Seattle Yoga News is on a mission to find and highlight all of the hidden, and maybe not so hidden, gems in our yoga community and beyond. We want you to learn about their experiences and perspectives, but also a bit more about their personalities, so we have a few fun questions for them. This week’s spotlight is turned towards Heather Falkin.
We asked Heather to share a word with our community and this is what she had to say:
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WITH YOGA?
I took my first yoga class when I was 19. I had partied my way through high school and was at a point in my life where I needed a healthier outlet for coping with the stress of my adolescent trauma. I just liked myself a whole lot more after class and kept going as a way to stay connected to a sense of peace that I hadn’t experienced for many years.
WHAT KIND OF TRAININGS HAVE YOU PURSUED?
I completed my 200 hr YTT in 2002 at Samadhi Yoga with Kathleen Hunt and Steve Davis. That process of going deeper into the philosophy of yoga took me on a journey to uncover and heal the wounds that were creating suffering in my life. All the trainings I have taken since them, whether with a world-renowned teacher or a local Seattle expert, have continued to support my personal growth and transformation. I am a better person today because of all the people who have inspired my path along the way.
WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU ALWAYS GIVE YOUR STUDENTS?
Trust the process and trust your inner teacher. Just keep showing up and let the yoga do the work.
WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO TEACHING YOGA?
I teach with an open heart and authentically share how the practice of yoga has transformed how I see the world and how I feel about myself. Through chanting, pranayama, vinyasa flow, mindfulness and humor I create experiences for students that will soften their hearts, quiet their minds, and re-affirm their self-worth.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT ONE CAN EXPECT WHEN VISITING SANGHA YOGA & WHAT MAKES THE STUDIO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER STUDIOS IN SEATTLE?
Sangha is a warm and welcoming space, with a beautiful ascetic. It has been a place for yogis to gather in the spirit of connection and healing for over 3 decades. There is a tangible and palpable energy that students and teachers feel when they walk in the door. It is our mission to pass on the ancient teachings of yoga in an accessible and relatable way in the spirit of uniting our hearts and lives on and off the mat.
WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU BEING A YOGA STUDIO OWNER IN SEATTLE?
Owning a yoga studio has been a transformative experience and one that has brought so many incredible people and opportunities into my life. Scott and I went in with open hearts and have found that it has affirmed for both of us that this is what we were meant to do. We are so grateful to have joined the Seattle yoga community and are very passionate about making sure that we continue to offer yoga that is accessible and rooted in the traditions that have been passed down for thousands of years.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE YOGA RELATED BOOK?
I can’t really choose just one book! My bed side table is full of them. One that I refer back to often however, is “Bringing Yoga to Life” by Donna Farhi. It was the first book I read that took the teachings of yoga and eloquently put them in terms I could digest and appreciate. I will forever be reading my many translations of “the Yoga Sutras” as well.
OTHER THAN PRACTICING YOGA, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR WELLNESS & SELF-CARE HABITS?
My self-care rituals involve checking in with myself regularly to make sure that I am hydrated, well fed and well rested. Just that can be a challenge most days. My yoga practice is also vital to my wellbeing. I recently began to meditate, which has been a game changer! I am finding the older I get the more I crave simplicity, stillness and any opportunity to turn off all the devices and rest back into my natural state.
WHAT IS ONE THING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Most people don’t know that I struggled with an eating disorder in late teens and early 20’s. I was incredibly insecure for a majority of my life and yoga has been an essential part of teaching me how to be comfortable in my body and more loving with myself.
WHO IS THE YOGI WE SHOULD FEATURE NEXT & WHY?
You should feature Jasmine RaShae! She is newly certified teacher but has already created a style of teaching that combines soulful music and yoga called Soulful Flow Yoga. You should also feature my husband, Scott Falkin. His teaching seeks to bridge the gap between the corporate and spiritual worlds.
Heather Falkin’s Bio: Like my weekly meanderings through the woods, my mat is a place I go to remember what I am. The practice magically transports me back to a space of receptivity, self-reflection and stillness. I just feel better after yoga and for over 20 years have dedicated myself to understanding how the dynamic practices and teachings of the yogic tradition transform us and unite us.
I seek to merge the old school and the new school approaches to guiding students to a sacred place within themselves. My classes are rooted in the eight limbs of yoga, Vedic tradition, Hindu mythology, Buddism and the lessons I’m constantly receiving from spirit in my daily life. I offer classes that are physically invigorating, mentally clarifying, spiritually awakening and fun. Teaching from my heart to support the needs of the students in the room is my highest goal and my continued self-study and growth is key in reaching it.
When I’m not teaching, practicing yoga, and tending to the studio I’m tending to my family. I take time for me in the form of reading, walking my dogs and SUP’ing on the sound. My soul is nourished when I’m in the mountains, close to the ocean, traveling, and listening to music.
