YOGI OF THE MONTH
May 2025 - Albert Pollard
What first brought you to yoga and how long have you been practicing?
I was running ultra marathons for a while and took a beginner yoga class several years ago from IOY because of the pounding my body was taking.
What is/are your intention(s) for your yoga practice?
I’d love to say my intention is something like “finding inner peace” but it’s really more basic in terms of just taking care of my body and applying what I learn in the classroom to everyday activities. If I’m getting ready to pick up a stack of lumber that’s heavy, what form do I take? How does a stressful activity like, say, weed eating cause me to breathe differently? If I’m shoveling a pile of gravel, what can I do to make sure I don’t twist in a damaging way?? These are basic things that help me every day.
What is your favorite pose and why?
Downward Dog! It’s the only one that I can remember easily when Susan calls it out! (Also, I have a bad shoulder and it helps stretch it out nicely.)
What is your favorite class at InsideOut Yoga?
I’ve found the myofascial release class to be particularly helpful and actually wish I’d taken it before my beginner yoga class.
How has the practice of yoga influenced your life?
Yoga has made me more aware of breath and relaxation and now I’m constantly telling myself to breathe better. Weed eating? Breathe! Crawling under a house where there might be snakes? Breathe! Cutting down a big tree? Breathe!
What advice would you have for a beginning yoga student? Just like sailing, wood working, or any hobby, yoga and its specialized language can be intimidating. Don’t let that deter you, as the more experienced practitioners like to make it accessible and to teach new folks... Admitting (loudly) that you are a beginner takes a lot of the intimidation factor away.
What is your occupation? I own Refuel Irvington. I do all the maintenance and grass cutting myself, so my body gets a little more abuse than most. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy the practice and also the MFR.
What activities do you enjoy?
Time on the water. Time outdoors. Building projects large and small. Time with my kids. Time with Carolyn who is my wife and best friend.
What is your favorite thing about living in the Northern Neck or Middle Peninsula?
I couldn’t really say, I’ve never lived anywhere else.
Is there anything you want to add?
I really can’t be called a “yogi” and I’m not even sure I qualify as a “Yoga-ette.” I can’t touch my toes. I can’t sit cross legged. I’ve never said “Namaste” outside of a class… But that doesn’t bother me, I just try to get a little better each day and realize that even when it’s a bad day on the mat, it’s still better than not getting on the mat at all.
May 2025 - Albert Pollard
April 2025 - Brian Erwin
March 2025 - Dinah Bondzie
February 2025 - Aline Johnson
January 2025 - Irene Vest
December 2024 - Ken Beutel
November 2024 - Deb Beutel
October 2024 - Catherine Baker
September 2024 - Chris Collins
August 2024 - Sarah Haynie McCarthy
July 2024 - Terri Sanchez
June 2024 - Kirsten Knull
May 2024 - Pam Bickel
April 2024 - Jill Bessler
March 2024 - Dave Godwin
February 2024 - Nicole Leona
January 2024 - Carol Muratore
December 2023 - Steve Griswold
November 2023 - Lynne Haynie
October 2023 - Margy Childs
September 2023 - Sharon Seal
August 2023 - Pam Bailey
July 2023 - Lydia Haynie
June 2023 - Sri Bhagava Brachmacharya
May 2023 - Kelly Goodrich
Apil 2023 - Nancy Wilson
March 2023 - Alli Crowell
January 2023 - Candie Newman
December 2022 - Cindy Miller
November 2022 - Kati O’Brien Rose
October 2022 - Margot Bearden
September 2022 - Jim Purcell
August 2022 - Leigh Purcell
July 2022 - Steve Reiss
June 2022 - Carol Buchman
May 2022 - Carla Everton
April 2022 - Jill Zelman
March 2022 - Anita Riddle
February 2022 - Seth Weinstein
January 2022 - Denise Greene
December 2021 - Lisa MacNair
November 2021 - Michelle & Tom Wolf
October 2021 - Ken Laden
September 2021 - Paulette Laden
August 2021 - Ashley Duncan
July 2021 - Mindy Arnold
June 2021 - Luba Brice
May 2021 - Brian Burroughs
April 2021 - Joann Burroughs
March 2021 - Carey Gaenzle
February 2021 - Thyra Harris
January 2021 - Katie Conschafter
December 2020 - Jack Fackler
November 2020 - Christian Johnson
October 2020 - Peggy DeFranco
September 2020 - Susie Dunaway
August 2020 - Karen Kaechele Costantino
July 2020 - Julie Woods
June 2020 - Julie Zimmerman
May 2020 - Ainslie Hodges
April 2020 - Bhagava Brachmacharya
March 2020 - Melissa Kerby
February 2020 - Barbara Olin
January 2020 - Kelly Strickland
December 2019 - Angie McKinster
November 2019 - Cindy Hylton
October 2019 - Beth Johnson
September 2019 - Elizabeth Bulette
August 2019 - Lauren Leo
July 2019 - Janice Thomas
June 2019 - Jane Austin
May 2019 - Dianne Nichols
April 2019 - Milly Rixey
March 2019 - Holly Archard
February 2019 - Barbara Thorum
January 2019 - Brigitte Wolf-Small
December 2018 - Mohler Carlson
November 2018 - Sylvia Voreas
October 2018 - Lisa Shivers
September 2018 - Lynn Hower
August 2018 - Brenda Brinn
July 2018 - Ingrid Buell
June 2018 - Kaz Kazenske
May 2018 - Louise Mohardt
April 2018 - Art Gilbert
March 2018 - Connie Majeski
February 2018 - Amy Maloney
January 2018 - Jen King
December 2017 - Susan Whitlow
November 2017 - Sharon Topping
October 2017 - Betsy and Pete Liljeberg
September 2017 - Lena Okun
August 2017 - Sarah Rae
July 2017 - Gayle Chambers
June 2017 - Liz Seigler
May 2017 - Rita D'Amico
April 2017 - Suzie Beer
March 2017 - Andrea Latell
February 2017 - The Manyak Family
January 2017 - MJ Anderson
December 2016 - Susan Richardson
November 2016 - Vickie and Norm Grimm
October 2016 - Lydia Sellers
September 2016 - Ginger Houck
August 2016 - Ally Childress
July 2016 - Margot Angstrom
June 2016 - Dan Grohowski
May 2016 - Christine Potter
April 2016 - Mary Beth Fox
March 2016 - Liliane and Michael Merrill
February 2016 - Consi Palmer
January 2016 - Scott Witthaus
December 2015 - Missy Reed
November 2015 - Page Wittkamp
October 2015 - Christine Whitaker Wiggins
September 2015 - Jameson Crandall
August 2015 - Pris Regan
July 2015 - CJ Carter
June 2015 - Nancy Sledd
May 2015 - Cherie Kazenske
April 2015 - Eva Abel
March 2015 - Pamela Witthaus
February 2015 - Corey Hassman
January 2015 - Adrianne Bugg
December 2014 - Kimberly Vail
November 2014 - Julie Perkins
October 2014 - Cathy Mecke
September 2014 - Kae Kindle
August 2014 - Hatley Bright
July 2014 - Maureen Lynch
June 2014 - Davy Nichols
May 2014 - Caroline Shifflett
April 2014 - Bob Weekley
March 2014 - Debi Isbrandtsen
February 2014 - Janet Hill
January 2014 - Susan and Bob Wayland
December 2013 - Anna Mendez
November 2013 - Kathy Morchower
October 2013 - Jim Philbrick