Meet Maeve McCaffrey: YogaWorks Instructor
We are excited to introduce you to Maeve McCaffrey, who has been teaching yoga for almost 15 years. She currently teaches at YogaWorks studios, where she is also the Director of Programming and Teacher Management. We know you’ll enjoy reading about her journey from fitness instructor to yogi. Her recommendation to find your breath, open your heart and listen to your body is worth following on and off the mat.
What first drew you to Yoga?
I was very fortunate to be exposed to yoga in my early childhood. My mother had a meditation and gentle asana practice and casually taught as well. I would watch her with her teacher and often join in. I clearly remember headstands at age four. Eschewing all things maternal in my later youth, I didn’t start practicing on my own until I was in my early 20s. I was an athlete throughout school and began working in fitness when I was 20. I was putting my body through the wringer. Monday nights, I would teach three fitness classes in a row; think 1990′s jumping around for an hour! Suddenly, there was a yoga class that followed my last class. For a few weeks, I would talk to the teacher in passing and assert that one of these days, I was going to stay and she told me when it was right, I would. Soon, it was and I did. Always very flexible, I decided the “stretch and cool down” would be good after my classes, and one breath after another, I was hooked.
How did you get into teaching Yoga?
I was already teaching group fitness and one of the clubs where I taught was offering yoga training. I’ve always loved to learn, and was loving my own practice. And like so many teachers with no intention of teaching, I just thought I’d learn more. The training was fairly short and made me want to go deeper. So I enrolled in another, then another, and took as many classes as my schedule would allow. I started working first with private clients, then, because of my connections with fitness, I was fortunate enough to have the trust of my peers to actually lead people through classes!
How long have you been practicing/teaching?
I’m not so good with years and dates, and at the time it didn’t seem significant to mark the beginning. It was just something that was growing in my life. I would estimate I began practicing around 1995 and teaching formally in 1999 or 2000. I think when you’re an instructor, you typically start teaching before you even know that you’re teaching. You’re excited about something and you pass on any nugget you think might help someone else.
What is your favorite part about practicing yoga?
The breath, the breath, the breath.
What is your favorite Yoga pose?
Currently, I’ve been craving backbends and I would have to go with Little Thunderbolt pose which really opens the heart.
What advice would you give to a yoga newcomer?
Be patient and stay open. So many people come to heal their back or to become flexible or they DON’T come because they need to heal their back or aren’t flexible. You might come for one reason and realize you’re staying for another. I started my practice to stretch, but found I really didn’t need to stretch, conversely, I needed joint stability. Stay open to the experience. If you try it once and don’t like it, try another teacher or another style or maybe, let go of your expectations. Mostly, have fun, enjoy the experience and listen. I mean that. I think that’s an underrated tenet of being a student, commit to listening. Open your ears and allow yourself to hear. The teacher and yourself.
What is your personal mantra?
I hope I don’t disappoint and wish it were more profound: Inhale. Exhale.
We agree Maeve; sometimes the simplest advice is the best advice. Thank you for sharing your journey and your wisdom with us. We’re also happy to have Maeve as a Murad Brand Ambassador – check out her profile here.
To all of our readers: What is your favorite part about your yoga practice? What do you LOVE to do that keeps your mind calm and your body fit?
