Teaching Yoga in High-Pressure Environments

Yoga sessions with the Brooklyn Nets.

I thrive in high-pressure environments.

There’s something about them that brings me into focus. When the stakes are high and expectations are clear, I tend to get calmer, more present, and more grounded. That energy shift is subtle, but people feel it—and it often helps others settle, focus, and drop in more easily.

In professional sports and high-performing organizations, that calm matters.

Being One Piece of a Larger Goal

In elite settings, yoga is never the point. It’s part of a much larger ecosystem working toward a specific outcome—performance, recovery, readiness, or longevity.

I enjoy being a small piece of that puzzle. The work isn’t about being seen or remembered; it’s about contributing intelligently and respectfully to the goal at hand.

That mindset shapes how I teach and how I show up.

The Importance of Adaptability

One of the most important skills in high-pressure environments is the ability to adjust on the fly.

An athlete may arrive with a new injury, unexpected tightness, or limited range of motion. A schedule may shift. Time may be cut without warning. In those moments, rigidity doesn’t work.

I always come in with a plan—but never an attachment to it.

Yoga, at its best, is intelligent sequencing: safe, thoughtful postures linked together with purpose and breath. It’s fluid, responsive, and adaptable. Using breath, we move seamlessly from one thing to the next, adjusting as needed without disruption.

There’s no assumption that you have all the right answers—only the readiness to respond to what’s in front of you.

Reading the Room

High-pressure environments demand presence.

Being flexible, calm, patient, and observant allows you to read the room accurately. That awareness informs everything: pacing, language, posture choice, and tone.

When people are skeptical—which is common—I use neutral language. No showy poses. No unnecessary explanation. The goal is to get people in, breathing properly, moving intelligently, and leaving feeling better than when they arrived.

A good experience builds trust. Nothing else needs to be forced.

Working Within Time Constraints

I’m accustomed to tight timelines.

I once worked with a professional team where the coach would tell me, minutes before we began, exactly how much time I had. That’s not unusual in elite environments.

There’s no room for fluff in those moments—only clear sequencing, smart transitions, and efficient use of time. When classes are built thoughtfully, even a short window can be impactful.

Discretion and Trust

Discretion is everything.

When you enter elite spaces, you are stepping into someone else’s world—often a sacred one. Trust is built slowly and at different speeds. There is usually a period where you have to prove yourself.

That means showing up, doing your job well, answering questions honestly, and leaving respectfully. No lingering. No overstepping. No ego.

Over time, that consistency speaks for itself.

Planning Without Rigidity

Teaching in elite settings requires more planning, not less—but also more flexibility.

You need an outline. You need options. You need contingencies. And you need the ability to shift immediately if something changes.

The work lives in that balance: preparation without rigidity, confidence without certainty.

Why I Love This Work

I love being part of the bigger picture.

High-pressure environments demand clarity, respect, and adaptability. When yoga is offered with those values in mind, it becomes a practical, effective tool—one that supports people doing demanding work in demanding conditions.

That’s the kind of teaching I’m drawn to, and the kind of work I continue to pursue.