Claire Fountain , of CBQUALITY , fell in love with yoga before ever stepping foot on a mat . As a way to overcome her own life obstacles , she began a journey of learning and studying anatomy in order to heal her mind , body , and spirit . While getting a Psychology degree at Vassar , she simultaneously received certifications in yoga and personal training . In 2012 , she brought her passions to social media with Trill Yoga . Claire creatively couples her intelligence with a strong influence of music and art to achieve her innovative fitness approach . BY ZAYNA PALMER
Cliche : What inspired you to become a yoga teacher ? Claire : I never planned to become a yoga teacher . I started yoga when I was in my teens and had always been an avid reader and listener alongside many hours of practice . In 2009 , I took the necessary steps to teach as a side project while I was writing and living on a farm in Upstate New York . After a journalism position left me burnt out on my previous industry , I took to teaching and personal training full time and the rest is history .
Tell me more about your foundation TrillYoga . When I started posting to social media , I needed a way to describe what I was doing , so TrillYoga came about . TrillYoga started as a hashtag . It had a guerrilla approach , and took me , the “ unconventional ” non-yoga-looking yogi , wearing what I wanted , practicing where I wanted , and throwing all stereotypes and stigmas out the window . It is now a global vibe for those who practice according to their own rules . TrillYoga just wants everyone to embrace themselves , whatever that is , and still be able to find and utilize yoga .
What motivated you to live a healthy lifestyle ? How do you live a healthy lifestyle ? Having a life-threatening eating disorder caused me to look at just how precious life is . Since then , I prefer to [ live ] in a way that is rich with experiences and that creates a state of calm and balance . That is healthy to me . I also make time for lifting weights and yoga ( which help my mental health ), along with eating a varied diet of nutrient dense foods . But I also sleep enough , love often , travel , and make time for being good to me and everyone I love . A well-rounded and not so stereotypical approach to “ health ” here .
How were you able to partner with Nike ? What was it like ? I ’ ve worked with many major brands at this point . You name it , probably worked together . It ’ s always a good time to combine skill set , creative direction , or purpose with a brand . It ’ s nice to see what is happening in other parts of my industry and having brands that believe in me and what I stand for .
What is your favorite brand for yoga attire ? So many . There are so many brands out there right now making high quality yoga apparel that can be obtained at all price points . I ’ m a big fan of Beyond Yoga , Girlfriend Collective , JoyLab at Target , Amazon Fashion ’ s Core 10 , New Balance has some good pants , and the list goes on .
Tell me more about the book that you are planning to write ? When will it be published ? It is an exploration of the concept of self-worth and how social media sells us a warped idea of what that is with few actionable steps to achieve that in sustainable ways . I suppose I finish it in the next year or two !
How has your workout program , Built & Bendy 2.0 , inspired others ? Tell me more about it . Built & Bendy is a strength training + yoga program that I created . It ’ s a reflection of how I work out , and how I [ planned ] for clients while I was a personal trainer . BB2.0 even has a meditation guide for beginners . I ’ m a proponent of a strength training , yoga , and mindset as the best way to “ work out .” It is also not a guide that is measured by weight loss or measurements , but by how you feel from the inside out , using the Built & Bendy guide as a tool to help you feel your best in a holistic way .
What is your daily workout routine ? I don ’ t think working out everyday is necessary , and definitely not feasible for me . I lift weights two to three times a week on a good week , and get some yoga moves or mobility work and stretching , at least three to four days a week , even if it ’ s for 15 to 20 minutes one evening . It gives me time to breathe and get back in touch with my body .
What inspires you ? I ’ m inspired by humans , art , nature and resilience . I ’ m inspired by truth and the hope that we can make a better world . I ’ m also really inspired by all the incredible women I meet doing the work I do .
How do you stay confident and true to yourself ? Sometimes it ’ s a daily practice , but mostly both of those come from my continued journaling . It ’ s when I talk to me , flesh out my thoughts , dream , create , and get to remember who I am .
What do you love to write about ? What interests you when it comes to reading and writing ? I write primarily about health and wellness , but I prefer to write about heady psychology topics tangled with storytelling . Reading-wise , it ’ s as much as I can get my hands on .
How were you able to build a successful social media platform ? It was totally organic . I think being true to one ’ s self is more appealing than anything contrived . I ’ ve always asked myself , “ Does this serve the work ?” When you ’ re posting to serve other things , such as ego , celebrity , fragile self-esteem , that is felt . Social media is powerful , in good and bad ways . I think we have to learn to see it as a tool and not that end-all be-all . Offline you should be as good , if not better , than online you .
What made you want to create a YouTube channel ? Do you plan on posting any content in the future ? I only have a handful of videos there that are strictly Q & A and a discussion on depression . I have no plans to continue content there . For those who care about creating more digital content , YouTube is the place to be . However , it ’ s not for me . I missed that boat , and I don ’ t have the time to make it something worthwhile .
What is your advice for someone who wants to practice yoga ? Wanting to go is the first step . Find a local beginner ’ s class and stay open-minded . You might not like every teacher or every style of yoga , but make a decision to stay open and present . Try a few out . Give it an honest shot . From there , you can do myriad yoga videos at home if you ’ d like .
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Photo credits : iamtrillyoga . com