“A profound shift has occurred within me as a yoga instructor with regards to seeing my unique path forward. Developing the confidence to take that path with a learner’s mind and grace has connected my personal and professional life.” ~Beth Gatchell, 2023-24 NYC YTT Graduate
Kind, grounded, authentic, soft and strong, approachable, balanced, supportive. Strength with a soft voice. A quiet rebel. ~A combination of words used to describe Beth both by herself, as well her peers in the 2023-24 NYC YTT Program
Meet Beth Gatchell, a dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher who embodies the spirit of showing up and 'coming back' – to the breath, to her mat, to community – no matter the challenge. Beth teaches yoga at Namaspa Redmond and for the Namaspa Foundation, where she teaches weekly classes at Deer Ridge Prison in Madras, Oregon. Her story is an inspirational one of persistence, dedication, and transformation.
Beth’s yoga journey began in her 30s during a stressful time in her life when she was living in survival mode. She doesn’t know exactly why, but she felt drawn to attend a yoga class without knowing what to expect. The class was led by a delightful teacher from Ireland, whose soothing voice and warm, welcoming demeanor provided Beth with the perfect level of support she needed. "For that hour, I was there for myself on my mat," Beth recalls, "and from there, I realized I could extend myself to be there for others I was supporting at that time in a different way." This was a revelation and revolution for Beth, and although she had heard principles and ‘sayings’ before about receiving and filling your own cup in order to give, she hadn’t ever experienced it inside or in her body.
Despite the stressful nature of her life at that time, Beth found solace in that weekly yoga class. Even when she didn’t make it every week, she knew and could feel that it was all still there for her. "Sometimes I would even go months without showing up,” Beth shares, “but then when I did go back, the teacher, space, time, and connection were still always there for me. Connection with my breath, with myself, and with others.”
Beth appreciated the ongoing reassurance from the teacher, and eventually her own inner voice, that it was okay and important to take time for herself and to recharge her batteries so she could better face her life and the world with more of herself and more resilience. She also shares how significant it was for her to be welcomed into the class even when she arrived late. The teacher would meet her outside, and usher her into the practice space, so she didn’t feel bad and could still receive the transformative practice. “Usually, I would be the kind of person who would turn the car around once I realized I was going to be late – to not even try – but something compelled me to be brave and still show up. I think I knew it was because I would still be welcomed with warmth and care, which, as a ‘giver,’ was new for me to receive, and it was changing things inside of me.”
At one point, after a couple of years of developing a relationship with that first teacher, I had I told her I wanted to do something like she was doing – to support people in the ways she did. And she told me I would know when the time was right. “I held that in my heart, and the question of when, for nearly two decades,” Beth reflects.
Then, after nearly twenty years of being a yoga practitioner, Beth’s children moved out and she relocated to Central Oregon. And amidst all of those big life changes, I was asking myself, “Who am I and what do I want to do with my time and with my life now?” And she realized, “Well, this is the time!”
Beth felt inspired to explore studios in the region, as well as different styles of classes and different teachers’ way(s) of teaching, while simultaneously also seeking a sense of belonging and connection. She went to the Redmond Namaspa studio for about 6 months, and that’s when she became connected to Namaspa's 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. Everything began falling into place. “The decision and commitment to do the training developed for me so authentically. It didn’t ever feel pressured, it just flowed,” Beth shares.
Beth is honest and candid about how, initially, she was overwhelmed during the intensive training weekends, and how she faced doubts about whether she could really do it. However, similar to how she had started her practice twenty years earlier, she re-adopted the mindset of ‘just keep coming back and showing up’. She said she would take one weekend at a time by reminding herself, “All I have to do is get there on Friday, and I’ll then be able to keep going through the weekend.” This humble and dedicated approach allowed Beth to keep expanding her yoga education and training as an aspiring yoga teacher, as well as to experience profound personal transformation and evolution. Beth proudly proclaims: “I learned I can do hard things and keep breathing. And I kept reminding myself it’s not the end of the world if I need to take extra time to understand things or to go back and review the material. Everyone learns differently and at their own pace."
Beth also shares about how the training unexpectedly engaged parts of herself she either hadn’t been in touch with for years, or at all in her life. "I was a stay at home mom. I supported my family. I didn’t have a job and wasn’t in positions where I was speaking in front of people, for example. So, looking back at the training, it was such a great thing to find the parts inside that say, ‘I can!’ I also was surprised at how much I loved our advanced anatomy lessons and training. They opened a door where I could take what I was learning and apply it. Anatomy is so human and so real. I could read the anatomy book and be like: ‘Oh my gosh, my bones are so cool! How do they know how to do that?’ For so many years, I was so busy being busy, I had lost connection with my body. And now, I was starting to inhabit myself and my body again.”
Today, Beth has come full circle and teaches three times per week at the Namaspa Redmond studio where her yoga journey here in Central Oregon first began. She specializes in yin and healing flow, finding joy in the creative process of crafting her classes so every part of the body gets touched and connected.
One of Beth’s most meaningful teaching experiences is her work at Deer Ridge Prison for men in Madras where she teaches yoga every Friday through the Namaspa Foundation. “This is something of and for my heart,” she says. The curiosity and enthusiasm of her students at the prison have led to requests for additional classes, highlighting the profound impact of Beth’s teaching and presence.
When asked about what wisdom she would want to share with others considering joining Namaspa’s YTT, she shared two things:
As she puts it, “Everything you learn about yourself is something you will take forward into whatever environments you end up in, even if you don’t teach yoga.” This is the part of Namaspa’s YTT that weaves in aspects of leadership development – you as a leader in your life and in your family, job, volunteer roles, and the larger community.
Beth received a partial scholarship through the Namaspa Foundation, and was on a monthly payment plan. She is grateful that these opportunities are available and encourages others to inquire about them so that financial barriers don’t have to be the thing that stop people from applying for or going through the training. Beth believes in and is passionate about the inclusivity of yoga and the importance of attracting teachers from diverse backgrounds. Supportive programs like scholarships and payment plan options help welcome teachers who will bring yoga to more and different people, breaking stereotypes and expanding the yoga community.
Beth’s story is a testament to the power of showing up and coming back, no matter the obstacles. Her journey from a newcomer seeking something she maybe couldn’t even name during a stressful time of life, to a creative and confident yoga teacher, can and will inspire others to take the leap, embrace challenges, and find their path. See what more of our grads are up to now, as well, here.
If you’re interested in Namaspa’s 200-hour “Connection: Mind, Body, Spirit” Yoga Teacher Training program, fill out an application and attend our upcoming free Open House (8/4, 2:30pm, at the Bend Studio or online via Zoom). If you have questions, feel free to reach out to our team at namaspayoga@gmail.com. And if you’d like to apply for a BIPOC and/or financial aid scholarship, apply here.
And remember, it’s never too late to show up and to come back to your breath … and your mat!
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