What brought you to yoga?
I believe my first experience of yoga—before I even knew it was yoga—was as a child. In a chaotic and confusing world (my parents divorced when I was two and lived on opposite sides of the country, shuffling me back and forth yearly), I found a deep sense of peace through being upside down in headstands and on tree branches. These moments brought me calm, joy, and a feeling of safety, helping me make sense of the world around me. Reflecting on this, I realize that I initiated myself into utilizing specific bodily postures (yogasana) to support my mind and sense of belonging in a world that to me, didn’t make much sense. So I suppose I was three when I discovered yoga—a concept I knew nothing about, but a practice that I have enjoyed my whole life, due to it melting my worries and confusions into hours of feeling pretty darn blissful.
Photo by Mike Belleme
I believe that offering the right techniques and practices can empower anyone, enhancing their lives and benefiting our community. When a student connects with the timeless beauty and bliss of Nature and their own true nature, or when their Inner Sage awakens, I feel that I am truly serving a greater purpose. This brings me immense joy.
What do you find most rewarding about teaching/sharing yoga?
What I love most about teaching yoga is that it opens up a world of self-discovery and wonder. This journey isn’t just about exploring the Self and recognizing one’s worth and uniqueness; it also unveils hidden potentials that can heal, inspire, and contribute to a better world. As a Tantra yoga teacher, I believe that offering the right techniques and practices can empower anyone, enhancing their lives and benefiting our community. When a student connects with the timeless beauty and bliss of Nature and their own true nature, or when their Inner Sage awakens, I feel that I am truly serving a greater purpose. This brings me immense joy.
Photo by Mike Belleme
Do you have a favorite yoga pose?
My favorite yoga technique is to weave elements of practice together for a more profound, desired effect. This idea comes from the definitions of Tantra, which unfold into various meanings such as “power,” “to weave,” and “to move beyond limitations.” I love to combine certain elements for a profound and direct effect—like shooting an arrow directly into the center of a target, no matter the wind. This allows me to reach the desired state more efficiently. For example, if I were distracted, perhaps after traveling or being pulled in many directions, I would want to ground my energy to focus my mind and gather this energy to replenish my body. I would use techniques called bandhas to “capture” my energy and bring it down and inwards, while practicing 1:1 breath in asanas such as twists and forward folds. I might also chant a grounding mantra as I fold, as this both aids the breath and the mind/mood. This weaving of techniques is a hallmark of the holistic approach of Tantra Yoga that I find invaluable in life and has proven very successful in supporting all of the people I share them with.
Opportunities to Practice with Brooke
Weekly Classes
$10 Tantra Yoga | Wednesdays 6:00-7:15PM
Upcoming Workshops
8.9.24 – 8.11.24 | Consciousness in Motion: The Energetics of Sequencing
with Brooke Sullivan & Suzanne Martin
Brooke Sullivan, C-IAYT, ERYT-500 is a tantric herbalist, yoga therapist, and director of The Wild Temple School of Yoga + Herbal Wisdom. A devotee of Mother Nature and practitioner of the Himalayan Tradition of Sri Vidya Tantra, she has been running apprenticeships, retreats, and professional programs since 2009. Based out of the beautiful mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, Brooke is a pilgrim of many lands with a love for travel, plants, yoga, and ancient, mystical sciences. Her latest creation is bringing forward the practices and wisdom of the Himalayan sages via Tantric Herbalism™ to connect and empower people for collective healing and evolution.
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