Kristin Danielson-Wong
I began practicing yoga in 1995, and have practiced a variety of styles through many of life’s changes. Having practiced yoga though two pregnancies, I am now enjoying teaching prenatal and parent & baby classes as well as classes to the general population. I love that anyone can do yoga, making life easier by learning how to use the breath. To me, Yoga is a moving form of meditation and a laboratory for learning about life. My goal is that you can come to class, are given tools to leave life’s struggles at the door and finish class feeling grounded and calm and strong. Above all, yoga is fun!
Kristin’s Yoga Quiz…
How did I first find yoga?
In 1995 I was a member of the Y and my aerobics teacher encouraged us to try this new class called yoga. Back then there were very few trained teachers, or studios, so our teacher was just a long time practitioner who started to teach, the same exact class every week. It was a combination of Kundahlini and Hatha. I loved it and was hooked.
What is your favorite yoga book?
I have so many that I refer to again and again. How to Know God, The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwoood, is one of them. I also love John Kabat-Zinn’s Where ever you go there you are. Most anything written by Thich Nhat Hahn, Pema Choden or Jack Kornfield. For pregnancy I love Janet Balaskas Preparing for Birth with Yoga.
What feeds my soul?
Watching people grow in their practice. I also enjoy frequent trips in the kayak around Seward Park, Reading Rumi or Hafiz.
What is my favorite guilty pleasure?
Dark Chocolate.
Who or what most influences your teaching?
Over the past several years I have taken numerous trainings with Rod Stryker. I enjoy his combination of down to earth wisdom yet traditional tantric yogic teachings. I also find the Buddhist teachings of being present key. Tara Brach is such a teacher who offers weekly podcasts that often give me a basis for class ideas and sustains my own practice.
Favorite Quote?
It comes from the Yoga Sutra’s, Book 1 verse 34. It’s my favorite because it sounds simple but is so hard to do:
“Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating feelings of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and indifference toward the wicked.”
Or, on a challenging day:
“I ain’t what I want to be, I aint what I gonna be, But oh Lord I ain’t what I used to be.”
Author of an unknown slave.
