This week’s Yogi in the Community is Samia! Samia is a student at FAMU who talks with us about learning and practicing yoga when one doesn’t always have the luxury of a local yoga studio. Samia is a part of a new wave of yogis who are being introduced to the practice virtually. Whether you practice regularly, have never practiced yoga before and are curious, or simply enjoy looking at the images of yogis in your favorite social media timeline, yoga is for everyone and it was a pleasure to learn about Samia’s path.
Location: Tallahassee, FL at Florida A&M University
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri First Yoga Practice: Fortaleza, Brazil
What led you to practice yoga? While in Brazil on my study abroad trip I spent 6 months learning physical yoga postures through Instagram. I enjoyed the challenge after beginning and ever since I’ve enjoyed being upside down (pincha is my favorite).
What is it about yoga that keeps you coming back to the mat? Yoga has really made me whole. It’s something about not having to depend on anyone, the fact that my time on my mat is when I don’t have to ask for help, I don’t have to be an expert or a beginner. I don’t have to lean on anyone, I support my entire 160 pounds, I’m not worried about school, men or financial problems because yoga is free and it’s my own practice as it should be for anyone. I just can’t express enough how everyone needs time to reflect, self-assess, and make sure they have nurtured themselves and actually know who they are. I do that on the mat.
How important is it for you to see your image/reflection practicing yoga in the media? For the past 2 years I have been transforming my body into what I want it to be through yoga and coincidentally I film all of my yoga sessions. As a result, I post images on social media and I’ve found that some of my photos give inspiration and spread knowledge to those who otherwise may not have known. 
I follow a lot of people just for yoga because that has been the only way I have learned the physical postures thus far–through social media. Since starting yoga almost a year ago, each time I post, followers ask me questions about yoga. I love seeing a pose come out beautifully on camera but behind the lens I’m just hoping I inspired someone the same way the first post on Instagram inspired me.
What suggestions do you have for people new to yoga who may not have the resources to practice at a studio? Well I’m one of those people. I don’t have the time and until recently I didn’t have the resources either. So what I did was searched ALL the hashtags yogis I followed would include and BOOM 100’s of yoga pictures. I have learned everything about the physical postures of yoga through Instagram. Don’t be afraid to google, everything you want to know is out there. Finally, don’t forget to practice!
