Studio Stories | Meet Our Member: Vern
Get to know fellow Ziva Yoga practitioners in our brand-new Blog series Studio Stories, featuring conversations with members about their perspectives on yoga — and on life and lessons beyond asana.
First up - meet Vern!
1. Tell us about yourself.
I am a Leo girl who enjoys practicing yoga, traveling and seeing the world. (My favourite city must be one with sunshine, beaches, and ancient castle architecture.) I passionately continue to unfold with each chapter of life’s narrative as I enter my thirties and beyond.
2. What is your go-to class at Ziva?
Hatha-Vinyasa 2 and 3.
3. What is the one pose that always gets you to “root down and rise up”?
Downward-facing dog is like my “reset point”, as teachers call it in class. I still remember how it felt almost impossible to do after my mastectomy. I was filled with fear and secretly cried while in the pose. However, it also reminded me to reconnect and reset myself throughout the practice. So everything starts with downward-facing dog – before the rest of the flow begins.
4. What is a pose that has surprised you during your yoga journey?
Reverse warrior 2. I enjoy the spaciousness I feel along my side body whenever I’m in this pose. I also love its silhouette!
5. What does yoga mean to you? What gives you joy in your practice?
Yoga is both a journey of self-discovery and a healing process for me. There is more focus on body awareness, Embracing ahimsa and moving mindfully within the limitations of my recovery from intense medical treatment. Additionally, it instills a serene lightness in my mind, allowing me to set aside my thoughts beyond the yoga mat during each practice session.
6. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned about yourself during your practice?
Impermanence is a constant in life. Inability to perform an inversion or arm balance pose today doesn't signify a perpetual limitation because your capabilities may evolve. Similarly, excelling in downward-facing dog today doesn't guarantee its perpetual perfection for you. Change is a key to unlocking your yoga practice.
7. Similarly, what are some habits or patterns you have UNlearned during your practice?
Take your time getting into the pose, there's no need to rush or force it if today isn't the day. In both practice and life, options abound. A valuable insight from Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: 'Impermanence is good news.' It reminds us that through impermanence, there is opportunity to learn, change, and grow.
8. What advice would you give to someone who’s new to yoga?
Yoga isn't a competition with your peers. It's a journey focused on rejuvenating both your mind and body.
9. Where do you hope your yoga journey will take you in the next 10 years?
I hope to inspire others to discover the healing journey of yoga, whether it involves basic practices like pranayama, stretching or your regular asana routine.
10. Describe your time at Ziva in three words!
“Harmony (Faiz & Yihan)”, “reconnect”, “humble”.
