Meet Sireesha Chirala | Yoga & Meditation Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sireesha Chirala and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sireesha, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I think a lot of yoga teachers have the dream of starting their own yoga studio, and I have always loved the idea of creating a yoga space of my own. When the pandemic completely interrupted the traditional yoga studio model and I stopped teaching in-person classes, it forced me to reassess my goals as a teacher, including the long-term goals I had put off for the future. There is a saying that I think about whenever I want to start something new: pefection is enemy good. There have been so many times that I had let the goal of perfection stop me from doing something I wanted. But the more I thought about it, the clearer it became, and I decided to get out of my own way and just start. So last year, I began providing virtual offerings through Instagram and Facebook, and in May, I finally took a leap of faith and started my own YouTube Channel: Sireesha Yoga. Through the Sireesha Yoga channel, I am creating the yoga space I have always wanted – one that is inclusive, that makes yoga accessible, and that focuses on the other limbs of Yoga, not just the physical practice. My goal is to provide approachable, easy-to-follow yoga videos for everyone and Every Body so that people slow down, breathe deeply, and Tap Into Their Well of Calm.Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am really proud of the diversity and unique perspective I bring to my yoga community. My offerings include beginner-friendly, vigorous yoga classes as well as slow, cooling, meditative yin yoga classes. I have offered workshops based on gratitude and stress-management. The trainings I have completed have spanned a variety of topics including breath-work and meditation, advanced asana (posture) practices, adaptive and chair yoga, mythology, and yoga philosophy. I weave bits and pieces of these concepts into all my classes and workshops and even include special intentions for each of my classes. I also write and share my thoughts, practice, and poetry with my community. In each class I teach, I try to encourage mindfulness, self-reflection, or pause, allowing practitioners to go deeper into their practice. Because of the thought and effort I put into my classes, students leave feeling refreshed, at ease, safe, and most importantly, ready to practice with me again. One of the many definitions of the word yoga is “union.” For me yoga is that—a sacred union between the mind, body, and breath. While physically challenging, yoga can be so much more than the asana practice. I see yoga as an empowering life-tool, something that helps its practitioners navigate the challenges and stresses that are a natural part of life. Yoga has given me space to breathe. It has helped me through anxiety and grief, opened my mind to new ideas, and continues to challenge me both physically and mentally. Life isn’t easy, but yoga makes it better. My goal is to help students find balance, to get them in tune with their inner-strength, and to help them learn that the practice yoga is for themselves. With that intention, I offer variations on poses, lightness, and compassion to help students find the fullest and safest expression of asana for their bodies. My hope is to help you Tap Into Your Well of Calm.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My tour of the DFW area would include visits to some of the more unique outdoor spots– like the Dallas Arboretum, Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano, and the Fort Worth Water Gardens. I would also take my friends over to the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. I also love the Bishop Arts area and just walking around visiting all the cool local stores and restuarants, so we would definitely make a stop there. My friends and I love to eat, so no tour would be complete without meals at amazing restaurants like Spiral Diner, Sixty Vines, Rodeo Goat, Zalat Pizza (the best pizza in the DFW-area, in my humble opinion), and Malai Kitchen. For an interesting shopping experience, I would take my friends to Legacy West and to one of my favorite make-up stores, Credo Beauty (they even host exciting events).Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am dedicating this Shoutout to my family and friends who have always supported me, but who have been particularly supportive during the changes the pandemic brought to my yoga offerings. My husband was the one who pushed me to start my yoga journey by taking me to my first yoga class and encouraging me to complete my yoga teacher training. When I told him about my idea to start a YouTube channel, he made sure that I had the time, environment, and space to create content. My family and friends were among my first subscribers and students, giving me feedback, watching my videos and practicing with me, and providing me with the drive I need to continue to fim and upload. Putting yourself out there, especially in the online space, requires courage. I would not have this courage without my family and friends and their invaluable support.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sireeshayoga/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SireeshaYoga/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sireeshayoga

Image Credits
Naomi McCoy