Passionate about yoga, sound and movement, Katya Seymour is a creative creature by nature. Leading with humor, compassion and integrity, she reminds you that you belong exactly as you are no matter where you are. Her Ukrainian roots and multicultural upbringing have fueled her wanderlust and thirst for all forms of communication. 

As a yoga teacher and educator, Katya is focused on alignment, fluidity, movement intelligence and artful expression. We are so excited to feature her this week in our first edition of our Sacred Self-care Series. 

 (Tara, Founder, THARA SACRA)

DAILY SELF-CARE ROUTINE

My daily self-care routine involves starting each day with tongue scraping and dry brushing. It's so energizing! I love using all natural skin care, diffusing essential oils or burning incense as I get ready in the morning. But the true investment is always
in the way I choose to purchase and prepare my food. There is no better act of self love than a meal made with love and positive intention, eaten without distractions in complete gratitude. To me self-care looks like a giant green smoothie.

WHY YOU STARTED A CAREER IN WELLNESS

My career started in fitness but continues in wellness. I think that anyone who encounters illness and struggles to get well will naturally seek ways to regain vitality. I have learned a great deal through my health struggles and it's imperative that I share my findings with others who may potentially benefit. From becoming a sound therapist, to refining the way I teach yoga, it's all a journey I might not have embarked on had I not found myself in distress. Unfortunately many of us in the realm of "healing arts" had to undergo the initiation period marked by sheer desperation. The phrase: "Heal yourself, heal the world" is very true to me and resonates deeply.

CURRENT WELLNESS OBSESSION

I am currently geeking out over Stephen Cabral and his no nonsense approach to detoxification. Hooked on his podcasts! Good thing there is a new one every day.

LATEST INSPIRATION

I am currently inspired by the concept of clarity. Decluttering my home, clearing my mind, and essentially my life, has been completely magic. Creating space and sorting through layers of chaos has truly enhanced my ability to focus. Which in turn is touching every corner of my existence. Once you have the space, you want to keep creating it!

FAVORITE SPOT IN DETROIT

Where do I start? I love Detroit. Eastern Market is always amazing and I love visiting every season.

CURRENT MANTRA:

This mantra came to me last year and we're still going strong.

Carry less, give more.

HEART MATTERS - BY KATYA SEYMOUR

An open heart has nothing to prove.

A thought impossibly simple. But what a beautiful way to approach such a seemingly fragile matter. Seemingly because our hearts don’t always get the credit they deserve.

We protect the heart, as if it’s weak. We don’t generally sing odes to it’s power.

We believe that the heart will mislead us, so we follow the mind.

We don’t want the heart to break, so we cage it, surrounding it with conditions. Creating a circuit of disconnect between what we feel and what we believe.

Did you know that the electromagnetic field of a human heart is the strongest rhythmic field produced by a human body? According to the HeartMath Institute: “The magnetic component of the heart’s field, which is around 100 times stronger than that produced by the brain, is not impeded by tissues and can be measured several feet away from the body”.

Let’s pause and digest for a moment.

Oh the matters of the heart, always so tricky…

What if we were to ask our hearts what they really needed?

The answer would likely be SPACE. Space to love unconditionally without restraints and regulations.

The subject of heart opening easily leads us to yoga. Heart openers are a chapter in their own right. And if an ancient tradition that dates back 6,000 years believes that your heart needs opening and space, then who are we to argue? In any given yoga class you may hear a cue “ lead with the heart” which suggests to the student that the heart is worth listening to. Folding from the heart, lifting from the heart, heart forward. Sound familiar?

On the other hand you’re never taught to follow the mind in a yoga practice, in fact you move through the physical asana practice so that you are able to sit with yourself in meditation. You move in order to clear, to declutter the thoughts that run you ragged. You move to focus the mind on that very physicality, journeying until stillness welcome you, and you arrive prepared, realizing that your heart led you the entire way.

May your mind feel at peace, and your body feel like home.

May your heart be open with nothing to prove. 

KATYA

Want to work with Katya? You can currently find her hosting movement and sound therapy classes at California Yoga and Fitness Shack in Sylvania, OH about an hour outside of Metro Detroit. For more of her inspiring words, follow her on Instagram at ekateryna23. For a heart opening essential oil try our Accept Chakra Oil.