YOGA INSTRUCTOR

DAVIS Burroughs

HOMEtown:
Fairfield, Ct

Favorite yoga pose & why:

Triangle / Trikonasana. In my experience transitioning into triangle pose is about close as it gets to having an orgasm on the mat. You’re radiating energy through five distinct tracks — both arms, both legs and your spine — while getting a spine-lengthening–side–body–stretching–hip–opening-core-strengthening twist. All in one asana. There’s all sorts of different ways to modify triangle,but the normal way feels plenty good to me.

Most challenging yoga pose for you & why:

Chair / Utkatasana. I think a lot of people, particularly men and people with higher centers of gravity, struggle with this pose. In Sanskrit chair pose is called Utkatasana, which comes from the root word “utka” meaning fierce or powerful. And that’s a perfect descriptor; your thighs are burning, you’re struggling to lift your triceps over your ears, and the teacher is cueing you to sit lower and reach through your fingertips when all you want to do is fold forward to find some relief. I’ve probably sat into chair pose a bajillion times, but this one never gets easier!

Hobbies or other things you like to do:

Well I really just do yoga to stay limber on the dance floor. But outside of yoga, dancing, and related activities, I like to be on or in the water (water ≠ pools). If the visibility is good enough, I like to get my Jacques Cousteau on.

Why are you a part of the GTM team?

I saw Christy and Ashley take a leap of faith in starting Grip The Mat, while I was kind of letting my career eat my soul away. I admired their move a lot, and I admire the idea of GTM even more. Yoga is for everybody, and it should bring people together in a not-too-serious way. For me, spreading yoga and having fun is what it’s all about.