January Teacher Feature: Lexi Elven

Our yoga teachers and studios have been adaptable and ingenious, finding new ways to connect and continue to teach and support their students. Through lockdowns, technical issues and learning to make adjustments virtually over Zoom. This month we're shining a light on them! In January, we'll be offering studios and chatting with teachers here on the blog to celebrate those who have kept us grounded over the past year. Meet yoga instructor Lexi Elven below.

Can you tell us something about yourself?

Hello, I'm Lexi Elven. I took a yoga class for the first time in 20 years 17 years ago when I came to university in the UK from my hometown of Hong Kong. It was like most people did yoga in the UK at the time, in a gym with no spiritual roots and felt more like an exercise class. However, I was intrigued as my background was in martial arts and dance and I felt that yoga sat somewhere in that range of activities. So I continued practicing yoga and began to see the true parallels. You see, martial arts is not about fighting, but rather a way of life. the meditative control of the physical body and mind and the use of the flow ofChito lead you on a journey of meditation, self-exploration and (hopefully) enlightenment. Yoga – at least for me and my practice – is very similar.

I decided to undertake a 200-hour teacher training to deepen my practice and in 2016 I started Blithe Yoga as a yoga supper club from the living room of my house. Then Blithe Yoga Studio opened in 2018. Blithe Yoga is a welcoming space offering high quality, affordable and accessible yoga for all in London's most diverse community in Stratford. a diversity that is reflected in the teaching staff.

The love of mental focus as well as the joy of movement has led to a strong connection between my classesAsanas(Postures) With an energetic and playful spirit, I strongly believe in learning through play and intuition. As a musician with a keen interest in pranayama and philosophy, I have always been fascinated by how the mind and body can benefit from sound work and meditation. As such, I completed a 200-hour Naad Yoga training with Leo Cosendai in 2019 and became certified during the 2020 pandemic.

My yoga practice and study have continually evolved throughout my life, from an athletic and meditative standpoint to softening and pregnancy and the birth of my two children. Yoga has truly proven to be a transformative and constant practice with many facets. I would love to be a cocky old yogi teacher well into my twilight years, and I'm sure my repeat will have a different practice!

What challenges did you face as a yoga teacher in a very different year in 2020?

The beginning of 2020 started on a high note. We managed to expand the studio into a larger space and double our capacity (which we filled). I was accepted into a business accelerator program to help Blithe Yoga grow as a business. Then I got pregnant… and there was a global pandemic. It was difficult closing our space with the first major lockdown in March! We have a small but dedicated team of teachers and like many studios we have focused on live streams. I tried to be as helpful as possible to make sure everyone was happy with the class and became technical support when needed. Of course, I was getting pregnant with each passing month and had initially kept my pregnancy a secret - like you - but since I was teaching 17 classes a week until I was 38 weeks pregnant, I eventually had to prepare my students to listen to my cues as they watched me demonstrate, as I simply couldn't demonstrate some of the asanas in the later stages of my pregnancy. When we were able to reopen, I wanted to ensure that all teachers and students felt as safe and happy as possible during class.

As the death of George Floyd sparked a global awakening of racial and social justice, the sadness and anger felt physically palpable in our community of teachers and students. It was important to me as a teacher and studio owner to ensure we were a safe place to listen and support anyone who needed it.

In addition to trying to combat the psychological impact of lockdown and "Zoom fatigue", managing the variations of rules within lockdowns and a variety of stages during pregnancy or the birth of a newborn has proven to be a knotty task at times.

What did 2020 teach you and can you find a silver lining in everything?

impermanence. Both from a personal and business perspective. Don't take anything for granted, take care of your health and your loved ones.

My mother came from Hong Kong to live with us and help our second child. We are currently a multi-generational household and are very fortunate to be in a part of East London where we have access to large green spaces. Being able to go out daily with our dog and a larger household bubble has been a lifesaver.

From a yoga teaching perspective, there were some highs. Switching to Zoom as an online platform allowed me to teach students who were further away than we normally reach. From other parts of London and the UK to Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Australia. Blithe Yoga has teamed up with three other independent yoga studios to raise funds for the UNICEF campaign in Yemen. When outdoor events were briefly allowed, I managed to organize an intimate garden yoga retreat - something I've always wanted to do - where I teamed up with two other teachers and concluded the event with a gong bath.

I never thought I would be grateful for Zoom. What originally started as a need to keep Blithe Yoga alive became a real connection with other yogis, like minded groups and activist circles. Sometimes, when the loneliness and isolation felt real, the digital connection was gratefully received.

Going on maternity leave during a pandemic was daunting to say the least, but by letting go of some of my control and putting faith in the teaching team I have around me, I was able to enjoy looking behind the scenes as our teaching team grow and classes slowly rebuild and regain their footing. This has allowed me to spend quality time with my family and new baby and recalibrate how I want to see my work-life relationship evolve.

A very personal highlight for me was New Year's Eve when one of my closest friends signed me up for an impromptu pregnancy class. She had gone into labor earlier in the day, but her contractions had stopped and she was hoping some yoga would help get her contractions going again. So I rushed into my son's bedroom with his bright green elephant iPad among his toys and books and taught a prenatal yoga class over Zoom in jeans. Sure enough, yoga and relaxation did their job and labor resumed and their daughter was born later that day.

Sometimes the honor of being able to lead students as a teacher in these moments can feel electrifying, and I feel deeply humbled and full of the gratitude I can offer.

Where do you find inspiration and motivation?

My mother raised me as a single working mother in Hong Kong who specializes in Hong Kong films and advertising and is a devout Buddhist. She is an impressive woman who has taught me many things and I am sure I emulate her in more ways than one.

As I've gotten older, I've learned to be very selective about who I want to be close to and I have an insatiable appetite for learning. When I find something interesting and want to do it, I try it as best I can. I love nature, traveling through the arts and am a big dreamer, but I can't say it better than Angela Bassett: "It's important to surround yourself with good people, interesting people, young people, young ideas. Go places, learn new things. Look at the world with wonder - don't be tired."

Any words of wisdom for someone struggling to stay positive and inspired right now?

As someone who suffers from depression, I want to say this emphatically: know that you are not alone and it is okay to not be okay. Cry, scream and yell if you must, but please reach out to us if you need help.

From a personal perspective, you couldn't have told me 5 years ago that I would be where I am now. Life is constantly evolving and changing. Where I am now is the result of many small decisions, right and wrong paths and failures! Lots of failure. When you feel stuck or something isn't working, change your paradigm and perspective. These don't have to be big shifts, small changes like changing the route on a walk, reading a new book or trying new food. I'm already researching the next training session - never stop learning.

When I spoke at my last teacher training with Leo Cosendai about the concept of pursuing one's North Star - and what I really got from it is that the goal of the North Star is indeed lofty and possibly impossible to achieve (in this case life, if you want to be philosophical about it), but what really matters is the journey you take towards that North Star.

Cultivate gratitude. It's been proven that gratitude can increase feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. And studies have shown that gratitude not only helps people feel more positive, but that conscious practice allows for more progress toward their goals.

And finally: be kind. For others, but most importantly for you.

To keep up with Sarah, keep following herInstagramor visit her websiteInformation about classes and events.