Beyond the Desk: Q&A with Khoury advisor Amorette Farkas on her passion for yoga
Author: Kelly Chan
Date: 07.09.21
As a graduate advisor for Khoury College with a certification in yoga, Amorette Farkas supports her students in more ways than one. With the recent celebration of National Yoga Day, Khoury News sat down with Farkas to talk about her passion for yoga over the past 14 years. She dives into her yoga journey, how it has improved her overall health and well-being, and how it helps her advise her Khoury students.
Image provided by Amorette Farkas
Where did your love for yoga start?
I was in a car accident my freshman year of college, and there was whiplash, which I didn’t realize at the time because I didn’t have any obvious injuries. Months later, I started having severe headaches, and I went to a chiropractor who showed me a few different yoga poses that alleviate back and neck tension.
I began implementing those stretches and a yoga practice into my everyday life and experienced great healing physically, mentally, and emotionally. I was studying at a college far from home, and yoga not only gave me relief from my tension, but also helped me cope with feelings of homesickness and various stresses that come with being a college student in a new city. My mom sent me a yoga DVD with Rodney Yee, a famous yogi, and I would set up my yoga mat in my dorm room, so I could make space to watch and practice. I loved that routine and became passionate about sharing my experience of healing my body through yoga with others.
What type of yoga do you practice?
I was trained in power vinyasa flow yoga, and with vinyasa flow, you synchronize your movement with your breath, making the entire yoga practice rhythmic. For example, you inhale as you reach your arms up, and exhale as your hinge from your hips to forward fold. Before any movement, it’s important to establish a steady breath, which is called ujjayi breathing, or “oceanic breath,” since it mimics the sound of waves crashing on a beach. As I focus on my breath and move through the poses, I essentially “quiet” my racing thoughts, and the yoga sequence becomes a meditation, and I can free myself from any other concerns.
The typical sequence starts with the integration phase, you move through sun salutation A and B, balance, then standing poses, backbends, inversions, hip openers, and ending with shavasana (or corpse pose). The idea is that you start with a lower energy and slowly build up the intensity before coming back down to rest. In my experience, the harder you work, the more satisfied and rejuvenated you feel at the end. It’s like you are working through any physical and mental barriers there on your mat and making that intentional decision to breathe through it and let it go by the end. It’s not instantaneous, but a deliberate and focused process.
How have you personally grown in practicing and teaching yoga?
Yoga has helped me be more present and less taken over by the inevitable stresses of life. I love that important theme of yoga practice, which is letting go of the thoughts that can take away from what’s happening now. I have realized the power of my own outlook and that life is not necessarily about what happens to you, but about your perspective of what’s happening. There is a strong mind-b0dy connection, and my yoga practice disciplines my mind to stay grounded in what matters.
It’s also helped me to manage my own self-care, which is something that we all have to learn when we go through life. Growing up, we’re not taught self-care in school, but the importance of making time for yourself is something we all have to take ownership of and sometimes we don’t learn the importance until we reach burnout. So yoga is always part of my morning routine, and I practice mindfulness and debriefing throughout my day as well to keep that spirit and intention with me.
Also, I used to be more soft-spoken and never saw myself as a commanding presence. But in teaching yoga, I’ve been able to step outside my comfort zone and gain more confidence in my own voice. It’s a really powerful experience to be able to be in a position where I can share how much yoga has restored my body and my mind.
How does your experience with yoga translate into advising students at Khoury?
As both a yoga teacher and an academic advisor, I love being in a role that allows me to serve as a source of support and encouragement. I strive to create a space that is welcoming for students and instills in them a belief in their own potential. I think it can be the tendency sometimes to question ourselves and our own abilities, but I like to be that reassuring voice that we are capable of much more than we think and our first step towards that growth begins in the mind.
Additionally, it’s always my intention to help students find balance and manage stress. When a student is in a situation where they’re not getting what they want, whether it’s getting into a class or not getting a response from a faculty member, the initial tendency can sometimes be to panic. I’ve realized how important it is for me as an advisor to give students that space to vent and be heard. However, I also work with them to find a way to breathe through it so that the stress doesn’t take over. Then we can work together towards finding a solution. I see that same kind of process of venting and pushing through on the yoga mat and believe that we are all in a constant battle of learning to find peace amid the chaos.
What lessons have you learned from yoga that you like to share with Khoury students?
I really believe in holistic advising, so I always encourage the students I advise to prioritize their well-being and make time for themselves. I want to make sure they’re not overextending themselves or neglecting their own needs to be whole individuals. Classes are important, but I also think it’s essential for students to make sure they’re taking needed time to rest and do what they enjoy outside of class or work. These activities can be what anchor us when we face challenges.
Monday, June 21, was National Yoga Day. Did you do anything special?
Nothing special, but for me, every day is National Yoga Day.
What are you looking forward to in your own yoga practice?
I’m excited to get back into teaching yoga! I recently got married during the pandemic and moved to Watertown, so I hope to find a new local studio and yoga community here soon.
What advice do you have for yoga beginners?
Don’t compare yourself to others. If you practice yoga in a studio or group, you might notice that there are people who are more experienced than you and can do more advanced poses. Don’t allow that to intimidate you or discourage your practice. I tell my yoga students to listen to what your body is telling you and be gentle with yourself. The best part of yoga is the growth that happens on the inside and in the healing awareness and connection of your own body, mind and spirit. It is not a competition. Appreciate the subtle progress of your own practice and let that be your motivation and joy.