As part of our merger with Moxie Yoga, we are excited to welcome Maria Zhao to the team!
Tell us about yourself! What are some things that your students might not know?
I have a dog that I spoil too much, a black English cocker spaniel.
How did you become interested in yoga?
As someone who wasn’t historically athletic, when I found yoga, I found it approachable and empowering. The mindfulness and reflection inherent in yoga also allowed me to find a deeper connection to myself and my truth.
Tell us about your yoga journey. What style did you start in and with whom do you study now?
My first introduction to yoga was through rocket yoga. It was a kind of intensity that my nervy craving mind needed at the time. I now love a strong and vigorous but slower power flow, where I can give myself the time to experience the nuances of a pose when I hold it.
Describe your teaching style. What can folks expect when they attend your class?
I love transitions! Creative transitions make a class fun, so I implement that into my classes. Folks can expect to sweat it out with big, flowy movements, find insight on their yoga practice through deepening their alignment knowledge, and thus deepen their understanding of their body. I also enjoy cultivating mindfulness in self-love and compassion.
Any exciting projects or plans on the horizon?
I’m going rafting in the Grand Canyon for a month this summer.
Anything else you’d like to share with the YGSF community?
Excited to see you on the mat!
That’s all for now! Follow Maria Zhao on Instagram: @maria_here_now.
