Day in the Life: Yoga + Dance Teacher

Hi! My name is Erica Bornstein and I am excited to have the pleasure of being featured in my friend Cara’s blog. I admire Cara and the work she does in our community and the positive energy she spreads and I am grateful to not only work with her, but to be able to call her my friend!

I teach yoga and dance classes full time in and around Boston, and I couldn’t be happier about it. I used to work in marketing, and sitting all day in a cubicle literally gave me the willies so I knew I had to make a change. So, about 5 years ago I left the day to day grind, and got a job in a gym which allowed my hours to be flexible so I could start teaching fitness classes and get my yoga teacher training done, and for the past 2 years have turned teaching into a successful career.

I love movement. I always have.  My mother will tell you about how when she took me to the supermarket, she would  find me doing leaps and turns down the aisles. Moving has always made me feel better. I love sharing this passion with others. If I can make at least one person smile and feel good about themselves, I say it was a good day.

Don’t get me wrong, this job is a blast, but it can be challenging as well. My schedule is really funky and I am usually working when everyone else I know is off (aka nights and weekends).  Also, there is a lot of travel time involved and I am not going to lie, I have to use my yoga breathing exercises in daily traffic jams and parking spot hunts all around the city.  Since I am in my car A LOT, I utilize this time wisely and practice something I call “car-oegraphy” or dance choreography while in my car. I come up with the best dance ideas while driving. So, watch out for me while sitting in gridlock on Route 93, windows down, reggaeton blaring, arms flailing. Oh yeah, I really don’t care what the hell I look like to anyone else. Sometimes, I don’t even do the dance standing up until I teach it in class! It can get interesting to say the least.

With this career, everyday of the week is different, which helps keep life interesting. Somedays I teach 4 or 5 classes, and others just 2. Tuesday is one of my favorite working days of the week, so I will lead you through my typical Tuesday.