Meet The Team - Teresa Wohlmannstetter
Do you remember your first yoga class?
Yes! I attended my first Yoga class when I was only 12 years old, and well, I didn’t really like it. I didn’t bond with the teacher nor with the other students which were approximately 20-30 years older, so I finished the course and decided to quit. But although I wasn’t really happy with the classes I took, I found myself being amazed by that tranquillity and relaxation that stayed within my body after coming out of Shavasana.
What brought you back on the mat?
It took six years before I found yoga again after going through a challenging time of my life. Starting with a physical focus, my practice became deeper and more spiritual by time. I was, and I still am, fascinated by the healing and releasing of trauma and wounds, big or small, that happens within our practice.
How did you decide to become a yoga teacher?
I had this idea of becoming a yoga teacher in my mind for a very long time, so I finally decided to make the move and attended Nina’s 200h training in Portugal in October 2020, which came out as the best month of this absolutely crazy year.
As a Physio and now a Yoga Teacher, what is your vision for the future - professionally?
My first love was healing the physical body, that’s why I studied Physiotherapy and started my career as a Physiotherapist in 2015., now working in a orthopaedic practice since 2018. But, yoga heals on a deeper level, and my current goal is to bring these two passions together and offer a yoga practice that is fitting our modern life bodies and supports healing both physically and emotionally.
You are also a surfer. When did you start surfing?
That’s actually a little similar to my Yoga journey. I think I was 14 when I took my very first lesson in France during a trip with my friends. Although I really enjoyed it, I didn’t continue in the following years until 2015, when I quit my sport science studies and decided to go to Bali, all on my own, and try surfing again. From this year on I was totally stoked and kept on planning all my days off studies, and later work, around it. I fell in love with the whole vibe, the connection to the ocean and the flowing feeling once you finally catch a wave. For that feeling all the paddling, the wipeouts, the failing, the bruises and scares, the water in your nose are totally worth it. And yes, my sessions are still packed with failing and swallowing salt water, but hey, I love it, and this just means that there is still plenty of space to grow.
When not on the mat or a surf board, how do you spend your free time?
My free time activities vary with the seasons. During spring and summer you will find me most of the time somewhere by or in the water, swimming, reading, paddling on my SUP, playing Volleyball or just hanging out with friends. I have a huge urge to move my body during this time whereas in winter I use my free time to recharge my batteries and try to slow down. During the cold seasons it’s mainly friends, reading, Yoga, going for long walks, a little bit of running and skiing, when I feel like it.
What makes you happy?
One of the greatest things to me is spending time with my family and friends. Cooking together, enjoying food and drinks, exploring new places and spending time in nature. Sharing these experiences and feeling true connection to your loved ones and nature, is probably the most beautiful gift to me. But sometimes it’s also the small things, like spending time all by myself, drinking a good coffee, having a croissant at my favorite place next door, spending time in or by the water or reading a good book, that make me happy. I think we don’t need much to be happy, we just have to feel our own desires and fulfill them the best we can.
A good book recommendations for the winter days?
If it comes to spirituality, Eckhart Tolle’s “The power of now“ was my game changer, but I have to admit, that it took me a while until i was ready for it. It’s one of those books that really click with you when you are in the right stage of life for it. So, if you haven’t read it, you should. I also loved “To love and let go” by Rachel Brathen aka Yoga Girl.