"Get to Know Our Team" Holiday List Edition!
This article is written by Sky Corbett-Methot, a Holistic Nutritionist, CYA-RYT 500-hour Hatha yoga and meditation, and certified prenatal/postnatal yoga instructor.
Picture by Micheile Henderson, @michelle
This is our final #wellnesswednesday post of 2020 and we wanted to end it by switching things up! This is a way for you to get to know more about the humans helping to run the show behind the scenes here at yoga to cope. Ranging from how we spend our time, to what entertains us, to what helps us cope through challenging times, to our New Year’s intentions!
This year has been a rollercoaster of emotions (understatement of the century…. I know!) of living through unprecedented times and trying to navigate the complexities of this ongoing global pandemic. I invite you to reflect on what this year has taught you, the challenges you were forced to over come, your personal growth. Use this as a time to shed what no longer serves you, and pour your energy into what is important to you.
Switching gears now…. Lets play "Get to Know Our Team" Holiday List Edition!
The answers here are from our Leadership Team which includes:
Kala MacDonald, Founder and President
Sky Corbett- Methot, Director of Holistic Health, and Blog Contributor
Stefania Coxon, Volunteer Coordinator, future Director
Meghan Monroe, Fundraising Chair.
Marissa Thompson, Nonprofit Manager
I want to highlight that we also have a team of phenomenal volunteers that also work alongside us to produce the content that we do!
1.) If you were forced to read one book over and over, what would it be?
Kala: The Alchemist - (check out our book club, its the book this month!)
Sky: The Untethered Soul
Stef: Any Malcolm Gladwell book, Outliers or The Tipping Point
Meghan: The Art of Racing in the Rain
Marissa: The Great Gatsby!
2.) What is that book series that no matter your age, no matter your head space or life path, you find yourself called to read it again?
Kala: Not necessarily a book series but I learn something new every time I dive into new corners of the Yoga Sutras
Sky: Throne of Glass Series by Sara J. Maas, yes its young adult (no shame), the lead character is such a sarcastic, powerful badass of a female, I cant help myself!
Stef: The Hunger Games
Meghan: I am not partial to a specific book series. Rather, I enjoy a wide variety of authors.
Marissa: I don’t honestly have a series I feel this way about, definitely more of an individual book kind of gal!
3.) What is your favourite T.V. show of all time?
Kala: I cbs think of a favorite TV show, so instead I’ll tell you that my favorite movie of all time is Sleepless in Seattle
Sky: Friends, I am currently sitting in a hoodie with the friends logo on it!
Stef: FRIENDS
Meghan: This is Us
Marissa: One Tree Hill. I’ve watched it 5+ times all the way through, all 187 episodes.
4.) If you had 20 minutes of free-time, how would you choose to spend it?
Kala: Listening to a Taylor a swift album and tidying up my space. Cluttered spaces clutter my mind and make me procrastinate. In 20 minutes I can have my house feeling fresh and clean, which always make me feel more productive.
Sky: Roll out my mat and do a little movement and a little breath sequence to align my energy with that moment! I often do this when I am waiting for veggies to roast in the oven!
Stef: Read (something other than a textbook), or contemplate laundry because it never ends while listening to a podcast.
Meghan: Honestly, a nap!
Marissa: Probably snuggling with my dog
5) If you had 2 hours of free-time, how would you choose to spend it?
Kala: Going for coffee and my favorite hike, preferably with a good girl friend!
Sky: If it isn’t raining I would go for a walk and ground myself in the mountains/nature. If its raining, I will have a mini dance party, and read, maybe even fit a nap in.
Stef: Catching up with friends, either in person or via FaceTime, watch a movie that's been in my queue for years, play sand volleyball, go for a hike.
Meghan: A long walk, a cup of coffee or meal with a friend, or taking in an exhibit at the art museum or botanical garden.
Marissa: Probably run to get an iced tea and then go to target and let it tell me what to buy.
6.) What are your 3 'life essentials'? No matter where you are, or what you are doing, these need to be with you.
Kala: I always have slippers, my favorite lip balm (Lip Doctor from Osmia Organics) and my phone.
Sky: My warm water bottle, sunglasses, and my Birks.
Stef: My Nalgene water bottle, a pair of sunnies (I have at least ten pair), and my phone.
Meghan: A bottle of water, comfortable shoes, and my dog.
Marissa: Phone, debit card, pack of gum or mints. These are *always* on me.
7.) When life gets chaotic, what are your grounding rituals to keep you from floating away?
Kala: Nature. Going outside, even if it’s just opening a window to get fresh air into my space (though preferably I actually step outside into the grass and sun, or head to the beach). The elements remind me of how magical and vast everything really is, and gets me out of my headspace and into my body and energy.
Sky: Ill find myself drawn to my yoga mat, whether that’s moving or breathing. If that isn’t doing the trick, going outside helps me tremendously. I will do and walk the dyke by my house and clear my head by looking at the beautiful scenery. There truly is something magical about the outdoors.
Stef: Sunshine, water (drinking it but also big bodies of water, being in it or near it), friends. I am a big overthinker, and my sister allows me to word vomit & then helps me climb back up to a safe space.
Meghan: I’ll usually have a moment on FaceTime with my best friend, we vent together and then we both are able to move on from whatever we’re dealing with.
Marissa: Stepping back for a moment to collect my thoughts and take a deep breath. Often, slowing down for a moment is what is most helpful in keeping on track.
8.) What is your favorite holiday beverage?
Kala: Spicy hot cider! Not to sweet, with plenty of ginger. Bonus points if it’s enjoyed near a Christmas tree or fireplace.
Sky: Warm mulled cider or wine. I’m pregnant and have been doing this with de-alcholized wine, its quite good!
Stef: Hot toddy, no question! Eggnog can take a hike!
Meghan: Stepping back for a moment to collect my thoughts and take a deep breath. Often, slowing down for a moment is what is most helpful in keeping on track.
Marissa: CARAMEL APPLE CIDER!!! Hot if you’re in a cold place, over ice if you’re like me and it doesn’t matter.
9.) What is 1 intention (no matter how big or small), you have set moving forwards into 2021?
Kala: Be intentional in where I spend my precious time and energy. I’m changing up my teaching offerings to better accommodate for my graduate program and nonprofit work, and in doing so am launching a very curated and special 5-week “Yoga for Beginners” course that will empower and educate those interested in starting their personal yoga journey to do so in the best way possible for each of them as individuals with personal goals, bodies, experience, and so on. I’m so excited about it. Happy holidays everyone! Link to her 5-week course is here:
Sky: To remind myself that this life of mine which includes building a business (fun things to come in the future) while transitioning into motherhood, is a lot and to be kind to myself! So my mantra’s are “ its a marathon not a race,” “to breath,” “to believe in my strength and drive” “to roll with the punches, and know each day is different.” In essence I aim to be more kind and compassionate to myself especially with this next transformational time in my life!
Stef: Reminding myself that I am enough, that I am allowed to be on my journey (& not what other people think should be my journey), no matter what that looks like, and that to come back to myself when I feel like I am coasting - or being pulled into a thousand directions.
Meghan: 30 minutes of movement, every day. It can be yoga, or strength training, or a walk around the block, whatever strikes me that day and what I most need at that moment. It really helps to clear my mind, recharge, and calm any nerves.
Marissa: Being more mindful of my health, both mental and physical. This year was extremely challenging, and I know we’re all feeling that to some degree. I let a lot of things slip and it’s definitely time to get all of that back on track this coming year!
Happy Holidays and happy new year to you from the yoga to cope fam!
We will be taking a podcast and blog break going into the new year. This is a time for us to be present, intentional and replenish our stores so that we can show up stronger for 2021!