teacher of the month ~ kerri hanlon

Who inspires you?

My three children, Kyra, Connor, and Sean, each inspire me. It is a privilege as a parent to witness your children’s growth. Kyra is an articulate and empathetic leader who reminds me that when purpose and passion are combined, great things happen. Connor is determined, disciplined and also a ton of fun. He reminds me that balance is key. And then there’s Sean. I’ve written so much about Sean, as he’s been one of my greatest teachers. February is tender, as it would have been his 21st birthday, and I’m missing him tremendously. Sean has inspired me and so many others of what is truly important – and that being present to those around you is the biggest gift you can give.

How would you describe your teaching style?

In my first year of teaching, one of my students said, “Kerri, your class was challenging, but I just felt like I was held the whole time.” This was a huge compliment and something I aspire to. I’ll adapt my teaching to the energy in the room, the time of day and style of class; but at its essence I feel most aligned in my teaching when I’m teaching from a space where I help each student uncover a bit about themselves along the way. My training on Adaptive Yoga has greatly influenced all of my teaching – I offer lots of variations, use tons of props and try to help students see the subtleties of their choices. This, combined with lots of heart, is my teaching. And yes, I still love a good soul soundtrack to weave it together.

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

I’m a leader. Twenty years ago, I would have resisted stating this, feeling it made me sound arrogant, but now I see that each of us has great strengths and when we allow ourselves to tap into these, we thrive, individually and as a collective. My leadership has evolved over the years, for sure. I’ve had opportunity (and worked really hard) to be in some great leadership positions over the years. My work as Chief Marketing Officer at WHYY, Executive Producer of the award-winning film “On the Other Side of the Fence” and other leadership positions taught me qualities of communication, accountability, collaboration and responsibility. What I’ve grown into these past few years is recognizing vulnerability and empathy can be equally important. Our society has shifted in who we view as a ‘leader’ and I hope it will continue to evolve so all voices are heard. Having said that, each of the above roles – thinker, maker, planner and leader – cannot exist without the other. When each of us get comfortable claiming our unique gifts and talents and allowing them to co-exist with others, this is when communities thrive.

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

Do I have to pick just one? You know, when Maura and I first started discussing Yoga Home, we spoke about values and what drives us individually and then what we saw collectively for our community. At this point in time, Acceptance is ringing loudest for me. So much of my life has been focused on Sean and helping people “see” him for who he really is. Not “the boy who uses the wheelchair”, but Sean, the bright, energetic, ear to ear grinning Sean who just wants to be seen. It took me a long time to accept Sean’s medical challenges and physical limitations. It was when I shifted from “how can I help him walk” to “where can we go with Sean on my back” that things changed. Worlds opened up. Our family was able to hike, bike, white water raft and so much more. Had I stayed fixated on helping Sean do the things you’re “-supposed to do” – walk, eat, talk – and not shift into accepting this was not his path, I never would have experienced the joy of hiking with him through the Grand Canyon to see the sunrise. I wrote a piece long ago entitled, “Acceptance isn’t giving up, it’s an act of love.” Accepting others…and ourselves… as we are – this is everything.