Portrait of the founder of the Yogisa website: Isabelle Fayolle
A nature lover, Isabelle Fayolle is a yoga teacher passionate about nutrition and science.
It was only natural that we asked him a few personal questions about his yoga practice, which we are sharing with you today.
How did you get into taking care of yourself?
I was lucky enough to grow up in the Pyrenees, in a protected environment. I have always loved doing outdoor activities. But I also wanted to leave my mountains at a very young age. At 17 I got a scholarship to study in Germany, it made me grow, the fact of leaving to confront the reality of life. Then I went through some pretty difficult times. And at 20 I took and passed a competitive exam to enter the civil service! I arrived in Paris, I quickly understood that it would not be in this path that I would flourish. But I really wanted to try my luck, to take other competitive exams. To help me during this period there were great encounters but also... the discovery of yoga. It allowed me to start a more harmonious relationship with my body, to learn how to manage my emotions (even if I still have a long way to go...) and also, the practice of yoga helped me with climbing! This allowed me to better manage my apprehension and gain flexibility: 2 assets for climbing.
But what yoga brought me most of all was, very quickly, the desire to pass on what I got from this practice. As I always said, "it did me so much good that I couldn't not share it!"
Then when I decided to teach yoga I also studied naturopathy which helped me even more to see the human being as a whole. And it is this very holistic vision of yoga that I like to share.
What practice for your well-being?
A yoga that fits my needs. Nothing wacky or extravagant, but rather attentive attention to my movements and breathing. It is in vinyasa yoga that I find myself the most, even if each yoga brings something! Surely because this meditation in movement reminds me of the mountains, climbing and these are sports that do me a lot of good.
What is the ritual of your practice?
I like to keep my practice simple, even minimalist: a mat (or not, from time to time, it changes!), cork blocks, why not a strap. If I don't have anything on hand, I love using my dictionaries instead of blocks! And on sunny days I must admit that I appreciate the luxury of being able to practice in a park, close to my home, facing Lake Geneva: a personal retreat!
What do you get out of it?
A time of pause. That’s how I see my practice. A pause that then infuses into my life and allows me to learn to better manage my stress and be more present.
What do you carry in your yoga bag?
Several mats, blocks, of course, straps, my notebook where I scrupulously keep all my sessions and a book. I love to combine yoga and reading, which is why I end my classes by reading to my students a short quote or a passage from a book that inspires me.
What is your favorite object/accessory?
Blocks! It was by taking Iyengar yoga classes that I finally realized that blocks were not "for beginners" but an essential asset for all practices. It brings me more creativity and play! Learning through play is really very important and so much more enjoyable.
What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?
Keep it simple. Yoga doesn't require a dancer's body or the skills of a circus acrobat. It's a return to oneself, to simplicity, to breathing.
Where/how do you practice?
Often at home, in my living room, outside on sunny days, and preferably early in the morning... I'm an early riser (but I go to bed like a chicken) and I love waking up by doing meditation and yoga!
What is your mantra/favourite phrase?
This is a quote from Oscar Wilde: "Always aim for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."
