Namast'ay hOMe Spotlight: Bridget Henson of Practice Yoga Cincinnati
Bridget Henson is a former Project Yoga teacher and owner at Practice Yoga Cincinnati (formerly Simply Power Yoga). She led a restorative yoga class during Namast’ay hOMe. We asked her to share her yoga journey and what inspires her and her practice.
What is your personal yoga practice?
These days, it's learning to slow down and be mindful because I can't do all the things. With a baby and a small business in a pandemic; I would like to physically practice more asana, and be creating more content virtually, but I can't. So that's my practice. Knowing this is not permanent and what my practice looks like right now is enough.
What has your journey to yoga been?
I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at a very young age, and have had complications with arthritis (b/c autoimmune is super cool like that) Anyways years ago, a friend thought hot yoga might be helpful for my pain and sure enough, after my first class I was hooked. That was going on 14years ago. For the longest time I felt like I didn't know what I was doing, and that was okay. Now after several teacher trainings, the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know and that too is okay. So this journey has been and will be about continuing to progress with no destination in mind, and just being open to the possibility of it all.
Advice to anyone who is looking to start a practice.
I think knowing your intention on why you want to start a practice is so important. Yoga is for everyone, but not all yoga is for everyone. If you want to chill out and hate being hot, I would say a heated power flow isn't for you. Whereas someone suffering from anxiety might not do well in a yin class that is quiet and still as their first introduction. It breaks my heart hearing someone say "Oh I tried it once, it wasn't for me" or "I'm just not flexible enough', because I know the powerful benefits from this practice and want everyone to feel them too. So being willing to ask questions before you try out just any random class...otherwise, totally jump in, but be willing to laugh, tap out and just have fun with it.
Why do you teach?
I teach because I truly love it. I love sharing things with people and having it change their perspective. Being able to help people feel better physically is a gift. Things I've learned along the way aren't a secret and I'm more than happy to share whatever I know, and it's been an honor to do so.
Recommended resources
Bernie Clark's "Your Body, Your Yoga" is a great source for anatomy content and movement understanding. I love Iyengar's "Light on Life". Although it's one of his last books, it's a great introduction to him for students looking for more. And my favorite on-line, or in-person training comes from the amazing women at Yoga Medicine. I also feel that we are really lucky to have a lot of talented teachers and studios within the greater Cincinnati area. There really is a type of yoga, teacher and community for all interests.
I'm a self-proclaimed music snob, but really love almost anything and everything. I love live concerts and hope there is a day in the near future we can all get a chance to enjoy them once again. Favorite music at the moment is lofi beats and classical...less words, more feeling.
Quotes that inspire you.
"let the space between where you are, and where you want to be inspire you"
“We don’t use our bodies to get into the pose, we use the pose to get into our bodies”