Teacher Spotlight: Arielle
Our Teacher Spotlight Series continues with Arielle Martone. Arielle is a doctor of physical therapy and a doula, guiding individual clients before, during, and after they give birth. Aside from building supportive mini-communities within her prenatal yoga classes at Light House Yoga, she brings unmatched expertise to help her students trust themselves to safely explore the practice.
What do you find most rewarding about being a yoga teacher?
So many things! I love helping students get out of their heads and into their bodies. Seeing them feel stronger, more balanced and more capable than they thought, that never gets old.
Why did you start practicing yoga?
I started practicing yoga in high school from a VHS! I dont fully recall what drew me in to try it. I was a dancer and swimmer at the time and just thoroughly enjoyed movement. Come to think of it - It might have been my swim coach who encouraged us to try the video, we were always doing visualization practices and mindfulness work before meets. In any event whatever the reason that drew me to it, once I started I was hooked.
Why do you keep practicing yoga?
I loved the intentionality of the practice and how it anchors you into the present moment. I think what I love most about the practice is that it meets you where you are at both in the day to day and also the season of life you are in.
How has yoga impacted your life off the mat?
I would love to say that it has leveled me out and now I'm always calm and collected (especially in motherhood) That's not the case! Honestly I think what it gives me is even better. I don't think that practicing yoga is going to suddenly change who you are. Instead it has grounded me into the person that I am. It has helped me find beauty in the hectic and chaotic moments just as much as the celebratory ones. And while that doesn't always mean calm, it has meant more peace. Throughout my life I have always leaned into my yoga practice during the challenging times: studying in college, getting into grad school, stress of a long distance relationship, the passing of my dad and most recently postpartum depression. I credit my yoga practice with being a large component of what got me through my postpartum depression - reconnecting back with my body, being more mindful and staying present was beyond helpful as was exploring more deeply the Rasas.
Outside of practicing yoga, what other activities do you enjoy?
Is food a hobby? I love going out to eat as much as I like trying new recipes and cooking for my family. Anything outside from hiking, sitting at the beach to skiing in the winter. I also love traveling and exploring new places.
What do you hope your students take away from your classes?
The main thing I want my students to take away from class is how to really listen to their body, to get intimate with it and understand what it is trying to tell them. And to trust themselves - in class, in their birth, in motherhood and their day to day life.
What’s something on your bucket list?
My bucket list consists of lots more family travel including camping under the northern lights and taking my kids to a working ashram in India.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
I was an extra in a made for TV sci-fi movie while I was traveling through Fiji.
Any mantra or quote you live by?
“everything’s a season”
You can find Arielle’s prenatal class on the schedule each Tuesday at 6:00 pm
More information about her physical therapy practice can be found at https://findyourwaymama.com/
