She Leads: The Women of YogaRenew & Their Stories

"Yoga has taught me that leadership is less about being the loudest voice in the room and more about being the most regulated one. The women in my life and field have shown me that steadiness, care, and consistency are what truly guide people home to themselves. I am currently rising into a deeper trust in my voice while also resting back from the belief that I have to hold everything alone."

"What truly became the catalyst for my own practice-and for the way I show up in this field-was studying these changes and developing my powers of observation, so I could serve my students no matter what stage of life they were in. It became about reminding people that yoga is made of many parts. All of them human. Yoga is not a static practice, even though it's often depicted that way. It's not set in stone. It's meant to evolve, to shift, to respond."

"To be at the front of a yoga class, is to represent yoga, and because of that I MUST live the ideals of yoga in order to live a life of integrity. The Bhagavad Gita tells us 'What great men do, others follow.' I am not 'great,' but I hope I can inspire those I teach to at least try their best."

YogaRenew's female instructors share perspectives on women's roles in yoga and leadership. Lisa Bermudez highlights that true leadership stems from emotional regulation and steadiness rather than dominance, emphasizing the importance of trusting one's voice while releasing the burden of controlling everything. Mélie Purdon addresses how women experience significant physical and hormonal fluctuations yet face pressure to maintain constant performance levels. She advocates for recognizing yoga as an evolving practice that adapts to individual circumstances and life stages, meeting practitioners where they are. Julie Pasqual/Jamuna Jaya Devi Dasi stresses that yoga instructors must embody yoga's ideals to maintain integrity and inspire students to pursue excellence through authentic example.

Read at YogaRenew