Sherri's yoga story begins 16 plus years ago. She was a stay-at-home momma with 2 precious littles. As most of y'all can relate to, that makes for a super busy world and not much time to take care of self. She found herself reading and running on a treadmill and still lacking whatever it was that would calm mind and body. She was in search of stillness, if even for a few minutes a day. Her search led her to "Holy Yoga." She ordered a book-DVD combo and read the book in one sitting and popped the DVD in ASAP. It took one session in her living room and she was hooked! She spent a couple years in her living room learning what she could from one DVD, then another. Then came baby #3 and even less time! LOL! When #3 was about 1 year old, she started taking classes at a local fitness center. It didn't take long for her to crave more and that is when she discovered Hot Yoga. WOW!!! Game Changer!!!
Sherri spent a lot of time as a student in a fitness center and at the hot yoga studio before one of her instructors suggested she step it up a notch and start teaching. She went through a weekend training program and was certified by a local instructor in her specific style of teaching (not Yoga Alliance). Over the years, she taught several fitness classes at the YMCA and other fitness centers. She attended her first yoga teacher training (YTT) over a decade ago at Teach to Inspire with Beth Spindler. She did not complete the training, but continued teaching. Years passed and she found Emery Bryant Yoga, where she completed her RYT200 and then went back two years later and completed her RYT300.
Now she is an E-RYT500 lead training in Kom YTT and the owner of Kom Hot Yoga in Branson, MO. Needless to say, Sherri lives and breathes the fabulous yoga and is in love with life! She hopes each student she meets, whether it be instructing in class or beside her on the mat, finds the joy in the practice and the honor of moving together.
Sherri thanks you for honoring her with your presence in reading her story and hopes you will join her on the journey of yoga and life!
Girl, THANK YOU SO MUCH for joining us on the blog today!
Do you remember your first yoga class? When was it? Where was it? Who taught it? Who did you go with? Why did you decide to go?
My first yoga type class, not in my living room, was The River Fitness lead by the glorious Rana Jones. I went on my own, but i knew a few people in the room when I got there. I went to practice because I wanted more than my at home personal practice. I craved the energy of others and the instruction of a yoga teacher.
What does yoga mean to you?
Yoga means something different almost every time I roll out my mat. Everything from peace, stillness and quiet time within myself to the joy of each energetic being in the room being present and accountable. I guess overall, yoga is life in its abundance.
What does the practice of yoga give you? Does it take anything from you?
Yoga give me joy, energy and so much love. I think yoga takes whatever you need it to! It can take the sorrow and the negative energy you need to release and replace it with honor.
Describe your dream yoga class to attend… What does it look like? What does it include?
Wow... that's a loaded question that will have a different answer everyday depending on what I need that day. It could be anything from restoration on a quiet beach to fast-paced high energy movement. Today, it would be a hot room, a creative mix of flow with a long savasana and a glass of wine.
What is your favorite quote or savasana reading?
"You can't think about presence, and the mind can't understand it. Understanding presence is being present." - Eckhart Tolle
Do you have a favorite yoga text or life book?
I have so many I read and re-read, however, I always fall back into Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates. The wisdom in this book... Mmmm...
What’s your favorite yoga pose?
Upavistha Konasana - I can fall asleep in a wide-legged forward fold. GLORIOUS!!!
When did you decide you wanted to become a yoga teacher? What influenced your decision?
Rana Jones, she gave me the nudge to train and teach. Had she not encouraged me to take that step to instruct, I never would have.
What trainings have you taken?
After my 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher trainings, I have been through various workshops, along with attending Yoga for First Responders training in 2019 and becoming a certified YFFR instructor. I am also a certified SUP Yoga Instructor. Those 2 trainings were so fun!
Why are you passionate about teaching yoga?
I believe there is a yoga practice for everybody and I love being able to share practice with yogis and help them find their path.
How do you include yoga off the mat, out of the studio and in your life? How have you grown in this area? And, are there any growth areas you are working on now that you feel comfortable sharing?
Most people see yoga as asana, but asana and physical benefits are just a bonus gift that yoga gives us. Training our mind and body to work together, forming new neural pathways when we are on our mats that are our automatic responses off the mat is the true practice of yoga. The more I tell students how to use their practice off the mat, the more it resonates within me. I think each and every class I lead teaches me new ways to use yoga off mat. Ay areas I am working on?! Of course! I am a control freak! it's bad, y'all! I talk a big "go with the energy," but i have a terrible time with change or unexpected anything at all. Leading yoga is always evolving from the moment you agree to lead a class until the end of that class it's always changing. Nothing goes according to plan. So, yoga is constantly molding me and teaching me it's okay if I am not in control, it's okay if it goes a little or a lot sidewinders! Hah! Just let it go!
How do you feel we are doing here in 417-land when it comes to making our yoga community more diverse, inclusive and accessible?
We are improving everyday! That's about all we can do, yes?
What do you want to tell people considering beginning a yoga practice or people who are just getting started on their yoga journey?
Do it! Make the commitment to yourself to roll out a mat and do it! You owe it to yourself to give it a try or 100 tries until you find the yoga for you!
Where can students find you, both on social media and on the mat?
On social media, you can find Sherri personally on Instagram @SherriLurvey and you can find the studio at @KomHotYoga. Sherri and the studio are also on Facebook.
On the mat, you can find Sherri teaching at Kom at least five days a week!