Interview with Jamie Calzi
502 Power Yoga’s newest team member: Community Relations Director
When and why did you start practicing yoga?
I was a longtime runner who was very reluctant to try yoga! My girls Em and Maddie kept begging me to go with them. In 2008 I finally gave in and went to my first hot yoga class. I fell in love immediately!! I loved the connection with breath and flow!
How did you discover Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga?
My husband’s family lives in Buffalo, NY. On one of our visits I was looking for a yoga studio to practice at. My sister-in-law said you have to try Power Yoga Buffalo. I went and WOW! It was amazing! I loved the flow! I loved the positive energy! I loved everything about it! My next thought was why is this not happening in Louisville? For the next 6 months I continued to go to Power Yoga Buffalo every time we visited Buffalo. I loved it so much that in January 2014 I signed up for the Baptiste Art of Assisting program that Power Yoga Buffalo was hosting in May of 2014. Shortly after signing up, I heard that a Baptiste-style studio was opening in Louisville and I was so excited. I went to my first 502 Power Yoga class in February 2014 and the sense of community that I experienced was unlike any other studio here in Louisville. Although I was teaching at another studio in town I could not stay away! There is such a postive energy at the studio: Everyone truly supports each other and connects in a way that you just don’t see or experience anywhere else. I have never gone to a class at 502PY and not felt better when I left. I love the practice, the community and the way that the studio supports and gives back to this amazing city we call home.
What led you to do the teacher training at 502PY?
After practicing at 502 Power Yoga for just a short period of time my yoga path had changed. I attended Art of Assisting in Buffalo, completed 40 days to a Personal Revolution, signed up and was accepted into Baptiste Level One Training and fell more in love with with everything that was Baptiste every day. Even though I already had a 200 Hour teaching certification, after seeing the energy created by the 502PY teacher training graduates in the studio, I knew that I needed to sign up for 502 Power Yoga’s teacher training. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The connections that I made during the training will last forever. I I learned how to empower myself and those around me not just on the mat but more importantly off the mat. I learned to “be up to something bigger than myself.” For all of this I am forever grateful.
Describe your new role and your goals as 502PY’s new Community Relations Director.
I am so passionate about serving others and giving back not only in our local community but beyond. My family has been committed to service through time and treasure. As a family, my husband Dave and our two daughters have been on numerous mission trips and have also been very active in the Louisville community in outreach and service. As a family we have always tried to be “up to something bigger than ourselves.” 502 Power Yoga already has such a strong presence in the Louisville community for outreach and giving back. My goal as the Community Relations Director is to continue to build on that presence and create partnerships and events that transform lives through yoga and service. I am so excited about our upcoming partnership with the Kentucky Center for the Arts and their Arts and Healing program. This event, Arts+Healing+Yoga, will be the largest yoga fundraiser ever to be held in Louisville. This is just the begiining of bigger things to come!!!
What is the best part about being a yoga instructor?
I love yoga and I love sharing my love of the connection with breath and flow with my students. I love seeing that moment when a student goes beyond what they think they can do! Its all about empowering students on the mat and being able to give them someting that they can take with them off the mat and into their life.
What do you do when you aren’t yoga-ing?
When I’m not doing yoga with the whole family (which is something we LOVE doing together), I am spending time with my sweet family Dave, Emily, and Maddie. We are committed to serving others through mission trips to Belize and Nicarauga through Hand in Hand Ministries as well as local charities. I am also a mentor for the Africa Yoga Project. I love spending time with my sweet brother Gary and my sister Debbie and her family. I am committed to my faith, my family and serving others. I also have an intense love for UK basketball and the KY Derby!
Anything else you feel like sharing?
I am so excited to be going to Baptiste Level Two in October 2015!
We are so excited to have you on the team, Jamie!