Meet Claudia Lumpkin
1- In less than a minute, tell us who you are and why we keep hearing good things about you.
There are three things that make me who I am. One is my curiosity to learning new things, secondly a great desire to help others and last but not least being creative. These three elements have always been a constant in my life, maybe one or another weighing more throughout the years. It hasn’t been until now that I began a new chapter as a Yoga Facilitator that I began to integrate my desire to help others by curating yoga flows to people.
2- What inspired you, if any, to join the Warrior Flow 200-Hour Yoga Training’s faculty?
I believe in the work and impact that Warrior Flow has on their community and is due to the unique approach to Yoga. Going through the YTT myself created such a positive impact in my life that I couldn’t help but to be part of this incredible team to share with other what accessible and trauma informed yoga feels and looks like.
3- In simple words, what does yoga mean to you?
Yoga for me means a moment to find a connection and balance between body and mind. A sacred space to come back to yourself.
4- What is the main difference between learning yoga now and when you took your first yoga training?
The main difference is the expectation of practicing with a focus on what it should look like vs respecting the boundaries of my own body. Letting go of comparison has given me empowerment and autonomy to move through the practice safely.
5- In your opinion, why is this a key moment in time to learn yoga?
I believe that globally we have been impacted with many on-going situations that has increased everyone’s stress, anxiety and depression. Being able to integrate Yoga as a life tool to support your personal well being could over all improve your own perception of your day to day struggles and to cultivate a more positive state of mind.
6- Who would you be without yoga?
A very anxious person running away from her own thoughts and experiences.
7- Who were your role models? And what pushed you to learn and become who you are today?
Throughout my life I have had the privileged to be surrounded by incredible people from different cultures and ages. Each and every person who has come into my life has left an imprint that pushes me to challenge my own beliefs and skills. And with this allowing my mind to continuously evolve into the person who I am today.
8- What were the pivotal roadblocks and challenges you encountered along the way that helped you define your path?
Through out my childhood my family had to move very frequently to different countries, leaving behind friends and everything that was familiar to me. I found myself frequently in an identity crisis growing up, feeling like a chameleon always trying to fit in. It has taken many years to cultivate that inner peace and balance that who I am doesn’t need to be tailored to be loved and accepted.
9- What can we all do right now to make this world a better place?
Be a little kinder and a little less judgmental. We don’t always know the other persons story, but if we show each other a little more compassion maybe as a collective we would struggle less and less to find the world a safe place to be in.