Jenna Jensen is making May a little sweeter! We sat down with her, and rest-assured, no interview with Jenna could be mundane. The girl is passionate, creative and motivated. She’s not only a yoga teacher (she teaches at the studio 4 times a week) but she bakes up tasty treats on a weekly basis with her company, sugarcoatedaz.com. Sometimes she has a little extra cupcakes and brings them to the studio. A little reward for turning up the sweat.
Not only is your first class FREE with Jenna anytime in May but she’s giving away a gift basket of goodies. Read on past the interview for details.
1. How long have you practiced yoga? Studied to be a teacher? Taught?
I have been practicing yoga since 2008. After avoiding the “peer pressure” of taking my first yoga class, I eventually gave in; looking back now, it was easily one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made. I began my Yoga Teacher Training in June of 2012 and started teaching in March of 2013.
2. What is your style of teaching? What motivates you?
When teaching my classes, I like to let my students know they are the reason I stepped into the room to teach. I once had an instructor say that students usually get the class their instructor needs that day, I don’t abide by that motto; I like to get a feel for what my students need, physically as well as emotionally, mentally or spiritually. I offer a well balanced atmosphere, keeping the class attitude light and playful while still taking the practice of yoga seriously and offering a sense of respect to the purpose of yoga and the Asana practice. Physically I like to challenge my students to reach their potential, to release habit and look at transitions and postures with a new eye each time they step on their mat.
I stay motivated by my absolute belief in the practice of yoga and the benefits you gain from practicing all limbs of yoga. Taking a look at where I am now compared to where I was without my practice… I feel a responsibility to share it with others. This sort of feel and state of being shouldn’t be hid away.
3. What else are you passionate about?
I am a pretty passionate person so I will try to keep it short and sweet. I am passionate about the relationships in my life. I cherish each and every person that has come in to (and gone from) my life. Aside from that and my unmasked passion for yoga, I am passionate about baking. I trained at Scottsdale Culinary Institute, Le Cordon Bleu in 2008 in their Patisserie and Baking Program. Since graduating I have started a small cake business where I find the utmost joy in making wedding cakes as well as sculpted cakes for birthdays and other special events. I love to create edible art and provide something that I’ve created in honor of a special event.
4. What has attracted you to Yoga Nirvana studio?
It is almost impossible for me to formulate words that express what attracted me to Yoga Nirvana but I will try. From the very first moment I stepped foot into the studio I knew it was a special place. The vibration of energy that I felt was unparalleled to any other studio (or any environment for that matter) I’d stepped foot in. The studio felt like Home. My first class was with the studio owner, Jim and I couldn’t believe how much I learned in that 90 minutes, given that I’d been practicing for nearly 4 years. I knew this was a place that I could continue to learn not only about Asana but about this whole practice of Yoga; I was naïve to the rest of the practice and it blew my mind.
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Every time you you attend one of Jenna’s classes in May, you will be entered in to a raffle for a gift basket! The gift basket will include, but not be limited to: an ipod nano, a yoga strap, a yoga block, essential oils, a journal, a variety of teas and protein bars and other goodies. You have four chances a week to be entered. Drawing will take place after the 6 am class on May 30th.