#ZenFriends: Meet Annaliese
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Meet Annaliese! This gorgeous spunky chick moved to Brooklyn three years ago with one suitcase in hand and a drive to build her career. She just wasn't exactly sure what that was...yet. After working in fashion at Tommy Hilfiger and teaching yoga on the side, she was offered a full-time salaried, benefited yoga teacher position with hOM. Through public classes, corporate, residential, private sessions, and her influence on social media, she invites a certain raw, supportive and fun honesty into focus, encouraging students and followers to find new empowered layers within themselves.
- MEET ANNALIESE -
Q: What's your yoga super power?A: Invisibility. You know how little kids cover there eyes and think you can't see them? Same same. When I'm truly lost in my practice I soften my gaze or close my eyes and everything around me disappears.
Q: How did we meet?A: We met at PopUp Yoga NYC when you took my yoga class, and then we spent the morning together getting our butts kicked in a ToneHouse class and flowing together in I Am You!
Q: Quote you live by?A: Everything is coming from us, not at us.
Q: Describe yourself in three words.A: Driven. Loving. Open.
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Q: How did you get into yoga?A: I played around with it in college when one of my friends became a teacher. After college, I woke up one summer morning at 6:30AM craving yoga, found a spot, pulled my mom out of bed, and we've been going ever since.
Q: Favorite yoga position and why?A: I'm loving chopasana (sugar cane pose) right now. I love the way my body stacks upon itself in ardha chandrasana (half moon), making me feel sturdy and strong. Chopasana is just a cozier version that can lend itself to back bending exploration.
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Q: What’s one of your New Years Resolutions?A: Do more of what you love. I'm obsessed with my career, I think it is one of the few jobs that someone can truly enjoy the process of teaching. That being said, it is a job and when it starts to feel like work or when I question my non-traditional schedule I slow down, remember why I love my lifestyle, and take the time to plan a fun class and playlist, explore a new cafe and grab lunch with a friend.
Q: What’s your sign?A: Pisces
Q: Last song listened to?A: One Thousand Times -- James Vincent McMorrow
Q: Favorite indulgence?A: Pastries. One of my vices is coffee and I love finding cute spots to spend time in between classes...and I'm frequently hungry + my sweet tooth... #aLatteYogi
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Q: What was high school Annaliese like?A: Oh man, high school? Not an athlete and certainly not a yogi. I had severe asthma and allergies, so I wasn't super active. I remember learning as much I could about social justice and philosophy and spending Friday nights on a football field in marching band with 350 of my peers.
Q: Tips for overcoming fear and going after your passions?A: Action over inaction. When in doubt, know that your mind is capable of making things seem both impossible and possible. You get to decide what to believe. When you start to make moves reality becomes clearer and it's generally not as scary as we've built it up to be in our heads.
Q: If you were an emoji, you'd be a...A: 😁
Q: How can people follow you? A: @annaliese.godderz on Instagram is the best way! You can also check out my class schedule and offerings on my website.
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Thank you so much to this beautiful soul! The yoga community is so kickass - I'm endlessly grateful for the friendship it has brought into my life. Soooo, if you're an NYC yogi or coming in from out of town, you better let me know! Let's go to yoga, get coffee, and chat!
Have a wonderful week ahead, friends!