Meet Isabel Aviles | Yoga Teacher & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Isabel Aviles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Isabel, why did you pursue a creative career?
I grew up surrounded by art. My dad was an artist. Music and theater producer, musician, historian, writer, you name it! And thanks to him, my childhood was between theater dressing rooms, ballet halls, music and books. From a very young age I learned to appreciate art and to understand that there is art in much more than we think. It’s in fact everywhere. I was always into body expression and letters. Two forms of communication with immense depth and purity. I started dancing ballet at a very young age, and years later growing up I studied communication, and then psychology. The art of the mind, of connecting, feelings and expressing oneself. But in the end it was Yoga that took all of my attention. For me, not only the practice, but being a Yoga teacher, is undoubtedly a form of art. Where there is a mix that goes from the purest body expression of our inner self, to the vulnerability and sensitivity to communicate, transmit and educate practitioners in the process of reconnecting and understandings their self through the practice. And that is an art in itself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my Yoga practice more than 16 years ago when I attended an Ashtanga Yoga class, and never stopped. I tried other styles, and learned from a variety of teachers. Immediately my passion for the practice mixed with my passion for human connection and I found myself learning how to teach and educate in the practice of Yoga. Part of this started when I realized how much knowledge hides behind the practice and how much I wanted to keep learning, which I still do! Teaching is not always easy, there can be challenges. For example, teaching in English at the beginning wasn’t as easy as teaching in Spanish, but I understood quickly that Yoga is not about pronunciation, but about being present and connecting with ourselves to reach our spiritual being, and knowing how to share that. Of course people may approach the practice in different ways, and that can become a challenge, and it’s great because that’s when teaching becomes an art. I love to create experiences in my classes, not only sequences. I know my classes can be challenging on the physical side, but most important they are deep in meaning and analogies between the practice on the mat and the daily life challenges, as practice a reflection of life. As a teacher, I’m always learning from my students too. They all bring to their mats a different story, a different feeling and therefore, a different experience, so I can work with them individually, even when I’m in a group class. As I always say, an advance practitioner is not the one that practice every day, but the one that knows and respect their body, and knows how to control the fluctuations of their mind. Just like the experience teacher is not the one that has taught thousands of classes, but the one that really take the time to work in their self, and know how to artistically transmit and educate in this practice. Because this is a practice of awareness.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, that depend on the time of the year and what my friend would like the most. Atlanta and the outskirts have a lot to offer, from theater, museums and sporting events, to mountain winding roads with amazing wineries, as well as high end culinary events. I would say my favorite places are the High Museum in Midtown, and the whole art district. From walking to visit all the places around. You can always find a new spot or art experience. The Centennial Olympic Park, amazingly peaceful spot to be in downtown. And of course the Fox Theater is fantastic no matter what they are presenting. A great fancy dinner night would be at Cooks and Soldiers, but if the mood is more relax there is a small gem in a Smyrna shopping center strip called Yakitori Jinbei that wouldn’t disappoint you. I love coffee shops, specially this very nice and small place in Marietta call Sessions Stand. Friendly people, seating outdoor, amazing flavors, and pet friendly. Perfect to grab a flavorful Matcha and some treats for my puppies, on the weekends after taking then to an off leash park they love. But that’s not all. I’m a huge fan of city downtowns. Walking around the city is the best way to learn and understand a city and their people. And finally, one of my favorite things to do is to explore antique stores around the city and other small towns. One of my favorites is a small store in Woodstock, Georgia, called Antiques by Samson & Delilah. It’s run by the owner, who shares stories about every item he has on display.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It is impossible for me to name a single person as the inspiration or support in my career and my life, but without a doubt growing up with my dad and the endless conversations with shared, and the way he decorated my life with art, undoubtedly marked my passion for art. But I also had incredible teachers through out the years. At this point in my career Tiffany Cruikshank, Yoga Teacher and founder of Yoga Medicine, and Todd Roderick, KPJAYI authorized Ashtanga teacher, founder and lead teacher at Ashtanga Yoga Atlanta, who have given my practice and my teaching a completely different turn, guiding me in finding and understanding the common point between the physical aspect and the psychological and spiritual aspect of the practice.

Instagram: Isavilesm

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/isabel-aviles-moreno-600692195

Facebook: Isabel Aviles

Image Credits
Alegria Molestina