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Meet Tessa, she is originally from Saskatoon but has lived in Kelowna since 1989. Tessa is a yoga instructor with projects throughout the province. She uses her passion for yoga to help other people.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
That is a difficult question. I have an amazing circle of friends, a supportive family, and a devoted partner. I couldn’t choose just one. I love spending time with them because experiencing life with loved ones makes my cup overflow.
What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
Beaumont Family Estate Winery. I grew up in the same neighbourhood as the family and so there are always friendly faces in the wine shop. If it weren’t for them I may not have started teaching Yoga. In 2012 they let me teach classes on their crush pad.
Describe yourself in one word.
Adaptable
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
The Maldives. It is the worlds lowest country in elevation and may disappear in my lifetime.
What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Aside from Yoga, I love wine touring. The Okanagan is making a mark in the industry and it is fun to be a part of it through the early years.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
The first one that comes to mind still makes me blush and laugh. I was chatting with the girls from Spin Co. prior to my Yoga class. As I welcomed everyone to class I said “I will be leading you through your spin class today” everyone had a good laugh.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
I find witnessing how much people help one another incredibly inspiring. Recently my family and I have been very blessed to be the recipients of an incredible amount of support and encouragement through a challenging time. Witnessing the goodness in humanity gives me a sense of faith and strength to persevere.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
My favourite memory from my childhood was on my eighth birthday, I went horseback riding with all my best friends. That began a love affair with horses. Still today I am a bit of a horse nut and can’t wait to have my own again.
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
Earlier this year I was able to teach alongside many of my peers at a public Yoga class to raise money and awareness for the Canadian Mental Health Association. It was a heartwarming event that brought many people together and opened up the discussion about mental health. I believe Yoga can help improve health, mentally and physically, and a person's overall well-being. There is another class scheduled for fall so keep your eyes out for the event.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
The health of our planet scares me. If I could change one thing (big thing) it would be to stop global warming. If everyone does their part it really will make a difference, we just all need to be on board.
Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
I would take my paddle board and dog up to a lake hidden in the mountains. I do this as much as I can all summer long.
Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
One of the biggest challenges for my students and I is parking downtown. I would like to see more parking in the core of Kelowna.
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Kelowna is great for many reasons. I really appreciate all the locally owned restaurants and boutiques.
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
- To eventually own a home where I can keep and care for horses of my own.
- Travel across Europe
- Travel to the Maldives
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
Something people may not know about me is that I have dual citizenship in the United Kingdom.
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
I have Facebook and Instagram and you can find me there as The Subtle Yogi or through The Hayfield. The Hayfield is a Yoga retreat I co-host with a friend of mine in Northern BC.
What is the name of your business/organization?
The Hayfield Yoga retreat has been the focal point of my business over the past year. Check out our social media for more information.
Why did you get into/start this business?
I began teaching Yoga to share my passion and to help other people heal as Yoga helped me heal. I also love feeling creative and sequencing a Yoga class can feel like painting on a canvas.
What is the goal of your business?
I want to make Yoga accessible to as many people as possible and give people the tools to move through the challenges of life in a mindful way.
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
My biggest struggle with the Yoga industry is marketing myself. I struggle with confidence and that is necessary to grow my business.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
There are things that I would do differently in my youth if I could go back. However, having chosen the paths I did in adolescence has made me compassionate and able to relate to my students who come from all walks of life.
What do you always find yourself saying?
I continually say “come back to your breath” as a Yoga teacher this seems pretty standard but it truly is magic if we can practice mindful breathing daily.
Tell us your best piece of life advice.
To listen.
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
If I could spend a day with anyone I would choose my 97 year old Grandmother who lives in Saskatoon. I don’t get to see her enough and would love to play a few games of crib, go for a walk, and have a cup of tea.
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Why wouldn’t you want to shop local, there are so many great markets and local boutiques to choose from in Kelowna. I love seeing local businesses collaborate, and shopping locally helps build relationships.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Being voted as Kelowna's third best Yoga teacher is pretty cool!
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
My shout out goest to Taylor Morrice. She always goes above and beyond!
My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
I would like to see my friend and relator extraordinaire Jolene Iglesias featured in Kelowna Now In Focus.
Some general comments I would like to share are:
Thank you for featuring me.
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE.
In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. Thank you, Kelowna!
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