Portrait of a Yogini Health Coach: Charlotte de Quay

Charlotte de Quay is a Health Coach graduated from the “Institute for Integrative Nutrition” New York, an American school recognized worldwide for its global approach to health through nutrition and lifestyle.

She is also a Vinyasa Yoga Teacher , graduated from the Indian Samyak Yoga school, renowned for the quality of its traditional teaching and its teachers who were themselves trained in India by the greatest Yogi masters.

Her job is to help her clients achieve their own goals, prevent and support their health by creating a program around the themes of nutrition and lifestyle and also providing her knowledge of breathing and meditation techniques from Yoga.

As one of the pioneers in the field in France , her approach is holistic and unique. She emphasizes the idea that health is a balance between all areas of our daily lives: work, income, relationships, spirituality, physical activity, creativity and of course diet.

It was only natural that I asked him a few personal questions about his yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

By necessity... A succession of events in my life led me to a strong need to reconnect with myself. I understood at that moment that I would only make the right choices if I learned to listen to myself.

I needed to find a space of freedom outside of social conventions, judgment and the expectations of others, and understand who I was.

I first turned to Transcendental Meditation. I got a lot of response, but then I needed something more grounded and connected to the body.

It was therefore quite natural that I turned to Yoga... in this practice which combines well-being of body and mind.

What practice for your well-being?

So I try to have a practice that links well-being of body and mind on a daily basis.

Some concepts of the 8 limbs of Patanjali's Yoga (but which are also found in certain universal principles) speak to me a lot and I try to practice them as best I can with the means that our society gives us today and on my humble scale: Ahimsa or non-violence through vegetarianism, Satya or truth with the fact of being authentic, Astey a or not taking the things that are not given to me, Sauca or being clean inside and out and being orderly, Santosa or contentment, Tapas or cultivating the effort towards a specific goal or Svadhyaya or self-study to know oneself.

I am currently pregnant, so the physical practice is very different compared to before. I practiced 5 times a week a rather intense Vinyasa accompanied by Pranayama (breathing exercises) and Meditation... About 1h15 per session and rather in the evening since I am not a morning person.

Lately, the practice is very different since it is accompanied by new sensations and an important phase of acceptance and letting go. Listening to oneself on the Mat (as in daily life) then takes on a much more important meaning for me.

What is the ritual of your practice?

I always start by setting an intention and dedicating my practice according to how I feel.

Then, at the moment and therefore at 5 months of pregnancy, I start with a few sun salutations, then a flow depending on what my body wants to give me.

I always end with an opening of the heart like Ustrasana (camel pose), I take great pleasure in this pregnant posture whereas I hated it before and a Shirshasana (headstand posture), my favorite posture which helps me to refocus and see more clearly.

Finally I finish with a bit of alternate breathing (Nadi Shodhana) and abdominal breathing and a meditation with my baby.

The days I don't practice are always accompanied by some breathing exercises and a little meditation, even 3-4 minutes.

What do you get out of it?

A feeling of calm and fullness... perhaps you could even call it inner joy. An even stronger feeling when pregnant.

I understand then that many women start practicing at this stage of their life.. To let go and return to simpler things. The mind is really calmer even after a short practice.

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

My water bottle and my towel

What is your favorite object/accessory?

It's a bit of a cliché but my Yoga Mat.

It's strange to have an accessory that pushes us to our limits and forces us to be authentic with ourselves.

In training, we were asked to think about the question: what is your relationship with your mat? For many it was the same as the one we had with ourselves on a daily basis... Something to think about ;-)

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

For Pregnant Yoginis: Be gentle with yourself and listen to yourself.

For non-pregnant Yoginis: Be gentle with yourself and listen to yourself ;-) I would add the importance of being in motion… which always leads somewhere.

Where/how do you practice?

I often practice alone, either at home or in the open air when I can afford it.

I also practice in group lessons with my favorite teachers when I can, the energy of the group really carries me, especially at the moment ;-)

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

“You must be the Change you want to see in the World” - Mahatma Gandhi

Don’t hesitate to find Charlotte on her Instagram , and to visit her Healthcoaching website.