MARIELA REBELO

What’s your favorite way to start your morning before teaching? 

Most mornings, my husband makes us coffee or tea and we go for a walk, sipping it and talking about anything and everything. It’s my favorite way to start any day: with movement, nourishment, quality time, and (hopefully) some sunshine.

Coffee, tea, or green juice? 

Tea all the way. I was that child that chose Earl Grey over chocolate milk. Nothing beats a fragrant Earl Grey with a splash of milk and a teaspoon of honey in the morning, or a floral tea later in the day. Pro tip: get the loose leaf tea at Winter Ridge. For days that I need an extra boost mid morning, I make myself a nice matcha latte with a bit of lavender.

What’s your go-to post-yoga meal or snack?

Nothing. I try to practice yoga late in the day so I don’t  disturb the prana flow with food.if I do need to eat (read: if I’ve taken a crazy Kelly or Tina class), I try to keep it whole and light.

What’s your current song or playlist obsession?

I love finding small artists from all over the world and discover their style. That’s how I put together my playlists for classes: by going down rabbit holes on Spotify until I find a sound that inspires me. A word or sensation usually appears in my mind as I listen, and that sets the theme for the playlist. I then keep exploring and finding cohesive songs to add to the playlist until it’s the length I need it to be. My playlists will tell a story in a sense, and, combined with the students’ presence, they’ll guide me as I improvise my classes.

When you are not teaching yoga, what are you doing?

I work full time for my husband’s Youtube channel, so that takes up most of my week. It’s super fun and ever changing. It’s an industry I never considered working in before, so it’s interesting to learn skills, rules and ways that otherwise I would have not been exposed to. I love figuring things out and being part of something so special.

Also, I recently took up running and that has been an adventure that takes me at least a good 20-40 minutes a day. I managed to find the comfort within something that I had always seen as deeply boring and painful. I’ve been learning a lot, getting inspired, and enjoying every moment of it, even the ones that suck.

What’s one thing your students might be surprised to learn about you? 

Buenos Aires suburbs, 2005: My first time driving a car (ever), was running away from the police. Let’s say I wasn’t familiar yet with the concept of “speed limits” or “pulling over when you see lights in your rear view”.

Describe yourself in three words.

Compassionate

Generous

Direct

What originally brought you to yoga?

Curiosity. I found a book in my parents’ library, it was called “108 yoga poses”. I was 11 or 12. The first pose I tried was malasana.

How long have you been teaching yoga and what are your certifications? 

I became a teacher when I was living on the Sunshine Coast in Australia in 2015. I earned my 200 hours over six months, a format that I absolutely recommend: take your time to learn to teach. Allow space for things to sink in.

The following year I headed to Bali and was exposed to yin. Half way through my very first class, I knew I had to learn more about it. That started a (possibly) life long infatuation with the yin philosophy. Over the years my teaching style has turned into something a bit unorthodox, but that’s what I love about the yoga practice in general, the yin practice in particular: as long as the respect for its roots and culture is preserved, present and passed along, it’s an incredibly noble practice that makes room for us to insert our own magic to it.

I’ve taught and taken classes all over the world, and I can confidently say yoga is as diverse as people are.

What’s your favorite pose right now and your “love-to-hate” pose?

I’m enjoying DFD a lot right now, maybe it’s because my new-to-running legs are in much need of a good stretch.

I can’t think of one I love to hate. I try not to have negative thoughts or give negative connotation to any yoga pose. After all, it’s a sacred practice that I’m lucky enough to be able to immerse myself in.

I save all my complaints for Tara’s sculpt class, when she inevitably forces us to do burpees.

How do you want your students to feel when they leave your classes?

Something. Feeling is what makes us human, what makes us feel present, what validates time. As long as they feel something, whatever that is, I consider my job done.

What’s the biggest lesson yoga has taught you off the mat?

Patience. Let me say it again, in caps: PATIENCE.