OPEN
MIND
Photo credits : InnerDimensionMedia .
Lauren Eckstrom is the Executive Director of Inner Dimension Media and has studied with some of the world ’ s most prominent yoga and meditation teachers . She co-authored Holistic Yoga Flow : The Path of Practice and was the associate producer of the award-winning DVD series The Ultimate Yogi . Her Holistic Yoga Flow classes combine creative sequencing with a focus on safe , sound alignment and are enhanced with meditation , pranayama , and yoga philosophy . Lauren leads workshops , retreats , and teacher training with her husband Travis Elliot in the Los Angeles area and internationally . She has been featured by international yoga brands such as Lululemon , Alo Yoga , and Manduka .
BY ZAYNA PALMER
Cliche : What inspired you to start yoga ? Lauren Eckstrom : I attended UCLA and as a freshman , I began suffering from intense anxiety attacks . The attacks appeared sporadically and left me feeling crippled . My mother and I decided to approach the situation with alternative medicine before turning to a western doctor . I undertook a three-pronged approach and began attending yoga classes at a local donation-based studio , Santa Monica Power Yoga , acupuncture , and a return to meditation . This holistic approach halted my anxiety , empowered me , provided me with a connection to my body for the first time in
28
my life , and gifted me with a community .
How has yoga changed your life physically and mentally ? Yoga , in the forms of physical practice , seated meditation , and the philosophy of a daily living practice off the mat found in the Yoga Sutras ( specifically the Yamas and Niyamas ), altered the entire course of my life . When I began practicing , I was completely disconnected from my body . Over time , I developed strength , poise , grace , flexibility , and balance . These physical attributes eventually infiltrated my mental state . I still experience my own struggles both on and off my mat , but yoga granted me the capacity to navigate life with a roadmap for healthier , more equanimous living .
What advice can you give those starting out practicing yoga ? Be kind and patient with yourself ! Yoga is not an easy practice . Building the strength , familiarity , and discipline to undertake a yoga practice takes time . Be compassionate with yourself . Start with the basics . Don ’ t be afraid to be a beginner . Start with a beginner ’ s class or program . There are a vast array of teachers , styles , and approaches , and it can take time to find your appreciation for the practice . Remain hopeful , curious , and optimistic !
www . clichemag . com
What do you believe is the true meaning behind yoga and meditation ? The traditional goal of yoga , according to the Yoga Sutras , is “ samadhi ,” also known as “ nirvana .” My interpretation of this is liberation or freedom . The true meaning of our practice is to help us experience freedom from our suffering in this lifetime . As we practice , we learn to witness our mind , which constantly creates stories , flits into the past , attempts to predict the future , and otherwise takes us away from the present moment . Yoga and meditation help us become increasingly present . As we unite within ourselves , we intuitively extend that connection beyond our limited selves and into the world .
What do you believe are the rules to start a healthy lifestyle ? Health is a broad term . Each person creates their own definition . Each of us can take a look at our lives and see where we feel controlled by something that is improperly sucking our attention and energy , and make a conscious change based on that . Health begins with a choice to make a change because you care about the quality of your life and your ability to be present for your immediate community . Start small and grow from there . When we set goals that are too outrageous , we set ourselves up for failure . It ’ s important to be aspirational and think big , but begin with steps that allow you to build confidence .
OPEN
MIND
Photo credits: InnerDimensionMedia.
L
auren Eckstrom is the Executive
Director of Inner Dimension
Media and has studied with some
of the world’s most prominent
yoga and meditation teachers. She
co-authored Holistic Yoga Flow: The Path of
Practice and was the associate producer of
the award-winning DVD series The
Ultimate Yogi. Her Holistic Yoga Flow
classes combine creative sequencing with
a focus on safe, sound alignment and are
enhanced with meditation, pranayama, and
yoga philosophy. Lauren leads workshops,
retreats, and teacher training with her
husband Travis Elliot in the Los Angeles
area and internationally. She has been
featured by international yoga brands such as
Lululemon, Alo Yoga, and Manduka.
BY ZAYNA PALMER
Cliche: What inspired you to start yoga?
Lauren Eckstrom: I attended UCLA and as
a freshman, I began suffering from intense
anxiety attacks. The attacks appeared
sporadically and left me feeling crippled.
My mother and I decided to approach the
situation with alternative medicine before
turning to a western doctor. I undertook a
three-pronged approach and began attending
yoga classes at a local donation-based
studio, Santa Monica Power Yoga,
acupuncture, and a return to meditation.
This holistic approach halted my anxiety,
empowered me, provided me with a
connection to my body for the first time in
28
my life, and gifted me with a community.
How has yoga changed your life physically
and mentally?
Yoga, in the forms of physical practice,
seated meditation, and the philosophy of a
daily living practice off the mat found in
the Yoga Sutras (specifically the Yamas and
Niyamas), altered the entire course of my
life. When I began practicing, I was
completely disconnected from my body.
Over time, I developed strength, poise,
grace, flexibility, and balance. These
physical attributes eventually infiltrated
my mental state. I still experience my own
struggles both on and off my mat, but yoga
granted me the capacity to navigate life
with a roadmap for healthier, more
equanimous living.
What advice can you give those starting
out practicing yoga?
Be kind and patient with yourself! Yoga is
not an easy practice. Building the strength,
familiarity, and discipline to undertake a
yoga practice takes time. Be compassionate
with yourself. Start with the basics. Don’t be
afraid to be a beginner. Start with a
beginner’s class or program. There are a vast
array of teachers, styles, and approaches,
and it can take time to find your appreciation
for the practice. Remain hopeful, curious,
and optimistic!
www.clichemag.com
What do you believe is the true meaning
behind yoga and meditation?
The traditional goal of yoga, according to
the Yoga Sutras, is “samadhi,” also known
as “nirvana.” My interpretation of this is
liberation or freedom. The true meaning of
our practice is to help us experience freedom
from our suffering in this lifetime. As we
practice, we learn to witness our mind,
which constantly creates stories, flits into
the past, attempts to predict the future, and
otherwise takes us away from the present
moment. Yoga and meditation help us
become increasingly present. As we unite
within ourselves, we intuitively extend that
connection beyond our limited selves and
into the world.
What do you believe are the rules to start
a healthy lifestyle?
Health is a broad term. Each person creates
their own definition. Each of us can take
a look at our lives and see where we feel
controlled by something that is improperly
sucking our attention and energy, and make
a conscious change based on that. Health
begins with a choice to make a change
because you care about the quality of your
life and your ability to be present for your
immediate community. Start small and grow
from there. When we set goals that are too
outrageous, we set ourselves up for f��W&RगN( �2���'F�BF�&R7�&F�����BF��氦&�r�'WB&Vv��v�F�7FW2F�B���r��RF�'V��B6��f�FV�6R�