Meet Angela Watts, Hatha and Gentle Yoga Instructor

About Angela
Angela started practicing yoga for a New Year’s resolution but quickly fell in love with the impact it had on her life. Building strength, flexibility, and balance kept her coming back to the mat, long after many resolutions faded. Wanting to cultivate the self-confidence and connection she found within the community, Angela pursued teacher training to further her practice and delve into the yoga lifestyle. Angela earned her 200-hour YTT certificate in the Amazon Jungle of Peru at Moksha Yoga and continued her education at Sundara by completing the Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy training. Beyond the mat, Angela is a writer, table tennis coach, avid hiker, and world traveler.  Angela teaches Hatha on Thursdays and Sundays, and Gentle Yoga on Thursdays.

What do you love about yoga/breath/meditation?
 
It all starts with and comes back to the breath. Prana. Lifeforce. It keeps me moving and it keeps me still. It creates space for me. During practice, I feel connected to myself, my spirit, and my body. After practice, I feel confident, strong, and grounded. I also love being part of a community that is supportive and united by a common practice. 
 
Why did you decide to start teaching?

I decided to take yoga teacher training so I could develop my own practice. I was planning to be abroad for a few years and I didn’t know if I’d have access to a yoga studio so I wanted to be able to continue my practice without an instructor to guide me. My priority was to develop good form so I wouldn’t injure myself, but during training, something unexpected happened. I fell deeper in love with yoga and found myself being called to share it. I learned to tap into a force greater than myself to be able to design sequences and themes. I love the creativity of building a class and guiding others on their own unique journeys. I also love what I learn from my students! You can read more about Angela's journey learning to teach yoga in this article she wrote. 
 
How has yoga impacted your healing journey?
 
Like many others, I started practicing yoga during a difficult time in my life. I felt lost, personally and professionally, and yoga was there for me. Over time, yoga helped bring clarity and healing. The trust I rebuilt with myself but showing up to my mat day after day, by making time to just breathe and be, helped me gain the confidence to make decisions that align with my truest and most authentic self. It is not always an easy path to take, but I consciously decide to continue down it and trust in the power of the mind/body/spirit connection.

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