luxury we always have for classes and whenever it’s cold or raining, the classes are canceled, and that breaks my heart. Even so, I appreciate that the public spaces we use are accessible and welcoming for yoga students new and experienced.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
There is a lot to see and learn about yoga on the internet. There are beautiful, strong practitioners who can bend their bodies into jaw-dropping shapes and balance on one finger. There are beautiful, strong practitioners who specialize in the spirituality of yoga. There are beautiful, strong practitioners in every body shape you could imagine. And I am here, perfectly average, hoping to share my love of yoga with you because I truly believe yoga is a practice not just for a select few but for everybody.
I teach primarily a vinyasa flow class which is the linking of breath to movement through a series of poses, strong static pose holds, stretch and rest. When requested, I also lead meditation, breathing exercises, slow flow, and yin/restorative classes. Most importantly, I believe my specialty is reading the room. I don’t normally prepare a scripted sequence but rather see who shows up, feel their energy and experience levels, and build the class organically and in the moment. The toolbox I have from over 12 years experience as a practitioner and exceptional training is what allows me to be so versatile.
My promise to my students is that yoga with me will be welcoming, accessible, inspiring, fun and spacious. I promise that we will focus, we will laugh, and we will notice how different our bodies are and how they have different needs. We will meet our bodies where they are in that moment, we will work up a sweat, and we will melt as we rest and receive.
In addition to teaching at The Studio in Fort Worth, out in the community, and for ticketed events, I recently launched a new offering for bachelorette and other group parties called “Not Your Average Bachelorette”. You can experience a customized class for your group plus other fun add-ons like a Bubbles (champagne) Bar and styled photo shoot!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I just completed an 8-week strength training program app by a Swedish yoga teacher/strength coach to diversify my activity to more than just yoga and walking. Her programs are outlined to be totally accessible and in a simple structure that works for my schedule and ability level. www.lizettepompayoga.com
When I’m not listening to NPR, I like to listen to audiobooks when I walk or am on the road. A book that I recently finished was “The Nordic Theory of Everything: In search of a better life” by Anu Partanen. It was fascinating to learn about how Nordic countries operate in such a forward-thinking, individualistic culture, and continue to be ranked as the leading “happiest countries” in the world.
Finally, it’s not one resource, but many, that help me continue to evolve and be aware of cultural appropriation and inclusivity while teaching yoga. I recommend everyone make a point to diversify the accounts they follow on the topic of yoga.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/anaverageyogi
- Facebook: www.fb.com/anaverageyogi
Image Credits
Melissa Stephens
Adrianne Porcelli
Twelve Midnight
