Mia Park found yoga while teaching cardio kick boxing in 2002. Always athletic, Mia was a competing gymnast and studied kung fu, taekyun and tae kwon do for almost 20 years. Yoga offered her the perfect blend of physical wellbeing and internal peace.
Mia will be teaching at Wanderlust Yoga in the City Chicago this summer. Registration is free.
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Wanderlust: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Mia Park: I want to be more of me! Everyones we unconditionally love every bit of our fantastic selves. It’s a real challenge to know yourself deeply and love what you see without judgment and with admiration. The more we love ourselves and want to be more of ourselves when we grow up, the better a universe we create and inhabit.
WL: What did your child self want to be when you grew up?
MP: I wanted to be a fabulously crazy fine artist who made mind-blowing art or a strong, sexy rock drummer touring the world. I’ve got those characteristics in me and they are channeled into different outlets.
WL: Do you have a favorite funny video?
MP: I’m not good at picking favorites because I love so many things! I’d say that this still cracks me up.
WL: What is your personal theme song?
MP: I have so many!
I love music super much. I’ve played rock drums for more than 20 years and I’ve been the host for the kid’s music TV dance show, “Chic-a-Go-Go” for 16 years. So, I’m a huge music person whose soundtrack rotates!
WL: What is your biggest fear?
MP: I worry that I won’t take full advantage of this amazing life. My dharma code (like a mission statement) is “I experience life to the fullest and help others do the same.” I have a fear that I won’t fulfill my life’s purpose and I won’t give myself permission to dig deeply into one thing and know it at its most fundamental level.
WL: Do you have a favorite yoga pose?
MP: My favorite asanas are sukhasana (easy seated posture), ardha padmasana (half lotus pose) or virasana (hero’s pose) because those are the positions I meditate in. Having an upright position is easiest for me to dial into shashumna nadi — our central and sacred energy channel. These seated postures are simple, elegant, and energetically wonderful.
WL: What is your least favorite yoga pose?
MP: Mayurasana (peacock pose) has been kicking my butt these last few years. I love it, but I am challenged by it. I used to be able to access this posture with ease and it’s now become a challenge. It’s not vital for me to do this very important posture, but I’d like to do it again. So, I work on it. Slowly, slowly.
WL: What has been your most embarrassing moment as a yoga student?
MP: I had a crush on a yoga teacher. Once, when he adjusted me, I held onto his hand a little too long. I felt really awkward after that and learned to check in with my intentions behind being in a yoga class.
WL: What has been your most embarrassing moment as a yoga teacher?
MP: Demonstrating a forward fold in class and a gush of water running out of my nose! Ah, gotta love using the old neti pot.
WL: What do you love about what you do?
MP: I love sharing the depths of yoga with people. The physical exercise is so helpful and wonderful. I love giving people a glimpse into their deeper selves. I love showing them that their potential is limitless. With focus, we really are capable of everything. It’s an amazing system of endless potential!