Teachers can play such a fundamental role in our yoga journey and as part of our community. We can feel a connection to them, a warmth, despite often knowing very little about their background or story! So, we interviewed one of our very own This is Yoga teachers, Jourdi Bleu, to give you an insight into her beautiful journey.
What led you to start practicing yoga? What makes you passionate about the practice?
My mom introduced me to yoga when I was 16 years old. I was going through some hard times, and she thought it would help ground me. I have to admit, I didn’t fall in love with it right away, but I knew that I always felt better after I practiced.
With a gymnastics background growing up, my body was naturally good at the poses, so I kept coming back to it purely for physical activity. It wasn’t until I was 21 (8 years ago) that I really fell in love with the practice. I remember the exact class that made me have that “AHA” moment - I walked out on a bliss cloud and it finally clicked for me that there was something else happening on the mat, on a much deeper level than just the physical practice. For the next couple years my true love for yoga developed and then I finally did my teacher training in 2016 at BodyMindLife. It was then when I learned about why this practice made me feel the way it did, and how it was shifting many aspects of my life. I wasn’t quite ready to start teaching right away, so the next few years I dove deeper into my own practice with my newfound knowledge, and a transformation began.
When I travelled to India in 2019 and practiced more traditionally in many different ashrams, I felt in my soul that I was ready to start sharing this sacred practice with others. So, when I got back to Sydney in 2020, I began my journey as a teacher. It has been the most amazing experience, one that lights my soul up. There’s nothing I love more than students coming up to me after a class telling me how great it made them feel, or that yoga has changed their life. There’s not a doubt in my mind that I was definitely put here in this lifetime to share my knowledge of this ancient practice. To me, it’s so much more than just a practice, it’s a whole way of life and thinking, and that’s what makes me so passionate about it. Yoga has definitely shaped me into who I am today, and I am so beyond grateful that it is a part of my life.
Do you do any other activities or exercises to compliment your yoga practice?
I compliment my practice with strength and gymnastics work at the gym, and cardio sessions like HIIT and spin classes. I feel like those drills make the bigger poses easier to access.
Can you tell us; a favourite pose, a pose that challenges you and a pose you are working towards?
My favourite poses are handstand and Warrior 2, and the one that challenges me the most is Uttkatasana (chair pose). I am working on tougher transitions like crow - headstand - crow and my press to handstand.
What can students expect from your classes?
If you come to my classes, I usually like to take it slow and strong, so you can really embody each pose and move with your breath. My sequences are always creative and fun (planning classes is one of my favourite things to do) and I promise you’ll have a laugh as I let my bubbly, light - hearted personality shine through. I’m so excited to dive deeper into the teaching realm, as it’s morphing my relationship to yoga to a level that I didn’t even think was possible.
Author: This is Yoga
To book a class with Jourdi, check out our timetables below!
