Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Pate.
Jessica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I first stumbled upon the yoga practice in college, looking for a new, physical outlet after completing a decade long swimming career. I stepped into my first hot yoga class in Malibu looking for physical rigor, but left with so much more. While I left sweaty and physically exhausted (in that oh, so good way), I was energetically and emotionally renewed. I was able to navigate my day feeling more grounded and steady and became more aware of my internal fluctuations. This shifted perspective is what brought me back to my mat the second time, the thousandth time, and still today.
My evolution from student to teacher was unexpected, but in hindsight, very natural given my experiences. I have always been fascinated by the body and prior to teaching yoga, I trained as a physiologist, completing a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, minoring in sports medicine, at Pepperdine University. While obtaining that degree, I was involved in research investigating how the body controls the return of blood from the peripheral circulation to the heart. Following graduation, I had the privilege of working with a psychiatrist, helping to grow and administer a new therapy program for patients suffering from depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric illnesses.
After helping establish this program, I moved to San Diego, where I earned a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from San Diego State University. There, my focus was on the biochemistry of both exercise and nutrition. During this time, I was lucky enough to conduct research on the physiological effects of several styles of military training, as well as to produce a novel paper on the physiological responses to Bikram Yoga in new and experienced practitioners. After completing this work, I realized I wanted to pursue an even deeper understanding of the human body, so I moved to Boston to complete a second Master’s degree in Human Physiology at Boston University. During this time, I expanded my knowledge in several realms of basic science while gaining a greater understanding of how airway smooth muscle and vascular smooth muscle physiologically respond to various life stressors.
As mentioned previously, I have been an athlete my entire life. I started swimming at age seven, trained with a national team at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs during high school, and went on to swim for a NCAA Division I team in college. During this time, I was able to learn from some of the top trainers and nutritionists in the country. Training at this high intensity for over a decade provided me with a complementary, experiential education, which allowed me to begin drawing connections between my academic and athletic backgrounds.
However, it was not until I began to consistently practice yoga that I was able to integrate my academic and physical training on a deeper level. Yoga provided an endless pool for me to dive into, a place where I could begin to understand how to connect my training in a more experiential way. I began to understand physiology in a new light and how we have the power to utilize the body, breath, and mind as a place for growth, healing, and connection.
Inspired by my own shift in understanding, I developed a passion for sharing the power of the practice and decided to begin teaching. I am eternally grateful that my graduate work brought me to Boston where I have had the opportunity to learn from so many profound teachers. I completed 200 hour and 500 hour trainings with Boston Yoga School, directed by Ame Wren, Kevin Courtney, and Brenna Matthews, as well as a training in children’s yoga. I will never step out of the role of a student and am currently studying Iyengar yoga with Patricia Walden, Nikki Costello, and Lara Warren. I also make a point to travel several times a year for workshops and trainings with senior teachers around the country. I also continue to read and act as a reviewer for scientific literature in Exercise Physiology and Movement Science to keep my understanding of physiology bright.
In my classes, I draw from my academic, athletic, and personal yoga experiences to create a safe and nurturing environment where students can explore and develop a deeper inner awareness. My classes are a reflection of how I approach the practice: deliberate, but not too serious. I believes yoga is a framework to discover freedom in the body, mind, and spirit. As a movement enthusiast, I tend to explore postures in unique ways to shed light on our patters and tendencies. I strive to help my students listen to the different languages of the body and how to tap into this intuitive knowledge to respect the internal and external states in each moment. I believe that practicing with both devotion and curiosity helps develop a fresh, open sense of wonder, and a place to find freedom in a relaxed wakefulness.
Has it been a smooth road?
For some time, I struggled personally with a feeling of unfinished business, as I felt I was leaving all of my academic work and research behind after so many years of effort. However, I feel more fulfilled in how I am using the knowledge I have acquired as a yoga teacher rather than a scientist. I am no longer behind the lab bench or book and am able to more directly experience and share with my students.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I teach public, private, and corporate yoga all around Boston. I suppose you could describe my teaching as specializing in really taking the time to pause and notice. I tend to dive deep into the body, exploring the more subtle patterns, tendencies, and relationships to provide an opportunity for growth and discovery.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Boston is an amazing place to explore yoga and wellness in general. The community here is so eager to learn and share and I have found some amazing relationships here. I also feel very fortunate to live in a city that prioritizes health and well-being. There seems to be a genuine interest in all the different ways we grow, both individually and collectively.
Contact Info:
- Website: jessicapate.com
- Email: jessicapateyoga@gmail.com
- Instagram: @jessicapateyoga
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicapateyoga
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