Meet Myrthia Hall | 200-hour Certified Yoga Instructor

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

Hi Myrthia, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote or affirmation is “I Trust God”. This affirmation means a lot to me. I’ve had to Trust God with my entire career from working for the State of Georgia for 28 years to retiring and trusting God with my yoga business. What I like most about this quote is that “without trusting God, I have nothing and am nothing”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As the business owner of Peace & Serenity Yoga, my mission is to guide each student into a place where they can relax and explore the path to their place of serenity. Classes aim to assist students in becoming more flexible, strong, and stable. I incorporate various breathing exercises to help students maintain a healthy respiratory system via various breathing exercises. These classes are designed to promote the building of a regularly scheduled healthy lifestyle.
Through a healthy yoga practice, yoga students will discover the following benefits:
* Strength – toning muscles through engagement and movement or holding the body weight;
*Balance – the ability to control the body without movement against gravity;
*Stability – the ability to control the body during movement (transitioning from one pose (asana) to the next or being challenged with balance and being able to recover quickly.

My journey of practicing yoga began more than ten years ago. It was during a time when my life was very stressful as a single mother, one child was in college and the youngest was in high school. The stresses of balancing life led me to a free yoga practice. This was my first yoga practice and had no idea what to expect. The class was led by a small frame man from India. My first thought was “This is not for Me” LOL, however when he led us into the last pose/asana of the class which is Savasana (or corpse pose)I lovingly referred to it as (Sleeping/resting Angel) I was sold from then on. I needed that peace and that small window of relaxation without any interruptions or worries, “It was my time”. As I continued with a weekly yoga practice I began to see my body evolve, my muscles started strengthening and toning and I found I was more relaxed when presented with life issues. I took my yoga practice off the mat and found it in my personal life. Also, with the practice of various breathing exercises, I learned how to relax. I started to fall in love with my yoga practice and its advantages as I continued to practice.

The loss of my mother was an integral part of me starting my yoga business. After all the hugs, texts, and phone calls, I was left on my own to deal with my loss and I turned to yoga and my spiritual relationship. My desire to want to teach yoga and spread this method of peace and serenity to everyone was evident when I started to heal.

Amid COVID-19, when everything was closed, I began my yoga training via hybrid classes. At this time, I had been practicing yoga for ten years and most of the yoga instructors I encountered didn’t look like me. The fear sat in and I asked myself “Are you serious, you can’t do this. ” The affection and encouragement I received from my family, significant other, and intimate friends and my trust in God motivated me to finish the course. Was the training easy “Absolutely Not” The training course was rigorous. We were required to study human anatomy and the principles of movement as it related to yoga, yoga philosophy and how it applies on and off the mat, and we practiced yoga everyday. Oh by the way, the training was in the middle of summer in HOT Atlanta. I had my doubts Yes indeed. We were required to pass a written exam of our knowledge (5 to be exact), create written sequences and pass a real-time practicum test to graduate. Despite all the difficulties and self-doubt, I managed to overcome my doubts and earned my 200-hour yoga instructor certification.
Ask me “would I do this again”, I surely would but with stipulations, I would only want to be taught by the best two yoga teacher trainers (they know who they are) and I would only share this experience with my four best yoga sisters. My yoga sisters and I, are made-up of different shapes, sizes, and colors but we love each other through this yoga journey we experienced together.

The main lesson I’ve learned and would like to share with newly certified yoga Instructors is to “Breathe, Exhale and, be Yourself”. Find your authentic voice and style to lead others on a yoga journey then, you will be on your way to Becoming YOU.

Voices from my yoga students:

“This class has done things for me that I did not know I needed. I have had osteoarthritis for a long time and it is painful. As a result, I’ve had numerous physical therapy sessions/treatments on most of my body. When I first started Chair Yoga classes, I had very limited neck and back flexibility, and I could not balance on one leg beyond a split second. My! How things have changed! The range of motion in my neck has improved dramatically. I can bend deeply at the waist without pain, and I can do exercises that call for balancing on one foot often with little or no assistance from holding onto the back of the chair. I never thought I’d be able to do Yoga poses in a chair let alone standing up! “

“About four years ago, my good friend Myrthia Hall and I were having a conversation and she told me that the practice of yoga had been so good for her body and spirit. She excitedly shared with me some of her yoga experiences and then told me; “The next time we are together, I’m going to lead you in a yoga class.” Although I was very skeptical, I agreed and She did just as she promised.
I found myself in tears because I realized that my body was learning a whole new language. That language was Relaxation! My body was learning movement with mindful breathing for the very first time! Myrthia was so encouraging and knowledgeable about the practice of yoga. When she started her online chair yoga class, I was excited to be a member. I have gained so much more flexibility and stamina. “

“At 70 plus years of age, I never even considered being able to do yoga but Myrthia made it so much fun. The challenges that were a part of my age didn’t daunt you and because of your kindness and knowledge, I find myself able to do so much more than I ever thought possible. Thank you for pushing me to excel but never to “go beyond my edge”. You’re the best and a blessing!! God bless you!”

“Peace and Serenity Yoga is very beneficial in my life. My profession requires me to sit at a computer desk for 8+ hours, therefore my lower back, neck, and shoulders become very tight. Practicing yoga with Peace & Serenity Yoga at my local fitness center has tremendously changed my life! Myrthia is extremely knowledgeable on the specific movements to engage and release the tension in my trouble areas. I am extremely grateful for Peace & Serenity Yoga!”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Atlanta is a fun and exciting city to visit. In Atlanta, I like to patronize African American Female business owners when I have the opportunity. Here is a list of places I would to share the experience with my best friend. I would most definitely take them to a yoga practice at Sati Yoga Studio in Kirkwood Community. The studio is a black female-owned yoga studio, after practicing yoga, we would go to Twisted Soul Restaurant, on the west side of Atlanta. It is a very quaint an owned by an African American Female chief. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is cozy and the staff delivers excellent service. We would then wind down to a concert at the Mableton Amphitheater for an evening of relaxing music. Of course how could I not end the weekend without worshipping at Word of Faith Family and Worship Cathedral, with Bishop Dale C. Bronner.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my family/significant other and most intimate friends. They have all been my biggest supporters in my journey to becoming a certified yoga instructor. The journey was not easy, I cried many nights during my 200-hour training and testing, and I doubted myself, due to age, race, and other factors but at every corner, they loved me through it. I also credit my 200-hour Teacher Training Teachers, they taught me to be myself when I teach and to love myself, my body, and the rest will follow.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myrthia.hall