Getting to know Cloudia Hill
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Yoga teacher, actress, wife & mother
Get to know the yoga teacher behind the November YBC Retreat
Cloudia has been part of the Yoga Brunch Club family for quite a while now, teaching on the retreats over the past few years. It’s always so great to catch up and explore how Cloudia’s teaching has evolved and what new elements she brings to her sessions - so we can’t wait to welcome her back to the November retreat! In the mean time, we’ve asked her some questions to get to know the woman behind the teaching a little more…
Can you remember the point where you thought ‘I want to teach yoga’ and what led to that moment?
Yes, a very distinctive point. I had finished a long tour in the US and had been practicing everyday. When I got home I started to look for trainings in the USA and then I heard my teacher Stewart was leading a TT (teacher training) in the UK with the Power Yoga Co, which is my second home. I didn’t think twice and have literally never looked back.
Your background is in acting - how does acting and performance fit with teaching and practicing yoga?
As an actress, you are placed in many different scenarios and have to be present and listen! Performance teaches you to trust yourself and your instincts. Now I’m not going to lie, I used to get the worst nerves before an audition and sometimes before I would set foot on the stage. I learnt tools to improve my voice and protect it, how to hold an audience. All of these tools and experience definitely helped me in teaching yoga. People can very quickly see if you have a wall up and to be a teacher they want to see your honesty and trust you.
How do you balance the two + being a mum and a partner?
Being a Mum, Yoga Teacher, Wife and sometimes auditioning… hmmm well I have an incredibly supportive husband but pre Covid he was away working State side every month. I had to go back to work pretty much straight away as being self employed there is very little support. So after 6 weeks I was back teaching and juggling baby. I think I may have had some castings as well. You just do it, some how it works out. Mags as a result mixed with a lot of people. The studios were amazing and would hold her when I taught which I am so grateful for. You get used to this new pace of life quite quickly. When the first lockdown happened I hadn’t realised quite how much I had been doing and that shift in gear was welcomed.
When you don’t want to get on the mat, what do you tell yourself?
Yoga is hard, it demands a lot from us. It requires us to be present, honest, and physically and emotionally available. There are days when I actually don’t want to be emotionally or physically available – but I know that with the right intention I will come off the mat feeling stronger and not defeated. I go back to the principles and trust the asana and breath will heal me. I have always had a strong work ethic and this translates to my practice. If I’m practicing to shift a few pounds then I’m unmotivated, if I have a strong intention i.e. to love my body, tell myself I am strong, to embrace, then the practice becomes something far more.
You are training to become a Master NLP practitioner and working to gain your ICF Credential - what made you decide to pursue this?
Yes I am studying in the background – I never appreciated how tough it is to learn over the internet. I get the odd hour here and there between teaching, being a mum, cleaning, cooking, oh and being a wife - to sit, read and absorb. I have always been interested in healing and being a support for others. I have grown up around mental illness, addiction and unfortunately cancer is a strong presence within my family. As a result I grew up very quickly. Don’t get me wrong I had a wonderful childhood however it came with its complications. My awareness and empathy as a result is very high, I’m able to read and tune into a room however I have not been trained in how to use these skills within a structure. This is what the course is doing, creating a structure/framework for me to be able to apply my skills and build upon them. When the training is completed I will be hosting days at Zen Den focusing on areas of Confidence, Depression, Lifestyle, Health. I will also be coaching clients one to one working through key areas they would like to change.
How do you remain authentic in your teaching?
I keep learning – in Yoga there are so many different opinions and it can be quite a judgmental competitive world. Everything you would not expect, I don’t get involved, I stay true to what I believe and keep learning and developing. As a yoga teacher I am there as an act of service to everyone that comes to class. The minute as a teacher you start to think about yourself then the class is driven by ego.
What is yoga to you?
Yoga has been so many different things to me over time. Right now it is my constant – I know I can be anywhere in the world, be it locked down in my home or on a beach in Portugal and it is always there. It will raise questions I might not want to answer and demand truths from me however it will also hold and heal me.
What do you look for in a yoga teacher?
Personality and knowledge is key. When I go to a class I want to feel safe in the room, I am also a big one for intelligent sequencing. There is nothing worse for me then when I go into a class and the teacher has their favourites who are all show boating at the front, teacher included.
I know I can practice anywhere and block out what isn’t working for me but there are some in that room who have plucked up a lot of courage to get onto the mat, or who may be feeling fragile. It is about building relationships more so than ever now.
If your life was a book, what would be the title?
And Breathe
What’s the name of the chapter you’re in now?
The Bigger Picture
Social media - ‘YAY! I love it and my business would not be the same without it!’ or ‘NAY it’s not always a positive force in my life, I would prefer not to have social media’?
I love Social Media, but Clem knows I’m not so good at it – I am getting better ( I think) it’s a way to communicate but if you don’t know what you’re communicating it can be a little daunting. I need to get better, I do love It but wish someone could do it for me…
Three things you couldn’t live without?
3 things apart from cuddles from Magster and the whippets…
Hot Sauce – I have been known to carry a small bottle of Tobassco with me
Coffee – I’m a real coffee snob I love it
Rose scent
What’s your best life hack?
Freeze your fruit all prepped for an easy smoothie or crumble… and getting up early to give myself time before the house hold erupts!
Why do you do what you do?
I love people – I just came off from a zoom class and shouted out I love people. I really do.
@cloudiahillyoga