Q & A with Brittney Emley

When did you start practising yoga?

I took my first yoga class on a cruise ship when I was 18. My sister and I signed up to practise every morning and it was an instant love for me. It took a few years for that to turn into a regular practice though. At 21 I was working in a restaurant and each evening at the same time this lady came in and ordered the Santa-Fe salad (with the dressing on the side). She always had a ‘lighter than air’ quality to her. One evening I decided to ask what she does before coming here each evening, “Bikram Yoga, you know, the hot one” she answered. I had always wanted to try it and she was my push to give it a go. I went to my first class the next day and that was the start of me becoming a yogi.

When and why did you become a teacher?

I grew up studying gymnastics and dance and my body was naturally flexible. I was physically able to get into a lot of different shapes, but I was never taught the importance of matching strength to my flexibility. Because of this I developed a very bad back and suffered from chronic migraines. I went to the chiropractor every 3 weeks from the age of 6 to 18 to try to combat the pain. I would come to learn through yoga that I had very little strength in my back muscles, flexibility yes, but little to hold my spine in place. Yoga was teaching me how to intentionally place my body and that was bringing up old injuries. At the beginning of my yoga practice the headaches, occasional dizziness, sore neck and back that I grew up with resurfaced. My teachers encouraged me to keep going, assuring me that by bending my spine in the right way, by holding the back bends to increase the muscle strength down my spine, and through continuous practice, this pain and these headaches would go away for good. After only a few months of practice I felt like I had a new spine, no more head aches, or dizziness and I had the ability to backward bend, see my heels, hold myself there and bring myself back up with ease. Nothing in my life had freed me from the chronic back pain I grew up with, but here I was, pain free after just a few months of practising yoga. It was then that I knew I needed to be a teacher, to help others to heal. In September 2010 I attended The Bikram Yoga College of India Teacher Training in San Diego California and I’ve never looked back. I have since also trained in Vinyasa Yoga at TriYoga in London as well as taking qualifications in pre and post-natal yoga and breathwork.

How would you describe your teaching style?

My classes are detailed, inclusive, challenging, creative, but mostly (and for me most importantly) playful. I feel that even the most daunting of tasks is accessible with a playful approach. Play is something that we don’t get to do a lot of in our daily life, and for me yoga is a form of play. Playing with the shapes our body can make, while trying to put together the rights, the lefts and the body parts puzzle that our teacher is guiding us through. I aim to keep things light, playful and always with a playlist to match the vibe.

What is your passion?

My passion is watching people grow, evolve, shed the old and invite in the new. Yoga asanas are a great way to start this process. Watching your body change, achieve new depth in posture and realising we can do more than we thought we could is deeply fulfilling. Moving past the physical and on to the growing of who we are, that’s my real passion. Teaching tools such as breathwork, manifesting skills, releasing practices and journaling to help you become everything you thought you could be and more, I find that deeply rewarding.

What is your personal mantra?

Currently its “Let Them” from Mel Robbins’ Let Them theory. Like most yoga teachers we think it’s so obvious ‘Just do yoga and everything will be fine’. For me the mantra of “Let Them” reminds me that everyone is on his or her own path but I’ll be there for them when they need me.

What is your favourite posture?

I love a deep back bend, Full Locust is probably my favourite. It is so hard, but I love the challenge of trying to leave nothing but my hips on the floor, something I have yet to achieve.

Top health tip?

These things work for me and therefore I keep them as a constant in my life.

Intermittent fasting, my brain works better when my body isn’t constantly working on digesting. Not everyday, but at least 4 days a week.

Movement 5 days a week, for me its generally yoga, but weights are a must as well…. Try my yoga sculpt class to combine yoga with weights!

Collagen to keep my skin, hair and joints healthy

Creatine to help with muscle growth

The 6 minute diary to keep me accountable for my own growth and remind myself of all the good in my life.

Cats or Dogs?

Cats, I am truly a cat at heart. I love a sunny spot and cuddles on my own terms.

Coffee or Tea?

My husband’s amazing chai tea is my favorite.

What excites you about running Teacher Trainings?

Teaching yoga as my career is truly a dream come true. To be able to give other people the gift of becoming a yoga teacher is a full circle moment for me. I am so excited to share what I know, to mentor and open doors for future teachers. It excites me because when you start your training you have no idea how wonderful things are about to become for you and I’m really excited to see that become a reality for my trainees.

Find out more about Brittney’s upcoming Teacher Training courses – for existing teachers looking to upskill as well as for teachers of the future looking to find the perfect 200 Hour Teacher Training – HERE.