meet steph spangler! featured teacher of the month

What inspired you to become a yoga teacher?

It was something I always aspired to do, but for some reason doubted my ability until one of my personal training clients suggested it. I was always encouraging others to “try yoga!”, and personally, I had been taking yoga classes somewhat consistently since I was about 20 years old. I’ve always understood the importance of the mind/body connection and as I continued to grow as a Personal Trainer, thought it was important to offer this practice to my clients. I never imagined just how integrated yoga is in all aspects of my life. During my teacher training, I was really inspired by all of my wonderful teachers and what was once purely physical for me, expanded to an appreciation of the spiritual aspect of yoga.

How has being a Certified Personal Trainer effected your teaching style?

Coming from a background of personal training and group fitness, I think it’s natural for me to grasp the anatomy of yoga, so that comes fairly easy. I do really love a yoga class that feels physical and powerful. However, in terms of Personal Training effecting my yoga style – I’d say its the other way around. Yoga has most definitely effected my style as a CPT. I work with all kinds of people – variety of age, gender, fitness level and goals. I find that yoga is applicable to everyone (whether they know it or not). I have incorporated breathing practice, range of motion and the idea of “creating space” in the body with an approach that is based on corrective exercise. I’m not the type of trainer that motivates through yelling and fear, haha. I try to understand where the individual is at and adjust my approach accordingly. Now that I’m a yogi, it feels impossible to separate the practice and personal training.

How has yoga impacted your life as a triathlete and a runner?

Its taught me patience and acceptance and not to take myself too seriously. While training for some of my longer distance races, I’d often find the same sort of high on a two hour run as I’d find in yoga. They are both sources of moving meditation for me; a chance to unplug and sort through my thoughts or not think at all.

Through your work as a yoga teacher, what impacts would you like to make on the world?

I want to reach as many people as I can and welcome them to this practice. When I meet someone who tells me that they don’t like yoga, I don’t believe them! I think that they just haven’t found the type of yoga that speaks to them – yet. I just feel like if we all practiced the teachings we learn in yoga, this world would be a more loving and understanding place. Also, I somehow want to save all of the dogs. So owning some sort of yoga studio with an enormous back yard would be ideal. 🙂

Would you categorize yourself as a thinker, maker, planner, or leader?

This is a tough one! Probably, I’m mostly a planner. All of my classes (yoga and beyond) are drawn up on a sheet of paper, then put in a page protector and organized in a respective binder. I have hundreds of playlists on my laptop that coincide to their particular classes. I do think a lot too – but sometimes the thoughts drift around and create more questions than answers!

Of all Yoga Home’s core values {Connection, Acceptance, Love, Community, Growth} which do you connect with most?

Wow – another tough one! I think acceptance is really important. Acceptance of others, but mostly, acceptance of ourselves. This is something I try to practice everyday. It’s so easy to compare yourself to others and get consumed by what you think you should look like, feel like, be like. I find that its sometimes easier to be more kind and accepting of others than it is myself – I’m working on it though!