About
Welcome to Amanecer ("Sunrise") Yoga! My name is Barbara Smith, and I look forward to meeting you. My journey into yoga teaching began long before I fully realized it. I have always been interested in health, nutrition, and exercise, but for a long time looked at these areas as a means to an end, rather than an actual lifestyle. I used yoga as a way to cross-train for other things, looking at it as just another piece of my workout routine, not as a way to live. Whether I was looking to lose weight, train for a race, or just expand my general recipe repertoire, the idea of simply living an overall holistic life didn't fully come into focus for me until about 5 years ago.
At that time, I went through a divorce, and really started to face some major life changes. I did a lot of reading about self-care and healing, and about living mindfully, and for the first time in many years, started to ask questions about my next direction. I realized that I had the opportunity to create the exact life that I wanted to live, and that I could do so in my own way. I could find the space and time that I wanted and needed to heal, grow, and share. My first step was completing my 200-hour yoga teacher training, which I was so fortunate to be able to do at the beautiful Asheville Yoga Center. I did a 3-week immersion training, which allowed me to take a step outside of my normal life, and just live yoga for that time. I was also blessed to meet and become friends with some of the most amazing women I've ever met, and now get to carry those connections with me. I started teaching here in Greensboro about 2 years ago, and now have active classes at 5 different locations. I've loved watching the personal evolution of my teaching, as I've learned how to share this life-affirming practice authentically, in my own voice. The next step on my journey was completing my training as a certified Health Coach, through the Health Coach Institute. This awesome program made so much incredibly valuable information available to me, and also allowed me to use those resources to create a program that is rooted in my belief in simplicity, inspiration, compassion, gratitude, and presence. My goal for my teaching business is to combine all these aspects together, and be able to share with my clients, allowing them to discover and enhance their own journeys into wellness. My clients' goals are my paramount concern, and I will always endeavor to provide the support and accountability they need to help them achieve their own level of success. I would truly love to hear more about YOUR journey, and have the opportunity to work with you. If you are looking to make lifestyle changes that will lead to more energy, reduced stress, better health through weight loss and/or exercise, and an overall way of being that is holistic and mindful, please contact me!
I love sharing the practice of yoga almost more than I can put into words! I love meeting and connecting with the people who come to my classes, and learning about their journeys and stories; I love planning classes - having new themes, creating playlists of music, learning about areas of the practice where I can deepen my own knowledge as well as my students' - yoga history and philosophy, or perhaps a new way to sequence to move into a new posture; I love the feeling of walking into the studio and immediately getting a sense of calm, lightness, and being centered; I love reading new books or articles about yoga, and finding passages that resonate with me and sharing them with my students. My meditation mantra has been, "Trust, love, let go, offer" - these are the things that yoga has taught me and continues to give me every day, and I so enjoy sharing them!
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I would first want to meet with the student to assess their needs, goals, and any limitations or injuries, not to mention to see if we are a compatible match, and if I can provide for them the resources they need. Our practice would be centered around their goals, and would evolve as necessary for the time we spend together. I've found in working with clients that as someone progresses, those needs and goals change - so we will always be flexible in how we approach each session, always taking into account where the student is on that day. I will meet you where you are, and we'll go from there!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I've practiced yoga for almost 10 years. I have a RYT 200-hour Yoga Instruction Certification from the Asheville Yoga Center, and I am currently working on my RYT 300-hour training certification from the Triad Yoga Institute. I am a Yoga Alliance member, and have been teaching group classes and working with private clients for almost 2 years. I am always a student, too!
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My charges are $60/hour practice, or $30 for a half-hour session. I also offer "packages," which are $200 for 4 hour practices ($100 for 4 half-hour practices), and $360 for 8 hour practices ($160 for 8 half-hour practices). I have studio space available in downtown Greensboro at Sonder Mind & Body, which is located at 515 S. Elm St., and I'm there on Mondays (10:00-2:00), Wednesdays (11:00-2:00), and Thursdays (10:00-2:00), with some flexibility (no pun intended...!) for other possible times, as well. I also have some access to the private studio at Radiance Yoga, depending on day and time.
How did you get started teaching?
My decision to pursue yoga teacher training was sealed during a trip to the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in the Bahamas 3 years ago. My yoga practice was a huge part of my healing process following a divorce, and on this trip (my first ever completely solo vacation) I found the realization that it was something I could and so much wanted to share.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've taught classes at many different levels, and worked with students ranging from serious athletes to 80-year-olds. Some of my private clients have needed personalized instruction as they recovered from an injury or surgery (the most recent one of these was someone who'd had a hip replacement). Moat of my group classes are at the intermediate level, and are vinyasa flow-type classes, although I've also taught gentle yoga, and slower-paced Yin classes, too.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
In my own personal practice, I was able to participate in a Summer Solstice Mala - a class where we completed 108 sun salutations in celebration of the solstice. This practice was transformative, as I found that I completely lost all track of time and of counting, and was able to be in a kind of moving meditation, completely focused within, and connected with my own breath. I spend a lot of time thinking about teaching, so it was so great to get out of my head!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find the teacher whose style resonates with you, and be open to learning about more than just yoga poses! Yoga is more than just physical, and I think that's something we can lose sight of if we're only focused on getting a workout.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Be open about your schedule and any possible conflicts with your practice. Please always let a teacher know if you have any kind of injury or limitation that could affect your practice - in yoga we practice "ahimsa," which means "non-harming." As a teacher I need to be aware of anything you shouldn't do, and you should be willing to practice this concept yourself, as well!