My Yoga Journey
with Denise Brandi

Based in New York, Denise Brandi is a movement creator, who bridges the gap between fitness and yoga. She combines both modalities to heal and empower, so her students not only become stronger in body, but also in mind and heart. In this interview with Ayurooms, she shares her yoga journey and offers inspiration and motivation to practice yoga. 

Yoga has completely transformed who I am. It helps me to listen more and be more present. I have an abundance of physical energy and truth be told, it has helped me to mellow out a bit. It has given me the awareness to truly listen; both to others and to myself. It has and continues to teach me more patience and more presence.​

Interview with Denise Brandi

What does yoga mean to you?

Yoga means being able to be present with what is. No matter how uncomfortable I may feel. It affords us to see past what may seem limiting at the time. To open ourselves up to new ways of being. New ways of doing. It transcends both time and space. It creates space within to see clearly. To help us navigates the shifts and changes that are all around. To discern the truth. To experience what is real.

​When did you first start practicing yoga and why?

The call to practice has been long coming. I was completely overtrained and utterly exhausted. My physical body was the appearance of what I had dreamed of. Still I felt something was missing. In actuality, I was actually escaping my feelings by working out so hard. So often. Yoga brought me back into my body. It gave me the awareness and the peace I had been searching for my whole life.​

Were you ever resistant to learn yoga? 

Yes, I certainly was. I thought it was a complete waste of my time and energy. I was asked numerous times over the years with the clients I had been working with to take a class. I resisted. But the call became crystal clear when I broke my pinky toe and couldn't run. A yoga studio opened just down the block from my apartment. I heard this inner voice, speaking volumes. It said, "Go... Go now." And I listened. And that day changed the trajectory of my life.

How has yoga impacted your life?

Yoga has completely transformed who I am. It helps me to listen more and be more present. I have an abundance of physical energy and truth be told, it has helped me to mellow out a bit. It has given me the awareness to truly listen; both to others and to myself. It is and continues to teach me more patience and more presence.​

Why should someone practice yoga? ​

I believe we should all practice yoga in some form. The physical practice helps to move stagnant energy in the body. Movement helps calm the mind. Especially the yoga practice. It is an energetic system of cleansing that facilitates deep healing in both mind and body. And yes, spirit. It creates the space within to navigates life shifts and changes which are ever-present.​

What are your favourite asanas and why?

I love inversions. My ultimate favourite asana is the headstand. It calms my precious nervous system and brings me balance. It helps my overactive brain cease its incessant worry and thoughts. It puts me in a tranquil state of being. My other favourite pose is pigeon. Truth be told, I loathed it at first. My hips were so tight from all my years of running. But as time progressed, I yearned to practice this often. It offers a deep surrender to all that limits me. A release in my emotional and pain body, which helps me to continue heal and transform.

Follow Denise on Instagram

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