Happy Movement Monday! Movement for Happiness is a wellbeing skill that encourages us to find ways to move our bodies in ways that bring us joy. Each Monday, we’re sharing stories of people in our community and what type(s) of movement bring them joy.
Ted, in the past 10 years, has discovered his movement passion: yoga. He teaches virtual yoga classes to a program of young adults on the spectrum, spreading joy and peace to all who attend.
We had the privilege of speaking with Ted about his experiences teaching yoga and how it impacts his happiness and wellbeing. Here’s what he told us:
Q: When did you first start practicing yoga?
A: “I first started practicing yoga since 2013. My program introduced me and [one of my teachers] thought I would be interested in teaching.”
Q: Why do you enjoy doing yoga?
A: “It makes me feel happy, calmer, peaceful and have a good lifestyle. I like doing the meditating and I found ocean sounds, snow sounds… I’ve been practicing doing those.”
Q: What are some of your favorite yoga poses?
A: “Downward dog, I like planks, I like tree pose, warrior 1, and my final pose would be boat.”
Q: What do you like about teaching yoga?
A: “Sending them peace, asking them what they like to do for fun, and saying hi.”
Q: What have you learned from your yoga practice?
A: “I learn how to release from suffering and breathe, get all of the negative things out, and take 5-10 breaths a day… and also meditate and do the “om” sound.”
Q: Why do you think it’s important for people to have a movement practice like yoga?
A: “So they can have a good quality of life and have peace, happiness, and joyfulness…to stay healthy, have a healthy heart, be mindful, and have a healthy lifestyle.”
Q: Are there any other types of movement that make you happy?
A: “Yes. I like to do biking indoors, 45 minutes to 3 hours. When I go outside, I usually do 2-3 hours of biking which is like 20-30 miles. I also like to do HIIT workouts for a half hour to relieve stress and have good endorphins.”
Thank you, Ted, for sharing your yoga and movement experiences with us! Explore Movement for Happiness to discover what type of movement brings YOU joy.
