Inspirational Teacher Spotlight: Therline
It takes a profound and inspiring amount of dedication and self-awareness to spend so much time up in the air and still remain grounded.
I’d like to introduce my friend Therline, a fellow yoga teacher and next feature in honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day.
I met Therline, a flight attendant and private pilot, back in 2018. I was teaching at a small yoga studio in Las Vegas and she dropped into one of my classes during her time in town. I felt like we really hit it off chatting after class and we’ve remained in regular contact over the years.
I want to share with you one of my favorite things Therline does. It’s such a simple, small thing, but it makes me so happy. Every Monday on Instagram, Therline shares a “Start Monday off with a dance party” post. She shares dancing videos that spark joy and sometimes even laughter. They always inspire me to start my week with a bit of joy and a small, and sometimes even some dancing.
She began her yoga practice 12 years ago to take better care of her joints. A physical yoga practice can serve to be both therapeutic and preventative.
“The mat and environment the Western world has created is unnecessary, but I’m glad it was my stepping stone to the education and freedom in health, wellness and yoga I deserve,” Therline shared.
There is freedom in yoga and self-care. Therline uses her social media presence to show people that yoga doesn’t have to look one way and it’s not one size fits all. She shares videos of her practicing yoga in bed, at the airport, and in hotel rooms. Yoga doesn’t have to be strict and regimented. It can look different from day to day, year to year, and person to person.
You can practice yoga wherever you are.
“Whatever I want it to look like, what l feel is necessary, what my body or breath is asking for at the moment and time,” she shared about what her yoga practice looks like.
Therline and I have had lots of conversations over the years about creating virtual yoga classes and other related content for our students. How should classes be offered? What’s the best way to create a schedule? I’ve always valued and appreciated talking these ideas through with another teacher and hearing her ideas. Therline embodies what it means to help lift other women up, rather than beating people down to try to get ahead.
Collaboration over competition. When we spend time lifting one another up, there is such a large opportunity for growth. We can learn so much from one another.
I’ve learned so much about Haitian culture from Therline and feel so incredibly inspired by how comfortable and proud Therline is to be who she is. She said she draws inspiration from her “heart, mind, body, breath and ancestors.”
When asked what advice she would give to those just starting out a yoga practice, she said, “Don’t compare yourself to others. They’re not on your journey. You are.” I couldn’t agree more.
“Don’t back down and don’t regret the mistakes you made from backing down previously, just learn from it,” Therline said.
Check out Therline on social @theyogamarque and say hello!
