Q&A with Yoga Instructor Juliana China
NOTE: This interview has been translated from Spanish to English for publication in Frankazine.
Juliana China is a yoga instructor from Sao Paulo, Brazil. After working in the corporate world for several years, Juliana decided it was time for a change. She had been practicing yoga regularly and wanted to dedicate her life to the practice after becoming disillusioned with her career. Juliana spent years learning about the different styles of yoga and became a certified yoga instructor. In 2016, Juliana travelled to Barcelona and fell in love with the city. Shortly after, she decided to make the Catalan capital her home. Now, she teaches yoga courses at Frank Stein Studio every weekday morning. Frankazine talked to her about her journey to becoming a yoga instructor and the benefits of the practice.
Why yoga is Important to you? Why did you choose to dedicate your life to the practice?
Yoga has gained importance in my life that I could have never imagined when I started practicing. The truth is that the first time I practiced yoga, I went to the class thinking I'd be sitting there for an hour, getting bored, because I am a very energetic person. Well, it was the opposite. I experienced sensations in my physical body and, above all, in my mental state, which I had never experienced before. After almost a decade practicing regularly, I began to question the pace of the life I led and my career had since increasingly lost consciousness. It was at that point that I decided to devote myself to study and to share the philosophy that has given me so much.
Why did you choose to transition from a corporate job in Brazil to a yoga instructor? What was the hardest part of the change? Most fulfilling part?
I decided to change careers because I reached a point where I was totally unhappy, making a superhuman effort to wake up every day and go to work on something that, from my point of view, provided no contribution to the planet or society. I think the decision to leave was easy, but I had thoughts like, “I have spent years of study and work away to throw myself into something new.” Now, I do what I love and trust that everything will be fine. I feel satisfaction and happiness when I see the faces students at the end of a class and am able to support and contribute to their personal development. These are some of the things that fill my heart.
What brought you to Barcelona from Brazil?
I love Barcelona. After making some significant changes in my personal life, I decided to leave Brazil and go to the Catalan capital. I had plans of traveling the world, but I fell in love with the people, the beauty of the city, the quality of life and diversity. My heart told me I had found my home!
What are the benefits of starting your day with Yoga?
The great benefit for me is a visible improvement in my level of physical and mental energy. As they say, what we do in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. For example, imagine a day when you wake up quickly, perhaps late and a little cranky. This state of tension impacts the mind and, if we are not aware, can impact other activities throughout the day. At the same time, when you can wake up calm, unhurried, taking the time to have breakfast and do everything you need before you leave home, it seems that everything flows better and the feeling is different, right? When we meditate and practice yoga first thing in the morning we are allowing our body and, above all, our mind, to enter a space of presence and tranquility. Breathing exercises also help improve concentration, tolerance, connection with oneself and, consequently, your relationship with others.
How would you convince a friend or colleague to begin their day with a yoga class at Frank Stein?
I think the best way to convince someone is by inviting them to try a class. No words are able to express the feeling. There are thousands of articles about the importance of organizing your day, beginning with pleasurable activities like yoga. Taking care of yourself is a good habit that makes for the most productive and successful people.
What are a few things everyone needs to know before taking their first yoga class?
Practicing yoga does not mean you're going to be sitting, breathing and meditating for an hour! There are many types of yoga. My suggestion for those who have never done yoga is to investigate a bit and try different styles. To find your style of yoga, try to practice regularly to notice good results. When you're in class, on your mat, I invite you to forget what happens around you and focus on yourself. No matter what others do, the class is a gift for you, not a contest of strength or flexibility.
What do you want participants to take away from a yoga class? How do you want them to feel?
My main goal as an instructor is that students feel empowered and develop sensitivity to recognize their emotions. Through conscious breathing, they will be able to access peace of mind, not only when they are in class, but mainly to meet the challenges of everyday life. For example, situations that take us out of our comfort zone like a job interview, an audition, or when we have a difficult conversation with someone. At the moment the breath is shorter, harming the circulation of oxygen and our ability to think clearly. Through the practice of yoga, we learn to recognize these moments of imbalance and instability. Through breathing exercises, we can improve our awareness and balance.
Juliana China is a yoga instructor from Sao Paulo, Brazil. After working in the corporate world for several years, Juliana decided it was time for a change. She had been practicing yoga regularly and wanted to dedicate her life to the practice after becoming disillusioned with her career. Juliana spent years learning about the different styles of yoga and became a certified yoga instructor. In 2016, Juliana travelled to Barcelona and fell in love with the city. Shortly after, she decided to make the Catalan capital her home. Now, she teaches yoga courses at Frank Stein Studio every weekday morning. Frankazine talked to her about her journey to becoming a yoga instructor and the benefits of the practice.
Why yoga is Important to you? Why did you choose to dedicate your life to the practice?
Yoga has gained importance in my life that I could have never imagined when I started practicing. The truth is that the first time I practiced yoga, I went to the class thinking I'd be sitting there for an hour, getting bored, because I am a very energetic person. Well, it was the opposite. I experienced sensations in my physical body and, above all, in my mental state, which I had never experienced before. After almost a decade practicing regularly, I began to question the pace of the life I led and my career had since increasingly lost consciousness. It was at that point that I decided to devote myself to study and to share the philosophy that has given me so much.
Why did you choose to transition from a corporate job in Brazil to a yoga instructor? What was the hardest part of the change? Most fulfilling part?
I decided to change careers because I reached a point where I was totally unhappy, making a superhuman effort to wake up every day and go to work on something that, from my point of view, provided no contribution to the planet or society. I think the decision to leave was easy, but I had thoughts like, “I have spent years of study and work away to throw myself into something new.” Now, I do what I love and trust that everything will be fine. I feel satisfaction and happiness when I see the faces students at the end of a class and am able to support and contribute to their personal development. These are some of the things that fill my heart.
What brought you to Barcelona from Brazil?
I love Barcelona. After making some significant changes in my personal life, I decided to leave Brazil and go to the Catalan capital. I had plans of traveling the world, but I fell in love with the people, the beauty of the city, the quality of life and diversity. My heart told me I had found my home!
What are the benefits of starting your day with Yoga?
The great benefit for me is a visible improvement in my level of physical and mental energy. As they say, what we do in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. For example, imagine a day when you wake up quickly, perhaps late and a little cranky. This state of tension impacts the mind and, if we are not aware, can impact other activities throughout the day. At the same time, when you can wake up calm, unhurried, taking the time to have breakfast and do everything you need before you leave home, it seems that everything flows better and the feeling is different, right? When we meditate and practice yoga first thing in the morning we are allowing our body and, above all, our mind, to enter a space of presence and tranquility. Breathing exercises also help improve concentration, tolerance, connection with oneself and, consequently, your relationship with others.
How would you convince a friend or colleague to begin their day with a yoga class at Frank Stein?
I think the best way to convince someone is by inviting them to try a class. No words are able to express the feeling. There are thousands of articles about the importance of organizing your day, beginning with pleasurable activities like yoga. Taking care of yourself is a good habit that makes for the most productive and successful people.
What are a few things everyone needs to know before taking their first yoga class?
Practicing yoga does not mean you're going to be sitting, breathing and meditating for an hour! There are many types of yoga. My suggestion for those who have never done yoga is to investigate a bit and try different styles. To find your style of yoga, try to practice regularly to notice good results. When you're in class, on your mat, I invite you to forget what happens around you and focus on yourself. No matter what others do, the class is a gift for you, not a contest of strength or flexibility.
What do you want participants to take away from a yoga class? How do you want them to feel?
My main goal as an instructor is that students feel empowered and develop sensitivity to recognize their emotions. Through conscious breathing, they will be able to access peace of mind, not only when they are in class, but mainly to meet the challenges of everyday life. For example, situations that take us out of our comfort zone like a job interview, an audition, or when we have a difficult conversation with someone. At the moment the breath is shorter, harming the circulation of oxygen and our ability to think clearly. Through the practice of yoga, we learn to recognize these moments of imbalance and instability. Through breathing exercises, we can improve our awareness and balance.
