Today we’d like to introduce you to Elma Panagaki.
Elma, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story takes us back to Greece. I was born and raised in Athens and at the age of three I was first introduced to ballet! From that day on and for the following fifteen years, I was in love with ballet and contemporary dance, and it was the biggest part of my life.
All these years of dancing taught me that you have to set goals and work hard to achieve them and always believe in yourself while having the self-discipline to master your craft.
When I was eighteen years old, I had some knee injury that spelled the end of my dancing career. While a sad ending, it was also a very exciting new beginning; my first flirt with yoga. I still remember the first yoga-class I attended back then. I walked in thinking it’s going to be very easy for me due to my flexibility, and just a physical exercise without any mental and spiritual benefits, something to just satisfy my hurt ego from having stopped ballet, by gloating in the front row.
Someone did a scorpion pose in there, and I was so intrigued, that I set a goal to focus on yoga practice until I can master that pose myself. It was during that process and my continuous involvement with yoga that I came to realize it was so much more than just physical exercise. I felt I was changing inside and becoming a better version of me, not thinking about and comparing my self to others, but rather focusing on fully connecting with my mind, body, and spirit through my practice. The rest is history.
A few years later, I did my first teacher training for the 200-hr Certificate, followed by the 500-hr one. After teaching my first class, I instantly realized I had found my purpose; one that I passionately exercise to this very day.
Three years ago, I moved to Los Angeles from Athens, to be at one of the most ideal locations to pursue my passion for yoga as a full-time career path, while also being able to expand my training and experience, through attending workshops and training courses from some of the best yoga gurus out there. I believe we are always students and there is always something new to learn.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path to get to where I am today was most certainly rough and full of obstacles.
Especially when I first moved here in Los Angeles, I had to start from zero, without any connections, no friends, no clients and not even comfort with the language itself.
However, when you love something and really want to succeed in it, you do everything you need to make that happen for yourself. I have now gotten to a point, where I am blessed to have built an excellent clientele and collaborate with brands, studios, corporate fitness centers, as well as privates, surrounded by people that I really love and feel loved by deeply.
That is something I am extremely humbled by, and it gives me the motivation to carry on strongly as a teacher.
Please tell us about Elma Yoga.
I am a 500-hr certified Yoga Instructor. I am also certified in and teach, Pilates Mat and Barre. I teach Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga to people of all levels.
My classes are more traditional in style, due to being an Ashtangi Yogini (certified by Tim Miller), but I always incorporate fun elements into the mix, so that its a unique and welcoming experience to any student attending my sessions.
From privates to large group sessions, I always give attention to every single individual, to make them feel cared for and give them all the help they need to reach their maximum potential.
I am known for the challenging physical and mental nature of my classes and for always giving extra goals to each student, for continuous improvement, now and in the future.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I vividly remember one of the many times we went camping with my parents during the summer, in Skoutari Bay, a coastal area near Sparta (yes where the 300 are from).
That particular time, it was during a full moon, and I remember we were all sitting there on our tent in front of the water at night, and as the moon was rising from the horizon, it was really huge and seemed like it was emerging from underwater.
Combined with the sound of the waves and the crickets singing, it was such a magical moment, one that made me so happy and peaceful and I remember up to this day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elmayoga.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/elma_yoga
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/elmapanagakiyoga/
Image Credit:
Haik Katsikian (@musado), LeCachacs (@lecachacs)
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