Monthly Feature

Breathing Room member Susan Haworth sat down with Aviva to talk about Aviva’s yoga journey and what she’s learned along the way.

Susan: What led you to yoga and when did you start?

Aviva: I’ve always been an athletic person; I was a dancer, went to the gym, rode my bike. My mother had been encouraging me to meditate as a calming activity. So, in 1998 I decided to give yoga a try. I was experiencing insomnia at that time as well as anxiety (which I didn’t acknowledge until much later).

Susan: I remember my first yoga class — it was right after college at a local YMCA. Where was your first class?

Aviva: Because I was going to the gym regularly, I decided to first try a gym yoga class. It did little for me; I wasn’t able to move my body the way it needed. I then tried an Ashtanga yoga class in my neighborhood and loved it! It was strong and challenging and I slept like a rock after the very first class.

Susan: Some people think a cross-legged yogi sitting on a mountain top and chanting defines yoga. It sounds like that kind of yoga was not what you needed. How did Ashtanga yoga help with your mental health?

Aviva: I was only able to be present and centered without anxiety after being sufficiently challenged. I started going to yoga three times a week. I really worked my body. And then, one day I woke up with terrible back pain.

Susan: What happened?

Aviva: That particular teacher offered no modifications. I didn’t know how to take care of my body. I kept going to classes and the pain got worse to the point where I could only do child’s pose for most of the class. I stopped going.

Susan: That’s a good lesson for us all. How did you recover?

Aviva: Initially, I found a gentle yoga class that allowed me to do more than child’s pose. But then I discovered Forrest Yoga. Although I was still in pain, I could do most of the classes. Most importantly, I learned how to breathe! Even after twelve years of practicing yoga, I didn’t know how to use my breath. This was a revolutionary discovery for me.

Susan: Will you describe Forrest Yoga?

Aviva: Forrest Yoga was developed by Ana Forrest; she created a style of yoga for the Western body and contemporary ailments. It is designed to be accessible to everyone and focuses on the pain and trauma housed in our bodies. It helps us become more physically and emotionally conscious and resilient.

Susan: So, discovering Forrest Yoga was a pivotal time for you.

Aviva: It was! I was learning so much about my body and about myself. I started going to yoga four times a week and then went on a yoga retreat in Mexico. After that deep dive, I decided to become certified as a Forrest Yoga teacher. I later became certified in Cranial Sacral Therapy and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE), which was a two-year process.

Susan: Where did you start teaching after you became certified as a Forrest Yoga teacher?

Aviva: I started subbing around 2011, and a year later, I became a permanent teacher. Soon I was teaching fourteen classes a week and still subbing. I met Beth Zygielbaum at Total Woman Gym in Alameda where we both taught yoga. When Beth took over the studio and renamed it Leela Yoga, she invited me to teach two classes.

Susan: When did you take over what is now the Breathing Room?

Aviva: In 2019, Beth decided to step aside as the owner. Along with another teacher, we bought the studio in January 2020 and rebranded it the ‘Breathing Room’. Although I never envisioned owning a yoga studio, I loved this community and didn’t want the studio to close.

Susan: And then we all know what happened in March of 2020.

Aviva: The pandemic was a challenge, for sure, but the community showed up for online classes and kept us afloat.

Susan: Owning a small business can be taxing. What have you learned about being a business owner?

Aviva: I’ve learned to focus on what we do well and not to try to be everything to everyone. There will always be detractors, but I’ve also learned to focus on those who are grateful for what’s offered at the studio. We’re all learning and growing every day, and we need to give ourselves and others grace.