Paola de Teliga

Birthplace? Colombia!

When did you move to OZ? July 2014

What’s your signature dish when you cook? Arepas

Tea or Coffee? Tea

Cat or Dog? Both

Star Sign? Cancer

What quote do you live by? Rise and shine

What Yoga style do you practice? Hatha and whatever else comes to me

How did you start yoga?
Lumbar problems when I was a teenager and someone recommended this thing that sounded like Yogurt to me. So I gave it a chance and I fell in love with it right away. Ever since, I have not stop. I was 19 years old to be exact

Can you sum up what Yoga gives to you in a few words? Freedom! connection with myself in order to help everyone else

When and where did you do your first Teacher Training? Dharma Yoga center New York City with Sri Dharma Mittra

If you could study with any teacher, who would it be and why?Back to My Dharma Mittra but any teacher that comes my way, is the teacher I need

Lululemon or Dharmabums?
Don’t care But if I have to chose between the two, Lululemon

Where would be your ultimate Yoga retreat destination? India

What do you love most about your job?
The people I can get in touch with and give what I have learnt over the years so they can change their lives as I did. And mostly the faces of joy when people see what their body can do and their bliss after they finish a class. That is my favourite part Of my job.

What have you given up to teach yoga?
Nothing. It is always my biggest pleasure

What have you gained by teaching yoga? Confidence

What was the best thing about COVID lock-down?
Endless meditations which normally I can’t exceed more than half hour. Locked down ruled! 45 to 1 hour meditations twice a day! A winner. And of course. Endless practice at home and long Savasanas

If you could talk to your pre-yoga self, what would you tell her?
Honey! Get that yogurt going cause is gonna change your life! Yogurt? yoga!? That thing! Go go go

What hobbies/activities do you have outside yoga?
Thai Boxing, running, fixing things (my secret passion) organising ?

How long have you taught at Qi?
As a backup about a year. Permanent teacher, a few weeks ?

How to make your health and your practice a priority

Once we get clear on our values, our priorities shift.
One of the biggest things I’ve come to understand when people tell me they want to be healthier, happier and start getting into good practices but don’t know how. . .
Is that it’s all about getting real on your values and priorities.

Why is it hard to meditate? Even when we know the benefits? By Rachel Long

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How mindfulness works with strong emotions. By Rachel Long

A big feeling caught me by surprise recently. Within moments of reading an email, my rational mind shut down, my Read More

4 ways mindfulness helps with stress. By Rachel Long

Fascinating research by neuroscientist Sara Lazar showed mindfulness meditation practitioners, even after just 8 weeks of practising, had a reduction in amygdala activity

Maybe you don’t have to always be “your best self”

There’s a common meme -and many books- these days suggesting we should aspire to “be our best self”. This taps Read More

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