One of the newest MFML teachers, she’s the first to admit that she’s always moving. We had the pleasure of catching up with our muse, who constantly inspires us with her amazing flexibility and strength.
Daily Move – what do you do every day to keep moving?
Every day is different for me. Some days I have lots of energy and want to do lots of arm balances and inversions. Other days, I feel like my body needs more long held stretches and more of a restorative or yin style practise. The one pose that I practise every day without fail is handstand – I am totally addicted and always get upside down on my hands several times a day!
Five minutes each day – what to do for you?
Hip opening, shoulder stretches, twists and an inversion. I like Happy Baby, and Pigeon. A lot of hips and shoulders, gomukhasana or garudasana always work well for me. Although I am often inverted in a handstand, I also love Pincha Mayurasana and loads of different headstand variations too.
Favourite way to detox?
I tend to be pretty healthy, so don’t ever really feel like I need to detox. I have fresh green juices at least once a day and I eat a vegan and largely gluten-free diet, which has a lot of raw food in it. I don’t drink alcohol very often, so I don’t have any good hangover or party detox solutions!!!
How you fell in love with yoga:
I started doing yoga when I was 19 and liked it immediately. My practise was on and off for many years but it was always something I came back to because I felt better in my body and my mind when I was practising the yoga than when I wasn’t.
Top tip for creating a habit:
Get on your mat every day. Don’t have any expectations or set goals. Just flow and see how the body feels even if that is just a few simple stretches for five minutes. Something small every day will make the body want more and more each time you come to the mat and is an achievable way of making it a daily habit.
>> Try our 21 Day Beginner Yoga Challenge to Form a New Habit >>
What motivates you to move more?
I don’t feel like I am motivated to move more as I am always moving. I don’t feel right in my body if I’m not. If I go to the cinema and have to sit still for a couple of hours I am constantly wriggling around, moving and stretching. I think the more active you are the more you’re body naturally just wants to keep moving. I don’t feel like its something that is a chore or that I have to psyche myself up for, I just want to move constantly.
If you weren’t a yoga teacher what would you like to be? Or if you could switch lives with anyone who?
I don’t think I can answer that question. I genuinely don’t know what I would do. Perhaps train to be an acrobat and join the circus! I wouldn’t switch lives with anybody, I feel very fortunate to have the best job in the world and I love doing what I do every day.
What do you wear when you practice at home?
I have so much yoga clothing that I feel it is all I wear, whether I am at home, teaching, practicing or just out in public. I sometimes feel like putting on a pair of jeans is a huge novelty!
Asana of today and why?
Sun salutation. I practised a 90 min vinyasa class yesterday, a 2 hour handstand training and a few hours of acro, and I feel like my body wants some straight up Surya Namaskara!
In Tweet length, why do you practice? All right, you give us a paragraph if you like:
I practise because it makes me feel better than if I don’t. Yoga is completely addictive and the more you practise the more you want to continue.
Essential yoga accessory (scented candle/eye bag/sand bag/music) – and where did you get yours?
I don’t really use anything other than my body. I’m not even that picky about mats as I’m not very sweaty so can grip quite easily on most mats. The only accessory I love are handstand canes which I don’t use as part of my yoga practise but are super fun to play with!
Here’s Sylvia doing handstand on canes in Barcelona at the AcroYoga Solar Immersion. Follow @SylviasYoga for more Instagram inspiration.
Which guru would you like to sit on a mountain with?
I have many teachers who have inspired me greatly over the years. David Swenson, Kino MacGregor, Jason Nemer and Sainaa (my handstand teacher) have all transformed my practise and continue to inspire me on a daily basis.
Places to practice – your top five places you have or would?
Seychelles, Barcelona, San Francisco, New York and I would love to go to India.
Last book you read?
Louis Theroux’s The Call of the Weird. I am about to start reading a book called Acrobaddict too which I’m excited about.
Living thinker – someone whose life perspective you admire?
I admire a lot of different things in many, many people.
What’s been your soundtrack this month?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Sam Smith and Amy Winehouse recently. Also Angus and Julia Stone and Lissie are always good.
Embark on a 30 day journey toward developing a freestanding handstand in your yoga practice with Sylvia Garcia.
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