Jenn Thompson
Where are you from? Detroit, MI
How long have you lived in Athens? 11 years
What’s your passion? Other than yoga? Real food.
Favorite book? So hard to choose just one, but I love Anne Lamott’s Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith
Favorite movie? This week, it’s Wasted! The Story of Food Waste. It’s at Ciné right now. You should go. Really. Go.
Favorite restaurant? The National
Favorite place you’ve been? Grand Tetons, Wyoming, or maybe the Loire Valley, France
When did you start practicing yoga and why?
When I was little, my mom had Hittleman’s Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan on the bookshelf and every so often, I’d rediscover it, pull it out, and practice for a while. One of my earliest memories is going to yoga with my mom – so yoga has always been at least a little bit present in my life. I began practicing regularly in 1998, when I signed up for a yoga class as a grad student using a few free credit hours. Since then, I haven’t looked back.
What’s your favorite yoga style?
I love a strong, slow, juicy vinyasa flow – one that settles my monkey mind by linking breath and movement.
What inspired you to teach?
I just completed my 200 hour training at M3. I teach at UGA so I really didn’t sign up with a desire to do more teaching – just to sink deeper into my practice. But I’ve been inspired to teach by Nick and by the amazing group of women with whom I shared my training. These folks made it a really safe place to begin to develop my skill as a yoga teacher – and now I am excited to hone that skill through practice.
What’s your advice to someone who is new to yoga?
Just come and be on your mat – you never know what you might find there. It’s OK to be terrible at it. It’s the showing up that counts. Try different classes and different styles until you find something that nourishes you – and know that this might change.
What is your favorite pose?
I have no idea. Maybe savasana? Or ardha chandrasana, half-moon pose? Or agnistambasana, fire log pose? It depends on the day, my mood, and what my body needs.
What’s your favorite class at M3?
My favorite class to teach at the moment is Slow Flow – because I truly love linking movement mindfully with breath. I think this class as the potential to be surprisingly strong and difficult – but also nourishing. My favorite class to take is M360+, because I’m a sucker for a 90 min., anatomy-focused, vinyasa.
What do you enjoy most about M3?
There are so many things I love about M3, but if I have to choose, I think I’d have to say M3’s values: Inclusivity, Community, Playfulness, and Intelligent Movement. This is truly makes M3 special. A great example of M3’s values in action is the Community Warriors membership rate.