and work as a registered nurse, so my time
to “practice yoga” has dwindled. But I have
realized through living real life, how impor-
tant it is. If I’m unable to go to a yoga studio,
I will unroll my mat in my living room and
move and breathe during nap time or after
my kids go to sleep. Sometimes I get five
minutes, sometimes an hour. No matter how
long, I leave feeling better and more grateful
than when I started.
Lena Parker Mentor
What keeps you motivated in your practice?
Compassion is a great motivator. I practice lov-
ing compassion when my yoga practice takes a
different form. Sometimes the physical practice
is what I need, sometimes it is not. It took many
years to be okay with who I am in the moment,
and to let go of my personal expectations. Sur-
prisingly, the more compassionate I am towards
myself, the more I want to practice.
What do you learn from being a mentor?
Teens are wise and smart! Often, they are
discounted by adults. I am honored to give
them a space to let their feelings and thoughts
be valid. The issues they face are real, and they
are empowered when their words are truly
heard. Deep listening and heartfelt compassion
are the ways to uplift the next generation.
Kelsey Delane Mentor
What brought you to yoga?
I was a freshman at San Diego State when I
was invited to my first yoga class at the stu-
dent rec center by my dear friend. I had been
suffering from chronic and severe anxiety
and depression since adolescence, and
believed I was physically and emotionally
weak. I was grateful for the opportunity to
explore something that was physical so I
could build strength in my body and belief in
myself.What do you learn from being a mentor?
I’m reminded that I’m not alone, and that
the experiences I have as a female and as
a human being are less unique than I once
thought. I am reminded that we don’t have to
suffer in isolation; community and connec-
tion allow us to work through challenges in
our inner world and our circumstances. In
addition, I am reminded that girls and wom-
en are capable of radical things, especially
when we surround and support each other.What’s your go-to personal practice?
As a busy mama, my go-to practice is japa
mala meditation. It grounds my mind, focuses
my attention on what brings me joy, and can
be done almost anywhere.Avery McCaslin Mentor
What brought you to yoga?
I have a tendency to be very type-A, com-
petitive, assertive and goal-oriented. While I
love those qualities about myself, they don’t
always help me feel grounded, calm, and
grateful. While I was paying my way through
college, working full-time and volunteering, I
hit my breaking point. My fiancé introduced
me to yoga and since then I’ve not only found
balance and peace in my life, but a commu-
nity of wonderful and supportive women.What do you tell people who are thinking
about trying yoga but don’t know where to
begin?
The first thing I tell them is that there’s no
such thing as being good or bad at yoga. I pre-
fer to accompany my friends to a yoga class,
especially if it’s their first one. I make sure
they understand that yoga is not about being
the most flexible or the best at balancing, and
to never compare themselves to someone on
another mat. I try to get them to understand
that practicing yoga is about going inside
themselves and allowing whatever to happen.Could you share an inspirational book?
Erica gave me the audio book The Universe
Has Your Back by Gaby Bernstein at a time
when I needed it most. I had no idea about
my true calling or passion. I listened to this
book three times in a row and it helped me
understand that the things that I wanted the
most out of my life couldn’t always be forced
or controlled by me. It helped me understand
the universe gives you guidance if you just
breathe and listen.Benefit UPLIFT Teen Yoga
You can join more than 600 Yogis Under the
Stars to support UPLIFT Teen Yoga Program
and collaborate in community on Friday,
September 21. Tickets are available at:
upliftyogafoundation.org.Read full interviews with the mentors online at:
layoga.com
Photographer Natalie Moser can be found at:
nataliemoser.com