Kasey Kelly

RYT 200hr, MFR 25hr

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED?
I am native to the beautiful Ventura, CA. Being from this city, means knowing all about the Santa Ana winds, the County Fair equating to more traffic and frizzy hair (living near the ocean life), everyone knowing someone you know and that means you can’t get away with anything! Just ask my mom. In all seriousness, I have a deep-seated love for this beautiful town and the community here. I am so grateful to be able to help contribute to its overall loving appeal even if it is just one yoga class at a time.

TELL US A BRIEF HISTORY OF YOUR PERSONAL PRACTICE
My personal practice started back in 2006 when I took a course at Ventura College. The teacher was great and my journey as the annoying student asking too many questions began. I stayed after the classes desiring more knowledge and knew deep down that there was something to this yoga stuff. There was a long, six-month break from my personal practice until I found myself needing to make some drastic shifts to better improve my life. Having already experienced the gifts yoga had to offer, I was referred by a friend to try out a studio in town and so began my return to yoga, inquiry and the path to facing my own shit.

TELL US A BRIEF HISTORY OF YOUR TEACHING EXPERIENCE
In 2014 I reconnected devotionally to a physical practice and soon after found myself in a 200-hour teacher training program the following year. I started teaching immediately after the teacher training and have continued to do so since. From teaching my beloved 805 community, to guests at 5 Star Health and Wellness Program, to teaching Bachelorette Parties, to my friends and family, the joy of helping share the gifts of yoga always keep me learning and inspired.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE YOGA POSE?
From the teachers perspective, I love seeing students in Savasana. It is such a sacred moment of surrender that I get the privilege of witnessing, that for me, always fills my heart with love and gratitude for the class we shared with one another. In my own practice, I love any pose that I am challenged in, which is constantly changing. I understand the place of growth is on the outskirts of our comfort, so that is where I want to go. Challenging me lately has simply been Ustrasana (Camel) and Urdva Dhanurasana (Wheel).

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE YOGA/SPIRITUALITY/SELF HELP BOOK?
One of the first yogic-like books I bought for myself was the Art of Happiness by the Dali Lama. I love the idea of looking at happiness as tangible way of being, much like a painters brush stokes painting on the canvas. Secondly, who doesn’t love the Dali Lama? I sure do. This book resonated so deeply to my core and helped start my path of walking mindfully through each day. I didn’t know it then, but my yogic path had just begun.

ANY ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS?
Just do the damn thing and take that leap into something new. There is no better time then now and life is happening while you are making plans. So if you plan on being around for a long time on this beautiful planet, ask yourself, how do you want your life to be like? Stiff, rigid, and perhaps immobile? I think not. We all deserve to feel the sunshine on our skin and spirit and be able to dance to the beat of our hearts. So come and try it and together we can learn to ride the waves of life.

WHAT DOES “COMMUNITY” MEAN TO YOU?
Community means the union of diverse individuals coming together for reasons beyond themselves. You+Me+Her+Him=Us and that is Community. Together we can learn, grow and change and make this world into one amazing place.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VENTURA?
I love Ventura’s obvious beautiful aesthetic, the ocean and mountains are just so breath taking. Mostly, however, I love seeing the continued growth of Ventura as it continues to discover and define what type of place it wants to be. I dig the direction it is going, with an influx of insanely talented and diverse artists, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs and individuals dedicated to making Ventura a loving slice of paradise.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION?
There are many, including Food Share, helping feed so many food insecure families in the 805. I love AFLAAR and CARL, helping foster and rescue animals giving them an opportunity for a better life. I love UCAAN, a non-profit dedicated to helping cancer patients find the resources they need while fighting cancer. I love Forever Found, dedicated to helping individuals who find themselves victim of sex trafficking, by giving them resources, a mentor and an opportunity to change the course of their life. I love Surfrider because it is important to take care of this beautiful planet that sustains such an incredible life for us here. I could go on….but those are just a few of the amazing non-profits that shine in our community.