By Raquel Issenberg
In the warmth of a small yoga community where mats and new interactions unroll daily before class, one yoga instructor saw a void that needed filling. Within the goal of the practice, irony dominated the rooms: a lack of connection between the very individuals responsible for spreading the teachings of yoga.
Jessie Gulliver, the voice of the month, has embarked on the mission to weave a tapestry of camaraderie and networking along with other enthusiastic yoga teachers in the Savannah wellness niche.
Y4Y
Yoga For Yoga Teachers is a free-monthly class exclusively designed for yoga instructors from all studios and disciplines with the intention of practice and interaction. The purpose of these teachers’ encounters is to create new alliances that will ultimately nourish the wellness community. Jessie Gulliver (leading class in the picture) is Y4Y Ambassador.
Gulliver’s endeavor unfolded in the form of a unique, free yoga class that was exclusively designed for yoga instructors from all studios, centers, schools, fitness clubs, and other platforms within the area.
“I noticed that there was just a lack of community, and yoga had become an every-class is ‘all levels’, for everyone... and that just is not the case!”, Gulliver explained, and noted that socializing not only bridges the gap between various teachers and their styles but also serves as a valuable resource for students seeking the right class to suit their needs.
In consequence, Yoga For Yoga Teachers (Y4Y) was born. In this particular orb, where unity is the cornerstone of yogic philosophy, the gaps that had silently grown within a community of dedicated instructors were a paradox that couldn’t be ignored.
But the first community practice Gulliver fostered wasn’t particularly yoga. Her adventure began with SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding) on the serene waters of Tybee Island, Georgia. Originally from North Carolina, Gulliver arrived on Savannah’s beach over 25 years ago. Fueled by her love for the water and the desire to harmonize with nature a physical practice she became a SUP instructor.
High-spirited kinship
A strong and interconnected community of yoga teachers in any city can be a source of inspiration, support, and growth, ensuring that the transformative power of yoga extends far beyond the mat and into the lives of all who seek its guidance.
As Gulliver glided across the Georgia coast, she discovered the profound sense of balance and mindfulness that paddleboarding provided, which eventually guided her to explore SUP Yoga. From that moment on, her fascination for yoga only kept growing.
“I truly believe that when my yoga relationship progressed was during my first teacher training at Savannah Yoga Barre/Mira Yoga School which was established by Kendall Beene”, Gulliver highlighted.
Beene, a beloved yoga teacher and entrepreneur in Savannah, founded and directed Mira Yoga School almost a decade ago, where a cluster of current teachers were trained and nurtured.
As she dived into the world of yoga teaching, Gulliver noticed “a big difference between going to practice as a student Vs. learning the methodology and understanding the roots... it's impossible to teach all that in an hour's class! That changed the direction for me substantially!”.
A few years later, Beene and her yoga partner Erin Lambright opened New Yoga Now, a studio that rapidly became the darling of the town, where Gulliver teaches and the Yoga For Yoga Teachers classes were launched.
“In a nutshell, yoga teachers do not take time for themselves and ‘practice what they preach’. They also do not have the means to hope from teacher to teacher, or studio to studio so this gives them an opportunity to network”, Gulliver added.
To Gulliver, an instructor turned community builder, the unwavering commitment to fostering unity is breathing new life into the practice yogis hold dear, by spreading reconnections into a fellowship that in the end will nourish all.
“I would love to see this expand in our community, as well as outside! I would love for there to be more collaboration of teachers and studios, events, and so forth! Most importantly, it's about teachers taking a little something for them!”, Gulliver finalized.
Yoga For Yoga Teachers classes, which are led by a different local instructor who volunteers each month, are extending their branches to other venues and mixing up disciplines. If you are a registered yoga instructor, catch the next Y4Y session on October 17th at 6:00 PM at The Firm, a dance and fitness studio.
If you want to practice yoga with Jessie Gulliver, or for more information on Y4Y, follow her on @jessiegulliver
This interconnected network of instructors allows for the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and resources, ultimately benefiting both teachers and students alike. It erases the lines of competition and replaces them with a spirit of cooperation, creating an environment where the essence of yoga—unity in diversity—is not just a philosophy but a living reality.
