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(left to right) Kim assisting Carmen in a strong headstand; Carmen at our HS reunion picnic in 2022; Carmen practicing 108 Sun Salutations on June 22, 2018.
Carmen and I met in high school and have known each other for 11+ years. We've worked together on various undertakings from JROTC Girl's Drill Team to SPREAD events to yoga sessions and workshops. She works full-time as an Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance Senior Advisor, while organizing monthly peer-led workshops through SPREAD (Supporting Peer Respect, Education, And Discourse). She also plays volleyball, partakes in dragon boat, and practices yoga 2+ times a week, among other things. She started practicing yoga to improve physical flexibility and continues after recognizing many more benefits of practice including improves focus, stress management/relief, and mental clarity. I am grateful for our friendship!
Carmen is also one of the first patrons/subscribers (Benefactor) of KIM REYES YOGA. Thank you, Carmen!
I asked Carmen some questions about her practice, which you can read below!
Q&A with Carmen
Q: What is your "yoga why", i.e. what brings you to your mat?
A: I originally came to the mat because I wanted to improve my flexibility, and I stayed because I benefited from the practice on so many more levels: physically, mentally, and philosophically.
Q: Favorite yoga pose and why.
A: Ragged doll is my favorite because I can just hang, decompress my spine, and stretch my hammies.
Q: Least favorite yoga pose and why.
A: Parivrtta Trikonsasana (revolved triangle) because I can't twist well.
Q: Favorite yoga style (e.g. vinyasa, yin, slow flow, etc.).
A: Vinyasa because I like to focus on connecting my breath to movement. I realized that how I breathe can affect my focus and stress levels, and by just controlling my breath, I can relax and gain mental clarity.
Q: Describe an "Aha!" moment on your mat/in your practice.
A: The first time I did a headstand was an "Aha!" moment for me. It reaffirmed that I can do things that I thought was impossible and I felt awe at the human body for being able to hold an inversion.
Thanks for the spotlight, Teacher Kim! 💖 I can't believe we've known each other since high school and I'm forever grateful that we've kept in touch since then. I love learning from you and am always excited to deepen my practice with your guidance.