Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carly Hunter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Carly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
Maui is the place that I go every year, for the past 9 years, to reconnect to myself and my yoga practice. It’s a very magical place for me. In 2018 I broke up a relationship of 6 years and decided last minute, a week before, to go to my healing place of Maui for several weeks. I informed all of my private students that I was going to be away, but didn’t provide any context as to why I was leaving so suddenly. My route to Maui was NYC to Denver and Denver to Maui. When I arrived in Denver, I had to rush to make my connection. As soon as I got to my connecting gate and handed my boarding pass, the gate agent handed back a different boarding pass with a seat assignment of 1A. “1A?!?” I thought, “Oh my God! Is this FIRST CLASS!?” I couldn’t believe my luck! It was just what I needed – some major comfort on a long flight to ease my internal pain. I was overjoyed and confused as to how this happened. A week into my time on Maui, I was sitting on my favorite beach, looking out into the ocean feeling pretty sad about my breakup when I received a text from one of my longtime students. The text said, “I upgraded your flight home-enjoy!” Immediately I burst into tears. I was in complete shock and also so incredibly touched. He had no idea what I was going through in my personal life, however, he took it upon himself to find my flight and pay for my upgrade both on the way there (which I came to understand later), and on the way home. It was one of the most selfless, generous, thoughtful, and kind gestures I have ever received and I will never forget how much that meant to me in the moment. It felt like the biggest loving hug. I will always treasure this memory.
Carly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a yoga teacher in New York City specializing in private instruction and Ashtanga Yoga. I’ve been teaching since 2012 and practicing since 2001. I earned a BFA in Dance Performance from The Ohio State University and was introduced to yoga in school as a somatic technique to support my training. Shortly after graduating college I put aside my ambitions and passion for dance to work in advertising. It was a straightforward way to earn a living, although I was miserable in the corporate hustle. For 10 years, I felt out of alignment and without much purpose. While working in the business world, I returned to yoga and dove deeply into my practice. It was a means to connect to my physicality in a familiar way, but also embark on an inner journey. I spent time learning about myself, facing my discomforts, while simultaneously learning a lot about yoga. Yoga became such a huge part of my life that upon finishing my first training, I began to teach so much that it was getting in the way of my 9-5 job! I was offered a position at PURE Yoga in NYC and soon enough, I quit my established corporate advertising career. It was a scary move because teaching yoga is definitely not nearly as lucrative as advertising, however, it put me back in alignment and on a purposeful path. At PURE I managed the private yoga and wellness program whereby I grew a loyal base of private students and oversaw a team of almost 75 teachers. I spent 4 years in that position and really honed my craft as a private teacher. I figured a formula for working with students 1×1 that proved successful. In 2018 I set out on my own to teach privately in people’s homes and offices. These days I’m focused mostly on teaching privately and continue to work with some of the same students I did in 2012. My students really appreciate the convenience and reliability of my services. I’m there for them in the comfort of their homes. What sets me apart as a teacher is that I am always a student too. I’m a student of other teachers, but mostly I’m a student of my students. I truly care to learn about the people I’m working with. Working privately in people’s homes and for an extended period of time has fostered a more intimate connection and trustworthy relationship. I’m constantly learning and experimenting with the craft of teaching privately, unafraid to admit that I don’t always have the answer. I feel grateful for my students’ trust and always try to give 100% during the time I have with each person.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I came into yoga with a lot of physical ability and body awareness. I acquired a lifetime of movement information leading up to my yoga career since I trained competitive gymnastics as a kid and then danced all the way through college. My background was beneficial for developing an advanced asana practice, but it was an obstacle for learning how to teach yoga. I found it difficult to understand and put myself in the shoes of a true beginner. How could I possibly teach someone something very basic when I took for granted how easily everything came to me? I couldn’t relate to those challenges, but I understand that yoga can feel intimidating and be uncomfortable both physically and emotionally at first. It makes you confront limitations and face yourself in a way that most people aren’t accustomed. Some people come to yoga without ever moving their body or have a lot of physical ailments and limitations. When I was a new teacher, I overcompensated by over explaining. I wanted to make sure that I was giving every bit of my knowledge to each person. I thought that’s what people needed. As I started to finesse my teaching and gain experience, I learned how to distill the practice in the most basic way and say less in order to get my students to understand more. Eddie Stern, who I have the great privilege of working for and studying with is a master with his words. I continue to learn a lot of this skill from taking his classes. Because I’ve been hyper focused at being good with teaching basics, I would like to think I’ve developed into an excellent teacher for beginners. Krishnamacharya’s famous quote, “Teach what is inside of you, not as it applies to you, but as it applies to the other.” has been the guiding principle in all I do. While my own personal practice is physically advanced, my student base does not reflect what you may see in my practice. For this finally, I am proud.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Knowledge will only get you so far when working with people in a personal way. Showing up on time and being ready physically and mentally for each person sets the bar and allows the students I work with to show up for themselves. When I am reliable to the people I work with, it’s reflected through their loyalty to me and in their practice. Being a steady, positive, encouraging, and a consistent presence in my students’ lives cannot be underrated. Staying on top of my schedule and planning in advance allows predictability and structure and makes the practice into a healthy habit. In the same vain, being in NYC most of the time is also important. I love to travel, but I will only go away a couple times a year. If I expect to have a robust student base, I need to be here for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carlyhunteryoga.com
- Instagram: @carly.hunter.yoga
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlyahunter/
- Youtube: @carlyhunteryoga
Image Credits
Eko Yulist
Audrey Billups