4 Boulder Yoga Gurus Talk Boulder

Amy Ippoliti 

Amy is a yoga teacher, author and earth advocate. She began her yoga career in New York City and relocated to Boulder in 2004. She travels internationally to teach workshops and trainings as a pioneer for advanced yoga education, serving both students as well as fellow yoga teachers. In 2012 she co-founded Vesselify School of Yoga (formerly 90 Monkeys), an online and in-person professional development school. In 2016 she co-authored the book, The Art and Business of Teaching Yoga, which has become a staple in yoga teacher training across the globe.

How would you describe Boulder’s yoga community to someone from out of town?

Boulder's yoga community is made up of active, inquisitive and community-oriented practitioners.

If you had only three words to describe your own yoga practice, what would they be? 

Curious, therapeutic and rejuvenating.

What other activities do you enjoy doing in Boulder?

Hiking is definitely one of my favorite activities in Boulder. I love to discover new trails and look for native flowers, shrubs and trees. Boulder has had its share of fires in the last few years, so it's been very rewarding to rebuild the soil and wildlife habitat on my own land and to work with the local organic farming and land stewardship community that's regenerating our farm and grasslands here in Boulder. We have a powerful movement of folks in the community that aims to solve the problem of desertification through regenerative farming practices (which promote soil health and carbon sequestration). I love seeing this because climate consciousness is imperative right now.

Do you have a favorite place to eat out, or even a favorite meal or drink, in Boulder?

I love Wonder Press on the west side of Pearl Street. Their matcha lattes are fabulous. I'm also a big fan of Nude Foods Market. It's the coolest zero-waste grocery store I've ever been to. I shop there weekly and love the feeling of using no plastic or throw-away packaging.

What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in Boulder?

Besides the gorgeous scenery that we're surrounded by 24/7, it's the people for me. We're famous for innovators, movers and shakers in the worlds of earth care, healthy food, athleticism, conscious business and good old-fashioned hippy love. I regularly take workshops and seminars on all sorts of topics from others in the community because there's so much to learn from the extraordinary people here.

What places in Boulder do you like to take visiting friends or family?

Right outside my door to look at the pollinators and hummingbirds in my garden, the sunrises and sunsets, and also the trails right outside our door. No visit to Boulder is complete without a trip to the Boulder Farmers Market. I go every Saturday without fail, it's that good. Another must if you have foodies in town or a special occasion is a fine dining experience at Frasca Food and Wine — absolutely next level.
 

Lisa Fierer

Lisa is an accredited master yoga teacher, a forgiveness educator and a public speaker. In over 15 years of speaking and teaching everywhere from Lululemon to Harley Davidson, she has inspired more than 20,000 people to embrace the power of forgiveness. Her recent self-published book, Thirst: A Memoir, won first place in the 2021 Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.

How would you describe Boulder’s yoga community to someone from out of town? 

Boulder is one of the meccas for practicing yoga: it offers more yoga centers per capita than anywhere in the nation. It’s deemed one of the healthiest areas and ranks at the top for “most interested in yoga” (which sounds like a yearbook award but is true). 

If you had only three words to describe your own yoga practice, what would they be? 

Way of living. 

What other activities do you enjoy doing in Boulder?

I love hiking, paddle boarding, cycling, trail running…the list goes on.

Do you have a favorite place to eat out in Boulder?

Flower Child and Zeal are staples for me.

What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in Boulder?

I love the tremendous amount of sunshine we get here! It’s a relaxed and outdoorsy lifestyle, with easy access to trails and mountains. 

What places in Boulder do you like to take visiting friends or family?

I often bring folks to the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse and stroll along Pearl Street. Boulder Book Store is one of the finest in the country! 

If Boulder were a yoga pose, it would be…

Triangle (trikonāsana), a shape that mirrors the Flatirons. For regular practitioners of yoga, it often feels both familiar and complex; there’s a lot to explore within it. 

Caitlin Rose Kenney

Caitlin was born and raised in Boulder and has been teaching yoga since 2011. She founded Threshold Collective which curates regenerative events on farms to support the thresholds of life. She specializes in yin yoga and infuses her yoga teachings with ecological conservation and seasonal wisdom. 

How would you describe Boulder’s yoga community to someone from out of town? 

Boulder has been a destination for yoga for decades. You can find a plethora of athletically-focused studios here. If you are interested in the philosophical and spiritual aspects of yoga, practices geared towards meditation and Buddha-dharma can be found through Naropa University and the Shambhala Center. Go beyond central Boulder to find unique offerings at Yellow Barn Farm, the Starhouse and A-Lodge Boulder.

If you had only three words to describe your own yoga practice, what would they be?

Savoring present-moment awareness.

What other activities do you enjoy doing in Boulder?

Walking and hiking in Boulder is the best. Beauty is everywhere. 

Do you have a favorite place to eat out, or even a favorite meal or drink, in Boulder?

My favorite places for food and drinks are Beleza Coffee Bar and Trident Booksellers and Cafe. Beleza Coffee Bar has exquisite coffee and matcha and, unlike most coffee places, a variety of light and healthy food options. Trident Booksellers and Cafe is my favorite place to go to have creative conversations — they have an incredible tea selection and a sweet bookshop.

What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in Boulder?

My favorite thing about being in Boulder is the beautiful view of the Flatirons. You always know what direction you're facing.

What places in Boulder do you like to take visiting friends or family?

I take visiting friends and family to Chautauqua Park. There is an incredible trail system, lots of places for a picnic and music events in the one-of-a-kind auditorium. 

If Boulder were a yoga pose, it would be…

Urdvha hastasana, standing with your hands reaching up into the sky.

Michelle Smith

Michelle is a bilingual yoga teacher, mentor, educator and student. Born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, and having lived in China and the U.S., she sees yoga as a path for communities to come together, slow down and open up. She travels internationally with locals to help bridge community and culture through workshops and retreats. Her classes bring mindful movement, meditation and life practices in both English and Spanish. 

If you had only three words to describe your own yoga practice, what would they be? 

Bilingual, mindful, playful.

What other activities do you enjoy doing in Boulder?

Climbing, biking, sitting near the creek, and eating yummy food around town.

Do you have a favorite place to eat out, or even a favorite meal or drink, in Boulder?

French toast or cauliflower tacos at Leaf and the avo toast at Zeal are my faves, but I also love vegan nights at Rayback Collective with Kind Confections' pain au chocolat. I also enjoy zero-waste grocery shopping at Nude Foods.

What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in Boulder?

Being surrounded by beautiful nature, scenic paths and the bike path. 

What places in Boulder do you like to take visiting friends or family?

I like taking them to the Pearl Street Mall, Chautauqua and Boulder Creek. 

If Boulder were a yoga pose, it would be...

Astavakrasana [or eight-angle pose]. So many limbs to explore. There's a little bit of everything for everyone.