COLLEEN HEIN
(she/her)

CLASS INSTRUCTOR

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SOCIAL HANDLE

@colleenjosette

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WHERE ARE YOU FROM?  WHY PORTLAND?

I grew up in Houston, TX but made my way to Portland via San Francisco. My husband and I wanted to buy a house, have kids and live near both the ocean and the mountains — Portland checked off all of our boxes! I’ve been here 17 years and have never looked back.

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WHAT MAKES YOUR CLASS SO AWESOME?

I love to play and invite curiosity into the room with every class that I teach! Yoga is about unfolding the inner, true self as much as it is asana (movement). I create a space of self-compassion and gentleness to ease each student’s unfurling and self-discovery. 

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WHAT IS YOUR TEACHING STYLE?

Fun, playful and nurturing. I weave anatomy, silliness and poetry into all of my classes. Makes sense, right? Giving birth to and raising my two daughters has been the most magical, fulfilling role of my life and my yoga practice helped me tremendously both before and during labor. With my second child I will swear on any holy text that Pranayama and cat/cow saved me! I love bringing the awesome power of intentional breathing and movement to other mamas and mamas-to-be.

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WHAT'S THAT EXTRA SPECIAL SAUCE YOU POUR ON ALL OF YOUR CLASSES!?

Kick ass tunes. I love music and love creating unique playlists for my classes! As a singer and music lover it brings me joy to pair songs with movement to create a thematic mood.  

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WHAT QUOTE IS MOST LIKELY TO COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH DURING A CLASS?

“Press both heels into the floor and imagine that you’re taffy pulling your mat without moving your feet!"

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IS THERE A SPECIFIC MOMENT THAT GOT YOU INTO FITNESS? 

GUSH ABOUT IT PLEASE!

I was a competitive softball player as a young person and started practicing yoga in my mid-twenties while working at Apple (they offered classes in their gym). But the pivotal moment for me was when I became chronically ill in 2012. After many years without an exercise regimen yoga brought me back to my health and myself. It was a powerful healing tool for me that led me out of illness and on a journey to teach yoga to others!

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WHEN YOU'RE NOT FITNESSING, WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?

Spending time with my two teenage daughters, snuggling with my cats, researching new music, writing and resting as much as my body needs.

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WHEN YOU'RE FEELING DOWN, WHAT'S ONE THING YOU SAY TO YOURSELF TO GET YOU GOING?

This is temporary. Tomorrow is a new day. I am safe and I am worthy. This will pass with 2 shakes of a lamb’s tail! 

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QUALIFICATIONS

Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) | 200hr Yoga TT Love Hive Yoga, Portland 200hr Advanced Yoga TT, Yoga Kauai with Bhavani Maki | Mother to 2 amazing teenage daughters