By Amber Ford The Mountain Times
While art is known for its ability to move others emotionally and mentally, tapping into feelings and experiences with just a glance into color and shape, physical art draws on something deeper and, at times, more physically impactful. This most powerful effect has been the foundation and inspiration for local yoga instructor Elle Mesa.
A resident of The Mt. Hood Villages for over a year, Mesa has found peace, harmony and creativity when it comes to teaching and practicing yoga. “After falling in love with hot yoga specifically, I wanted to further my yoga education and decided to take a yoga teacher training course last year in Costa Rica through Awaken Yoga School,” Mesa said. “I’ve been practicing yoga seriously for about 2.5 years,” Mesa added.
Mastering the discipline of yoga, Mesa is trained in variations of her chosen path. “I absolutely love to practice and teach Vinyasa but am also trained in Ashtanga and Yin,” Mesa said. Keeping active and moving her body through art has been a part of Mesa’s life, even as a child. “I grew up in South Florida on the coast where both my parents were ocean lifeguards so we spent a lot of time at the beach. I initially found love for movement through swimming and being tossed in the waves of the ocean,” Mesa said. “I loved letting the currents of each wave move me as I tried to dance along,” Mesa added.
Although yoga is her artistic focus, Mesa is no stranger to other forms of art. Her creative passions can also be seen in her painting, drawing and jewelry making, as well as dancing. “My truest and most loved art form is dance! Ecstatic dance is my favorite way to express myself and connect with others,” Mesa said. “Movement of any kind is a sacred therapy for me which is why I connected with yoga so deeply once I found it,” Mesa added.
While yoga is most definitely a creative outlet with its meaningful poses and creative flow, there are several health benefits to this most unique discipline. According to Mesa, those who practice yoga find improved abilities in balance, stability, strength, and controlled breathing. “Breathing is the most beneficial part of yoga – the rest is secondary,” Mesa said. Along with the many physical benefits of yoga, Mesa further explains how the poses improve mental health. “The mental health benefits of yoga include bringing more mindfulness into your day to day. Yoga teaches us to accept what is and find equanimity in the waves of life,” Mesa said. “A non-reactive mind in challenging moments, whether that be a yoga pose or one of life’s difficult moments, is one of yoga’s greatest benefits,” Mesa added.
Although many yoga classes are held in studios or gyms, Mesa finds practicing yoga on Mt. Hood to be a unique and special experience. “Living on the mountain continues to inspire me to teach because of the community,” Mesa said. “Everyone is so excited about yoga and eager to learn more, and even some who have never practiced before are coming week after week,” Mesa added.
For those interested in taking Mesa’s yoga class, she is currently teaching every Monday evening at Coffee House 26 at 6:30 p.m.