Hali Tsotetsi is theEditor-in- Chief and Founder of BiologiqueLife. She has been teaching yoga since 2013. Born in New York and raised in South Africa and England, Hali now lives and teaches in Los Angeles.
1. What style of yoga do you teach?
I teach Vinyasa, Traditional Hot Yoga and Yin.
2. What is your intention behind teaching?
To be authentic and spread that authenticity, whatever it may look like.
3. Who are your mentors in yoga?
I had a few mentors when I was living in New York who used to teach at Yoga To The People, one of them owned the Brooklyn studio. As I have progressed a teacher and lost contact of some of my mentors because of life and how it progresses, I have only recently made peace with the fact that some of them won’t be in my life anymore. So, right now, I don’t have a yoga mentor but instead of searching for my mentor outside of myself, I will look within. Like Pattabhi K. Jois famously said, ‘All is coming’, and I believe that about everything. If you stay on the right path, are genuine, stay uplifted and authentic, all is coming. It’s only a matter of time.
4. What have they taught you?
I have learnt so many things from former mentors. One being that I don’t have to like everyone. I took a teacher-training from Jared McCann in January, 2016 and it was internally transformative. He put emphasis on being authentic which I used to struggle with. His guidance has helped me on my path of being genuine.
5. Please mention a book that you have read about yoga that has had a positive impact on you?
So many. One on particular is ‘Myths of The Asanas’ by Alanna Kaivalya.
6. What lesson are you currently learning in your Asana practice?
I’m currently learning two lessons right now; Patience and Trust.
I used to be so good at trusting until I became jaded by New York City. I lived in New York for ten years as an adult. Towards the end, I had gone through some of the toughest and almost inhumane experiences that anyone could ever go through. It led me down a path of distrust, particularly towards myself and men. Right now, my practice is reminding me that there is a bigger picture and allowing is better than forcing my outcome. Looking back, God and The Universe have always known what was best for me. When I lie in Savasana, I try to surrender myself to that notion.
7. How often do you practice?
Almost everyday.
8. How do you implement the other 7 limbs of yoga into your life other than Asana?
As a true Aquarius, I am not the best at following rules. Rules scare me actually. So, the niyamas&yamas are not my forte. I like to live by karma. That my life is like a quilt: everything that I thread is a part of a bigger picture. So, I ask myself, what do I want that picture to look like?
I also practice Dharana (meditation) twice a day for at least an hour-a-day.
9. Why is being present so important to you?
Because life is happening right now. I have always been an overly driven person. In fact, anyone who knows me well, knows that I am always on-the-go and working a lot. Recently, I decided to be more present than I had been because the future does not exist without presence. I have always looked to the future for happiness and now, I want to look to now for anything I want because now is the only moment that it is feasible.
10. How can we keep up with you on social media? What is your IG handle and/ FB name?
My IG is @halitsotetsi