Sunday, August 7, 2016

Yogi Spotlight Series - Misha H.



Misha H.

Instagram ID: mishayoga
Location: Montclair, NJ
Occupation: Certified Yoga Teacher, Paralegal





Growing up Misha's father was in the FBI serving with Joint Terrorism Task Force which gave her an incredibly unique perspective on life. She has carried a passion for law with her throughout her entire life thus far and in 2013, graduated from Montclair State University Pre-Law. For fun she reads Supreme Court dockets for any major cases that are coming down the pipe line. She finds it incredibly interesting to see the process that these laws which govern our very livelihood take. In addition to reading law related texts, she is an avid reader of fiction novels. Misha is currently undergoing the Rory Gilmore 339 booklist challenge, which is a list of books read by the character Rory Gilmore in the show Gilmore Girls. The list features primarily classic texts and she has just completed all of Jane Austens novels and currently reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. She LOVES to be in nature and try to go to the beach at least twice a week when the weather permits. 

Music is also another passion of hers, specifically live music. She goes to at least 10 concerts a year by herself because she loves the feeling of being in a new place and not knowing anyone. It provides the perfect foundation to meet new people and connect with someone who the only initial commonality you have is similar taste in music. She loves how liberated she feels during the show dancing to the music and closing her eyes not caring how she looks to anyone else but just feeling the music in her soul and moving because it just feel so damn good.


Yoga is Exhilarating, Dynamic, and Liberating. ~Misha


 How long have you been been on your journey? 
Five years, Since June 13, 2011.


How did you discover yoga? 
  When I was 12 years old I went to Barnes and Noble with my dad and wandered into the physical fitness isle. I picked up an Ashtanga yoga book and began attempting the primary series in my room. I had no idea what I was doing and I'm sure my little chicken legs were all out of alignment but I knew that it felt good. In 2011 my best friend took me to my first hot yoga class and I cried throughout the entire class because I felt such an emotional release from all of the different things I was dealing with at the time. I remember thinking "This chick is in bathing suit bottoms and a crop top dropping the realist truth on me and she's getting paid to do this?!" Literally I knew then that I wanted to become a yoga teacher and began my regular yoga practice.

How often do you practice?
Literally every single day sometimes multiple times a day. On Saturday and Sunday's I have a 4 hour practice consisting of 2 hours of vinyasa followed by 2 hours of iyengar.



What type of yoga do you practice?
Vinyasa
Iyengar
Aerial
Restorative

I teach vinyasa, aerial, and restorative yoga.




What have you learned from your practice?
  From my yoga practice I have learned the importance of doing what you love regardless of the opinion of anyone else. When I graduated from college I worked in a law firm because I thought that was what I was "suppose" to do and it made my parents proud of me. However, I was incredibly unhappy and lived a life looking through the lense of of someone other than myself. It wasn't until I decided to put my metaphorical life jacket one first and take care of my needs that I was truly able to make those around me happy. Yoga has taught me to listen to my gut and most importantly listen to my heart.

Do you feel yoga is more mental or physical?
Yoga is neither a more mental nor is it a more physical practice. It is a combination of the two. Asana is only one of the eight limbs of yoga and therefore not the main focus. In traditional yoga practices students would not be allowed to practice any asana until they were deeply immersed in the yamas and niyamas. For me, yoga is not just a physical practice but it is a mental, emotional, and spiritual practice as well. Focusing purely on asana and having the "perfect pose" only leads to ego and a lack on inner development.





What keeps you motivated throughout your practice?
To keep me motivated throughout my practice I have a mantra that I say usually to Ganesh or Lakshimi that I say with each breath. I also pick a posture I know I want to work on or a body part such as adho mukha vrikasana or opening my hips in Malasana or scandasana and I try to focus on the alignment required for each asana I am in. I also practice in the studio where I teach so seeing students working hard on their mats keeps me going for them. Sometimes, depending on if Ives eaten before class I am also motivated by knowing how amazing that my brunch is going to be when I get out of the room lol.

 What do you think about the increase of black women getting into yoga?
The increase of black women getting into yoga is incredible! There are not enough black women represented in the yoga community as either teachers or practitioners. It is important for black women to become prevalent in the yoga community because it helps spread awareness to a life style that has deep benefits. 





                 What would you say to someone who says yoga is not for them?


      I would first ask them why do they believe that yoga is not for them. The usual response is "I'm not flexible enough" to which internally I want to smash my head on the wall for the amount of times I have heard that response. I would respond by saying that you do not have to be flexible to begin a yoga practice. When I first starting practicing yoga I could not touch my toes and I was afraid to do a headstand. Everyone has to begin somewhere and by having negative thought process about a practice you haven't even tried you are limiting yourself to a world of possibilities. Try yoga consistently for a month, practicing at least 2-3 times a week. Most studios have amazing new student packages for their first month. Try it first and try every teacher they offer at every time of the day you can because the teach end time of class will always effect your practice differently. After that is done then make a determination of whether yoga is for you or not.





What is your favorite quote?

"Slow progress is still progress".




I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you Misha for sharing!


Contact Misha:

Email: mishahajj@gmail.com
Website: www.mishahajj.com
Instagram: mishayoga



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Edited by Vanessa L.

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