Meet Liz Terry | Yoga Teacher & Certified Rolfer

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

Hi Liz, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Back in 2008 I had been an employee of a few different companies for almost a decade. During that time, the economy was going through a lot of change and companies had to lay-off several employees. I experienced a few lay-offs myself at some big companies and decided to take my fate into my own hands. So I received my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training certification and began teaching yoga. From there, yoga has taken me all over the world teaching from Japan to Dubai, from Bali and Mexico and I haven’t looked back since.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Taking a road less traveled than most is not an easy path. But I’m sure it’s never an easy path for anyone who desires to follow their heart no matter which direction that leads. The universe has never steered me in the wrong direction. My ego for surely has, but when I truly listen to what life is whispering to me, my life just flows. That’s not to say it’s not hard work and making tough choices. Moving to Dubai was an easy decision, but some of the challenges and obstacles I’ve faced have not always been so easy. I started working first as a yoga teacher in Denver, which took me taking two ‘corporate’ part-time jobs so I could do what I truly loved doing, teaching yoga. I taught 12-15 classes per week, driving all over the city to get as much experience as I could. All the while, working two other jobs so I could continue to follow my heart. In 2011 I left Denver and moved half-way around the world to the Middle East where my yoga teaching took off exponentially. Teaching opportunities were endless. From teaching private yoga to local Arabs, to teaching big classes with expats from all over the world, running events with hundreds of people in attendance, planning and leading retreats etc. I was on cloud nine. I was doing everything I was meant to be doing. Challenges were definitely not absent, and how I got through them was knowing that no matter what nothing would come between myself and what I love doing. No one can dodge challenges in life. My belief is, that if you keep having the same amount of love and passion for what you’re doing no matter the challenge, you know you’re doing the right thing for yourself.

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’m hoping many of my friends from Dubai will come and visit- which means I’ve thought about this a lot. I would initially take them into the mountains. White Water Rafting, hot springs, hiking- all the outdoorsy things. Monday- Pick them up, take them to Pearl Street near DU for some yoga at Karma Yoga Center, a coffee at Stella’s, Sushi and then Sweet Cow thereafter, with a final walk around Wash Park before jet-lag hits them for sleep.
Tuesday- head for the hills. A day hike in Brainard Lake area to see the Moose, up to Lake Isabelle. Afterwards, a stroll thru Nederland for a quick snack and then I’d take them to Pearl St in Boulder for a nice stroll and a lovely dinner at one of the local restaurants up there.
Wednesday- White Water Rafting toward the Royal Gorge for a morning trip. Head to Garden of the Gods after that and dinner in Colorado Springs before heading back to Denver.
Thursday- Saturday- Up to Glenwood Springs for hot springs, hiking No Name, shopping. Stay overnight, then onto Aspen for hiking the Maroon Bells and staying in town for a night out.
Sunday- Finish in Estes Park exploring the RMNP and downtown Estes grabbing the best caramel apples from Laura’s or Hayley’s. Grabbing an epic sandwich from Scratch before heading to the airport.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Of course nothing is ever completed alone. I have so many people to thank. Mainly my teachers, Kori Strobl, Nora Day, Michel Besnard, Jill Miller, Annie Carpenter and so many more Yogi’s I’ve had the privilege to learn from all these years. Kori was my original teacher, and I have so much gratitude what she represented for me at the time in my life she was my teacher. She is still my favorite teacher I’ve ever had. My friend and mentor May Britt has been a huge influence in my life and how I view the world. At the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute, Ray McCall was the most magical wizard I was able to learn from. I would never be where I’m at with the seeds that were planted from all I listed above. I am so grateful.

Website: www.lizterryyoga.com

Image Credits
Brain Crawford Photography Dee Ghandi