Meet Joyce Cmiel
How did you begin practicing and teaching yoga? 
I actually bid on and won some yoga classes at a silent auction in 1995. I began the classes and fell in love with the feeling in my body during and after class. I felt as if I had just had a full body massage, restored and relaxed. Eager to learn more, I found Sun and Moon and began studying with Judith Lyons. Five years and two children later I entered the teacher-training program with JJ. I applied with the completely selfish goal of deepening my own practice and found I also enjoyed teaching. Yoga, for me is such a personal, inward journey it was hard at first for me to move outside my body and teach it to others. Now I find both equally rewarding. Under JJ's wise and gentle wing I have studied with her and many other internationally known teachers- Rodney Yee, Erich Schiffman, Kausthub Desikachar, Anodea Judith, John Friend, Swami Satchidananda, and others. Two years and a third baby later I began teaching. My children are now seven, five and three and my yoga practice has given me the gift of balance in my life to temper the demands of child rearing. When I feel I am long myself, I need only to return to my yoga mat to find my center, my inner peace again.
How would you describe your style of teaching?
My teachers have had Iyengar, Shivananda, Anusara and Chakra based teaching styles. I suppose mine is a blend of these. I like to start class with a long, relaxing pranayama (breathing) practice to ease into the present moment while developing body awarenss. I try to sequence each class to build to more challenging poses and then wind back down again with forward bends and twists to shivasana. I love teaching anatomy and alignment for each pose and then linking the poses together in a sun salute vinyasa. As a level 1 teacher I believe my dharma (desire+ability+responsibility) is to teach the fundamentals of each pose so the student will feel they have the foundation from which to grow their practice. My classes are challenging and restorative packed full of mindfulness and body and breath awareness.
What is the best advice you have ever received from your teachers?
I have three favorites: From Swami Satchidananda, "Do not ever allow someone to disturb your personal peace". (This is great advice for dealing with kids). From Alexandra Spaith (when teaching kids yoga), "stop before the ouch". From JJ Gormley, "Your teacher training yoga practice is not limited to the asana practice (postures)". When I began the teacher-training program many of my peers had a more frequent asana practice. I had two small children with a third on the way and was having a tough time finding the time for a daily practice. I felt guilty and "confessed" to JJ. I told her I attended classes, occasionally did some poses at home with my kids, but mostly focused on my breathing and meditation and mindfulness to get through the day. She turned to me and said, "That is your yoga!" It was my first awareness into the depth of yoga and all of its gifts. There are many paths in yoga and the asana is just one. Each of us needs to find what we need most-meditation, contemplation, asana, pranayama and choose the appropriate practice for us.
You have been teaching Kids Yoga for a couple of years now, tell us more about those classes.Growing up I always believed I would be a first grade teacher, I just didn't know I would be teaching them Yoga! In college, I taught kids gymnastics and loved it. After 14 years in the finance world, I finally found yoga and kids again! In class, I try to offer a space for the kids to express themselves through yoga in a noncompetitive, fun and supportive environment. I have taught from age 3-13 and they all love yoga. The most requested pose is shivasana. They love doing strength and flexibility training and trust development exercises, although I never let on that's what we are doing. Perhaps the most rewarding discovery is they love to chant! I try to incorporate sound into many of the postures. With the younger kids I use yoga poses to teach them healthy ways to release their emotions. The older kids I try to develop self-acceptance and love, introspection and trust. I welcome parent participation and find it is very bonding for both the parent and child, especially for the pre-teens. It is a great way for all of us to be a little silly and reconnect with our kids. I have found few greater joys in life than sharing the gifts of yoga with children.
What do you like to do in your free time?Go on adventures with my husband Craig, dinner out, movies, hikes, travel. Spend time with my family and girlfriends, play with my kids, do yoga, read, cook, volunteer and do thoughtful things for family and friends.