Yoga Moves Teachers: Summer Strategy to balance practice and life

Everyone has life pressures - even yoga teachers! We all balance the family, work, hobbies. Yoga teachers also maintain a yoga practice, often even during their holidays. Its a way of life for many…hear their strategies here.

Marilou van Hoek & her family

“My family life is my foundation to my spiritual life.”

All school holidays I would use to continue my yoga studies. Since I have a family, from the very beginning I have always taken my family with me to yoga retreats and teacher trainings programs to combine quality time but still be able to practice. It is my way to integrate my spiritual life with my family life. I have always been eager to learn and study. Always grateful for my husband who has been very supportive in joining me wherever i wanted to go. We always said that we are lucky as yoga took and still takes us to beautiful places in the world. Now our daughter Luna is older, I may not always have a say anymore where we go on holidays. But I still try to find a local shala to practice mysore very early in the mornings while the rest of the family is still fast asleep and when I get back we have breakfast together.

Energy wise, teaching yoga or any other work that you do, means a lot of "giving". That is why summer holidays breaks are so important to recharge and revitalise. I personally need to rest and find inspiration by taking a break from my routines and teaching schedules. This summer for example, I have nourished myself by practicing with my teacher. Being with my family fills my soul. We have enjoyed the natural resources like sun, sea, sand and blue skies. I come back to my normal life refreshed, energised and looking forward to see you all again on the mat.

- Marilou van Hoek teaches Ashtanga & Mysore at Yoga Moves