Maryellen Ryan

Hi Maryellen, it’s so nice to get to know you a little bit! Thank you for being our first Student of the Month for the new year - we’re kicking things off with a bang! It’s so nice to see you and practice with you at our CLOUDBREAK studio as well as the Metta locations. You bring a warm and calming presence to classes and those around you. We’re grateful for you! 

In honor of the new year and all new beginnings, what inspired you to start your yoga practice?

I have recently retired and wanted to join with people in person after the Covid lockdown. I wanted to be in a place of love, and a non-competitive activity.

The lockdown months were hard on all of us in different ways… as we emerge from that phase, I’ve loved seeing our yoga communities revitalizing as we join together and support each other. At all three studios, there’s a feeling of family and taking care of each other. I’m so glad you’re part of that process!

As your practice has deepened and evolved, have you found a favorite pose to practice?

I love the hip openers and using a belt to stretch my legs across my body.

Hip openers are delicious! That deep release of tension and holding can be transformative. On the flip side, do you have a least favorite yoga pose?

I dislike Half Moon pose, but I still continue to work on it.

Giving ourselves the time, the space, and the grace to work on things we don’t particularly like is such a part of the practice, and also an important reminder for how we approach things off our mats. Following that line of thought, how do you practice yoga off your mat and out in the world?

Off the mat, I try to hold onto my intention. I like to watch my thoughts like clouds in the sky, coming back to my breath.

That is beautiful. It takes a deep stillness to witness thoughts and allow them to come and go without attachment or grasping. What a great reminder for everyday living for all of us!

Our yoga practice grows and changes with us. Has your practice changed much since you started yoga? 

The most notable change in my practice is that I enjoy the slower practices now. Yin, slow flow, and restorative. 

The slower practices allow us to go deeper into our bodies and into our minds. We’re able to really notice and feel that connection of body, breath, mind and spirit. And, we’re allowed to release, melt and let go. Everyone can benefit from those practices! As you move through your practices, your days and years, have you uncovered a yoga goal you’d like to share?

My goal is to improve at the poses where balance is needed.

Oh balance! That is challenging! Not only balancing on one foot, but also finding the balance in the breath, the front of the body and the back of the body, left and right, inhale and exhale. So many things to balance! And then there’s the balancing of life off our mats. The depth and breadth of balance is never ending! Which is part of the reason why we practice it all the time in class!

Ok, Maryellen, we’re moving on to the ‘Get to Know Ya’ phase… Where is your favorite place to be other than the yoga studios?

My favorite place to be is outside in nature! I love Yosemite, Big Sur, Mount Tam, and Stinson Beach.

What is your favorite thing about living in the here and now?

Being in the here and now decreases my anxiety.

You inspire us, Maryellen, who inspires you?

The Dalai Lama, people who foster kids and cats, animals. Musicians and artists. The yoga teachers I have met. 

Do you have advice or words of wisdom to share with us?

Try not to dwell on the negative, and remember to share.

Maryellen, your beautiful soul shines so brightly, what are you passionate about?  

I am passionate about painting, pottery, and walking in nature.

What are two things most people don’t know about you?

Most people don’t know that I love my collection of reusable containers, and I am dyslexic.

I love getting to know our yogis! Ok, what is your favorite book?

I just finished reading The Song Of The Cell by Sidhartha Mukherjee.

Do you have a favorite movie?

Cinema Paradiso.

We’re getting close to the end… what’s your favorite food?

My favorite foods are crab, cioppino, eggplant parmesan and almost anything my sweetheart cooks.

What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Mint chocolate chip!

Can’t go wrong with a classic! What’s your favorite animal?  

My kitty cat is my favorite animal!

What is your favorite travel destination?  Or what is your dream vacation?

I would like to travel to a place with warm ocean water and waves. I would love to climb Half Dome in Yosemite. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us, Maryellen! As always, it’s an honor and a pleasure to get to know our amazing students on a more personal level. Thank you for your time, your honesty and for being an amazing human being! We’re honored and humbled to have you share your practice with us at our studios. 

When you next see Maryellen, be sure to say hello, share a smile, and the beauty and grace of Namaste.

© METTA YOGA 2023