#96 - Yoga as a Path Home - Yoga in Armenia with Lili Manuel
Welcome to Episode #96 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast. My conversation with Lili Manuel, a yoga teacher from Armenia, was so lovely as we unpacked what Iyengar yoga is and how it became Lily’s passion. As Lily says, yoga brings you back home to yourself and can become an irreplaceable part of yourself. If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga in Armenia then this is the conversation for you.
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For the skimmers - What’s in the yoga in Armenia episode?
- Embracing Iyengar: the depth of precise exploration
- Trusting the universe and opening a yoga studio in Armenia
- The aura of yoga in India— finding your teacher
- Yoga: the journey home to self
- Armenia's yogic rise: from mystery to practice
Tell me more about Lili Manuel
Lili Manuel, a passionate yoga teacher from Armenia, is dedicated to the art of Iyengar yoga. With 8 years of teaching experience at Shakti Yoga Armenia, a studio she founded, Lili's expertise is well-established. Her journey includes multiple certifications, with 200hr and 300hr yoga teacher training, a 100hr therapeutic yoga certificate, and she is now pursuing a 500hr Iyengar teacher training certification.
What to expect in the Yoga In Armenia episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast
In this episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe podcast, Lily Allen-Duenas welcomes Lili Manuel, a yoga teacher and yoga studio founder from Armenia onto the show, to discuss her journey into the world of yoga. Lili is the founder of Shakti Yoga, a studio in Armenia, and has extensive experience in Iyengar yoga.
Lili shares how she first discovered yoga during her time as a flight attendant when she saw someone meditating in a movie. Despite the lack of awareness about yoga in Armenia at that time, Lili's intuition led her to explore further. She recounts her journey from finding a teacher to her decision to quit her job and travel to India to immerse herself in yoga. Lili explains her attraction to Iyengar yoga, describing it as a detailed and deep practice that aligns with her preference for precise exploration.
Lili delves into the response of her students to Iyengar yoga. Lili emphasizes how her students have embraced this practice, leading to higher engagement and longer commitment compared to other forms of yoga. They also discuss Lili's inspiring journey of founding Shakti Yoga in Armenia. Lili shares how she followed her intuition and started a yoga studio that has thrived for eight years, serving as a haven for her community.
The conversation pivots to the state of yoga in Armenia. Lili explains how yoga has gradually gained popularity in the country, transitioning from a misunderstood concept to a widely practiced and cherished activity. Lili also touches on the gender dynamics within yoga classes in Armenia, with women being more receptive to yoga while men remain less engaged.
Lili reflects on her experiences practicing yoga in different Asian countries, such as India, Malaysia, and Vietnam. She underscores the significance of India in her yoga journey, describing its unique and mystic atmosphere that fosters a deep connection to the practice. Lili explains that while yoga is more prevalent in these Asian countries, she finds that men still show less interest in yoga in these regions.
The podcast concludes with Lili sharing the powerful lesson she has learned from yoga—feeling at home with herself. She describes yoga as an integral part of her being, not something external.
Connect with Lili Manuel
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