The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1326760
How did you get involved with practicing and teaching yoga? I took my first yoga class at the age of 17 when I was a senior in high school living in Taipei, Taiwan, and I was battling anorexia, stress, and anger. My doctor suggested I try yoga as a form of gentle exercise. I walked into my first studio not really knowing what to expect, and walked out of my first class actually disliking it! But, I went back because the yoga studio encouraged trying different forms of yoga. I decided to try Yin Yoga and that's where my love for yoga began. Yin Yoga is all about holding postures and surrendering into the stretch. ose first few months of sitting still and surrendering allowed me to observe my inner dialogue of self- doubt and as a result, I chose to let go of my limiting beliefs. It allowed me to shi my mindset, take control of my emotions, and transform my life. When I moved back to the United States for university, I didn't have a studio to practice in and ended up developing a strong home practice. It wasn't until eight years later when I worked for Lululemon that I was introduced to a whole new community of yogis and yoga studios. I was hooked, and by 2015, I signed up for my first Yoga Teacher Training. At the time, I was still aiming to make a career in medicine and working in nutritional biochemistry research but I decided to give myself one year of opportunity to quit my job and pursue my passions of teaching yoga full-time. Little did I know, my experiment would turn out to be the most incredible experience that opened doors to an entirely new lifestyle. Over that year, I grew my social media account @janiceliou on Instagram which allowed me to connect with students and yogis globally for both travel and teaching opportunities. In 2018, I began creating an online yoga service, and this year I launched my app, Om Life Living by Janice Liou. Now, I am in the process of launching a service to help other yoga teachers start and grow their online legacy to create a sustainable lifestyle just as I have! Who would you say your retreats are aimed towards? Retreats are aimed towards anyone who is looking to switch things up! Anyone who has been feeling stuck in a routine or uninspired. ey are a truly transformational experience where you get to connect with other people who are similar and have the drive to develop and grow. Beginners are more than welcome – in fact, retreats are a great way for beginners to start their path with a strong footing. Most of my yoga retreats are 7-day immersions of learning the practice, culture, and mindset of yoga. Why did you choose Bali as the location of this retreat? My aim for any retreat is to create a spiritually and culturally elevating experience for all the senses to invigorate body, mind, and spirit. I had been to Bali three times before the retreat and fell in love all over again every single time. ere is something magical about Bali and when you get there you really understand the magic of it. I chose to host my retreat there because you get to experience both a traditional Balinese culture, but also a modernized Photo by @janiceliou V U E N J . C O M 144