teacher feature
Marco Santia
Q-Do you specialize in any particular form or approach?
A-I tend to focus a lot on physiology and musculature. In the context of exploring your own mechanics and learning what works for you not for the person next to you. Everybody’s anatomy is quite different and there’s no perfect pose, posture, form, or way to move. You’ll always find my encouraging students to safely play around and focus in on the tiniest little adjustments and how they might activate different parts of your body and mind. Vinyasa generally lends itself to that style but I am interested in all movement methodologies.
Q-What makes your teaching style unique?
A-What I would consider unique is my emphasis on the transitions between poses rather than holding poses themselves. In my own body, its become evident that being mindful, slow, and strong in the moments leading up to transitioning to a new pose lead to a strong landing. For myself, and what I encourage in my students, I rather take extra time slowly entering into a pose with grace and poise so micro-adjustments and fidgeting aren’t needed in the final posture.
Q-What is your personal philosophy regarding yoga and it's benefits?
A-My personal philosophy on ‘yoga’ is that it is very much ill-defined and intentionally ambiguous. There is no ‘right’ way to do anything and it can mean anything. Yoga is a perpetual goal and concept, not a rigid set of instructions. Of course that’s a weird way to answer, but it is hard to put into words. The essence of it is simply to find your way to enlist your mind as your copilot not the navigator. For many of us that involves getting into a ‘flow state’ through movement. But for others it could be meditation and ‘cutting out the noise’ of life. Personally I have witnessed other’s intense transformations and ability to control their mind through music or going to a place of community (whether religious or otherwise). The truest yoga requires nothing more than what you already have, so leaning into something that helps you feel in control of yourself will have all the benefits in the world no matter what life throws your way.
Q-What advice would you give to someone just starting their yoga journey?
A-Basically everything I said above! Just do what feels right to you. Do not worry about the other people or what your mind is telling you. Be organic and know: your best is always good enough
Q-What Inspired you to be a yoga teacher?
A-For the longest time I did not think I would be a yoga teacher actually! I thought it wouldn’t be a good fit for me given my energetic personality and habit of being distracted by every little leaf blowing in the wind. But after going to a yoga workshop with my closest friends, I started to realize that’s exactly the reason TO teach. Yoga very often involves leaning into places of discomfort or unfamiliarity. Whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual: learning how to co-exist with those feelings and not let it control you is the essence of yoga. Realizing that, I knew I had to give it a try. Oh and also Amber was conveniently opening up Sukha and I very much want her to succeed :)