AM ALUMNI
Kristi Hiller | @wildginger_movement
AM V200- APR 2022
Fayetteville, TN, USA 🌎
Hi AM fam! I began my journey into yoga in 2013 as a search for connection with self. I have always enjoyed an active lifestyle but never cared for traditional workouts. Yoga was both welcoming and exciting to me from a physical asana standpoint, and it also called to me to help fill my spiritual void. I completed my 200 hour teacher training in April 2022 and hope to start teaching public classes by mid to late summer. Currently, I am teaching friends and family as I build confidence in my new role. I consider myself an outdoor enthusiast, avid hiker, and backpacker/camper. I also like to dabble in rock climbing, canoeing, slalom water skiing, and snowboarding. Basically, I love movement in the outdoors. Before my 200 hour, I was feeling lost in the world. I truly believe now that teaching yoga is my calling. I feel so inspired to share this practice with anyone who is interested. I hope to guide seekers on an exploration of self (physical, mental, & emotional) that leads them on a path of continual growth, fulfillment, and authenticity.
Reflecting on the AM YTT Experience
| Why did you choose Authentic Movements for your YTT? | |
| I had been following Stevi and Erin on IG for a few years and was immediately drawn to their creative movement practices. Their flows always looked so creative, fluid, strong, and fun, which was very appealing to me. I happened to be scrolling IG and saw one of their posts about the V200 hours after having yet another conversation with a friend about how I’ve wanted to attend a YTT for years. It was meant to be! I had never actually taken any of their classes. I never realized virtual classes were an option, nor did I know virtual trainings were an option until that post. | |
| How did the online training platform work for you? | |
| It was perfect for me, aside from the missing component of in-person connection. Throughout the program, I was a stay-at-home mom to a toddler while also working full time+ from home. It was a struggle to fit anything else in, but I worked every night after my daughter went to bed, and weekends when my husband was in town to keep her. I wouldn’t have been able to find that motivation had I not truly LOVED the course. I said above that I had wanted to attend a YTT for years. An immersive retreat sounded incredible. Unfortunately, I never seemed to find the time to take a month off work. And then after becoming a mom, I wasn’t yet ready to leave my family for a month. There also weren’t any local options in the years I was looking. So when I realized virtual was a thing, I jumped at the opportunity. | |
| How has your teaching changed since completing the AM YTT? | |
| I still have only taught friends and family, but my teaching has changed leaps and bounds. One of the biggest things for me is probably finding ways to cue modifications or offer options for different bodies. Before, it was very difficult for me to understand how anyone could experience something different than the way I do (sounds silly to say now). | |
| How have you engaged with the AM community of alums and students during and after the training? | |
| Not as much as I would have liked honestly. I’m not a big Facebook user. I used the FB group some, but not often. I was able to find one friend through the group. We helped each other with our practicums and have stayed in touch. I have discovered a couple other alums on IG, but we haven’t really connected much. | |
| What was your favorite part of the course content? | |
| Hard to decide…. I loved being able to practice all the creative vinyasa + restorative classes. I also really loved the lectures on class creation. I have found so much joy in writing my own flows – something that I thought would be a huge struggle for me. I also really enjoyed the anatomy lectures & the different philosophy lectures. So much more to dive into in both of those realms. | |
OTHER AM ALUMNI
Annemarie Canales
Houston, Texas, USA 🌎 An avid practitioner of many movement modalities including gymnastics, dance, and martial arts, I started following Authentic Movements back in 2017. I attended my first retreat with them in 2018, which affirmed what I already knew - I HAD to...
Megan Mathers
Saint Helens, OR, USA 🌎 I live in the PNW in a tiny house with my partner and dog. When I am not on my mat I am outside adventuring or gardening, reading, cooking, or talking to my plants. Complete workshops; Yoga Foundations with Matt Nelson, Creativity in your...
Juliet Moreno
San Antonio, TX, USA 🌎 My name is Juliet I grew up, reside, and teach yoga in San Antonio, Texas. I found yoga five years ago through a journey of seeking healing, restoration, and recovery. I wholeheartedly believe that yoga helped me with all of those things...
Fredi Starr
Clarion, PA, USA 🌎 I've been practicing yoga for roughly 8 years, the last 4 years being an avid practitioner and I have been teaching since Sept ‘19, creative vinyasa being my primary offering. I have completed two 200hr Yoga Teacher Trainings, first one with Brett...
Mireya Farias
Pismo Beach Ca/ Las Vegas Nv/ soon to be Florida resident 🌎 I am a bit of a wild child with a strong curiosity for exploring the unknown. This creates a very playful and dynamic environment in all things I do. My yoga journey began in 2016 which has laid down the...
Radwa Radwan
Sheikh Zayed, Egypt 🌍 I started Yoga in 2020 and I fell in love with it. Then I decided to take the 200 YTT. Currently, I teach a small group and I want to teach more groups. [email protected] on the AM YTT Experience Why did you choose Authentic...
Chelsea Roth
Novato, CA, USA 🌎 I began my yoga journey about 6 years ago on a whim by attending a class at a local gym, and have been hooked ever since! My passion is making yoga accessible and fun for all bodies and skill levels. I earned my foundational 200 hr training through...
Dia Seskin
New York City, NY, USA 🌎 Dia Seskin is a New York City based yoga instructor and hand balancer. Dia completed her first 200 hour teacher training in NYC, with a focus in power yoga. She completed her second 200 hour teacher training with Authentic Movements and is...
Sarah Knutsen
Astoria, Oregon, USA 🌎 The AM Virtual 200 was my first training, but I am very eager to continue learning. Looking forward to starting the AM Virtual 300 in July!OTHER AM ALUMNI