Teacher Spotlight – Emily Cordes

Adventurous 🌍 + globetrotter  🌴 + nostalgic 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦❤️

Meet Emily, a dedicated globetrotting yogi committed to sharing yoga worldwide. Her extensive travels have deeply influenced her practice, recognizing profound parallels between yoga and travel—both require patience, mindfulness, acceptance, and adaptability. This connection enriches her teaching, fostering a holistic approach. Join her class for a transformative experience guided by her empowering wisdom, delving into the depths of yoga.

Q: What can students expect when taking your class?

A: When taking my class, you can expect gentle, encouraging guidance intended to help explore the edge of your practice and connect more deeply within. Paired with creative and playful sequencing, my goal is to help you uncover the possibilities of what you can learn on the mat. My classes are created with great intention, often grounded in a theme rooted in yoga philosophy.

Q: What advice would you give to your younger yogi self?

A: “It’s okay that you can’t do a headstand (yet)!!” It sounds incredibly silly now, but looking back, I remember how much this bothered me during my first Yoga Teacher Training in 2016. The style was Ashtanga-Vinyasa, and I leaped at it even though I hadn’t previously practiced much Ashtanga since classes weren’t available in my city. Even so, I expected to be able to do everything just because others could, and overall, I knew I had a strong practice. But how could I wish to do something I had never been taught? Nowadays, of course, I know that being able to do a particular asana (or not) has nothing to do with the level of practitioner someone is. I also know that the real practice is in the patience, perseverance, trust, and courage it takes to learn asanas that challenge us (whether that be headstand or child’s pose – each comes with its own challenges). In my current practice, I see an opportunity to learn something new. I celebrate myself for where I’m at. I soak up chances to learn from different teachers. And I certainly don’t judge myself for being unable to do every asana.

Q: How do you take your yoga off your mat?

A: Yoga has changed the way I live. Like many, I first came to the practice for physical reasons and only practiced asana. I had no idea what was to come in the way that my yoga practice would help me evolve into the person I am today. As someone who travels a lot in countries that are very different from my home country, I am often presented with opportunities to practice patience and acceptance. Recently, I was traveling on an overnight bus in Peru. The schedule said that it would be a 12-hour journey – yikes! It was long, but I was well prepared with water and snacks. However, this journey turned into 24 hours. We were at a complete standstill on the highway between a mountain and a river for 8 hours, with no explanation or information about when we would arrive. At first, I experienced frustration. But I quickly remembered that feeling frustrated wouldn’t solve anything. I’d be stuck on this journey for the same amount of time whether I felt frustrated during that time or not. So, laugh and bring some enjoyment to the experience. Time and time again, my yoga practice reminds me to practice the same principles I do on the mat – patience, acceptance, surrender, and balance.

Q: What do you love about sharing videos online?

A: I love that online classes can connect us from wherever we are in the world! Since teaching online, I have been fortunate to meet some of my students in real life and further build the connection they have already initiated from practicing with me. The flexibility for the teacher and student is remarkable, allowing us to stay more connected to the practice. Sometimes, we can’t always get to an in-person class, but if we have 20 minutes to spare at home, we can still practice, thanks to online videos. I’m proud to be a part of that. 

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

A: I regularly draw on experiences from my personal life when creating classes and class themes. Even if not everyone has the same experience of 12-hour bus delays, everyone has had a time (or many!) when they felt frustrated or had to practice patience for many reasons. I bring these stories and examples into my teaching to help students connect with the principles and the reason behind the story. For example, when living in Nicaragua, I ordered a quesadilla for lunch almost daily. It was from the same hotel restaurant where I taught sunset yoga classes. Yet, every day, my order was different. Some days, it came with a salad; some days, it came with guacamole; other days, the quesadilla was cut into quarters; sometimes, it just went as a whole, with cheddar cheese or feta. I shared this experience with my students at the start of class one day to talk about attachment and expectations. I knew I could order the quesadilla in the same way at the same place, but I didn’t know how it would come. I had to release an attachment to my favorite version of it. Years later, my students remember this story and tell me that they think of it when they find themselves being stuck in their way on something. 

Q: Besides yoga, what are some other things you’re passionate about?

A: I’ve recently taken up surfing, which has quickly developed into a passion of mine. Even though it is incredibly challenging, I constantly look to spend more time on the water and keep trying. One reason for this is the similarity between yoga and surfing in developing patience, mindfulness, acceptance, and the ability to go with the flow.

Family is also essential to me. Even though I live a relatively travel-based lifestyle, I cherish my time at home, and family is my number one. Without the love and support from my family, I wouldn’t be where I am, and I am forever grateful. My parents are such big supporters that they even attended my first-ever yoga retreat in Nicaragua in 2022.

Q: What is your favorite place in the world, and why?

A: I have many, but I’ve narrowed it down to two for this question. I first traveled to Nicaragua in early 2022 and have since spent a total of 10 months there. When I’m there, I can’t seem to leave. The people are incredibly welcoming and kind, and I’m grateful to have developed many friendships with locals and expats. Something about life’s slow yet intentional pace is very inspiring to me. While spending time in Nicaragua, I learned three things I had zero experience in prior: surfing, Spanish, and driving a motorbike (okay, it was automatic – but still, those dirt roads are challenging). Being a beginner at these things and feeling endless support from the community around me felt refreshing. 

However, my all-time favorite place is Sauble Beach, Ontario. In case you don’t know, it is the world’s second-longest freshwater beach and one of the many amazing beaches along Lake Huron. Going to my parents’ cottage since I was two years old has become special in my life and heart. Our family has shared many beautiful adventures over the years up there, and no matter how many places I travel, I still believe that the most beautiful sunsets in the world are to be found in Sauble Beach. It’s a place where I can reset, ground, and come home.

Explore Emily’s Classes on Practyce: