Our people: Yoga teacher Will
This week the spotlight is on our yoga teacher Will! In this article you will learn everything about his group lessons at the USC. He also gives some great yoga tips for beginners. Interested? Read on.
What are some things we need to know about you?
I am from the United states. I grew up in the mid-west, in the Chicago area. Then I lived for 2 years in New York City and for 5 years in Nashville. So kind of all over the place. I used to be an actor and I was a stand-up comedian, for a while. I first started practicing yoga about 11 years ago, and I started teaching yoga about 6 years ago.
Why did you move to the Netherlands?
My grandparents are from the Netherlands. And I still have a lot of family here. I grew up speaking a little bit Dutch: like numbers and colors. During corona I started to actually learning, through talking with my grandmother. And I started following the Dutch studies program here at Leiden University. After I finish my degree, I’m planning on staying in the Netherlands.
Why did you decide to teach yoga?
I was working parttime at a yoga studio. And they asked me if I had any interest in taking the teacher-trainer program. I didn’t really have any interest in teaching, I just wanted to get my level a little bit higher. But in the end I ended up really loving teaching! After that I started teaching on my own and I kind of brought it with me wherever else I went. When I moved to the Netherlands I was just like, oh I wonder if they are looking for yoga teachers. So I just asked and they were like, yeah. Come on in!
For how long have you been teaching at the USC?
I started last November, so just about a year. It’s my anniversary!
What could new people expect of a yoga class from you, at the USC?
I teach Power Yoga, so I like to make my classes a little bit more gym friendly: you have to work a little bit harder than in a normal yoga class. I would advise to look up the type of yoga you’re interested in. The USC offers Yin Yoga, Raya Yoga and others different types of Yoga that are a little bit less intense. At the same time, when I teach Yoga super early in the morning it will be a calmer class compared to my evening classes. These are the ones I try to make a little bit more challenging.
Do you also have some Yoga tips for beginners?
The biggest thing is to forget your ego. It’s super easy to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Yoga can be difficult, you can hurt yourself. Always stop if it’s not feeling right. That’s not why you’re here. You are here for yourself.
What does the USC stands for according to you?
I love the USC! When I first signed up I thought it was only for students, but it is not. It’s actually for the whole city. And there are so many people who you can meet that are not only students. I also love the diversity of classes. That is such an awesome way to get people interested in something new. I’ve seen on Instagram that there’s the new Heels class. And that is so cool. And then I take Club Power once a week. That is something I would never do on my own. Like, I’m not a weight lifter. But in a group with music and somebody yelling at me, then I love it. And I’m like, oh I can lift weights now!
Why should we come participate in your yoga class?
Why not? I work really hard on my classes. I have great music playlists all the time. And I also really try to have fun in my classes. You’ll be challenged, but three or four times a class, I’m like don’t forget to smile! My classes are much less formal. And much more like: let’s just hang out and have a good time.