Featured Yoga Instructor: Paul Teodo

What enticed you to embark on the journey of Yoga?

I was going to yoga every once in a while at my local gym in Los Angeles. The classes were strong, and were a great compliment to my weight-training routine. I was studying acting at the time, and a friend from class invited me to YogaWorks in Santa Monica. It was there that I found Vinnie Marino and Sara Ivanhoe’s classes. It was the most physically challenging thing I had ever done. I walked out of there drenched. In one of my first classes with Sara, she led us through a breath work session, and I had a full on out of body experience. It was the perfect combination of physical intensity and spirituality. I was hooked!!

How would you describe the art of yoga?

Yoga is a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual practice. It is a practice designed to connect our soul with God (or whatever you would like to call it). The “Art” of yoga to me represents a union of man with the infinite. Without the spiritual component, there is no art. When a person is in their practice, there is something about them that is connected to something greater than themselves. I believe all art comes from this space.

What advice would you give to someone that is new to the yoga practice?

Have fun. Find teachers that resonate with you. Practice often, but don’t become obsessed with it. Allow yourself time to grow into the new skin that yoga will give you. There is no need to drop everything and go vegan overnight, and chant 4 hours a day. That will just cause you to lose yourself. Yoga is a personal practice, it’s not this commercialized thing that social media makes it out to be. Use the practice to get to know yourself on a deeper level.

What impactful change has your practice brought upon your personal life?

It has completely transformed my life, and teaching yoga and meditation have given me a roadmap to becoming a good man…a man that loves himself, loves his life, and is able to help others do the same.

What is your favorite asana and why? What benefits does this asana provide?

I love triangle pose, because it elongates my entire body. It’s been my favorite pose for a long time.

What does it mean to you to align mind, body and spirit?

It means to be aware of this moment. That’s it.

How do you meditate and tie this in with your yoga practice?

I meditate almost every day, and teach meditation. Meditation, and teaching meditation have changed my life as much as physical asana. I practice a form of body scan, mixed with a form of instinctual meditation that I have learned from my mentor, Dr. Lorin Roche. I could go on for hours about how much this practice has benefitted me, but for now I’ll just say this…I cannot remember the last time I have had two bad days in a row. That’s my meditation sales pitch