May 1, 2017

Meet Lisa Paskel of Mama’s Yoga House in Sherman Oaks

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Paskel.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lisa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have been called, “Big Mama” since 1991. It has always been in my nature to want to help care for the hearts of others.

I began my journey with Yoga in 1985 while studying to be an actress. Within months of finding this practice, I sought out to help as many people as possible. I was working as a body/mind healer, actress, and facilitator of Yoga and Adventure Retreats that consisted of taking people into nature in order to help them connect with their “True Nature”. After years of practice and teaching, I partnered in to an already existing thriving Yoga Studio. Within two years of that experience, I left with my then husband to create and open 8 Yoga Studios called Yoga Shelter (2004-2012). I was known by most everyone in our community as, Mama P. I adored the community that manifested, and within a short amount of time we had over a million and a half people sharing the practice of yoga with us each year. I was thrilled to be the female leader of such an establishment.

In 2012, things shifted in my personal life and for the first time since 1985, I stepped back from teaching. I took a few years for myself in quiet reflection. In this hiatus, I discovered many of my fears, my joys, my discomforts, desires and I learned to sit with deep loss as I began to heal from the Tsunami that had hit my life. I slowly began to emerge from this cocoon and realized how much I had missed community and teaching yoga. I slowly dipped my toes back in the water and now, I am so proud to bring to you, Mama’s Yoga House.

If you are someone like me who has been on to the highest peaks and to the darkest night of your soul and everywhere in between, then this is a place for you! Mama’s Yoga House offers kick ass asana and dharma, a cozy and comfortable atmosphere, kindness, love, authenticity, and friendship.

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 biggest struggle for me is starting over at 50 years old. While I am excited and completely inspired to bring a new and refreshing experience to the Yoga world, I find it difficult to be patient. I want it all now!

Mama’s Yoga House – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Mama’s Yoga House is a very private and intimate space for people to practice yoga, and it is also for real “life” work. I specialize in creating a nurturing space for people to safely put their walls down. This space is about getting out of our stories and into our authenticity and truth. It is about finding alignment with our Inner Being and learning to be in abundance and wellness. All this while experiencing some kick-ass Asana. Mama’s Yoga House caters to people who want a more attentive yoga experience as well as privacy. What sets Mama’s part from other places is the quality of service, the teachings and the unique boutique intimate and private space. I am most proud of being able to help clients become more joyous and abundant in their lives.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have been teaching yoga and facilitating Life and Yoga Teacher Trainings all over the world for 30 years now. I founded and created 8 very prosperous yoga studios across the country servicing over a million and a half people a year. I am now pioneering at 50 years old to create a different, unique and personal yoga experience for people. Yet my proudest moments are very simple. It is seeing the shift from resistance to ease on someone’s face while they are on the yoga mat. That sweet surrender and moment of appreciation- it gets me every time.

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