Coach Spotlight Series: Jared Pava
We’re well-overdue for a new Coach Spotlight in 2016, so we’re excited to add another entry with Coach Jared from New York! Since it’s been a minute, it may be worthwhile to revisit the purpose of these blog posts — many of you may not ever teach Yoga, or even take a lesson of it either. But, as always, we try to ask questions that will provide background, advice, and potential wisdoms worth taking with you.
Believe us, it hardly matters if you’re a coach of another sport, interested in Yoga, or just a parent trying to get back in shape — there’s probably something in the text — a point of view, suggestion, or philosophy — that may resonate with you. How can you be better? How will you become a leader? How will you meet and surpass your goals? So, without further ado, check out our great interview with Coach Jared and, if you’re in his area, shoot him a message!
CoachUp: Tell us about yourself and your experience with Yoga!
Jared Pava: I first practiced Yoga when I was six years-old, setting me off on a lifetime of sessions and experiences. When I was twenty-one years-old, I was attended art school at SUNY College New Paltz in Upstate New York and it was, truly, just stressing me out. After having a conversation with my mother about it, she suggested going to Yoga classes again. I started taking classes in a beautiful, quiet Yoga studio at the base of a mountain outside of New Paltz. Taking Yoga classes surrounded by the sounds of nature in this serene setting was very calming and grounding.
Eventually, I took took classes with Roberta Schine, a Breast Cancer Survivor + Kripalu Yoga Instructor. Roberta focused on teaching Yoga in hospitals to Cancer Survivors and people with life-challenging conditions. I attended a workshop that Roberta offered for Breast Cancer Survivors and hearing these women speak at the workshop was very enlightening as they had incredible strength and positivity. Roberta taught with a great sense of compassion and awareness and I couldn’t get enough. Then, after one of my classes, I had an incredible feeling come over me, one that told me I needed to become a Yoga Instructor — that Fall I would apply for my 200-hour training and the rest is history.
CU: What is your coaching philosophy or style? What can a client expect from private lessons with you?
JP: As an instructor, I give my students stretches and postures they can immediately incorporate into their lives. I encourage my students to apply these techniques to other aspects of their lives, like when they’re at work, waiting for a subway, or in a park. Then, they will feel more limber, calmer, and fully alive. During each private session, I take a little time at the beginning to check in and see if my students have any questions — a person’s body, thoughts, and emotions can be very different week-to-week.
CU: What do you enjoy most about teaching?
JP: What I enjoy most is hearing that I have helped them transform their lives. Sometimes, I will run into a student in New York and they will say: thank you for what you said in class last year, I quit my job and decided to follow my dreams — many of my students even become instructors or delve into other movement modalities.
CU: What is the biggest lesson you have learned as an instructor?
JP: This biggest lesson I’ve learned as an instructor is to listen. It takes a lot of patience to listen to somebody and it took me many years to learn that people need their time and space to express themselves.
CU: Do you have any specialities within your Yoga teaching?
JP: I specialize in teaching Restorative Yoga to people with life-challenging conditions and injuries.
CU: What is the most important advice you give to your students?
Keep Moving — don’t let your age discourage you from Yoga or movement. People get too caught up in what society expects of them. So, harness the courage to change any situation you don’t like in your life — this is where transformation will begin! Woo! What a great interview to come back to, thanks Jared! There is some really fantastic stuff in there, but how will you use it to motivate your own story or journey?
There’s also a common misconception about Yoga, but, the truth is, everybody could use some in their life. Whether you’re old or young, new or an expert, practicing Yoga can be beneficial for everyone. So, finally, I leave you with this — use this as motivation to get better in whatever you do. Oh, and don’t forget to send Jared a message if you’re interested in finding out more about his style and lessons!
