Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:11] Speaker B: Welcome to Deep in your yoga practice. I'm Lauren Leduc, the owner and founder of True Love Yoga in Kansas City, Missouri. And today I have someone who always brings joy to my Sundays into my life in general, Jules O'Brien, who is one of our lovely teachers at True Love Yoga. Jules, welcome to the podcast. I'm really excited to let everyone get to know you a little bit better today.
[00:00:34] Speaker A: Yes, absolutely. I'm excited to be here.
[00:00:36] Speaker B: Well, I want to ask you first, how did you fall in love with yoga?
[00:00:40] Speaker A: Yeah, I think my journey was. It took a couple of steps. I dabbled in yoga a little bit in college. Different places were offering introductory courses or free, free classes for people new to yoga. And when I moved to the Kansas City area, I. I didn't have as many friends as I had had in college. I was kind of adjusting to life after graduating and I knew I needed a way to find a community and I really wanted to connect with my body. I was kind of in a place where I was working through some of my past struggles, trying to work through anxiety, things like that. And so I knew that connecting with my body was what I wanted to do. And I lived right down the street from True Love Yoga. I tried it out and I just fell in love. So y'all were actually the first studio I went to consistently, which is crazy because it's been quite a few years now.
[00:01:30] Speaker B: Yeah, it has been. And now you're one of our teachers on staff. You went through our yoga teacher training a few years ago, but you particularly teach our HATA class on Sunday mornings at 9am, which is our most beginner friendly class that we have.
[00:01:43] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:01:43] Speaker B: And you're such a warm, welcoming person. So I think you're such a nice, like, first intro to people if they haven't tried yoga before. And it's nice to remember when what it was like being that person, you know, walking through the door for the first time and the different, like, fears that come up and the anxieties and, you know, you're bringing in the baggage of your life with you essentially into the yoga class. And to be welcomed in such a warm, nonjudgmental way is so relieving and refreshing, I think, for people. And you're currently a school teacher as well. What is it like teaching yoga and teaching school?
[00:02:21] Speaker A: It's funny cause they're so different, but there's a lot of overlap. I think the nice thing is with yoga, everyone wants to be there. So there's not as much of a factor of having to Engage and like get everyone hooked. And I love that with teaching yoga you can give so many options. That's something I do in my own 8th grade classroom. Just because everyone expresses themselves differently and learns differently. And I love. You can see it so much clearer in a yoga class. You know, you give a couple options and you see each person doing what fits best for their body or the same pose that looks different in different bodies. It's really cool to see it. I see it a little more. You see it quicker in a yoga class than you do with your typical, like students in class.
[00:03:02] Speaker B: Yeah. I love the, I guess the ways that those intersect and that you've been able to see those differences. And it's probably really exciting to see those within 8th graders too, if it takes a little bit more time, for sure. And what beautiful insight you have to know that they have different gifts that will shine in different ways, I think.
[00:03:20] Speaker A: Yes. Thank you.
[00:03:22] Speaker B: Yeah. How do you think you are. Personal experiences influence the way that you hold space and teach others. Like you talked about in your bio, it talks about having like anxiety and depression. You talked about that a little bit here.
Yeah. How does that influence your teaching, you think?
[00:03:41] Speaker A: Yeah, for sure. I think that's definitely a part of. I always try to really make people feel welcome and comfortable because I know I was so nervous like googling what to do, what do I bring, what do I wear? Can I wear socks? Like for my first yoga class, trying to over prepare so that I just felt more comfortable. And I think I really appreciated the fact that I was greeted by someone who was like, oh, here's what we're doing and here's what you can do. Very much kind of taking that stress of like, oh no, what do I do? I don't know what I'm doing. And then kind of guiding you and giving you some suggestions. So I'd say I've definitely brought that in. And then as someone who I definitely have grown through yoga, kind of becoming reaccustomed to my body, really being spatially aware of where my body is in space and just noticing the different sensations without actually looking at the body part. That's something that seems silly, but it was something I really struggled with before starting yoga. And so I'm very much attention to detail. I love to really fine tune the cues that I give of. This is how we'll align and you can scoot this way. Maybe you gaze here. Just kind of adding in those details so that someone who might not feel all the way comfortable knowing where their body is in space or being able to say, yes, my foot is here, can kind of fine tune and figure out what feels good in their body and then start using that and get comfortable with it so that it kind of becomes secondhand nature as part of their yoga practice.
[00:05:00] Speaker B: I love that. A few episodes ago, I went over what trauma informed yoga is, and obviously it's a big part of our yoga teacher training program. But what you described is so much of the benefit of it. And it sounds like you're utilizing those practices. Well, I know you are because I've been to your class. But within your classes, because whether you've been through trauma or whether it's just chronic stress, maybe anxiety, depression, we do disconnect from our bodies. Our minds, bodies disconnect. We don't exactly know where our bodies are in space. We're not always in tune with our inner sensations. And it's really amazing how yoga, especially when instructed in that really specific way, can increase proprioception and interoception, which fancy names for what we're talking about, and create really that space for healing and that deep self connection that many of us are missing so much of.
[00:05:49] Speaker A: Effy. Absolutely. I love that phrase. The deep self connection is, I feel like 100% what we all end up getting out of it eventually.
[00:05:57] Speaker B: Yeah, I think so. Jules. So we talked a little bit about yoga teacher training a moment ago, but I'd love to know because I haven't read your application in several years. I don't go back and read those. But what inspired you to take the leap into yoga teacher training?
[00:06:12] Speaker A: Yeah, I actually, what's funny is I started off basically just wanting to get deeper into my own practice. I really didn't think I would start teaching yoga right away. I was super curious about philosophy and just different aspects of yoga and I felt like I needed someone to guide me. Like I had done all of the, you know, the reading and like the stuff I could do on my own. I really wanted some direction of how to grow in my practice. And so a teacher at the studio was kind of could tell I was on the fence and she was like, just go for it. You'll do great. You'll love it. And so, so I took the leap. And it's funny because I started, I was like, yeah, I don't think I'll teach. You know, I teach for a living. And then I got out and I was like, I can't wait to teach.
So I really, it was interesting journey just because I like it when it's not what you expect. Because I am a big planner, I tend to pretty type A. So it was nice to have something different and unexpected, but still really awesome and just amazing come out of it.
[00:07:10] Speaker B: I love that. I think that the intention of going in for self learning is so important and to get to know yoga better and to dive into the philosophy and refine asana and stuff like that. And it really is amazing when you go in with an open mind what comes out of it. And you know, a lot of our graduates do end up teaching like you are somebody who is clearly ready right away to jump into it. But so many go in with the intention to teach and end up not doing that. It's not really their thing. Like teaching in the teacher training help them deepen their learning on a personal level. But they realize, oh, it's not for me. But either way it shifts your life into a little bit different direction that I think is more clear and aligned to maybe what your soul or your.
[00:07:54] Speaker A: Heart, yes, truly needs.
[00:07:57] Speaker B: I'd love to know you've already gone over a couple points for sure, but how did the training shape your personal practice and your teaching style?
[00:08:06] Speaker A: Absolutely. I think what I loved about training the most that helped with my personal practice was our small groups that we did, our sadhana groups. Because I am someone, I struggle with self motivation. So sometimes if I'm at home, my planned yoga practice ends up being much shorter or I kind of want some direction. And so I was able to bounce ideas and hear what other people did. And I don't know, I felt kind of embarrassed that like I couldn't get it together even though that's not what's going on. And so it was. I ended up talking with a small group and they were a lot of folks kind of felt the same. And we discussed, you know, YouTube videos or the On Demand that we have at True Love. Just different ways to get inspired if you can't get out of the house and ways to incorporate yoga into your life that aren't actually like sitting and doing a down dog or warrior one, you know, talking about meditation or mindfulness or even things aligned with the ayurvedic side of self care and yoga. So that was really awesome. And then I'd say as a teacher. Oh, sorry, did you.
[00:09:03] Speaker B: No, no, go ahead, go ahead.
[00:09:05] Speaker A: I'd say as a teacher, watching other people teach was so informative. And that's something I have experienced experience with as a teacher. You know, we get observed, we observe other people and that's how you really learn. And how you see, like, oh my gosh, that's an amazing idea. I want to try that or I want to modify that. And so I think being able to see different folks approach poses or a practice, or even just a concept different ways was really helpful to kind of get you outside of your normal comfort zone and think like, oh, that's a cool way to teach tree that I hadn't thought of before. Or that's a great topic or a great theme for a yoga class that wouldn't have come to mind. So I think that was super helpful as well.
[00:09:41] Speaker B: Yeah. Both of your answers really point to community and collaboration, and those are some of the biggest benefits, I think, of doing a training and of being a part of a yoga community in general, or any community, honestly. Because, yes, we might go into a training or personal passion project, whatever it might be, with an intention for personal growth, but it's really the connections that we make with other people and what we create together that I think makes the biggest shifts and differences in people's individual lives. So it's, yes, it's really cool how that happens every single year in the training and then how that offers people an opportunity to continue those collaborations long afterward. Because I know you're still connected to people who are in your class and to people from different classes as well. And it's really nice that we have this super supportive teaching community and I'm really proud to be a part of it, and I'm so glad that you're a part of it too. Let's rewind a little bit to Yoga for beginners. So not necessarily people interested in jumping into a yoga teacher training, but who want to dip their toes in the water, they've probably heard what the different benefits of yoga are. They might be seeking it out for physical or mental or emotional relief. So what advice do you have for somebody who, who is intimidated to try yoga?
[00:11:04] Speaker A: Yes, I would say sometimes I feel like there's a, like, almost like. And I had this when I started, like a stereotype of, like, oh, people who do yoga can do this or they have to look like this, you know, And I think stepping into a studio and seeing different types of people, like when you walk in, it's sometimes it's not what you expect in the best way. Like, it's not that intimidating factor sometimes that we build up in our heads. But I would say if you're nervous starting off maybe with a hatha class or like a Vinyasa 1 class, something that you think would suit what fits you best. I know, like, maybe jumping into a powerful might not be everyone's first go to. And I would say just talking to the teacher. I think especially at our studio, in particular, our teachers, and even just the folks who come to our classes are so friendly. That community is so strong. I remember in my first couple weeks at True Love, I had kind of kept to myself on my little wall spot, and there was a group of folks in the back. We were like, he, hey, like, kind of chatting me up. And it was really great to not have to be the one to put myself out there as someone who, like, gets a little nervous with that. So I think just knowing that maybe doing some research, knowing the community, you know, for example, we know that True Love has this great community and these teachers who are so warm and welcoming, I think that can help to really ease the tension right off the bat. You walk in feeling just comfortable as you sit down on your mat.
[00:12:28] Speaker B: Yeah, those are all good points. And different yoga communities do have different vibes. I'll say. Like, I have been in studios before when traveling or even locally at times where nobody says hi to you. And yes, where maybe everyone is, like, dressed in super expensive, nice yoga clothes. Not that I don't like my yoga clothes, but where it just feels a little bit elitist in a way. So I would. I would definitely recommend, if someone has had that experience, to keep trying and keep trying different places, because different studios or yoga spaces. It doesn't have to be a yoga studio. It could be a YMCA or.
[00:13:05] Speaker A: Yeah, outdoor yoga.
[00:13:07] Speaker B: Yeah, exactly. They all have different vibes. And I think there's probably the right fit for everybody just depending on. On what they're needing and what they're looking for. And then over time, you might find you're seeking something a little bit different. And at that point, it's okay to try something new. Like, maybe people went in really searching for the physical benefits, but then they end up, like, loving breath, work and meditation, and then they want to dive more deeply into that. There are really so many different avenues to travel. So if the first one isn't exactly what you were needing or looking for, I would say don't give up.
[00:13:41] Speaker A: Yes, and I would say that's true even for teachers. Like, I know the first class I took was a yin class, and I didn't know anything about yoga. I wasn't mentally prepared to kind of sit with my thoughts and not move a whole lot for an hour. And so I had kind of left me. Like, I don't know if this is for Me and I had already signed up to try, like, kind of each of the classes. And then I tried hatha and vinyasa, and I was like, okay, this is more what I'm looking for right now. Because I wasn't in a place to necessarily just sit in my body and with my mind. And it's. It's something I enjoy now for sure. But I think if I had just thrown in the towel there, I'd been like, no, yoga's not for me. I would have missed out on such an amazing opportunity to grow as a person.
[00:14:20] Speaker B: Yeah, that's such a good anecdote because, yes, there are so many different styles of yoga, and the first one that you try might not be the one that's for you.
It's funny, I think that yin yoga and restorative yoga are all. Are often the most surprising and sometimes, like, jarring styles of yoga.
[00:14:39] Speaker A: 100%.
[00:14:40] Speaker B: Yeah. Because people haven't really heard of them before. They think of, like, modern yoga as power yoga, as hatha, tree pose, downward facing dog, all that. But suddenly you're laying in a kind of uncomfy position for five minutes and your thoughts are running wild and you're like, what am I doing?
Why am I here? What? This wasn't what I thought I was.
[00:15:01] Speaker A: What did I get myself into?
[00:15:03] Speaker B: Yeah, but they all have deep benefits. I guess another piece of advice I'd offer besides trying something new is trying something again. If you didn't like it the first time, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's not for you. Sometimes that little bit of discomfort is actually nudging us toward the thing.
[00:15:24] Speaker A: Yes. That little opportunity for growth. 100%, absolutely.
[00:15:29] Speaker B: I'll also ask you, how can a beginner start a yoga practice either at home or at a yoga studio?
[00:15:37] Speaker A: Yeah, I would say at home. It's awesome. Now that we just have so many opportunities to connect, whether it's through social media or YouTube or through apps, anything like that. I would say if you are someone who is more nervous, maybe it would feel nice to be able to kind of see visually what some foundational or key yoga poses look like. I know for me, I'm a visual learner, and so it's my first couple of weeks were a lot of watching the teacher and then doing what they were doing because I needed that visual representation. So I would say at home there's a lot of opportunities, but I know some folks feel like a little bit more motivated or just more comfortable seeing maybe not just how it looks in the teacher's body but how it looks in other people's bodies in the actual physical yoga studio. So I would say really just taking that leap and it's hard. It can be, it can be intimidating, it can make you nervous. But I think most folks would say they're glad they did and it was definitely worth the maybe nerves or discomfort at the start.
[00:16:36] Speaker B: Yeah, I agree. I would say just sign up and that could be the hardest part. Maybe recruit a friend to come with you so that you don't have to go at it alone. Absolutely. And then keep an open mind. I'll also say like a lot of times people go into a new space, whether it's yoga, fitness, anything, and it can feel like everyone's looking at you or everyone's judging you, but I can say like, nobody cares.
[00:17:07] Speaker A: Especially in our studio for sure. I think that's such a, like every person feels that way and it's funny because if you look at it you're like, well if everyone's worried about themselves and like they're probably not worrying about other people, but sometimes our brains just tell us like, no, they are worried about me. So I would agree 100% of knowing that if anything they're just excited to see a new face or happy to see just have the studio full, a hundred percent. And then something I thought of as well is I think something I would have loved as a beginner that I just didn't really realize was out there was some sort of beginner class or beginner workshop where it takes the pressure of like, well, nobody really knows all the way what they're doing or everyone might feel that same nerves or discomfort or just curiosity. And so I think that might be for those that are extra nervous or just aren't really sure. That could be such a calming environment of knowing everyone's in the same boat as me and then kind of creating a very close knit community of folks who probably have the same questions and the same thoughts and things like that.
[00:18:05] Speaker B: Yeah, well, that's a good segue then into talking about your free beginners class. So you have a free beginner's yoga workshop coming up at True Love Yoga March 22. You talked a lot about your story and philosophy about, about beginners and things like that. But what inspired you to, to lead a beginner's class?
[00:18:24] Speaker A: Yeah, it was really a mixture of loving, fine tuning poses and getting a lot of positive feedback from our students at True Love that they appreciate just sometimes the more fine tuning and the specific details of how to find a pose or how to make it feel right in your body. Because everyone has, you know, different proportions, different flexibility, different mobility. And I think that's something I love about yoga, is looking up and seeing everyone doing something slightly different. But it works for them and it feels good for them because that's why they're there, is to have that connection with their body and to feel good in their mind and their body and spirit. So I would say that's part of what inspired me and then also kind of what I touched on earlier. Players just realizing that that's something that could reach folks who might be unsure or a little bit wary of jumping right into a class or who might like that aspect of getting to know the poses before moving through a flow or a traditional yoga class. And I thought it would be a really great way to kind of make people feel a little bit more comfortable and also confident because of course you can do it, but it feels nice to try it out first and kind of a judgment free zone and then jump into your first official.
[00:19:29] Speaker B: Yeah, it's like some people want to just jump right into the water and some people want to dip their toes in. And this is definitely great for those people who want to dip their toes in. Some people like to, like, they feel more confident and comfortable if they're familiarized with the environment. Like, props. Like, what are props and how do we use them? With, like, even how to set up your mat and like, do you wear shoes or do you not wear shoes? And where do you put them? And, you know, it's a whole thing. And I know, especially for those of us who are a little bit more anxious, that having somebody really just lay that all out for us can be really soothing and prepare us in a really nice way. What can students expect in the workshop? I know you've talked a little bit about it, but what are some of the key elements?
[00:20:12] Speaker A: Yes, I love that you said that about props, because that's a big one. I think sometimes we see the props, like maybe a blanket makes sense, but I remember seeing a bolster and be like, what do we do with these things?
So, kind of just really briefly touching on just the different ways you can use props. Excuse me? The different ways you can use props and how certain teachers might like to use use them in their classes. Definitely the foundational yoga poses, kind of the key poses you might see consistently from class to class and finding an alignment that feels good in your body. And then I'm a big. I'm a big questions person. I feel like, you know, as you're learning, questions are going to pop up, especially as a teacher, you know, that's something I'm very accustomed to. So creating that space of it doesn't need to be a silent yoga class. You know, ask questions when they pop into your head, know that everyone's learning and trying to figure out what feels good in their body. And then I'd love to, if we have time, touch on a couple of just like common yoga terms. I know a lot of teachers at our studio will use both the name in English and the Sanskrit term. And then as you kind of get farther into a class or a flow, you might start to choose one or the other. So kind of familiarizing folks with the different terminology and just some of the things that they might hear. So when they do hear it, they're like, oh, yeah, I know what that is.
[00:21:22] Speaker B: Yeah, Shavasana is a good one.
[00:21:24] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:21:26] Speaker B: Yeah. Even questions like that, like, why do we lay down at the end of class? Like, they are perfectly valid questions because it can be very foreign to someone who has never experienced that before. Like maybe you've seen it on TV or know people who do yoga, but, like, why do we really do it? And it's so nice to be able to. To ask those kinds of questions in a judgment free space. So thank you so much for providing that for people. That is March 22, 2025 at True Love Yoga. And you can go to trueloveyogakc.com to sign up for it. So make sure if you are interested in this or you know somebody who might be to let them know. The more the merrier, for sure.
Jules, anything else you want to add about the workshop?
[00:22:10] Speaker A: I think no, I think just come know you can come as you are. Wear your socks, go barefoot, wear whatever feels comfy. We've got mats at the studio as well. I know when I first started, I didn't have a yoga mat. I didn't know if I wanted to stick with it. I might bring a couple extra mats as well. So just excited to have you. Love to meet new folks, show them the ropes, make folks feel comfortable and confident in themselves and their bodies. Yeah.
[00:22:35] Speaker B: Yes. If you have any other questions about the workshop listeners, you can reach out to me. You can even text our studio number. I am more of a texter than a caller, I'll be honest. And to me it's a less intimidating way to ask questions. So absolutely feel free to text our number with, with any questions that you have. So that's coming up. We're so excited and if you are listening to this and you're not from Kans City, find a beginner's yoga class near you. That's such a great place to start. Even if you only do it once, it'll help provide a launching pad for your yoga practice and help guide you into where you want to go. So, Jules, thank you so much for explaining that and I'd love to finish by asking you, how can our listeners deepen their yoga practice?
[00:23:19] Speaker A: Oh, that's such a good question. I would say for me personally and I think for a lot of folks who tend. I feel like everyone nowadays, we're busy, we're running from task to task, place to places, just finding a couple minutes of quiet, even a couple seconds of quiet in your day to really notice the sensations in the body and in the mind. And I find that that really helps me to ground and then pull into my own yoga practice of, oh, I know I was feeling this way on this day or I know I have been noticing this sensation in my body. So when I do get to my mat, whether that's at home or at a traditional yoga class, I I've already kind of got a good idea of what do I want out of this? What does my body and mind need out of this? And that's something that seems really small but can make a big difference and doesn't take too much time in a busy, busy life.
[00:24:08] Speaker B: Yeah, the world is fast paced. Most of us are taking in a lot of information all day long. So it really is monumental advice to just pause for a few moments and connect with yourself. I love that advice. Well, thank you so much, Jules. It was really nice taking this time to chat with you. And again, I want to encourage our listeners to join Jules any Sunday at 9am at True Love Yoga for Hatha Yoga, but also at our beginner's yoga class on March 22nd if you'd like. Do you want to share your socials or any ways that our listeners can connect with you?
[00:24:38] Speaker A: Yes, absolutely. My yoga Instagram is Jules J u L E S. O B as in boy.yogi. so Jules will bring yoga and that that's the main social media I use is Instagram. And yes, I look forward to hopefully meeting some new yogis soon, answering questions, having great discussions, learning new stuff.
[00:24:59] Speaker B: Awesome. Well, thank you so much, Jules and thank you to everyone who's listening today. Whether you're starting your yoga practice or deepening it, we're here for you. Thank you so much. Om Shanti Om. Peace. Till next time.
