Jennifer Mastick
Member since March, 2023
What brought me to yoga feels like a complex question. I was first brought to yoga because I was an athlete in high school and wanted to balance out my movement with flexibility and avoid injury. During college I found yoga again as a means to build strength and then finally found yoga a third time in my late twenties after being diagnosed with chronic pain and fatigue. It was then that I understood yoga’s real purpose in my life.
My practice became steady as I learned to reset my nervous system through breath and movement. I let my day fall on the mat time and time again and began a meditative practice.
From here I sought out my 200-hour training certificate so that I could share the meaningful practice with others. Although I don’t currently teach, I do work with folks in the mental health field and use breath and somatic practices as well as a high focus on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system to help folks work through their own challenges.
I found Inner Fire Yoga after having moved to the West side during the pandemic and was looking for a new home to practice in. Some of my favorite classes are the power flow’s offered by Wesley and Hally. Both are kind and thoughtful about their approach while offering sequences that feel unique. Their personalities shine in their work and you can tell they love to be with their students as much as their students love to be with them.
I would also like to give a shout out to Peg who is quietly hilarious and calming all at once and to Hannah who’s classes I’ve just recently gotten an opportunity to take. She shows a great knowledge for what the body needs and coaches her class in a way that feels supportive. I appreciate the balance of a power flow created by the teacher vs. the Inner Fire Flows that provide predictability and heat, which is needed some days.
If I had to choose favorite poses it would be a four way tie between half moon, triangle, child’s pose and headstand with a close runner up being banana asana (quick mention to Nora who is also amazing). A pose that will seemingly be my life’s biggest challenge is wide-legged forward fold… someday I’ll be able to drop into this one, I hope.