Meet Erin Gilmore | Yoga Instructor/Mentor, Yoga Model, & Content Creator

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

Hi Erin, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
I dropped out of college, twice. When I started teaching, my parents constantly encouraged me to return to school. They wanted me to have a clear path toward success and stability. For too long, I thought being “just a yoga teacher” was some abject failure. I constantly played around with the idea of going back to school to become a therapist. I remember talking to my brother about this and he said something along the lines of, you know you have to sit and listen and not give your opinion, right? And at that moment, I realized that would never work for me! I am filled with opinions I can’t keep to myself! That moment freed me. So, I suppose it was scarier than it was difficult, but I decided to bet on myself and go all in on making a career out of teaching yoga and finally put school behind me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It feels a little weird to call myself an artist or a creative, but I guess it fits! I’m a yoga, meditation, and breathwork teacher. I’ve also started labeling myself a writer since I’ve been writing weekly digests for the last four years. They help me grapple with the human condition, process my week, and connect with my “audience” (feels weird to put it that way, but I’m not sure how else to say it). I think that all takes a connection to creativity since it’s all made up, so artist it is.

I started teaching yoga in 2011 in San Francisco and never dreamed it would evolve into what it has. It was a hustle and a struggle for the first seven years (and still is at times). I said yes to everything and found myself teaching about 22 classes a week all over the city — which is not easy energy-wise, and especially not when you’re taking SF public transit.

The biggest thing I learned was to put value in myself and what I do. I sold myself short and played small for a lot longer than I’d like to admit. I’ve helped a few big apps succeed over the years, taught thousands of classes, and have gotten a lot of loving feedback that I’m trying to earnestly take in, rather than make a self-deprecating joke upon hearing it. I realize that what I do has value. I may have dropped out of college a couple of times and never got that piece of paper, but I’ve made an impact and that doesn’t have to be greenlit by the right people or the right paths that I thought I had to follow.

My biggest ideal is freedom and right behind that is honesty. I suppose freedom is born out of honesty. I want the people around me to feel free to be themselves. And if they’re going to feel free, I’m going to need to be honest with them about where I’m at and how I’m doing. One of my teachers, whose name is Aimee, says, go first and tell the truth. So, if that is what it means to be a teacher, that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m putting myself out there in the most honest way possible. I haven’t figured it out. I don’t think I’ll ever figure it out, but I’m trying. I’m here. And that’s all I ask of anyone else.

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?
I am lucky to live right next to Stern Grove in San Francisco. We start the day by walking half a block and descending into the forest. It smells like eucalyptus, the light slips through, and the breeze hits in a way that the trees feel like they’re talking to you. After we’ve circled the little pond, we’re hungry so we hop in the car and head to Hookfish a block away from the beach. I’d want to take a nap afterward, but let’s carry on. We hop in a driverless car and head off to the Mission for cocktails at Trick Dog. We’re splurging for dinner and make our way to Lazy Bear, which is nearby-ish.

Other places we’re headed to commune with nature: Ocean Beach, Lands End, Baker Beach, and walking the hills around Pac Heights, Russian Hill, and Nob Hill. We head over the bridge to Point Reyes, Bolinas Point, Stinson Beach, and take back roads on and off Highway 1.

For food, we could hit Damn Fine, Nopalito, Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant, Che Fico, Lolinda, La Tauquerilla, Papalote, Tony’s Pizza, Lou’s Sandwiches, Lahore Karahi (!!!). Lands End, Octavia, Rich Table… There’s an endless list but that’s what comes to my mind immediately.

And of course, I’d bring them to my in-person class at Yoga Flow SF in the Marina because — and I’m being incredibly braggadocious here — there’s nothing else like it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family is without a doubt my biggest support system. But another huge part of my success is thanks to the Down Dog App. I’ve been the model for their app since 2018 and it changed my life. It was a financial change, for sure, but it was also an important shift in how I regard myself and my work life. They taught me to never settle in my career. They are a wildly successful company, in large part, due to how immensely generous they are with their team. Whenever I found myself in a work situation that felt less than, they were advocates for demanding better or moving on. I’ll always be grateful for them.

Website: https://www.eringilmoreyoga.com/home

Instagram: @eringilmore

Other: Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/user/1211182025?si=4a3101f1f97b474e