Elisabeth Krebs
HERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am fortunate to call a number of places home: New Jersey, California, and the Midwest. I am “from” each of these places and am often on a plane going back and forth.
I write for a living. I work for a very transformative local school in NJ and do my best to highlight its attributes and alumni to the larger community.
WHEN DID YOU START PRACTICING YOGA? WHAT WAS IT ABOUT YOGA THAT FIRST INTERESTED YOU?
I attended a wedding in Jamaica 10 years ago and was introduced to a woman who was a yoga teacher, masseuse, Montessori teacher, and a big fan of silent retreats. She was a bit crazy but told me I needed to try yoga. I’ve always been an athlete but she recognized in me the need to try something new physically and mentally. I listened. I took my first yoga class a week later.
HOW DID YOU DISCOVER EMPOWER YOGA?
I have practiced at 10+ different studios in this area and probably 70+ studios during my travels both domestic and abroad. I gravitate towards good people. Empower Yoga is the definition of good people, good energy, and good power. I didn’t “find” Empower. I knew Keri and believed in her goal of creating a positive and supportive yoga community that pushes us all to our limit.
HOW HAS THE STUDIO HELPED TO EMPOWER YOU?
This studio has helped me achieve balance. I truly admire my fellow yogis at Empower. People are genuine and supportive. In all my travels, I feel grateful to call Empower my “home” studio.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE CLASSES- WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF? HOW HAVE YOU SURPRISED YOURSELF? WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY? ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE?
I practice yoga to strike a balance between the physical, the mental, and the spiritual. Sometimes that means a super hard hot vinyasa class. Sometimes it means a slower warm flow. And sometimes it means reaping the benefits of a Sunday afternoon song bowl class. I have no favorite class because each one grounds me differently.
OUTSIDE OF YOGA WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER HOBBIES/INTERESTS?
My life is INSANE!! 😂 I’m a mom, I work, I travel, I love my husky puppy. But yoga is a priority. It
Kristen McGaughey
HERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am from Middletown, NJ where I've grown up my whole life, and I'm currently a student at TCNJ. I will be graduating in May 2019 with a degree in Accountancy and will then be working at Deloitte in NYC after graduation.
WHEN DID YOU START PRACTICING YOGA? WHAT WAS IT ABOUT YOGA THAT FIRST INTERESTED YOU?
I started practicing hot yoga almost 2 years ago. I've also taken regular unheated yoga flow classes but have always loved the intensity and heat of hot yoga much better. I originally started looking into yoga one summer when I was getting tired and bored of my routines at the gym. I didn't want to stop working out; I was just dying to try something new that would give me the effects of a workout but would also be refreshing and something I didn't dread waking up early to do most mornings. Some of my friends decided to join me, so we all tried our first hot yoga practice together. Needless to say I LOVED it since I'm still practicing today.
HOW DID YOU DISCOVER EMPOWER YOGA?
I discovered Empower Yoga as soon as I came back to TCNJ for my fall semester over a year ago. I was walking in campus town and saw a sign outside for Empower Yoga describing a Student New Member Special! I was way too excited to try a new yoga studio and continue my passion for hot yoga.
HOW HAS THE STUDIO HELPED TO EMPOWER YOU?
The studio has helped to empower me in so many different ways that I am forever grateful for. As soon as you start taking classes you can sense the caring and supportive environment of this yoga community. When looking back to when I took my first yoga class here compared to today, I can see a major difference in my self confidence, happiness, and all around mindfulness. The Empower Yoga studio has taught me so many lessons, but one that I will always remember is to be present and let go of anything that happened during the day that doesn't serve you. This has really helped me get through tough days in my semester or just times when you don't feel your best. I would come in to yoga class stressed with my mind focused on many different things, but I would leave feeling a sense of relief and in a much healthier state of mind for giving myself that hour to just be present and enjoy the practice. Overall, Empower yoga classes have helped me to always focus on spreading positivity and has inspired me to value growth, inner strength, and self care above all else.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE CLASSES- WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF? HOW HAVE YOU SURPRISED YOURSELF? WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY? ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE?
I've loved every yoga class I've attended here, and every teacher I've had the chance to practice with has been amazing in their own way! If I had to choose I'd say my favorite classes are Power Hour with either Keri or Irene. I like Power Hour because it's a little more intense and faster than Power Flow. I have learned that I can do anything that I put my mind to and not to be intimated if something looks or seems too hard. I've learned to push myself and never give up on the things I'm passionate about.
OUTSIDE OF YOGA WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER HOBBIES/INTERESTS?
Outside of yoga, I'd say some of my favorite hobbies include going to the beach, as I grew up only 15 minutes from the beach and would go each summer as much as possible. I also love traveling, cooking, bringin
