[note — this is part 2 of 2; here we focus on Foxen’s journey as a student of the yoga]
Yoga is a holistic experience for many — mind, body, spirit — but did one element or another first draw you to the practice? That is, were you seeking to settle your mind? Have greater physical flexibility? Explore your true, spiritual nature?
it was—and remains—the only form of physical exercise I can consistently get myself to do
How about now: does yoga feed your mind or your body or your spirit more, or are those elements more in balance than when you started?
it’s balanced pretty evenly amongst all three now
How long have you been practicing yoga?
18 years
How frequently do you practice yoga?
I aim for 5 days a week
Are you more likely to attend classes at a studio or practice yoga at home?
definitely studio
Do you have a preferred yoga style?
Hot Vinyasa
When you were starting out, what came easiest and what was more challenging?
it’s been a while, so my memory is a little fuzzy — I’m going to say: getting into some version of the posture came easiest, the breathing was harder — that hasn’t changed much
What have been the greatest benefits of yoga for you?
it keeps me sane(ish)
Apart from yoga, do you practice other techniques of mindfulness or meditation?
very sporadically, I’ll try to sit in meditation, but I’m awful at it — movement makes focusing easier for me
Do you regularly do other forms of exercise?
I started running during the pandemic, but that’s kind of lapsed now
Outside of a yoga session, do you ever just assume a pose and stretch? If so, which pose(s) and where?
I have been known to randomly sit on the floor and do hamstring stretches pretty much everywhere
If I gave you an expenses-paid yoga retreat, where would you go?
I’d be torn between trying every yoga studio in New York, and every yoga studio in LA
—interview © Marshal Zeringue