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As we head into the Winter months, we'd like you to consider more options to warm yourself, sweat, and stay in motion! Remember, your Farmgirlfit membership includes complimentary, and highly beneficial YOGA classes! Practicing yoga is such a great compliment to our style of training, and if you haven't tried one of our classes yet, you're missing out on a great opportunity to expand your horizons... not to mention destress! Tis' the season! We will be highlighting each of our wonderful Yoga instructors over the next few weeks and to kick off this introduction we asked our NEW Yoga instructor at Farmgirlfit Coeur d'Alene, Kim Phillips, a few pertinent questions to give you a sense for what she's all about. Meet you on the mat!

How did yoga come into your life?
Yoga came into my life in a time of transition.  My son and I lost someone very special to us, and this event swiftly refocused my efforts to what truly was important; moving my son out of Scottsdale, AZ where he struggled for his breath because of the bad air and water.  Within one month I made big life changes by selling my restaurant, moving out of my house, beginning to look for a new state to move to, and my friend suggested a yoga class I may like.  

My first yoga class was light and fun loving, and I was hooked.  I simply loved that I found a movement based activity that I was able to do pain free.  I am an extremely active person, yet I have many overuse injuries and other miscellaneous injuries including 4 knee surgeries, 2 wrist surgeries, and 1 foot surgery.  Yoga allowed me to do everything the class was doing by simply modifying for my specific body.  And, of course, I got to handstand!

I poured my energy into looking for a new state with clean air and water for my son and into yoga; taking 1 to 2 classes a day, going to every workshop I could find, and within a year I began yoga teacher training.  The teacher training brought me back to my undergrad focus of exercise science and exercise physiology.  Teaching yoga is simply a different movement modality and came natural since I had prior experience as a personal trainer to professional athletes and experience as a gymnastic instructor.

After I moved to Coeur d’Alene, I realized my type of athletic yoga of finding strength through range of motion was not represented.  Therefore,I decided I would introduce my passion of power flow, hot flow, acro yoga, and handstand and inversion workshops.  I am grateful that I now have the opportunity to be a part of Farmgirlfit.

We understand there are many amazing benefits to regular yoga practice, if you have to pick one, what is it?
As previously mentioned, I am working with many injuries and surgeries, yet yoga allows me to continue to find functional strength through range of motion.  Yes, it is rewarding to find improvement in a yoga posture, but the best benefit of my yoga practice is how the improved strength, flexibility, and balance give me a better quality of life.  I can now hike with my family pain free, stand on hard tile and make dinner without my back hurting, and try new things like wakeboarding without worrying about knee pain.

What is your mantra, or words you live by?
You always have the choice to have a positive attitude.  I say this at the end of every class among other things.
I also like Henry Ford’s quote, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.”

Describe your yoga “style” or a typical class with you, to someone that isn’t as familiar with Yoga. What can we expect in one of your classes?
My yoga style is alignment based for your body, so you can safely find strength through range of motion.  I cue for all levels beginning with modifications through advanced options.  The class is fun loving and flows with breath and mainstream music.

What’s a favorite holiday movie?
White Christmas

What’s the most interesting place you’ve visited?
I love to travel! I spent quite a bit of time abroad during undergrad and grad school.  The most interesting place is Russia.  I have been there once as a high school student representative of Arizona where I got the opportunity to experience Russia for a month.  And then again in graduate school where Russian was my language, and my career goals were to do business in Russia.  I spent a week in St. Petersburg with other college students experiencing the culture in a deeper way.  It is amazing to realize a culture is incredibly different and yet the same as our own.

What do you like to do when you’re not on your mat?
Spend time with my husband and boys!  

When can we flow with you & where?
Come join me at Farmgirlfit in Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday & Thursday at 9:45am.  Stay tuned for a possible weekend class!