Wilma Olsson
When did you start practicing yoga, and when did you begin to teach?
– I started practicing yoga regularly in 2020, did my teacher training early 2023, and started teaching just after that.
What does yoga mean to you?
–Yoga has become a natural part of my life, that guides me through pretty much everything I do. The yogic philosophy has been – and still – is a beautiful way for me to explore myself and my mind, and it helps me relate to both myself and the world around me with more clarity and ease. The physical practice of yoga is a tool for me to explore my body and mind, to practice self-awareness and self-compassion, and to expand my view of what’s possible. Time and time again, I’ve proven to myself through my asana practice, that I can do things I never thought I could. This has led me to also bring this mindset with me beyond the mat, out into my life. But more than anything, my yoga practice is a safe space for me to be with myself, de-stress and reconnect to my authenticity and my own truth.
What is the best part about being a yoga teacher?
– It’s hard to just pick one thing! But the feeling of the energy shifting from the beginning of class to the end of class, is one of my favorite parts. The energy of the room changes, people move differently. A lot of us tend to feel as if we’re carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders, and throughout the practice of yoga that weight tends to lift a bit, leaving us feeling more grounded, calm and clear. It’s like we all reconnect to what’s important together, and I love that. But also – seeing a yogi make progress in a pose that they’ve been working hard on… that smile is priceless!
What is your favorite asana or breathing practice, and why?
– My favorite breathing practice is alternate nostril breathing / nadi shodhana, simply because it always leaves me feeling so calm and grounded, even if I only practice for a few minutes. I tend to include it in a lot my classes, because you can literally see the way it transforms how people feel.
What training or education do you have?
– I have 300 hours of yoga teacher training. My first training was 2023, a 200h ashtanga-vinyasa training (that completely changed my life), my second training was a 50h yin training, and my third was a 50h hands-on assists & elevated teaching skills training. I’ve taken all of those trainings in Bali, which was magical just in and of itself. I’ve also studied anatomy and physiology with a focus on exercise at university, as I’m a big anatomy nerd.