Yoga teacher LA Finfinger is the perfect balance of sugar and spice. This tattoo-clad, Pittsburgh teacher radiates passion and joy into each space she enters. But there’s a softness about her that words cannot describe. It is with this grace that she is able to command large rooms of students as a highly respected power yoga teacher. We caught up with her recently to learn a little bit more about what makes her tick.
LA will be teaching at Wanderlust Yoga in the City Philadelphia on June 7 and we couldn’t be happier to have her.
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Wanderlust: What do you want to be when you grow up?
LA Finfinger: I want to be Chelsea Handler on yoga, instead of vodka.
WL: What did your child self want to be when you grew up?
LA: I wanted to be an Astronaut/ Gymnast/ Rockstar/ Writer. What can I say? I’m a child of the 80’s. Basically, I wanted to be Sally Ride, Mary Lou Retton, Debbie Harry, and Laura Ingalls Wilder rolled into one spectacular, magical being.
WL: What is your personal theme song?
I’m not proud but it’s true.
WL: We’re not judging. Next question: what is your favorite yoga pose?
LA: Ardha Chandrasana (half moon pose). I feel strong and graceful in it. My friend, Andrew Paul, made a t-shirt for me last birthday that reads “I heart ardha chandrasana,” and has LA printed in pink across the back. It’s the most authentic shirt I own.
WL: What is your least favorite yoga pose?
LA: Flippin’ Frog Pose. I was born with hip dysplasia and it’s probably never going to be for me.
WL: What has been the most embarrassing moment as a yoga student?
LA: I often set up in the wrong direction in new studio spaces. I must have a different sense of direction than most people.
WL: What has been your most embarrassing moment as a yoga teacher?
LA: Once I accidentally picked up a student’s water bottle during class and walked around drinking from it for the duration of the class before I realized it!
WL: What do you love about what you do?
LA: As teachers, we talk a lot about what we give to people but here’s what I know I get: I love the person I get to be when I’m teaching yoga. I’m fully present and available for my students the entire class and that is the most grounding and open thing I have ever known.
WL: What challenges you about what you do?
LA: I’m challenged to stay grounded. I’m fiery. Real fiery. I have a quick temper and luckily I’m challenged by the fact that my home studio is in a small suburb of Pittsburgh, PA. I can’t just flip off the driver next to me because there’s a good chance that I teach them yoga!