Helya Glen

CorePower 200Hrs 

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED?
I was born in Santa Ana, Ca but spent the first 10 years of my life in Tehran, Iran. We moved here permanently when I was in 3rd grade. Since then I lived in OC and then moved to SLO for school, met my husband and moved to Ventura shortly after that. 

TELL US A BRIEF HISTORY OF YOUR PERSONAL PRACTICE
I started taking Yoga in college and was a regular student of Bikram, but felt a bit bored of the same sequence over and over (although there is definitely beauty in that, as I recognize more now). I left yoga for many years, dove in deep to strength and conditioning training then picked yoga training back up about 5 years ago. That’s also when I found out I was pregnant with my first baby. I finished my 200 hours right before I had her with CorePower, but have not been teaching yoga for many years. Excited to dive back in now, after my second baby. 

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE YOGA POSE?
As surprising as it may seem, my favorite pose is Mountain Pose or Tadasana. It is an incredibly powerful pose that I feel can be overlooked. There are so many nuances and it is the most relatable in real life. It is also a very prideful pose, a confident pose that sets you up for taking on the world. I find it incredibly grounding, literally and spiritually. 

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE YOGA/SPIRITUALITY/SELF HELP BOOK?

The book that comes to mind is Emotional Agility by Susan David, PhD. I have spent many years of my life diving into the physical agility and strength of the body, and yet the emotional side will always be the most difficult of all. I find that my yoga practice is where I connect with my emotional side the most and this book really tied it all together for me. 

ANY ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS?
It never gets easier, you just become more comfortable with discomfort, and how consistent you stay is what allows space for growth and change. The people you see and admire (or envy) have gotten where they are through consistency, so no matter what happens, don’t stop, find the threshold you can sustain for your whole life, not just right now, this month or even this year, think bigger.

WHAT DOES “COMMUNITY” MEAN TO YOU?
To me, community means connectedness. Finding connections in the areas that speak to you are the best form of community you can find. We are so lucky to be in the space of wellness. It puts forth longevity and health and connection that speaks to not only your body, but your mind and your spirit. 

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VENTURA?
The people. As someone that was not born and raised here, but has had a business for over a decade, I’ve seen the community show up. They showed up during the best and darkest times of my life personally and professionally and I am forever changed and grateful for it. 

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION?
I’m a huge fan of RAK! I find what they are doing in the community so inspiring and I want to do more of it on a personal level.