We recently connected with Debbie Popiel and have shared our conversation below.
Debbie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
The first time I did yoga was probably close to 30 years ago. I didn’t understand it. The whole class was in Sanskrit. I felt like I had arrived on the day of a test that everyone had studied for and I didn’t. It held no true meaning for me. I didn’t understand it and I didn’t enjoy it. Needless to say, I didn’t go back. I’ve always been an advent health enthusiast. a runner an athlete and enjoyed working out. Years later, a lovely yoga, teacher, and yoga studio owner was a parent at the school. I was the Director of and she suggested that we do yoga with the children. Even though I didn’t have a positive experience, I knew the benefits of yoga and meditation , I knew that it would help our children learn to self sooth and relax. She began classes for the students and it was a big hit! She further suggested that we expand and do yoga for the teachers at lunchtime. Teachers loved it! Finally, she said to me, “You’re a marathon runner and yoga would really help you.” I think her and I shared briefly that I had done yoga in the past, and it just wasn’t for me. She asked me to trust her and to come to her studio and take her class. I did, and the rest is history. I fell in love with yoga! The classes she offered were in English, and when Sanskrit was used, the English alternative was used to describe the word. Excellent music played, teachers explained what they were doing and it was a true community. Once I began doing yoga, I took 20 minutes off my marathon time and remained injury free during the entire training, which can sometimes be a rarity. The mission of Debbie Popiel Yoga is to make everybody feel comfortable in their bodies, with their abilities, on their mat and with yoga. So often people are intimidated by the word, yoga, or by what they see tenured practitioners doing and feel badly by not being able to stand on their head or balance, and none of these things are important. The most important thing is to show up, connect to your body, to your breath and to the community. And this is my mission, to bring yoga to everybody in a way that speaks to them. I have taught classes for people recovering from strokes and traumatic brain injuries at a neuro wellness gym as well as seniors in an assisted living facility with chair yoga. Creating connectedness and community and helping people feel like they belong is my mission. I never want anyone to walk in and feel out of place. I’ve even done private lessons with people in their home to help them feel comfortable and acclimated before arriving in the studio. This is my mission and why I feel so passionately about it.
Debbie, 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?
Yoga is a way of life. It isn’t about the poses, which is one part or limb of yoga. There are 8! I want people to know that regardless of physical limitations, perceived or real, they can participate in one of my class experiences and they can live yogicly. Being a yogi means you are connected to yourself, your purpose, others and the community. Staying connected to your body through breath and movement is one of the ways you can participate, so regardless if you can touch your toes (so many people use this as the benchmark) you can practice yoga. I meet people where they are at and create an inviting environment for everyone. You will learn about yourself and connect to the community and find peace within. Today the world feels more disconnected than Eve and learning how to take a few moments to breathe and connect its viral in staying healthy minded. Moving your body with intention helps to keep you flexible, on and off the mat, preventing injuries and keeping you mobile.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
During Covid when gyms were in lockdown I had to look at my business through a completely different lens. No longer being able to do in person classes in a studio was a significant challenge when that’s how you make your living. It was during this time that I began to focus more on Debbie Popiel Yoga and less on working in an established studio for someone else. I opened a Zoom account and started offering classes online, purchased a permit to teach in the park and focused on creating my website and online presence. This pitfall catapulted my business into the next level.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I think the story that best illustrates this is quite simply the fact that I became a yoga teacher at the age of 50. It was something presented to me over a decade before when, as a school director deep in my practice, someone suggested it. My initial response was one of disbelief that this was a viable career and I shrugged it off. Then as my work path shifted it began to present itself more often; each time an obstacle in the way; no time, lack of finances and downright fear of where this path might lead. A friend and yoga teacher said to me, after the disappointment of not being able to afford a yoga teacher training I wanted to do, “You will be a yoga teacher and the right training will present itself to you.” He was right. A few years later the assistant manager at Lululemon where I then worked, nominated me for the pilot program of Lululemon “Mindful-on” their now premier yoga teaching training. I filled out an application expressing my desire and details of my why and what type of teacher I hoped to be and was one of 40 out of 150 applicants selected. Lululemon covered the cost of the training, which was immersive in California, I used paid personal time to supplement my time off and family members helped pay the cost of my room and board. It all happened exactly like my yoga teacher friend had said, when it was right it would happen and it did. I trusted the process, kept myself open and achieved my goal of being a yoga teacher by 50. In fact I was in yoga teacher training ON my 50th birthday, a meaningful moment and true testament to not letting my age or anything deter me from my life’s purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://debbiepopielyoga.com/
- Instagram: @debbiepopielyoga
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbiepopiel?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Ana Gaxiola Photography