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PERSONAL JOURNEYS
Matt Kahrs
Matt Kahrs is a multisport athlete and celebrity trainer. Some of his long-distance
accomplishments include the White River 50 Mile Endurance Run, the 10-mile
swim in the Tennessee River, the Delano Park 12 Hour Run, and the Walt Disney
World Triathlon. His certifications include Equinox Fitness Tier 3+, Strongfirst
Level 1 and 2 Kettlebell, CrossFit Level 2, 500 Hour RYS (Registered Yoga School)
Yoga Instructor, and FRC Certified Instructor.T.E. What was your experience like the rst time you did a yin yoga
practice?
M.K. I think the first pose I ever did was low dragon. That was intense, because
I was coming from a vinyasa flow background. I knew how to get into a pose
and be uncomfortable for a short time, but not to sit and simmer in a pose for
much longer. That first pose got me. After that, we got into some other pos-
tures that felt really good. So, I got both sides, which I love so much about yin
yoga. When you come out of it, you're in a whole other mind state, and your
body feels really relaxed.T.E. What would you say to people who are resistant to yin yoga?
M.K. I would say, give it a chance. All that really hard-core training you might
be doing, let's say you do circuit training, or you do heavy weight lifting, or
you run four or five times a week, you need to balance that out. So that's the
biggest thing, is that balance. Yin yoga gives you a chance to hit that reset
button and recharge.T.E. How has yin yoga affected other forms of tness in your life?
M.K. I’d say the first thing it affected was my other vinyasa yoga classes. I would
be in a class, and I’d be like, “Man, I’m more open!” I’m more open in warrior
II or warrior I. I can do the binding poses a little better; my spine feels open
and my hip flexors feel a little more open. Then it would trickle into some other
more hard-core stuff, like if I was running, I felt like my hips weren’t locked up
as much. Also, in kettlebell training, where you’re using your hamstrings a lot,
I was able to open up all of that.