Jessica Jobaris
Jessica received her certification Teacher Training thru Pacific Yoga in Seattle, WA. Her style is eclectic, drawing from her interests in Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Iyengar, and Anusara. Jessica is deeply influenced by the powerful yet slow medicine that yoga offers to bring ourselves, and our world, into balance. She aims to empower her students, with compassion and humor, by challenging them to safely find their edge while expanding themselves both physically and spiritually.
Jessica’s classes aim to create a safe, yet challenging practice helping fellow yogis to adapt to and progress their level. She emphasizes fluid, graceful movements, transitions between poses and a clear understanding of safe alignment. With compassion and humor, each class is designed to prepare and a key posture that is reflective of life on and off the mat. Through the humbling and empowering practice of self-study (svadhyaya), reflection and meditation are infused along the way. Each class offers a journey of curiosity towards the focus pose, where we meet the balance point of sthira (effort) and sukah (ease). In this way, we work towards a slo-boil, of all aspects of ourselves.
Jessica teaches group classes, workshops, and private sessions. She is also a professional dancer, choreographer and instructor of dance, with over 20 years of dance/movement training. Jessica has been slowly braising in the Yoga oven for the past 15 of those years.
Jessica’s Yoga Quiz…
How did you 1st find Yoga? Or What 1st brought you to Yoga?
My Mafia Italian Brooklyn born step-father threw a Sivananda book at me, saying he’d seen yogis levitate, and thought this will help the longevity of my dance career. Then he threw the Upanishads at me, then the Sutras…this from a man who delivered lunch bags of money to John Gotti! Somewhere along the way, his teachings stuck with me, and I am ever thankful to Bruce Laina.
What is your favorite Yoga book?
Life and teachings of Sri Anandamayi Ma.
What feeds your soul?
Laughter.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
You mean pleasureS, right? Let’s just say I’m definitely not a purist.
Who or what most influences your teaching?
My teachers Kathryn Payne, Theresa Elliott, Jenny Hayo, and of course fellow teachers at Lotus and the Yoga Tree in Fremont.
What is on your Yoga playlist? Or What is on your all-time favorite playlist?
Silence. I really do like silence in yoga class. Lately though, I have been in the music mood, playing Lama Gyrume, Rain of Blessings. Its simple not too distracting. A little Led Zepplin doesn’t hurt from time to time either (!).
What is your favorite quote?
“Even in the pit of hell, its a mitzvah to be joyful”
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
