October 3, 2025 • 41 mins
Emi Tull is a seasoned yoga instructor renowned for her transformative journey from a professional dancer to a Dharma Yoga teacher. Born in Japan and now living in London, Tull's dedication to yoga, particularly under the guidance of Sri Dharma Mittra, highlights her deep spiritual commitment. She is celebrated for teaching across various prestigious studios in London, passionately sharing the teachings and spiritual intricacies of Dharma Yoga, and engaging her community in kirtan and mantra chanting.
Visit Emi here: https://lifetohappiness.com/
Key Takeaways:
- Emi Tull's journey from a dancer in Japan to a respected Dharma Yoga instructor in London underscores the importance of spiritual connection and perseverance.
- Language and cultural challenges are part of Emi's unique journey, leading to deeper insights and personal growth within her yoga practice.
- The transformative power of kirtan and mantra chanting is integral to Emi's spiritual evolution, emphasizing the emotional depth and community connection these practices foster.
- Despite yoga's physical focus in Western countries, Emi advocates balancing spiritual and physical practices within yoga teaching.
- The experience of aging and evolving within one's yoga practice is natural, and Emi underscores the significance of this acceptance in fostering a lifelong commitment to yoga.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Todd McLaughlin (00:33):
Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. So happy
you are here. My goal with thischannel is to bring
inspirational speakers to themic in the field of yoga,
massage, bodywork and beyond.
Follow us at @nativeyoga andcheck us out at
nativeyogacenter.com. All right,let's begin.
(01:05):
Hello and welcome to Native YogaToddcast today. My special guest
is Emmy Takahashi Tull. You canfind her on her website,
lifetohappiness.com and you canalso follow her on Instagram at
emitull, spelled EMI, T, U, L,L, I'm so delighted to have this
opportunity to meet and speakwith Emi as she shares about her
(01:29):
yoga journey from growing up inJapan, living in New York City
and Now as a yoga teacher inLondon, England, and I hope you
enjoy this episode. We had areally great conversation. I
can't wait for you to hear wedid experience a little bit of
internet trouble at the veryend, which cut us off. However,
(01:52):
I take it as a positive signthat everything Emi shares here
is just enough to make our yogaworld a little bit better. I
hope you enjoy thisconversation, and let's go ahead
and begin. I'm really honored tohave this opportunity to have
Emi Tull here on the podcast.
Emi. Thank you so much forjoining me today. I really
(02:14):
appreciate it.
Emi Tull (02:18):
Thank you so much.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Thank you for inviting me.
Todd McLaughlin (02:22):
You are welcome. I am really excited to
hear about your journey intoyoga or through yoga. Can you
tell me a little bit about Well,number one, I'd like to start
off. Where do you live? I livein London at the moment.
Wonderful. And you were wherewere you born?
Unknown (02:41):
I born in Japan, great.
Todd McLaughlin (02:43):
And when did you learn English?
Unknown (02:47):
Oh, English. Was that my worst subject? When I in
school, we had in Japan, we hadto do the English as a part of
the study and from the aboutjust 1213, years old. Now I
think they started much earlier,but yeah, I did. I think I
(03:11):
didn't know how to learn thelanguage. So yeah, the English
was the worst one for me. Butthen I moved to after that
graduate graduate school, and Iwent to New York, and I lived
there. Still rubbish up inEnglish, but then yeah,
(03:32):
gradually little Pareto gaininglittle words, 90 page. So yeah,
so I didn't, yeah, and myEnglish, I'm not always proud
about you.
Todd McLaughlin (03:44):
Sound amazing.
So that's I can imagine. That'san incredible challenge. I can't
imagine trying to learnJapanese, to be honest, to learn
a whole new set of charactersand all the things that go into
learning language. So well done.
I'm curious, did you leave Japanand come to New York, like when
(04:05):
you when you were 18? Or how oldwere you when you I was
Unknown (04:09):
a little bit later, about 20, I think I was 21 Yeah,
I went for the dance. I had adance career. I was practicing
dance, and then I had oneteacher who was very inspiring.
And then she was in DanceCompany in New York, and she
(04:32):
invited me to come with alongwith her. And that's the start.
I visited a little bit like amonth and a half and and then
group I practice with invited meto perform in a couple months
later, so I went back to Japanand get the visa, and then
decided to move.
Todd McLaughlin (04:52):
Wow. Wow, that's cool. So when you after
officially moving to New York,were you you. Employed as a
dancer
Unknown (05:04):
that time I was still part of the students and then,
and then performing as a studentgotcha. Gotcha stayed for after
that, much longer than Iexpected.
Todd McLaughlin (05:16):
But yes, understood, and at what point
did you start to practice yoga?
Unknown (05:23):
Yoga is much later. I wish I knew that the was that
time, but I was walking forwardin front of the studio all the
time, but then I didn't know,and I met my husband after the
(05:44):
10 years of the New York State,and then I moved to we had a
relationship, like a longdistance for two years. So I
decided to move to Londonbecause he was British, and find
out after that we met, yeah, so.
And then straight after I movedto New York, from New York to
(06:04):
London, I got bike accident, andI twisted my both ankles so I
couldn't dance anymore. Wecouldn't wear the point shoes,
and I couldn't dance anymore.
And then I felt like I wanted tohave after the my uncle got it
(06:26):
recovered, I wanted to dosomething. And then I did a
little bit of yoga, like somejust normal yoga and stuff like
that. And then, in the meantime,the while I was apart away from
the physical practice, I wasmore interested in spiritual
(06:49):
learning and watching YouTubeand stuff about the Dalai Lama
and Tibetan monks and and thenWhile I was watching those
spiritual videos I saw sridhamaMitra was talking, I think that
was, I can't remember which, no,that was anymore, but it was
(07:09):
very, very short, like oneminute or two, and he was
probably talking about thecompassion. Just felt that, when
looking at him, I know, felt soconnected. Oh, this is my
teacher. And then I again, wentto the normal yoga class and
felt that even he's not in frontof me, but then practice other
(07:35):
yoga class, and it felt likehe's calling me. I felt I need
Him to guide me, and I cried inthe class for the needed to be
with him. So then I started,okay, I had to do this wherever
he teaches. And then I found outthat was Dharma yoga started.
(07:59):
Start of my dharma yoga.
Todd McLaughlin (08:01):
Chan, that's really cool. Emmy, I love
hearing that story. I like thefact too, that you brought up
that while you were living inNew York City, you had been
walking in front of the studio,maybe on a regular basis, having
no idea it's there, and then tohave such a powerful sense of
connection, even prior to havingthe opportunity to meet with
(08:24):
them. That's that's prettyThat's amazing, that's powerful.
Unknown (08:28):
Yeah, I now think, in the beginning I thought, why
didn't I met me him when I wasthere? What time I have I
thought in the beginning, butnow I see it in my journey. Look
back, and if I met him thattime, even that was New York, I
probably didn't come to London.
I didn't marry probably, I'mshaving my head, and then maybe
(08:50):
I've been numb, and then maybeliving close to Sri Lanka.
Probably, I probably have donethat. So it's that that made me
come to the London. That's how Isee and now I serve people with
the sridharma knowledge, andthen try to serve here. So I
(09:11):
think this that way, how it hadto be otherwise, I probably
didn't come and then peopleLondon didn't have me. Yeah. So
things global body is slightlydifferent, so I think that was
the way how I had to be. Butthen go back to training, I knew
that city very well, so it waseasy for me to go. So if that
(09:33):
was he was like in India orsomewhere, then maybe, maybe I
consider, should I go? I don'tknow the city, but because he
was in New York, oh, I know thecity, I can't walk around and,
yeah, okay, if you know thecity, go ahead. So that was very
easy to go back. So I wasperfect. So I think it was the
(09:56):
way how I had to be.
Todd McLaughlin (09:59):
Oh, it's. So cool, Emmy, you know i You're if
I would, I am employ thelistener to follow you on
Instagram. Your handle is atEmmy tall, and it's spelled EMI,
T, U, L, L. And then I also wentto your website, which is life
to happiness.com, and I noticedthat on your website that you're
(10:21):
teaching, or you have listed theIndaba Yoga Studio in London,
the light center Belgravia inEngland, the try yoga. Chelsea,
try yoga. Camden, try yoga.
Shoreditch. All these differentstudios are these? Are these?
All places that you teach inLondon,
Unknown (10:41):
I think you received a little bit old. Okay, fair
enough. Unfortunately, theLondon, I even one point maybe
if you we talked last year, yes,I was teaching all that. So I
was moving around places and howmy how many classes I'm
teaching, stuff are the same atthe moment as well. But
(11:05):
unfortunately, some studiosstart closing down in London.
Something get after thelockdown. I think some studios
didn't survive, and so lightcenter Bill grave is no longer
available to offer the yogaclass, so I don't teach there
(11:25):
anymore, and try yoga shortageand count and I no longer did
there. I teach in new studiocalled mission. I won. That's
what it's been said. One of thebiggest studio in Europe at the
moment, Oh, wow. They kindlygave me a space to teach them a
(11:49):
yoga so I saw the classes. Theresix classes a week. I'm still
teaching as well. So and in tryyoga, Chelsea as well I'm
teaching. So I'm teaching inthree places at the moment.
Todd McLaughlin (12:04):
Wow, that's impressive. Is, how did your
journey evolve from the day thatyou taught your first class to
where you are now I'm curiouswhat type of reception you
received in England as a Dharmayoga teacher, did you find that
people were very hungry orinterested in Dharma yoga? Or
(12:27):
did you find are you findingthat you had to be a bit of a
pioneer to help inspire and setthe standard
Unknown (12:39):
the first time? It's changed quite a lot. In the
beginning, the class is not asstrong, and other whole yoga in
London that was not very strong.
I think whole world changed,especially after the lockdown,
but then now used to teach, thenif, let's say, balances, not so
(13:03):
many classes were doing. So Iintroduced many students, and
then now they're becomingteachers, and they spread in
those practice as well as haschanged a lot and awareness of
the pranayama and stuff as well.
More people do not nowadays,teacher trainings everywhere, so
(13:25):
they are more aware of those,pranayama, practice, meditation
and even philosophy. Is morepeople interested, I think, by
significant change I feel is thechanting when I start
introducing the chanting,because when I was trying to
(13:45):
sing and everybody so shy, nosinging and being so shy. Now,
when I teach, especially thebeautiful of us, they know the
worst, and they just sing soloud, sometimes difficult to
hear myself very loud. So it'sjust changed so beautiful. So
(14:06):
it's a, yeah, evolving this yogapractice in London. I guess
that's in other cities as well,but yeah, and then Dharma Yoga
also, many students practice SriDharma Mitra, and then decided
to train with him. So we getmore Dharma yoga teachers in
(14:31):
London as well. So it'sbeautiful that they're sharing
his teachings.
Todd McLaughlin (14:36):
That's cool, Emmy, did you play a part in
organizing the gathering thatoccurred in England or London
this last year, when Dharma wentand taught there, I heard there
was a large group that ended upproud.
Unknown (14:52):
Oh, yeah. That was a beautiful Yes. Oh, there. I
think Adam Andrew and um. IngavaYoga, mainly down the most of
the path. So just try to supportit away as much as I can. Yeah,
so yes, that was wonderful to bepart of it and then supporting
this event. That was beautiful.
Todd McLaughlin (15:13):
That's cool. I mean, do you said you'd like to
lead kirtan and or mantrapractice? Do you play an
instrument to accompany you whenyou chant.
Unknown (15:23):
I use harmonium, yes, yeah, nice.
Todd McLaughlin (15:26):
Do you have a favorite chant that you always
gravitate toward?
Unknown (15:32):
I like all of them. I pick up the ones that I found.
Then I'm listening to the I'mnot having any talent to create
anything new, so I just pick up,let's say, like some of the
artists and Krishna does, or fewdifferent artists, and here,
(15:55):
there's some resonate to myheart, and then just try to pick
up the code with the and thenjust arrange a little bit, and
then chanted with the studentsmost of the time. But then I
think there are many MahaMantra. Hare Krishna, I think
more, many of them. I think Ihave got some six, seven of
(16:17):
them. I have my favorite. So Ithink Maha Mantra, I have more
option to chant.
Todd McLaughlin (16:25):
Yeah, that's nice, yeah. Can you explain how
chanting or MA and mantra helpsyour spiritual practice?
Unknown (16:38):
My personal self practice in the beginning, when
I did went to the New York, andthen in New York, they chant a
lot. Adam would chancebeautifully, and Shui Dharma
used to be occasionally chants.
And then when in London, therewas no such a thing that time,
(17:00):
or maybe I wasn't aware of it,so I I thought, I'm not gonna do
it. And I asked Adam, can youhelp me to how to do this? And
then he's, okay, take the video.
And he just, which one do youwant? And I asked the Jai
Ganesha, and okay, take therecording. And then I had my
(17:23):
iPad I bought, and just took thepiece of video recording, and
then that was it. So I had to gohome and invite both harmonium
and one by one look and hit thevideo. And it was one by one,
but end up with his hands aremuch wider than me, and his
voice was higher than me aswell. So I had to change the
(17:45):
code for myself. And then then Ithought, okay, I had to practice
myself. And then when Ipractice, I had my own
harmonium. I had my teacher,sridhama, which was a photo on
my harmonium, and then practice.
The once I practice, time goesso quickly, like five six hours
just goes, like a split second.
(18:11):
And then go, it does that. Idon't have as much time anymore,
but when I do every day, likefive six hours of the practice
of that. It's just makes youcry. So I think I was a
purification. It's just, it'snot that because I'm sad, but
(18:32):
it's just more like a joy andbliss. And just offer this chant
into teacher, and that's feelsso beautiful. And that was that
great practice. I think onemeditation and beautification
combination of that. I think,yeah, that really helped and but
(18:55):
I had to practice a lot in untilI get to in front of the
students, because as soon assomeone I hear walking or
something, then I make amistake. So yeah, so it took me
like six months to practice tobefore I bring into the class.
But then, yeah, now I'm gettingused to it. But then also my
(19:17):
voice changed. Used to be wheneven asana practice, I keep the
cues. My voice was probablylittle bit quieter, and that was
the issue for my teaching. Butnow people say my voice,
especially, one thing they saidis they feel some vibration and
(19:39):
they feel in the heart. So yeah,I don't know. I'm not in my own
as the receiver, but then somepeople kindly say that they
could comment about it. So I'mvery happy that the people feel
something Yeah, in their heart.
So that really
Todd McLaughlin (19:58):
helps. That's cool. And. Okay, yeah, that's so
interesting. I really appreciateyou explaining all that. That's
amazing. Do you know in Indianin India culture, there's a
strong sense of reverence andappreciation for elders and
(20:19):
appreciation for teachings beingpassed down through lineage and
and shared in that in that way.
And being that you've grown upin Japan, in Japanese culture,
which I often hear from people.
I've never had the opportunityto go Japan, but I hear that
there is a similar type ofrespect for elders, appreciation
(20:44):
for family and reverence, andthen you've had an opportunity
to live in both the UnitedStates and England. Can you talk
a little bit about what you'venoticed culturally between your
roots and history growing up inJapan and how it's similar and
or different to what you'veexperienced in America and
(21:06):
England.
Unknown (21:08):
Yeah, like you said, yes, in Japan, we have those
being respectful to elders andteachers very high so I think
that culture helped me a lot forthis journey. So it's natural
(21:28):
for me to feel respectful toteacher and obedient to teacher.
So yes, I feel that if, yeah, ifwe just generally talking about
it, I see the difference in away. So it's just really like
(21:53):
generally speaking, of course,that the Western countries
slightly different, but manypeople actually do, like martial
arts or stuff like that. Theyalso have to learn how to bow
when they see the teacher. Sosome people already have, even
the people born in Westerncountries and so, because, I
(22:17):
said generally, becausesometimes some students, feels
like they're just coming to theasana practice and then just
being customer instead of beingstudent. Yeah, that happens,
especially often in a in Westerncountries and in Japan, might be
(22:37):
slightly different. I never dothe yoga in Japan. But I think
it's a bit different beingbecause when students from Japan
coming, they're calling me,since a teacher. So it's a
different but after having saidthat, actually I think depends
on the soul, even the peoplecoming from the say, let's say
(23:02):
Italy, from the England. Some ofthem are very respectful, and
they're very spiritual. They arevery respectful in from hurt,
instead of not just that's theway it should be to teach. So
even some students coming fromJapan, they were, I don't say,
(23:24):
self paced, but then they arevery kind and very respectful in
their action. But then, do youknow? I don't know how to
explain, but then some of thestudents from even Western
countries, they from the heartthey really comes is an
appreciation. They're halfcrying to see me. I'm not that.
(23:47):
It's just a reflection of theirYeah, yeah. Pureness already is
just comes out and they see me.
That's all. So it's not aboutme, but it's the heart is
already so pure, and so theoldest soul is there. So, so I
can't really say that. It's justbecause they're coming from
where I like that. Yes, morepeople, more actually
(24:11):
respectable from the some Asiancountry people, maybe. But I
can't really say because some ofthem, even people coming from
the India or Japan technology,and they just want to prepare.
And just for some of peoplecoming from the America, they'd
say hello and thank you for, youknow, greeting me very nicely as
(24:33):
well. So, yeah, I think it'snowadays about culture. There's
learned so many things from manydifferent things. And then I
think depends what they are, howmuch they they saw is old, or
how they've been through in thislifetime. So yeah, I It's
(24:54):
interesting. Sometimes they somestudents. Say, because the
students not behaving very well,because they are not from Asia,
and I said it's not really, someof the students actually know
and better than I'm not sayingthem exactly. But then the
person who think they're themost spiritual, actually, some
(25:16):
of them are more deeper. Andeven they don't say I feel that
they're when they are listeningto me, their eyes are like, you
know, half crying when I turnsome of them crying. And I think
that is the depends on that theyare solved instead of where they
are raised.
Todd McLaughlin (25:37):
Good answer, Emmy, that's a great answer. I
really appreciate that, and Ithat makes me think, as you're
talking, as you're explaining,that if we were to look for
evidence that there's potentialthat there's the potential that
reincarnation is real, that itit almost seems that that could
(25:59):
point towards some evidence ofthat. Because, you know, maybe
if reincarnation is real, and Ilived in a body in a different
era, in a different time, in adifferent culture, and then I
come into this body, maybe we docarry a certain sense of, like
you said, Soul depth, or oldsoul sort of quality. So I like
(26:24):
the fact that you put attentionon maybe it's not so much
cultural, and it could besomething that comes from deeper
than that.
Unknown (26:33):
Yeah, because there's some people we don't remember
what happened in life before,but then the soul is
experiencing it so you get moreconscious of something more
subtle. And then I think theirheart is calling to go even,
let's say they are born insomewhere that is not very
(26:54):
spiritual in a sense. But thentheir soul is calling. They
might be able to find teacher,or they feel like moving to
somewhere, and then they find away. So, yeah, I think the soul
is calling to lead them to gowhere they are supposed to go.
Todd McLaughlin (27:15):
Yeah, good answer. Emmy, I'm curious you
have your finger on the pulse inthe England or London yoga
scene. Can you tell me what someof the challenges that you're
hearing from other yoga teachersthat you interact with? Can you
(27:39):
can you share a little bit aboutwhat you're hearing, either from
your own personal experience, orwhat you're hearing from other
teachers that you interact with,what some of the challenges that
you feel like you you might andor the community might be
facing?
Unknown (28:38):
Um, I'm not sure if any challenge is going on, of
course, the citynowadays, after because the
lockdown, I think many studentswant to do physical exercise in
a Short time and just get fit.
(29:02):
So one point, yoga was verypopular. Some people wanted to
the spiritual part. Some peoplejust wanted to the physical
part. And then nowadays, onlineclasses are available so you
don't have to leave at home. Andif you just want to get fit,
you're just going to short classand practice class like less
(29:23):
than one hour. So I think thepopularity of yoga become a
little bit lower here in London,and that is a little bit of the
sad part. But not still thepeople who really want to do
yoga, and they still practice,and they're still calling for
(29:47):
it. So, yeah, I think it's theway I just, I don't see any
difficulty. Just see us, justwatching how it goes, just the
flow, and just go with it. Andif I can help anything, then
I'll just go try to do my bestto, yeah, do service, whatever I
(30:11):
can give that's all is
Todd McLaughlin (30:13):
nice. I appreciate that. How do you
navigate your own personalphysical challenges in yoga in
relation to just the experienceof aging and growing and
evolving. Do you have any youknow? Have you, has your
(30:34):
practice changed, or yourphysical practice, your asana
practice? Do? Or are you in aplace where. You feel absolutely
amazing and don't have any achesor pains. Has How has your
experience of the asana practiceevolved over the years?
Unknown (30:55):
As I told you, I moved to New York originally because I
was going to dance. I've beendoing a physical aspect of the
training all my life, basically.
So when I decided to do yoga,it's just for that as a
spiritual practice. So I didn'twant to have any particular I
didn't have any desire to bemore flexible or strong or
(31:18):
anything like that. So I don'treally mind that if you can do
stuff or not touch it, as longas the student can see what they
had to do. Yeah. So to me, morechallenge is to keep up the
asana practice continue.
Otherwise, I easy to draw to thepranayama meditation or
(31:44):
chanting, using up, using up mytime for that. So I had to
practice that. So I had to keeptelling myself to keep but now,
during covid, we had onlineclass, and then I was teaching
this room. And until then, Inever really had the injury. But
(32:06):
then I had a injury. I wasn'tsure what that was. I didn't do
anything, but suddenly my kneesstart hurting, and then I keep
going funny, and it's getting alot better, but still ongoing,
just a little bit. Still have alittle bit. One point, it was
very difficult to even walk, andit was LinkedIn. But I think
(32:28):
that was because of the onlineteaching and one side demoing,
and then the other side, Iwanted to go to see students
sitting on the table and try toaddress students online. So I
put so one sided properly, andI'm still going even, even now I
(32:49):
back to the yoga studio andteaching, but now, as soon as I
see the second, second side,they know what to do, then I
won't use my body to help andadjust people. Some people need
to be upside down, and I try tohelp them. So I just run for it.
That's why they're easy to missthat second side. Yeah, yeah. I
(33:14):
think that is the cause and theproblem. So I get injury,
getting better, trying to fix itat home, my own self practice.
So just that actually injuryforced me to do my asana
practice. So it's in a way,good, have to do the injury,
otherwise I get too lazy to notasana practice. But definitely
(33:35):
feel getting old, and I'm not asflexible as it used to be, and
as not as strong as I used tobe, but I don't really mind. I
don't need I think students knowwhat to do, and if students they
want to do further, they want tobecome more strong and flexible,
I'm happy to help, but I don'tmind it for myself, and as long
(34:00):
as I can show what they had todo, yeah. And then I know I have
experience of that, how it feelslike when I'm flexible. So I can
help people flexible to godeeper, yeah. So it's just that
only some students see me easyvariation. I mean, you know, I
(34:24):
had to demo more on the easydemo modification to the new
people. More experiencedstudents don't need that much of
the demo actually. So I try toshow the modification. And some
students who cannot do the fourposts try to copy me, to teach
similar thing, and then try togive advanced pauses in their
(34:48):
own classes. Then I thought thatit's little bit of the danger
that, because they don't knowhow it's supposed to fail, but
they're teaching somethingadvanced. Yeah. So sometimes I
thought I had to do that, thefour parts to show that I can do
to those students who think okayto not be able to do but I can
teach, but I think they shouldbe able to do some stuff to be
(35:12):
able to teach, because you haveto know how it feels like and
what you had. They have to becareful if they are flexible,
stronger,
Todd McLaughlin (35:19):
yeah, good point.
Unknown (35:20):
But yeah. But for me, I don't mind going older and
cannot do stuff. That's fine Iwon't be able to do 86 years old
anyway, but I think my studentwill forgive me, and a good
thing is that being yoga teacheris that. It's, it's, I don't
(35:46):
have to feel worried about beinggetting old. Sri Dharma Mitra
once said that it's good to havemore gray hair than people you
don't change, but they actuallyrespect you more. And another is
very encouraging for me. Okay,if I get older, maybe they can
learn to how to be respectful toteacher. Then that's good for
(36:07):
them. So all right, okay, if Iget older, so yeah, of course,
it's it's nice to do some positswith students. So I still try
keep up. And I want them to beable to do some new poses or new
variations. I try to keep up, ofcourse, but, and I don't mind if
(36:27):
I lose some stuff.
Todd McLaughlin (36:29):
Oh, I love your philosophy, Emmy, that is really
refreshing. It's very refreshingto have a to hear a yoga teacher
say, I'm okay with letting go ofmy yoga posturing being seen as
perfect, or, you know, so so,you know, ideal. I really
(36:52):
appreciate hearing that. That'sextremely refreshing. Thank you
so much. I don't, I don't knowthat we always bump into that,
Emmy, right. I don't know thatwe always bump into that. I
don't know that, that everyonereally feels that relaxed about
it.
Unknown (37:14):
We're going to the age anyway.
Todd McLaughlin (37:15):
So good point, great point.
Unknown (37:18):
Yeah, it's someday I'm gonna be just won't be able to
do stuff then, so shifting uplittle by little, so trying to
I'm more like I had to be ableto raise my spiritual path
stronger. That's I have toprepare myself once, like I
cannot do that Asana enough.
Then, you know I'm maybe I canteach something more spiritual
(37:41):
part, but I think I'm not readyyet to go even deeper, so I had
to keep up to be able to servepeople to get more interest in
spiritual part. That's that thewhole point of the yoga. Yeah.
So Asana part is just trying tohave fun with the students, and
(38:01):
if they want to do it, go ahead.
I'll help you. Kind of,
Todd McLaughlin (38:06):
yeah, that's awesome. Emmy, how do you
advertise or market your yogateaching? Do you focus mostly on
just being present in person andjust showing up and just seeing
who shows up and just workingwith the people that show up,
and then just wait to see ifmore people show up the next
(38:28):
time. Or do you have to dedicatea certain amount of time to, you
know, doing the things likesocial media, emailing all that
kind of stuff. How have you, howdo you bring balance into that,
into your practice and teaching?
Unknown (38:49):
I don't have too much time to the advertisement my
thing, and I don't I have asocial media because the when I
did the training, end of thetrainings, I said, maybe it's
good to have the account to letstudents know that your schedule
so minimum trying to give thatstudents information if the
(39:13):
schedule change is happening orand nowadays, there's a story to
the daily going On, so I try topost that next day. I'm teaching
tomorrow this so that takes justone minute or so. So I do only
my phone. I'm on train, so it'svery quick. Yeah, so, but I
(39:34):
don't use that time that much. Idon't take my video or photo of
my poses or anything. It'snothing to show anyway, so just
using all
Todd McLaughlin (39:47):
Yeah, that's refreshing to me. I like that
approach as well. I I appreciatethat. I think that's good
advice. Take a minute or two,let people know, and then just
focus on practice and teaching.
And right at this point is wherewe lost internet connection. And
so with that being said, it was,I think, perfect. Emmy. Thank
(40:11):
you so much for taking the timeto speak with me today. And for
those of you that would like tocheck us out, go to our website,
native yoga center.com and alsoremember to go to Emmy's
website, life of happiness.comif you are located in London,
definitely go take a class withher. And for those of you on
(40:31):
Instagram, go ahead and look herup at Emmy toll tall.com spelled
EMI, T, U, L. Well, all right,have a wonderful day. Namaste,
native yoga. Todd cast isproduced by myself. The theme
music is dreamed up by BryceAllen. If you like this show,
(40:55):
let me know if there's room forimprovement. I want to hear that
too. We are curious to know whatyou think and what you want more
of what I can improve. And ifyou have ideas for future guests
or topics, please send us yourthoughts to info at Native yoga
center. You can find us atNative yoga center.com, and hey,
(41:18):
if you did like this episode,share it with your friends, rate
it and review and join us nexttime.
Unknown (41:43):
Well, yeah, now, name.
Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. So happy
you are here. My goal with thischannel is to bring
inspirational speakers to themic in the field of yoga,
massage, bodywork and beyond.
Follow us at @nativeyoga andcheck us out at
nativeyogacenter.com. All right,let's begin.
(01:05):
Hello and welcome to Native YogaToddcast today. My special guest
is Emmy Takahashi Tull. You canfind her on her website,
lifetohappiness.com and you canalso follow her on Instagram at
emitull, spelled EMI, T, U, L,L, I'm so delighted to have this
opportunity to meet and speakwith Emi as she shares about her
(01:29):
yoga journey from growing up inJapan, living in New York City
and Now as a yoga teacher inLondon, England, and I hope you
enjoy this episode. We had areally great conversation. I
can't wait for you to hear wedid experience a little bit of
internet trouble at the veryend, which cut us off. However,
(01:52):
I take it as a positive signthat everything Emi shares here
is just enough to make our yogaworld a little bit better. I
hope you enjoy thisconversation, and let's go ahead
and begin. I'm really honored tohave this opportunity to have
Emi Tull here on the podcast.
Emi. Thank you so much forjoining me today. I really
(02:14):
appreciate it.
Emi Tull (02:18):
Thank you so much.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Thank you for inviting me.
Todd McLaughlin (02:22):
You are welcome. I am really excited to
hear about your journey intoyoga or through yoga. Can you
tell me a little bit about Well,number one, I'd like to start
off. Where do you live? I livein London at the moment.
Wonderful. And you were wherewere you born?
Unknown (02:41):
I born in Japan, great.
Todd McLaughlin (02:43):
And when did you learn English?
Unknown (02:47):
Oh, English. Was that my worst subject? When I in
school, we had in Japan, we hadto do the English as a part of
the study and from the aboutjust 1213, years old. Now I
think they started much earlier,but yeah, I did. I think I
(03:11):
didn't know how to learn thelanguage. So yeah, the English
was the worst one for me. Butthen I moved to after that
graduate graduate school, and Iwent to New York, and I lived
there. Still rubbish up inEnglish, but then yeah,
(03:32):
gradually little Pareto gaininglittle words, 90 page. So yeah,
so I didn't, yeah, and myEnglish, I'm not always proud
about you.
Todd McLaughlin (03:44):
Sound amazing.
So that's I can imagine. That'san incredible challenge. I can't
imagine trying to learnJapanese, to be honest, to learn
a whole new set of charactersand all the things that go into
learning language. So well done.
I'm curious, did you leave Japanand come to New York, like when
(04:05):
you when you were 18? Or how oldwere you when you I was
Unknown (04:09):
a little bit later, about 20, I think I was 21 Yeah,
I went for the dance. I had adance career. I was practicing
dance, and then I had oneteacher who was very inspiring.
And then she was in DanceCompany in New York, and she
(04:32):
invited me to come with alongwith her. And that's the start.
I visited a little bit like amonth and a half and and then
group I practice with invited meto perform in a couple months
later, so I went back to Japanand get the visa, and then
decided to move.
Todd McLaughlin (04:52):
Wow. Wow, that's cool. So when you after
officially moving to New York,were you you. Employed as a
dancer
Unknown (05:04):
that time I was still part of the students and then,
and then performing as a studentgotcha. Gotcha stayed for after
that, much longer than Iexpected.
Todd McLaughlin (05:16):
But yes, understood, and at what point
did you start to practice yoga?
Unknown (05:23):
Yoga is much later. I wish I knew that the was that
time, but I was walking forwardin front of the studio all the
time, but then I didn't know,and I met my husband after the
(05:44):
10 years of the New York State,and then I moved to we had a
relationship, like a longdistance for two years. So I
decided to move to Londonbecause he was British, and find
out after that we met, yeah, so.
And then straight after I movedto New York, from New York to
(06:04):
London, I got bike accident, andI twisted my both ankles so I
couldn't dance anymore. Wecouldn't wear the point shoes,
and I couldn't dance anymore.
And then I felt like I wanted tohave after the my uncle got it
(06:26):
recovered, I wanted to dosomething. And then I did a
little bit of yoga, like somejust normal yoga and stuff like
that. And then, in the meantime,the while I was apart away from
the physical practice, I wasmore interested in spiritual
(06:49):
learning and watching YouTubeand stuff about the Dalai Lama
and Tibetan monks and and thenWhile I was watching those
spiritual videos I saw sridhamaMitra was talking, I think that
was, I can't remember which, no,that was anymore, but it was
(07:09):
very, very short, like oneminute or two, and he was
probably talking about thecompassion. Just felt that, when
looking at him, I know, felt soconnected. Oh, this is my
teacher. And then I again, wentto the normal yoga class and
felt that even he's not in frontof me, but then practice other
(07:35):
yoga class, and it felt likehe's calling me. I felt I need
Him to guide me, and I cried inthe class for the needed to be
with him. So then I started,okay, I had to do this wherever
he teaches. And then I found outthat was Dharma yoga started.
(07:59):
Start of my dharma yoga.
Todd McLaughlin (08:01):
Chan, that's really cool. Emmy, I love
hearing that story. I like thefact too, that you brought up
that while you were living inNew York City, you had been
walking in front of the studio,maybe on a regular basis, having
no idea it's there, and then tohave such a powerful sense of
connection, even prior to havingthe opportunity to meet with
(08:24):
them. That's that's prettyThat's amazing, that's powerful.
Unknown (08:28):
Yeah, I now think, in the beginning I thought, why
didn't I met me him when I wasthere? What time I have I
thought in the beginning, butnow I see it in my journey. Look
back, and if I met him thattime, even that was New York, I
probably didn't come to London.
I didn't marry probably, I'mshaving my head, and then maybe
(08:50):
I've been numb, and then maybeliving close to Sri Lanka.
Probably, I probably have donethat. So it's that that made me
come to the London. That's how Isee and now I serve people with
the sridharma knowledge, andthen try to serve here. So I
(09:11):
think this that way, how it hadto be otherwise, I probably
didn't come and then peopleLondon didn't have me. Yeah. So
things global body is slightlydifferent, so I think that was
the way how I had to be. Butthen go back to training, I knew
that city very well, so it waseasy for me to go. So if that
(09:33):
was he was like in India orsomewhere, then maybe, maybe I
consider, should I go? I don'tknow the city, but because he
was in New York, oh, I know thecity, I can't walk around and,
yeah, okay, if you know thecity, go ahead. So that was very
easy to go back. So I wasperfect. So I think it was the
(09:56):
way how I had to be.
Todd McLaughlin (09:59):
Oh, it's. So cool, Emmy, you know i You're if
I would, I am employ thelistener to follow you on
Instagram. Your handle is atEmmy tall, and it's spelled EMI,
T, U, L, L. And then I also wentto your website, which is life
to happiness.com, and I noticedthat on your website that you're
(10:21):
teaching, or you have listed theIndaba Yoga Studio in London,
the light center Belgravia inEngland, the try yoga. Chelsea,
try yoga. Camden, try yoga.
Shoreditch. All these differentstudios are these? Are these?
All places that you teach inLondon,
Unknown (10:41):
I think you received a little bit old. Okay, fair
enough. Unfortunately, theLondon, I even one point maybe
if you we talked last year, yes,I was teaching all that. So I
was moving around places and howmy how many classes I'm
teaching, stuff are the same atthe moment as well. But
(11:05):
unfortunately, some studiosstart closing down in London.
Something get after thelockdown. I think some studios
didn't survive, and so lightcenter Bill grave is no longer
available to offer the yogaclass, so I don't teach there
(11:25):
anymore, and try yoga shortageand count and I no longer did
there. I teach in new studiocalled mission. I won. That's
what it's been said. One of thebiggest studio in Europe at the
moment, Oh, wow. They kindlygave me a space to teach them a
(11:49):
yoga so I saw the classes. Theresix classes a week. I'm still
teaching as well. So and in tryyoga, Chelsea as well I'm
teaching. So I'm teaching inthree places at the moment.
Todd McLaughlin (12:04):
Wow, that's impressive. Is, how did your
journey evolve from the day thatyou taught your first class to
where you are now I'm curiouswhat type of reception you
received in England as a Dharmayoga teacher, did you find that
people were very hungry orinterested in Dharma yoga? Or
(12:27):
did you find are you findingthat you had to be a bit of a
pioneer to help inspire and setthe standard
Unknown (12:39):
the first time? It's changed quite a lot. In the
beginning, the class is not asstrong, and other whole yoga in
London that was not very strong.
I think whole world changed,especially after the lockdown,
but then now used to teach, thenif, let's say, balances, not so
(13:03):
many classes were doing. So Iintroduced many students, and
then now they're becomingteachers, and they spread in
those practice as well as haschanged a lot and awareness of
the pranayama and stuff as well.
More people do not nowadays,teacher trainings everywhere, so
(13:25):
they are more aware of those,pranayama, practice, meditation
and even philosophy. Is morepeople interested, I think, by
significant change I feel is thechanting when I start
introducing the chanting,because when I was trying to
(13:45):
sing and everybody so shy, nosinging and being so shy. Now,
when I teach, especially thebeautiful of us, they know the
worst, and they just sing soloud, sometimes difficult to
hear myself very loud. So it'sjust changed so beautiful. So
(14:06):
it's a, yeah, evolving this yogapractice in London. I guess
that's in other cities as well,but yeah, and then Dharma Yoga
also, many students practice SriDharma Mitra, and then decided
to train with him. So we getmore Dharma yoga teachers in
(14:31):
London as well. So it'sbeautiful that they're sharing
his teachings.
Todd McLaughlin (14:36):
That's cool, Emmy, did you play a part in
organizing the gathering thatoccurred in England or London
this last year, when Dharma wentand taught there, I heard there
was a large group that ended upproud.
Unknown (14:52):
Oh, yeah. That was a beautiful Yes. Oh, there. I
think Adam Andrew and um. IngavaYoga, mainly down the most of
the path. So just try to supportit away as much as I can. Yeah,
so yes, that was wonderful to bepart of it and then supporting
this event. That was beautiful.
Todd McLaughlin (15:13):
That's cool. I mean, do you said you'd like to
lead kirtan and or mantrapractice? Do you play an
instrument to accompany you whenyou chant.
Unknown (15:23):
I use harmonium, yes, yeah, nice.
Todd McLaughlin (15:26):
Do you have a favorite chant that you always
gravitate toward?
Unknown (15:32):
I like all of them. I pick up the ones that I found.
Then I'm listening to the I'mnot having any talent to create
anything new, so I just pick up,let's say, like some of the
artists and Krishna does, or fewdifferent artists, and here,
(15:55):
there's some resonate to myheart, and then just try to pick
up the code with the and thenjust arrange a little bit, and
then chanted with the studentsmost of the time. But then I
think there are many MahaMantra. Hare Krishna, I think
more, many of them. I think Ihave got some six, seven of
(16:17):
them. I have my favorite. So Ithink Maha Mantra, I have more
option to chant.
Todd McLaughlin (16:25):
Yeah, that's nice, yeah. Can you explain how
chanting or MA and mantra helpsyour spiritual practice?
Unknown (16:38):
My personal self practice in the beginning, when
I did went to the New York, andthen in New York, they chant a
lot. Adam would chancebeautifully, and Shui Dharma
used to be occasionally chants.
And then when in London, therewas no such a thing that time,
(17:00):
or maybe I wasn't aware of it,so I I thought, I'm not gonna do
it. And I asked Adam, can youhelp me to how to do this? And
then he's, okay, take the video.
And he just, which one do youwant? And I asked the Jai
Ganesha, and okay, take therecording. And then I had my
(17:23):
iPad I bought, and just took thepiece of video recording, and
then that was it. So I had to gohome and invite both harmonium
and one by one look and hit thevideo. And it was one by one,
but end up with his hands aremuch wider than me, and his
voice was higher than me aswell. So I had to change the
(17:45):
code for myself. And then then Ithought, okay, I had to practice
myself. And then when Ipractice, I had my own
harmonium. I had my teacher,sridhama, which was a photo on
my harmonium, and then practice.
The once I practice, time goesso quickly, like five six hours
just goes, like a split second.
(18:11):
And then go, it does that. Idon't have as much time anymore,
but when I do every day, likefive six hours of the practice
of that. It's just makes youcry. So I think I was a
purification. It's just, it'snot that because I'm sad, but
(18:32):
it's just more like a joy andbliss. And just offer this chant
into teacher, and that's feelsso beautiful. And that was that
great practice. I think onemeditation and beautification
combination of that. I think,yeah, that really helped and but
(18:55):
I had to practice a lot in untilI get to in front of the
students, because as soon assomeone I hear walking or
something, then I make amistake. So yeah, so it took me
like six months to practice tobefore I bring into the class.
But then, yeah, now I'm gettingused to it. But then also my
(19:17):
voice changed. Used to be wheneven asana practice, I keep the
cues. My voice was probablylittle bit quieter, and that was
the issue for my teaching. Butnow people say my voice,
especially, one thing they saidis they feel some vibration and
(19:39):
they feel in the heart. So yeah,I don't know. I'm not in my own
as the receiver, but then somepeople kindly say that they
could comment about it. So I'mvery happy that the people feel
something Yeah, in their heart.
So that really
Todd McLaughlin (19:58):
helps. That's cool. And. Okay, yeah, that's so
interesting. I really appreciateyou explaining all that. That's
amazing. Do you know in Indianin India culture, there's a
strong sense of reverence andappreciation for elders and
(20:19):
appreciation for teachings beingpassed down through lineage and
and shared in that in that way.
And being that you've grown upin Japan, in Japanese culture,
which I often hear from people.
I've never had the opportunityto go Japan, but I hear that
there is a similar type ofrespect for elders, appreciation
(20:44):
for family and reverence, andthen you've had an opportunity
to live in both the UnitedStates and England. Can you talk
a little bit about what you'venoticed culturally between your
roots and history growing up inJapan and how it's similar and
or different to what you'veexperienced in America and
(21:06):
England.
Unknown (21:08):
Yeah, like you said, yes, in Japan, we have those
being respectful to elders andteachers very high so I think
that culture helped me a lot forthis journey. So it's natural
(21:28):
for me to feel respectful toteacher and obedient to teacher.
So yes, I feel that if, yeah, ifwe just generally talking about
it, I see the difference in away. So it's just really like
(21:53):
generally speaking, of course,that the Western countries
slightly different, but manypeople actually do, like martial
arts or stuff like that. Theyalso have to learn how to bow
when they see the teacher. Sosome people already have, even
the people born in Westerncountries and so, because, I
(22:17):
said generally, becausesometimes some students, feels
like they're just coming to theasana practice and then just
being customer instead of beingstudent. Yeah, that happens,
especially often in a in Westerncountries and in Japan, might be
(22:37):
slightly different. I never dothe yoga in Japan. But I think
it's a bit different beingbecause when students from Japan
coming, they're calling me,since a teacher. So it's a
different but after having saidthat, actually I think depends
on the soul, even the peoplecoming from the say, let's say
(23:02):
Italy, from the England. Some ofthem are very respectful, and
they're very spiritual. They arevery respectful in from hurt,
instead of not just that's theway it should be to teach. So
even some students coming fromJapan, they were, I don't say,
(23:24):
self paced, but then they arevery kind and very respectful in
their action. But then, do youknow? I don't know how to
explain, but then some of thestudents from even Western
countries, they from the heartthey really comes is an
appreciation. They're halfcrying to see me. I'm not that.
(23:47):
It's just a reflection of theirYeah, yeah. Pureness already is
just comes out and they see me.
That's all. So it's not aboutme, but it's the heart is
already so pure, and so theoldest soul is there. So, so I
can't really say that. It's justbecause they're coming from
where I like that. Yes, morepeople, more actually
(24:11):
respectable from the some Asiancountry people, maybe. But I
can't really say because some ofthem, even people coming from
the India or Japan technology,and they just want to prepare.
And just for some of peoplecoming from the America, they'd
say hello and thank you for, youknow, greeting me very nicely as
(24:33):
well. So, yeah, I think it'snowadays about culture. There's
learned so many things from manydifferent things. And then I
think depends what they are, howmuch they they saw is old, or
how they've been through in thislifetime. So yeah, I It's
(24:54):
interesting. Sometimes they somestudents. Say, because the
students not behaving very well,because they are not from Asia,
and I said it's not really, someof the students actually know
and better than I'm not sayingthem exactly. But then the
person who think they're themost spiritual, actually, some
(25:16):
of them are more deeper. Andeven they don't say I feel that
they're when they are listeningto me, their eyes are like, you
know, half crying when I turnsome of them crying. And I think
that is the depends on that theyare solved instead of where they
are raised.
Todd McLaughlin (25:37):
Good answer, Emmy, that's a great answer. I
really appreciate that, and Ithat makes me think, as you're
talking, as you're explaining,that if we were to look for
evidence that there's potentialthat there's the potential that
reincarnation is real, that itit almost seems that that could
(25:59):
point towards some evidence ofthat. Because, you know, maybe
if reincarnation is real, and Ilived in a body in a different
era, in a different time, in adifferent culture, and then I
come into this body, maybe we docarry a certain sense of, like
you said, Soul depth, or oldsoul sort of quality. So I like
(26:24):
the fact that you put attentionon maybe it's not so much
cultural, and it could besomething that comes from deeper
than that.
Unknown (26:33):
Yeah, because there's some people we don't remember
what happened in life before,but then the soul is
experiencing it so you get moreconscious of something more
subtle. And then I think theirheart is calling to go even,
let's say they are born insomewhere that is not very
(26:54):
spiritual in a sense. But thentheir soul is calling. They
might be able to find teacher,or they feel like moving to
somewhere, and then they find away. So, yeah, I think the soul
is calling to lead them to gowhere they are supposed to go.
Todd McLaughlin (27:15):
Yeah, good answer. Emmy, I'm curious you
have your finger on the pulse inthe England or London yoga
scene. Can you tell me what someof the challenges that you're
hearing from other yoga teachersthat you interact with? Can you
(27:39):
can you share a little bit aboutwhat you're hearing, either from
your own personal experience, orwhat you're hearing from other
teachers that you interact with,what some of the challenges that
you feel like you you might andor the community might be
facing?
Unknown (28:38):
Um, I'm not sure if any challenge is going on, of
course, the citynowadays, after because the
lockdown, I think many studentswant to do physical exercise in
a Short time and just get fit.
(29:02):
So one point, yoga was verypopular. Some people wanted to
the spiritual part. Some peoplejust wanted to the physical
part. And then nowadays, onlineclasses are available so you
don't have to leave at home. Andif you just want to get fit,
you're just going to short classand practice class like less
(29:23):
than one hour. So I think thepopularity of yoga become a
little bit lower here in London,and that is a little bit of the
sad part. But not still thepeople who really want to do
yoga, and they still practice,and they're still calling for
(29:47):
it. So, yeah, I think it's theway I just, I don't see any
difficulty. Just see us, justwatching how it goes, just the
flow, and just go with it. Andif I can help anything, then
I'll just go try to do my bestto, yeah, do service, whatever I
(30:11):
can give that's all is
Todd McLaughlin (30:13):
nice. I appreciate that. How do you
navigate your own personalphysical challenges in yoga in
relation to just the experienceof aging and growing and
evolving. Do you have any youknow? Have you, has your
(30:34):
practice changed, or yourphysical practice, your asana
practice? Do? Or are you in aplace where. You feel absolutely
amazing and don't have any achesor pains. Has How has your
experience of the asana practiceevolved over the years?
Unknown (30:55):
As I told you, I moved to New York originally because I
was going to dance. I've beendoing a physical aspect of the
training all my life, basically.
So when I decided to do yoga,it's just for that as a
spiritual practice. So I didn'twant to have any particular I
didn't have any desire to bemore flexible or strong or
(31:18):
anything like that. So I don'treally mind that if you can do
stuff or not touch it, as longas the student can see what they
had to do. Yeah. So to me, morechallenge is to keep up the
asana practice continue.
Otherwise, I easy to draw to thepranayama meditation or
(31:44):
chanting, using up, using up mytime for that. So I had to
practice that. So I had to keeptelling myself to keep but now,
during covid, we had onlineclass, and then I was teaching
this room. And until then, Inever really had the injury. But
(32:06):
then I had a injury. I wasn'tsure what that was. I didn't do
anything, but suddenly my kneesstart hurting, and then I keep
going funny, and it's getting alot better, but still ongoing,
just a little bit. Still have alittle bit. One point, it was
very difficult to even walk, andit was LinkedIn. But I think
(32:28):
that was because of the onlineteaching and one side demoing,
and then the other side, Iwanted to go to see students
sitting on the table and try toaddress students online. So I
put so one sided properly, andI'm still going even, even now I
(32:49):
back to the yoga studio andteaching, but now, as soon as I
see the second, second side,they know what to do, then I
won't use my body to help andadjust people. Some people need
to be upside down, and I try tohelp them. So I just run for it.
That's why they're easy to missthat second side. Yeah, yeah. I
(33:14):
think that is the cause and theproblem. So I get injury,
getting better, trying to fix itat home, my own self practice.
So just that actually injuryforced me to do my asana
practice. So it's in a way,good, have to do the injury,
otherwise I get too lazy to notasana practice. But definitely
(33:35):
feel getting old, and I'm not asflexible as it used to be, and
as not as strong as I used tobe, but I don't really mind. I
don't need I think students knowwhat to do, and if students they
want to do further, they want tobecome more strong and flexible,
I'm happy to help, but I don'tmind it for myself, and as long
(34:00):
as I can show what they had todo, yeah. And then I know I have
experience of that, how it feelslike when I'm flexible. So I can
help people flexible to godeeper, yeah. So it's just that
only some students see me easyvariation. I mean, you know, I
(34:24):
had to demo more on the easydemo modification to the new
people. More experiencedstudents don't need that much of
the demo actually. So I try toshow the modification. And some
students who cannot do the fourposts try to copy me, to teach
similar thing, and then try togive advanced pauses in their
(34:48):
own classes. Then I thought thatit's little bit of the danger
that, because they don't knowhow it's supposed to fail, but
they're teaching somethingadvanced. Yeah. So sometimes I
thought I had to do that, thefour parts to show that I can do
to those students who think okayto not be able to do but I can
teach, but I think they shouldbe able to do some stuff to be
(35:12):
able to teach, because you haveto know how it feels like and
what you had. They have to becareful if they are flexible,
stronger,
Todd McLaughlin (35:19):
yeah, good point.
Unknown (35:20):
But yeah. But for me, I don't mind going older and
cannot do stuff. That's fine Iwon't be able to do 86 years old
anyway, but I think my studentwill forgive me, and a good
thing is that being yoga teacheris that. It's, it's, I don't
(35:46):
have to feel worried about beinggetting old. Sri Dharma Mitra
once said that it's good to havemore gray hair than people you
don't change, but they actuallyrespect you more. And another is
very encouraging for me. Okay,if I get older, maybe they can
learn to how to be respectful toteacher. Then that's good for
(36:07):
them. So all right, okay, if Iget older, so yeah, of course,
it's it's nice to do some positswith students. So I still try
keep up. And I want them to beable to do some new poses or new
variations. I try to keep up, ofcourse, but, and I don't mind if
(36:27):
I lose some stuff.
Todd McLaughlin (36:29):
Oh, I love your philosophy, Emmy, that is really
refreshing. It's very refreshingto have a to hear a yoga teacher
say, I'm okay with letting go ofmy yoga posturing being seen as
perfect, or, you know, so so,you know, ideal. I really
(36:52):
appreciate hearing that. That'sextremely refreshing. Thank you
so much. I don't, I don't knowthat we always bump into that,
Emmy, right. I don't know thatwe always bump into that. I
don't know that, that everyonereally feels that relaxed about
it.
Unknown (37:14):
We're going to the age anyway.
Todd McLaughlin (37:15):
So good point, great point.
Unknown (37:18):
Yeah, it's someday I'm gonna be just won't be able to
do stuff then, so shifting uplittle by little, so trying to
I'm more like I had to be ableto raise my spiritual path
stronger. That's I have toprepare myself once, like I
cannot do that Asana enough.
Then, you know I'm maybe I canteach something more spiritual
(37:41):
part, but I think I'm not readyyet to go even deeper, so I had
to keep up to be able to servepeople to get more interest in
spiritual part. That's that thewhole point of the yoga. Yeah.
So Asana part is just trying tohave fun with the students, and
(38:01):
if they want to do it, go ahead.
I'll help you. Kind of,
Todd McLaughlin (38:06):
yeah, that's awesome. Emmy, how do you
advertise or market your yogateaching? Do you focus mostly on
just being present in person andjust showing up and just seeing
who shows up and just workingwith the people that show up,
and then just wait to see ifmore people show up the next
(38:28):
time. Or do you have to dedicatea certain amount of time to, you
know, doing the things likesocial media, emailing all that
kind of stuff. How have you, howdo you bring balance into that,
into your practice and teaching?
Unknown (38:49):
I don't have too much time to the advertisement my
thing, and I don't I have asocial media because the when I
did the training, end of thetrainings, I said, maybe it's
good to have the account to letstudents know that your schedule
so minimum trying to give thatstudents information if the
(39:13):
schedule change is happening orand nowadays, there's a story to
the daily going On, so I try topost that next day. I'm teaching
tomorrow this so that takes justone minute or so. So I do only
my phone. I'm on train, so it'svery quick. Yeah, so, but I
(39:34):
don't use that time that much. Idon't take my video or photo of
my poses or anything. It'snothing to show anyway, so just
using all
Todd McLaughlin (39:47):
Yeah, that's refreshing to me. I like that
approach as well. I I appreciatethat. I think that's good
advice. Take a minute or two,let people know, and then just
focus on practice and teaching.
And right at this point is wherewe lost internet connection. And
so with that being said, it was,I think, perfect. Emmy. Thank
(40:11):
you so much for taking the timeto speak with me today. And for
those of you that would like tocheck us out, go to our website,
native yoga center.com and alsoremember to go to Emmy's
website, life of happiness.comif you are located in London,
definitely go take a class withher. And for those of you on
(40:31):
Instagram, go ahead and look herup at Emmy toll tall.com spelled
EMI, T, U, L. Well, all right,have a wonderful day. Namaste,
native yoga. Todd cast isproduced by myself. The theme
music is dreamed up by BryceAllen. If you like this show,
(40:55):
let me know if there's room forimprovement. I want to hear that
too. We are curious to know whatyou think and what you want more
of what I can improve. And ifyou have ideas for future guests
or topics, please send us yourthoughts to info at Native yoga
center. You can find us atNative yoga center.com, and hey,
(41:18):
if you did like this episode,share it with your friends, rate
it and review and join us nexttime.
Unknown (41:43):
Well, yeah, now, name.
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