Noelle Connolly graduated from Boston University, where she was a Boston Terrier Field Hockey Player. After taking her first yoga class ten years ago, Noelle fell in love with the practice. It was the one thing that challenged her mentally, physically, and spiritually. She has been a passionate student ever since. Noelle lives and teaches yoga in Philadelphia, where she will also be teaching at Wanderlust Yoga in the City.
When Noelle is not teaching she enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time with friends & family, and hanging with her dog Kai.
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Wanderlust: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Noelle Connolly: A travel writer and a yoga teacher. I want to be able to experience everything about the places I visit. The food, culture, people, yoga, everything! Then write amazing articles about what I have experienced.
WL: What is your personal theme song?
WL: What is your biggest fear?
NC: This may sound corny, but I am afraid of never experiencing true love — of never meeting my soul mate. Yoga teaches me patience so I am still very hopeful that my partner is out there!
WL: What is your favorite yoga pose?
NC: I love all of the asana poses, but if I had to pick one, it would be Adho Mukha Vrksasana. Handstand is the one pose that will instantly quiet my mind. When I am in perfect balance, upside down everything melts away and all that is left is the sound of my breath. I feel completely connected to myself.
WL: What is your least favorite yoga pose?
NC: Mayurasana is my least favorite asana pose, at the moment. Every time I am in class with a male teacher they always seem to teach Peacock pose. It is so frustrating, especially when you are a woman with body parts that men do not have! I will conquer this pose, but right now it is so uncomfortable.
WL: Have you had an embarrassing moment as a yoga student?
NC: I will never forget when I took a weekend of workshops with Tim Miller. I was so in awe of him. On the first day, we were doing the primary series. We got to NC: Bhuja Pidasana and I face planted on the floor and cut my lip. I looked up and he was standing over me. He said, “Your lip is bleeding.” I was so embarrassed!
WL: What has been your most embarrassing moment as a yoga teacher?
NC: I was teaching an inversion workshop and it was packed! I was demonstrating a transition from handstand to wrist touch to chaturanga. I was talking while I was doing it so my breathing was off and by the time I got to chaturanga my body was done and I face planted right to the floor. It made the loudest smacking noise, ever! I just burst out laughing, which is how I deal with all embarrassing situations.
WL: What do you love about what you do?
NC: Everything! The most rewarding part is watching my students transform. My classes are very challenging, so I can really see students get stronger and more confident with every class. The best part is watching that same growth off the mat. Students who were shy start to sit in the center of the room. Then they begin to socialize with everyone and become so much more alive!
WL: What challenges you about what you do?
NC: Everything! I think being a yoga teacher is one of the hardest jobs I have ever had. You have to deal with rejection and tons of criticism. It helps to create a thick skin. The most challenging part is to always stay really present and focused in my own practice, so that I can be that way for my students. I have some very advanced students that keep me on my toes all of the time, and I would not want it any other way!