Helen Hatfield
RYT 200
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED?
I was born and raised in Ventura!
TELL US A BRIEF HISTORY OF YOUR PERSONAL PRACTICE
My personal practice has been infused with yoga the majority of my life! I was a ballerina and competitive dancer for 16 years and many forms of yoga asanas were always included in our conditioning. Once I began going to festivals more frequently, my love for and a deeper understanding of yoga started to grow. I joined Grassroots in 2022 and instantly fell in love with the community and mission of the studio. Yoga has now become my happy place, my release, and a part of my lifestyle.
TELL US A BRIEF HISTORY OF YOUR TEACHING EXPERIENCE
I completed my Yoga Teacher Training in 2023 at the Maui Yoga Shala in Paia, HI mentored by Nadia Toraman, Sage Simpson, Karin Kuhn, Jennifer Bonadio and Shakta. This experience opened so many spiritual, emotional, and physical doors within me. It also showed me what type of teacher I want to aspire to become. My training itself created a whole new family for me and showed me just how deeply yoga connects us all. Hawaii holds a very sacred space in my yoga and spiritual journey, my hope is to be able to spread that energy within my teaching. Prior to teaching at Grassroots, I’ve taught teenagers in treatment facilities and in Ojai.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE YOGA POSE?
It changes based on what I feel is needed. but lately I have really been enjoying ardha kapotasana (half pigeon). I also LOVE a supported Matsyasana (fish pose) to open my heart at the start and end of my practice.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE YOGA/SPIRITUALITY/SELF HELP BOOK?
The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle! It offers a lot of self-reflection and taught me a lot about how my patterns, beliefs and mindsets have shaped my current path and how to grow and become a better version of myself.
ANY ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS?
Be open to all the possibilities! Yoga can be a whole new world in every sense if you just surrender to the possibilities of your practice and what it makes you feel!
WHAT DOES “COMMUNITY” MEAN TO YOU?
Somewhere you feel completely able to be yourself and supported in your journey no matter where you in your life.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VENTURA?
The sense of community. My family has been in Ventura since the early 1910s and it makes me so happy to still be so connected within my community here, as all of our generations have been. No matter where I travel, Ventura always shines brightest for me. The accessibility to nature in multiple ways also makes me so happy to live here.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION?
Save The Mermaids! This nonprofit is focused on eliminating single-use plastics and our society’s reliance on them! Through community outreach with all ages and local legislation, they are committed to ending our oceans’ (and Earth’s) plastic waste!