Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Del Valle.
Hi Erika, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have taken classes off and on since my mid 20’s and always loved how I felt after a class. I always felt refreshed, energized and in a state of calmness all at the same time. I am also a physical therapist assistant, and at one point in my career, I was working in pediatrics. I really wanted to take a kids’ yoga class so that I could use it with my patients at the time.
20 years or so passed and the thought of becoming a yoga instructor was always in the back of my mind and so in 2019 I finally signed up! The program was 9 months long and unfortunately, we finished right at the start of the pandemic. Between working in healthcare and managing the online school for my two kids, teaching yoga didn’t seem like a realistic goal. One day in 2020 (because who can keep up with actual dates anymore) my daughter’s dance studio posted they needed a yoga teacher for a ballet intensive weekend and I applied on a whim!
I felt so nervous to teach my first “real’ class to experienced dancers but I kept telling myself that this discomfort meant growth and learning. I told myself I would say yes to more opportunities even if it made me nervous and scared because it also made me feel excited. I wanted to share what I learned in yoga training with my community.
In the spring of 2021, with my self-imposed motto of “just say yes” I applied to teach yoga in the park through the City of Pflugerville, and once the recreation center opened I started teaching there.
I’ve been able to teach a variety of students that range in age and level and have used some techniques with my patients. A highlight was being able to teach to an after-school program in Houston through the Just Keep Living Foundation at the end of 2021.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I live in a north suburb of Austin, where it seems that everyone I meet teaches yoga and it can feel saturated. Imposter syndrome is real and I still have to remind myself that I am capable and qualified. At times, I struggle with the image of what a yoga instructor is suppose to look like or what I am used to seeing on social media. Yoga has helped me accept my body and when I start to feel those doubts lurking, I come back to my practice to center and motivate myself. I remind myself that I am a strong Latina and that yoga is for everyone. My hope is that I inspire someone that runs across my Instagram, and they see that not every yoga instructor is a certain size or that they see a Latina yoga instructor and it gives them the confidence to try yoga.
As you know, we’re big fans of Guided Breath Yoga. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The goal of Guided Breath Yoga is to empower ALL bodies through yoga and breathing. In my yoga classes, I teach breathing with every movement, balance and finding strength in stillness. These practices can be applied on and off the mat, for example pausing to breathe during a moment of stress, anxiety or excitement. Knowing how to balance your physical and mental well-being and finding comfort and strength in rest. RESPIRA.FLOW.NAVIGATE LIFE. is one of my favorite descriptions of Guided Breath Yoga.
My classes are truly for everyone, but especially the beginners who think they don’t belong in a yoga class. I got you!
I am proud of being able to launch my business during a pandemic and while working and parenting full time.
I currently teach at the Pflugerville Recreation Center, and will begin teaching at Finding Balance Yoga studio in Hutto this Spring. I offer yoga classes in the park, semi private group classes at your workplace or home, after school groups, and small events in Austin and surrounding cities.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Friends, family and students may be surprised to know that I have a fear of public speaking. Teaching and the vulnerability that comes with it can be very intimidating. I had to learn to move past that fear with practice and taking deep breaths. I am grateful for the support from my yoga teachers and yoga students and I continue to grow with each class I teach.
Contact Info:
- Email: guidedbreathyoga@gmail.com
- Website: guidedbreathyoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guidedbreathyoga/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GuidedBreathYoga/
Image Credits
Cristina Saldiva
Jax ATX Photography
