Teachers of Stretch: Ari

by Leanne Gerich

Meet Ari! Though if you've been coming to Stretch at any point in the last 3 years you would most likely have already met her. She's been teaching yoga with us since the day we opened and is undoubtedly one of our most popular teachers! ​Ari is incredibly easy to chat with. She carries so much warmth and energy as she walks into the room. I sat her down yesterday and was able to chat, giggle, and ask her all about her yoga.

LEANNE - When did you start doing yoga? How long have you practiced for?
ARI - I started when I was in Uni... so it must be close to ten years! But kind of on and off for the first five.
 
LEANNE - And what was the reason that it stayed with you?
ARI - I think it started more for the physical benefits, but as with most people I think the stress relief was what brought me back. Now if I don’t practice for a week, part of me really noticed the difference, my mentality.
 
L - What’s your favorite pose?
A - Pigeon!
 
L - Did it ever feel uncomfortable for you, when opening the hips?
A - It still does! But it’s in a good way now.
 
L - What’s a valuable lesson you learned from yoga?
A - I think the quote that we chose on the wall in Stretch, “It doesn’t matter how deep into a pose you go, it matters who you are when you get there.”
L - Mhmm such a good one, I like that one.
A - Yeah like if you can do a headstand but you’re an a*shole.. your yoga isn’t exactly working for you *laughs*
L - (laughing) totally!
 
L - What’s your favourite thing about Stretch?
A – Definitely PJ! (giggles) I really love the community, we all chat after class and everyone has gotten to know one another. The place is really friendly.
 
L - If there are 3 poses that you could recommend to a student to do daily, which would most improve their practice, what would they be?
A - Down dog, hardest pose to get the hang of but worth it when you get there. Standing forward fold for sure. And can I say Savasana? Like Setting a timer for five minutes and letting your mind take you just where ever it wants to go
 
L - Awesome! I think that’s it.
A - Oh and by the way…. my best friend is a bolster, everyone should use them.

You'll catch Ari on Monday nights, Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings in the CBD studio (and for covers whenever she can fit them in the her busy schedule!).