Ally is a yoga teacher, entrepreneur and writer who has an undying passion for empowering the next generation of womxn through yoga, meditation and raw conversations.
@allymaz @girlvanayoga @ladyvanaretreats
What is the inspiration behind Girlvana and why did you start it?
I started Girlvana when I was 24 and had been practicing yoga for a few years. Through that practice I started to uncover how ugly the view I had about myself and my body was. I began to wake up to how much of what I felt and what was being reflected in the media correlated. Yoga started to change the narrative inside my head and I felt the need to share it with my 14 year old self to heal her. I began Girlvana as a way to spread this message to other girls who also felt at war with themselves.
What’s your recipe for self care and favourite way to unwind?
I am a big believer in self care and a champion for it being as quick and accessible as possible. I also think that understanding your cycle is key in giving your body what it needs as it moves through its different stages each month.
My number one quickest and easiest tool that costs absolutely nothing is deep breathing. It soothes the nervous system, breaks up the thoughts and resets my mood instantly.
Number two is sleep. When I am burnt out and over stimulated by other people’s emotions and the current state of the world, I go to bed. Sleep is soooo important!
Lastly its water in the form of baths, ocean swims, drinking water and last but not least, crying! Crying is the most cathartic and powerful release for me. It gets rid of stress hormones, moves blocked energy and helps me return to my feminine energy when I have been really hard on myself.
I tell everyone everything all the time but maybe that I still get a little nervous everytime I teach a class, even though it’s been 10 years!
What would you tell your 12 year old self?
Hold strong to what you know about yourself. You are true, you are sensitive and you are spiritual. When you question your place on this earth and if you matter, the answer is yes, 100 percent yes. Your pain will amount to so much beauty, just wait.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
That whoever is reading this has innate value regardless of what anyone says or what society has defined you as. You get to be who you want to be. You have choice. You matter. There is not one person in the world who is like you and that is what makes you powerful.
