‘ I want people to feel empowered.’

Alena Wertalik is a yoga teacher based in New York City.

1. What style of yoga do you teach? And, where are you located?

Vinyasa and Traditional Hot (26+2) styles. I teach at all Yoga to the People and Hot On Yoga locations, but currently I am teaching virtually everywhere!

2. What is your intention behind teaching?

I want people to feel empowered to take responsibility for and even create their own experiences. I think if we work to cultivate this in our yoga practices, it can become a way of being off of our yoga mats. 

3. Who are your mentors in yoga? 

First and foremost would be the founder of YttP, Greg Gumucio. I've worked for him for over 10 years now. I also learned a lot about teaching yoga and running a yoga business from Nikki Carter. And in recent years I've been working very closely with Rose Erin Vaughan, who I respect immensely. 

4. What have they taught you? 

Greg taught me everything I know about being a leader. He taught me the difference between being strong and being tough, what it means to show up and hold space, the power of forgiveness, and a lot about love. For the most part, he taught me these things in who he has been for me as a mentor, teacher and friend. 

Nikki took me under her wing when I really wanted to teach yoga. She let me follow her around NYC to all different teachers' classes of all different styles of yoga, and let me run her studio when I was like, 22 years old. She's definitely had an influence on how I teach.

Rose Erin and I have been running teacher trainings together for the last four years. She is brilliant and humble. Working and creating with her has woken up parts of me I didn't even realize were dormant. I am grateful that she has invited me along on her journey.

5. Please mention a book that you have read about yoga that has had a positive impact on you? 

There are so many I've read through the years, it's hard to remember what things I've learned from which ones! But there is one timeless, simple book called The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran that I will always keep close to my heart. 

6. What lesson are you currently learning in your Asana practice? 

My Asana practice is an opportunity to practice ways of being I'm trying to cultivate. Right now I'm in quarantine during the Covid pandemic. It's easier to get to my yoga mat, but harder to hold myself accountable to be in my practice. So I'd say right now, I'm working on integrity in my practice. 

7. How often do you practice? 

It depends. When TT is not happening, sometimes I practice every day. When TT is going on, it's much less. But I also notice that when I practice less, I practice more fully, and cherish every moment and sensation.

8. How do you implement the other 7 limbs of yoga into your life other than Asana? 

This is a big question! I do notice a difference when I regularly practice mantra and pranayama, but I still have not managed to make it part of my daily routine. When I'm being hurtful or untruthful, I am aware of it and when I see it I will take responsibility for it and do my best to make things right. I think if you study and practice the limbs from a place of understanding why they are there, they can make a difference in how you live your life. 

9. Why is being present so important to you? 

Our lives are ruled by time. We live so much in the past and in the future, forwards and backwards. We become linear. However, when we are truly present, we don't go forwards and backwards... we go deeper. We get quiet. We get to tap into a way of being that is important to be able to tap into. 

10. How can we keep up with you on social media? What is your IG handle and/ FB name?

@onebreath_onemovement

‘Being present is important to me because there is a treasure in the NOW.’

Chantelle Broomes is a yoga teacher located in New York City.

1. What style of yoga do you teach? And, where are you located?

I teach Power Vinyasa and Meridian Yoga. I am located in the city.

2. What is your intention behind teaching?

My intention behind teaching yoga is to serve others. It is in my nature and I feel blessed to be able to share my knowledge and help people get more in tune with their inner self.

3. Who are your mentors in yoga?

My mentor in yoga would be my teacher and beautiful friend Erin Rose.

4. What have they taught you?

She has taught me how pranayama, tantra, chanting, asana , acupressure, and ear acupuncture.

5. Please mention a book that you have read about yoga that has had a positive impact on you?

Tantra Spirituality Sex by Bhagwan Rajneesh.

6. What lesson are you currently learning in your Asana practice?

I am currently learning how important the utilization of the breath is during asana. I recently learned how to breathe correctly and it has deepened my practice immensely.

7. How often do you practice?

I practice at least once everyday.

8. How do you implement the other 7 limbs of yoga into your life other than Asana?

I implement the other 7 limbs of yoga by just simply bringing more awareness into my daily mundane tasks. For example , I would only think of pranayama during yoga. Then I wondered what if I tried breath control outside of the studio? Perhaps the next time I was in a scenario where I was really angry or anxious and to my surprise it worked. I wasn't perfect, but I felt myself much more calm than I would have been in the past without that kind of keen awareness.

9. Why is being present so important to you?

Being present is important to me because there is a treasure in the NOW. Often we tend to get caught up feeling so depressed about the past or anxious about the future that we miss out on the blessings in front of us in the very given moment. Being aware and in tune to what's happening in the present moment only invites more awareness. This will bring us just a little closer to rediscovering our true selves.

10. How can we keep up with you on social media? What is your IG handle and FB name?

My instagram is : mysticaleuphorian

My facebook is : Chantelle Broomes

What inspired Mind•Body•Connection? W/ Hali Tsotetsi

CEO and FOUNDER of Mind•Body•Connection.

BiologiqueLife just launched a wellness service directory that connects wellness professionals, wellness studios and clientele interested in wellness services. 

We are so proud of this venture. And, would like to share more about this endeavour with you. Our team asked The Founder and CEO, Hali Tsotetsi some questions about Mind•Body•Connection: 

1. What inspired this concept? 

Well, I have been teaching yoga for almost seven years and although wellness (as an industry) makes money, most people who choose this professional route are struggling. It’s almost as though we are being punished for doing good in The World. 

I wanted to shift this perspective and create a platform that supports people who are creating health for themselves and others. 

2. What’s behind the name? 

We always talk about the connection between mind&body in this industry but very few embody it. I believe that this is because the wellness industry is separate; however, we should be united. Someone’s wellbeing can thrive if they take care of all aspects of their health; not just practice yoga, not just go to a chiropractor... But, a combination of what that person needs to be at their best. 

3. Who is Mind•Body•Connection for?

From a professional standpoint, it is for someone who is a wellness practitioner who believes that they deserve to make money and sustain a career off of creating health for themselves and others. Many of us (in wellness) are not treated well, paid enough or don’t even believe that we are worthy of making the same as someone who works a traditional office job. However, Mind•Body•Connection is here to debunk that. If you believe that you are worthy, invest in yourself first. Don’t wait for others to invest in you, first! 

From a client perspective, it is for the person who believes that preventative health will help them live a more full and happy life. Everyday, more and more science reveals to us that taking care of yourself is number one. If we take care of ourselves, we are better off - in the long run. 

4. What’s your vision for Mind•Body•Connection? 

To build a platform where millions of people around The World can connect because they share a commonality. And, that is to see the world in a better state of being. A World where practicing yoga is just as important as your daily coffee, where visiting a holistic practitioner supports seeing your modern doctor and where people who work in wellness are taken as seriously as a technician, engineer or even a lawyer.

‘My life is like a quilt: everything that I thread is a part of a bigger picture.’

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