TrillYoga has long been my movement to show yoga is for everyone; the same way I think wellness should be. It also is built on a community of people who handle wellness in their own way, as we are all trying to be the best versions of ourselves. #WellnessWednesdays is my way of sharing other personalities and stories so we can all see how wellness comes in many different styles. 

Irene! A friend and amazing woman, whose practice and story are as inspiring as her social feed. I had the pleasure of coming up in the insta-yoga space with her, and think she's pretty darn special, too. Read on to hear about her journey and what wellness means to her.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU DO:

I am a yoga teacher by profession, but for me it goes much deeper than that. Right now I am using yoga as a tool to help discover myself and maintain my peace in this crazy world, so that is what I try to share with those that choose to practice with me. I used to be obsessed with working out and trying to get "the perfect body" by starving myself and countless hours of cardio, and yoga helped me realize that skinner doesn't always mean happier or healthier. 

WHAT DOES WELLNESS MEAN TO YOU/HOW DO YOU DEFINE WELLNESS?

For me wellness starts with my mind. To have a balanced mind leads to a balanced body, or so I've been told - haha. I try to nourish myself from the inside out, with clear and positive thoughts, whole and unprocessed foods, and plenty of exercise and time for reflection. 

FAVORITE WAY TO WELLNESS (WORKOUT, MEAL, ACTIVITY, ETC.)

While I love practicing yoga my recent favorite way to workout has been taking movement classes at the Boulder Movement Collective. I think it is important to allow our lifestyle to shift as we do, and while yoga has helped me so much mentally it is time to take that perspective into other physical modalities as well. 

WHEN DO YOU FEEL THE BEST AND WHAT IS THE BEST YOU? 

I feel the best when I am giving back to others. That is why I am so grateful to be a teacher and also to have a platform on social media. I always start my classes with a few minutes of talking about my own journey, and try to do the same on social media so that it isn't just about yoga poses. 

MOST IMPORTANT WELLNESS ADVICE OTHERS CAN TAKE AWAY?

Follow a path until you can create your own. Whether it is yoga, crossfit, pilates, or anything else it is important to find teachers that can help you begin to find yourself and your own path. Then it is time to spread your wings and do your own thing, and that is for sure the scary part. 

QUICKFIRE

NAME   //  Irene Anthi Pappas

BIRTHDAY   //  10/9/1990

BREAKFAST   // Smoothie life 

SEASON   //  Summer but Boulder winters are growing on me!

ADDICTION   // Coffee

CITY   // Mountains

MUSIC   //  Anything with a good beat  

BAD HABIT   //  I say fuck a lot 

GOOD HABIT   //    I love cleaning 

PET PEEVE   //  Grammar 

BODY PART   //   Eyes 

FEAR   //   Heights but I'm working on it 

SOCIAL HANDLES   // @fitqueenirene @adventurewithirene  www.fitqueenirene.com

Photos by @brookemichellej