Drug addiction, divorce, death…
Finding a soul mate, overcoming health obstacles and radiating love.
Colleen Saidman Yee's new book,
Yoga For Life, peels back the layers of her own life, baring it all. Sometimes it's dramatic while others just plain ol’ warm and fuzzy.
Not just a memoir, Colleen shares her 30 plus years of experience in yoga to provide readers with sequences to support these experiential layers of life.
She's
the “First Lady of Yoga”, now author and a highly in demand yoga teacher. We were blessed with the opportunity to sit down with her and ask some of our most burning questions.
Colleen, we know you’re a busy lady! What are the daily rituals that keep you the best version of yourself?
Cuddling, strong black tea, pranayama, asana practice, showering, poetry, and gazing at our beautiful flower gardens. If we're at home (that is, not travelling), I love to
get rid of stuff. I try to clean out one drawer.
We’re giddy with glee about your new book, Yoga For Life. Books like yours are spreading the message of yoga far and wide to people all over the world. What would you say to someone just beginning their journey of yoga?
Welcome to a beautiful journey of self-discovery. Stick with it. If your first experience or your first teacher wasn’t right for you, there is one that is. Find it. Your life and body will open up in ways that you never expected. Don’t feel defeated and quit if you feel awkward at first. Everyone does. The
practice is the gift that keeps on giving—it’s worth going through a bit of a struggle to make time for it, and to understand its impact on your life.
What books do you currently have your nose in?
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, and
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf. (I just realized that both of these address the later stages of life—coincidence?) I have also just discovered
Iyengar Yoga for Motherhood. Even though my pre- and post-natal years are far behind me, the information in this book is timeless. I’m not sure why I hadn’t heard of it before.
Who or what would you say has been your greatest teacher?
Our kids, my parents, and my seizures. In yoga, Sharon Gannon and Rodney Yee. I ended up marrying Rodney, and he is still my teacher in many ways that don’t include yoga.
You’ve been practicing yoga for almost 30 years—what inspires you to this day, and how has your practice shifted in that time?
It’s pretty simple: I feel good and
am a nicer person when I practice. When I don’t practice, I feel gross and I can be lacking in kindness and compassion.
What is your “go to” yoga pose in your practice?
Plow pose. It releases my neck and upper back, which get tense from spending so much time on the computer. It also draws me deep inside. I can hear my breath, which is great for my mind to focus on rather than the verbal chatter, which is usually pretty stressful. This pose feels like a safe and cozy womb. And it’s a pose that Rodney has a difficult time with, and I find super easy—not that we’re competitive in any way :)
What would you say is your health-and-wellness mantra?
Guilty pleasure?
Watching television series like Nashville and Scandal, and eating junk food like gluten-free black and white cookies.
We’re so thrilled to watch your success with Yoga For Life. What’s next for you?
Thank you. In the near future, Rodney and I are creating a two-week beginners track for Gaiam TV, which should be a great way for those that are hesitant about jumping into a class to learn the basics from the privacy of their own home. (Even though this practice can be done at home, we recommend having a buddy to go through the series with; it will hold you accountable and make it more fun.)
We’re also teaching a class for
10,000 people in Central Park on Sept 2nd. New York is my home—I don’t think that I could live outside of the state. To have this large gathering in Central Park is such a big statement about New Yorkers and how far we have come in our quest for union and peace.
I’m also hosting an online yoga interview series. I don’t think I’m allowed to give out the particulars, but I do feel like all roads have led to this. I’ve idolized Christiane Amanpour since I was in my early twenties, and even went to broadcast journalism school as a result of my infatuation with the work that she was doing in the world. So, this is my rendition 35 years later, and on a much smaller scale. I don't see another book in my near future. I feel like I gave it all away in Yoga for Life. I feel spent, exposed, and proud.
We are honoured, dear Colleen, for sharing a part of who you are with us this day. Namaste.
Check out Yoga For Life for more stories, reflections and all around inspiration from this radiant yogini.
Trish Huston from Banff, Alberta
Yoga teacher, amateur cook/baker extraordinaire and all around health and wellness lover, Trish Huston loves connecting over a great recipe or healthy tip. You'll also find her with her nose in a good book, hiking the backcountry of Banff National Park or planning her next travel adventure.
More about the author
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