YOGI OF THE MONTH

January 2026 - Nathan Martin

What first brought you to yoga and how long have you been practicing?

Ballet brought me to yoga 26 years ago when I was in ballet school. As a dance student, you try everything under the sun for cross-conditioning. Ballet and yoga share many similarities, so yoga feels at home and familiar to my body.

What is/are your intention(s) for your yoga practice?

Energy! There’s nothing richer in life than energy. Yoga is uniquely designed to cultivate energy through the meridians and energy pathways of the body. I use yoga to unblock blockages and release stagnation in the body, cultivating more life and energy for my day. Without energy, there is no life. This matters particularly as we age—the older we become, the more intentionally we must cultivate energy.

What is your favorite pose and why?

I love the Hanuman splits (hanamunasana). I grew up reading the Monkey King stories. Hanuman is the Monkey King in Hindu mythology, and he does the “splits” as he leaps from place to place in his adventures, including his legendary leap across the ocean to Lanka. Every time I do the Hanuman splits, I think of the Monkey King and it gives me a big smile. Oh, and it’s a good pose for the body too! Lol…

What is your favorite class at InsideOut Yoga?

I love Susan’s Vinyasa Flow class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Susan has really thoughtful sequencing and preparation. I’m always amazed by how many poses she’s able to fit into an hour class without it being overwhelming or too fast. It’s a great start to the day and one of the best yoga classes I’ve ever been to!

How has the practice of yoga influenced your life?

Besides the physical benefits of yoga—flexibility and strength—yoga has taught me how to truly relax into meditation. Traditionally in an Indian ashram, monks will wake up early in the morning and do a several-hour yoga practice before sitting the rest of the day in meditation. The idea is to relieve the body of its physical ailments and distractions before going into deep meditation. I don’t live this life per se, but I try to practice and carry aspects of it through my day. I always try to link meditation with a physical practice of something (yoga, working out, running, etc). This pairing I have found to be quite powerful, effective, and potent.

What advice would you have for a beginning yoga student?

Don’t be afraid to fall and make a fool of yourself! The most common mistake I see with beginners is that they think other students are watching and judging them. Everyone in class is so focused on their own practice that they’re not paying attention to you. Release your expectations and just take a risk. The reward is worth it.

What is your occupation?

Gyrotonic instructor 

What activities do you enjoy?

I take weekly ping pong lessons with a professional ping pong player. I work with him on Gyrotonic and he teaches me ping pong. I love the speed and accuracy of ping pong. It reminds me of the yin and yang of yoga. You need strength, but not so much strength that you can’t keep the ball on the table. You need speed, but not so much speed you can’t focus and think.

What is your favorite thing about living in the Northern Neck or Middle Peninsula?

Besides the obvious benefits of living by the water and serene nature, the thing I have been most impressed by is how many performing arts there are in the region. It's impressive! The orchestra is great, there are many theater groups to choose from, and concert series from other organizations. My wife and I have been here for 3 years and still haven't gotten to attend every group yet—there are so many! It's unusual to have this much variety in a rural area.

Is there anything you want to add?

I will be starting to teach yoga at the Middlesex YMCA starting Saturdays on January 24th from 9-10am. Please come and join class! For non-members the class is $15 and included is a day pass for full use of the Y that day.