Today we’d like to introduce you to Willa Worsfold.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Willa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in NYC, raised in the Berkshires and schooled in Ohio, but I found my yoga soul in Chicago where I lived after college until 2004. We moved to the Boston area about 15 years ago for my husband’s work and to be closer to my then bigger Italian family. I’ve always been a runner and b-grade player of many sports, and generally your never-sit-still-kinda-gal. Move It or lose It. The World Is Your Gym. Just Do It… And then you get older, the body shifts, the mind expands, and the current of life around you unfolds in waves of joys and adversities, births and deaths, blessings and struggles. I am not unique in this Being Human.
In the beginning Yoga had been a purely physical activity for me – a way to obtain that runner’s high without even leaving the room – the tricks and inversions, the communal sweat fest, the cute clothes… and at first that was plenty. But on the day after 9/11, within the shadow of the Chicago Sears Tower, our teacher lead us thru a meditation that offered us the opportunity to send our healing thoughts from our scared and broken hearts, in attempts to lend any sort of assistance to those back in NYC. In that instant and the days to follow, I no longer felt as helpless in the face of my and so many others’ fears. Yes I was still worried for the safety of my then small daughters, cautious of large crowds and fearful for what our world was becoming, but it had moved toward a sense of grace within the despair around us. A reaching for and finding hope, humanity, and healing – as a choice. As a diligence. As a practice.
This practice of yoga asana (poses) combined with practical, non-mystical meditation and approachable philosophies has helped me find peace within my body and my mind, regardless of the shifting world around us. Peace…and Space. The space to heal my chronic back pain from bulging and herniated disks, space within my overused creaking joints, space to sit and find stillness, to breath with more ease, space to observe both the joy and sadness – and to recognize the importance of our reactions to the shifts and changes that life can bring. And from that space in me arose the desire to help others find that space and healing within themselves.
My yoga has continued to grow into yoga for the benefit of others in a charitable giving expression as well. Since my babysitting days I’ve always felt awkward when it comes to money issues, but I am encouraged to teach and train more students when I remember that all of our family’s annual charitable giving comes from the money I receive from teaching classes and trainings, at minimum 50% of my salary. Therefore together my students and my family are contributing to the health and well-being of our local schools and universities, multiple medical research programs, historical properties, environmental conservation, programs for women and children at risk, international amnesty relief, and various crowd sourced appeals that just strike my heart.
I still do all the tricks, arm balances and inversions don’t get me wrong – ever After 50 😉 there is great joy in finding ease and grace within the physical asana challenges, and I still love to run (downhill), and climb and kick or hit things around on various playing fields. I adore traveling (not always so keen on flying – ah but there is the work to be done) including leading multiple retreats in the past to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Italy, maybe soon the Bahamas. Retreats are complex and scheduling is not one of my strengths, so we’ll see. Most recently I’ve been finding peaceful space on the coast of Maine.
Here on the North Shore of Boston I teach an interesting style of vinyasa yoga that blends creative sequencing with mindful alignment cues to help students find their strength AND softness, upon their mats and in the world. My classes tend to be challenging but accessible, intelligent but entertaining, contemplative but conversational. And I love to accompany each class with practical meditational techniques, refreshing alternative music and poetic ruminations. Classes close with a delicious 10-15 minute guided meditation and restful savasana. My priority has always been my family – but when the time allows, I enjoy teaching meditation, an advancing physical practice, and 200 hour and 300 hour yoga teaching trainings in Boston and on the North Shore.
Has it been a smooth road?
Listen.
You know I don’t have it all together. I struggle with fears, faith, fortitude, family, friend, food, Facebook and fitness issues. I don’t always know how best to provide, parent and partner. And that can all be in one day!
Life is beautiful, but messy.
Honestly it’s all so simple, yet so complex.
And it’s hard work.
But the yoga has taught me to be awake to, sit with and in turn OWN my struggles of being fully human, in this lifetime, on this earth. Physically and emotionally the yoga teaches me daily how to help myself find my inherent strengths, and weaknesses, and most satisfying – to be an energetic and enthusiastic example and empathetic ally for others along the path to well-being.
My life’s work is to teach others to do the same.
We all belong in the room.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
As yoga evolves, I would encourage a shift toward physical and mental fortitude, not just strength and flexibility. Teacher Training programs should advance to raising not just yoga teachers, but mindful humans who wish to share the various gifts of yoga to benefit others. My 200 hour Yoga and Meditation Teacher Trainings focus on mindfulness and lovingkindness, in addition to how and what to teach. My 300 hour Training is designed to physically and emotionally support our minds and bodies and those of our students from Birth to Death, from peace and ease within pregnancy, running a house hold, the drama of the school years, in the workplace, athletes, individuals at risk or physically limited, in recovery, returned from war, healing and preventing injuries, entering elder hood, to mindful end of life preparation.
Technology has done wonders for wider availability of the practice and expansion of yoga and meditation. And though face to face is usually best – there are many great teachers to be experienced online, in the comforts of your own environment and time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.willaworks.com
- Email: willaworks@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Cris Mallette, Camilla Worsfold, Willa Worsfold, Kadri Kurgun, Julie Costa
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