Teacher Spotlight with Koren Kiener

CREATIVE 🎨 + eXPLORER  🔍 + IncLUSIVE 🌈

Meet Koren, a San Francisco yoga instructor, seamlessly blends Vinyasa, mindfulness, and embodiment practices. Beyond yoga, she’s a designer and fine artist, passionate about creativity through various mediums. Curious about travel, food, and the occult, she’s a dedicated learner, drawing teaching inspiration from nature and personal experiences to create a sanctuary for diverse practitioners.

Q: How do you see yoga evolve ten or more years from now?

A: I imagine that yoga will become an even greater norm across different demographics. With the quickly changing technological advancements, I see a future where people know the value of the natural world and make more dedicated efforts to return to it. I think people will realize just how vital the simplicity of the breath and movement are amidst fast activities in our changing world.

Q: Do you have a pose or poses that you avoid or hate?

A: I love this question because we ALL have that one pose we constantly resist! And the more we avoid it (even the mere mention), the more it remains our Achilles heel. A revolved triangle is challenging for me, but I continue to lean into it. I lean into it, especially in discomfort, knowing that sometimes the biggest lessons come from the poses we dislike!

Q: What are some of the challenges of being a yoga teacher?

A: Practicing what you preach while remembering that we are all human with flaws. Earlier in my teaching journey, I would judge myself more frequently when I did something “un-yogi-like.” Funny enough, I was also contradicting my own teaching principles of non-judgment. Eventually, I realized there is a sweet balance between living a yogic lifestyle and being compassionate with our mistakes.

Q: How does your personal life impact your craft of teaching?

A: I am a teacher and an artist, which I’ve discovered go hand in hand. I’ve always had an inherent drive to create, and yoga allows me to create in ways beyond 2D artistic expressions. Because I’m someone who loves being creative, I enjoy developing thoughtful cues and sequences in my teaching. I am also inspired by other artistic expressions like music and writing, which I used consistently to incorporate into my classes.

Q: How do you handle stress and pressure?

A: Remember that it is energy that evolves; we have the power to control what thoughts we invest in, and when things feel pressurized, it is a good opportunity to see where you can depressurize. Most of the time, depressuring for me is simply taking a bird’s eye view of the situation and being realistic with what I can accomplish that day. And, of course, the breath is always on my side in stress. When I’m stressed, I observe what that sensation feels like in my body and immediately guide my breath to my belly. This brief practice has been a saving grace in chaotic times.

Q: What gives you a sense of purpose in your life?

A: Especially emerging out of the isolation of the pandemic, I’ve realized how valuable community is in my life. Helping others brings me a genuine sense of joy and meaning. I enjoy learning from all walks of life and contributing to others’ growth.

Explore Koren’s Classes on Practyce: