Native Yoga Toddcast

Veronique Ory - Shine On and Off the Mat

January 30, 2023 Todd Mclaughlin
Native Yoga Toddcast
Veronique Ory - Shine On and Off the Mat
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Show Notes Transcript

Episode #101 - Veronique Ory - Shine On and Off the Mat

Have a listen to this informative and inspirational conversation I had the pleasure of having with Veronique Ory. 

Visit Veronique on her website here: www.yogawithveronique.com
And follow her on IG here: @veroniqueory

Originally from Montreal, Quebec, and currently living in Vero Beach, Florida. Veronique studied theatre at Russell Sage College and discovered yoga as a way to calm her mind and feel good. With over 500 hours of training as a RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance), she is inspired off the mat to create unique and creative yoga classes. Classes are tailored based on the setting, students, and inspirational themes. Her goal is to empower and inspire her students to shine their light. She offers precise alignment cues, as well as modifications for students who are healing an injury or expressing beginner to advanced levels of practice. When guiding, she uses descriptive words and tune in to when to be silent, so that each student can simply breathe.

View on Youtube here.

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Todd McLaughlin:

Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. So happy you are here. My goal with this channel is to bring inspirational speakers to the mic in the field of yoga, massage bodywork and beyond. Follow us native yoga, and check us out at Native yoga center.com. All right, let's begin Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. I'm so excited to introduce to you Veronique Ory. She has a website yogawithveronique.com. She has an Instagram@VeronicaOry. All of those are going to begin in the links below. She has a brand new book Shine On and Off the Mat, which we speak about during this podcast. Also, she has a virtual program called Coming Home. And she's offering a yoga retreat in June down in Costa Rica. That sounds amazing. So I really enjoyed speaking with Veronique. She's so nice. And I loved it. I can't wait for you to hear it. Let's begin. I'm so happy to have Veronique Ory here today. How are you?

Veronique Ory:

I'm so well. How are you, Todd?

Todd McLaughlin:

I'm doing really well. Thank you so much for joining me today on our podcast. I really appreciate it.

Veronique Ory:

Thank you for having me.

Todd McLaughlin:

I can already hear some birds in the background. I can see you and I can see your house behind you.... but what are you looking at?

Veronique Ory:

Yes, I'm facing this beautiful Preserve. There's a giant oak tree right in front of me that is protecting me with a beautiful orchid that's in bloom attached to the side of it. And there's amazing Cardinals and mockingbirds andall the Florida Wildlife that emerges from the trees from time to time. Squirrels and bunnies and sometimes bobcats and armadillos.

Todd McLaughlin:

Yes. That's cool. And I noticed the dog came up to since we've been chatting before we started here. Is that your dog?

Veronique Ory:

Yes, my Yogi pet Bowery. He likes to sit when I and then baddha konasana butterfly pose he thinks that says perfect perch to sit on my meditation cushion with me.

Todd McLaughlin:

That's perfect. You maybe would have to pay someone to assist you like that normally, but it sounds like you have a

Veronique Ory:

Yeah, yeah, we have a fine couple exchange going on.

Todd McLaughlin:

Nice. I love Well, first of all, I was really excited to see that you're located in Vero Beach Florida. And whenever some we're not far away down here and you know, whenever I hear birds like that in Florida, like sometimes when I see the development that's going on around our area, like there's so much building going on that forget or sometimes it's I mean maybe not apparent how much wildlife there is around so to hear that and if I did not you know you're in Florida, I'd maybe think maybe she's in Costa Rica or she's down in the Amazon or but to hear that you're right here in Florida and there's like this birds in the background is makes me reminds me of how much natural beauty there is here in Florida. You're originally from Canada, is that correct?

Veronique Ory:

Yes, there's like Montreal, Quebec.

Todd McLaughlin:

How did you make your way to Florida?

Veronique Ory:

Oh, my so many different cities along the way. I was a theatre company called Athena theatre and was very much immersed in the arts, which then led me to New York City for nine years. And just when I was sort of in the world of immersion, vibrant, energetic feeling so alive with all the different languages and feeling so just lit up by culture and all that there is to explore I also was confronted with a lot of anxiety. And as I found yoga and was getting older and really was craving the house with the yard and a bit of sunshine boost for most of my days. I've landed in Florida four years ago, just really wanting that upgrade and quality of life. I really feel that Vero Beach is just so peaceful. It's such a quaint little beach town really love it here.

Todd McLaughlin:

I love Jiro my son and I will go up there and go surfing and the waves are often a little bit better up there sometimes depend upon which angle the swell is and kind of in relation to down here in Palm Beach County, so I love taking a road trip to Vera Vera, it always feels a little bit more like Old Florida and me when I go there.

Veronique Ory:

Hmm, cool. Yeah, it's, it's a little tucked away. And it's a little bit far from the major airports. So it isn't so so congested, like the major cities on the east coast of Florida in particular, I've noticed but people have have started to lie down. The snowbirds are definitely here in full effect. This year is definitely feeling the difference this past month for sure.

Todd McLaughlin:

Big time. I mean, the weather here right now is so amazing. Like lately, the skies have been like crystal clear blue. And it's like in the high 70s. It's been absolutely amazing. So I agree the traffic is just so much more intense right now because of it.

Veronique Ory:

Yeah. Yeah, there's definitely wind of wanting to embrace more sunshine. It definitely affects the way that you just stand and breathe and walk around. Yeah, I was marveling yesterday walking Bowery, like, there isn't a single cloud in the sky. Am I living in a real?

Todd McLaughlin:

Was it where I'm using the weather yesterday? I was like, Oh my gosh, I had that kind of moment, like, so nice. I agree. I agree. When did yoga come into the picture?

Veronique Ory:

2012 is when it really landed. I had sort of nibbles have it over the years and really came into it in 2012. At the sort of wake of Hurricane Sandy in New York City where all the subways closed down and we were just holed up in our apartment just waiting for the sign that it was safe to move around. And the yoga studio called the yoga room in Astoria. And Queens opened up and my roommate Matt at the time said, Do you want to go to this class? And it was just sort of like this off handed? Do you want to do this? And he probably could have said anything. And I would have been like, Yeah, let's go. And it was one of those change. Everything kind of moments, that class rocked me to my core, it was so beautifully done. And one of those moments, you know, for anyone who's landed into this sphere, it's like you show up and you're like, how did this teacher know exactly what I needed to hear at this precise moment, and I just signed up for a 30 day unlimited pass on the spot. And I just thought I want to feel like this all of my days. And I've been really into that rhythm ever since.

Todd McLaughlin:

That's cool. What type of practice was it?

Veronique Ory:

Huh? It was a Vinyasa style class for the first 60 minutes and then the ending 30 minutes was restorative. And so we were just snuggled up with bolsters and blankets and just steeping and all of the movement that we moved through.

Todd McLaughlin:

Very cool. Did you have like an emotional experience? Sometimes a lot of people will talk about like the first time they go into Shavasana after their first yoga class. that they'll have like a coming home experience and or feel their senses in a way that they've never felt? Can you explain a little bit more what you remember of that first practice?

Veronique Ory:

Absolutely, I felt so much during that time that I was operating at such a high, I'll say in loose coats, high functioning, stress builds rhythm. And I very much attribute myself lovingly as type A and OCD and high achieving, and they want to do all of the things and check off all of the tasks. And I think because I had been operating in that pace for so long, it wasn't until I slowed down that I was able to objectively see how very much that isn't healthy or sustainable, long term at all. And I realized how much of those emotions I was storing in my body. And so much of my, what I'd call like happiness, or my level of contentment was like so much in relationship to validation outside of myself, being in the entertainment industry feeling like this person said, Yes, I'm in jubilation. And then this person says, No, and this could happen like in like a 15 minute window where like, I'm like, so ecstatic one moment, and then like bawling on the floor, and my kitchen, just like a puddle the next moment, and just starting to unpack that. And I think, you know, depending on any industry, one is in, there could be that tendency of, you know, you're seeking a raise, or you're seeking like a kind word from your boss, or whatever it is. And it's like, when we're constantly reaching for something outside of ourselves, we are really giving our light and our magic away. And also just like, playing with that area of where our own control habits reside, it's really, really toxic, ultimately, in terms of finding that sense of peacefulness, and remembering what it is to actually be in this deep contentment, that is devoid of the exterior, which is, you know, so much easier said than done. But, you know, it was, it was some of the things that started to kind of plant the seed and those regards of moving through these emotions and kind of, like, unlocking so much stress and anxiety and also like, really noticing where the triggers show up. And, and, and the triggers are like very at the surface when you're living in an urban environment in particular, because you're just like, wrestled, and sort of jostled, and with so much different energy all of the time that if you're an empath, or you know, in tune with other people's emotions even a little bit, you know, we're, as human beings, we're sponges, we tend to like pick up on the energy that we surround ourselves with. And so to be in that frequency for an extended period of time, the yoga practice was just like, so soothing. And it was just this amazing breath of fresh air and this like very like resonant like connection to the breath, to have like, I don't know that I was like, breathing with any kind of awareness until then. And the breath part was actually also one of the main components that really awakened a lot of my personal yoga practice as well.

Todd McLaughlin:

That's cool. After you had that first month experience, what direction did you go to then? Did you have a moment? Then that made you think I want to be a yoga teacher? Or was it after a couple of years of practice that you that someone say, Hey, I think you would be good at this or what was the transition for you? Letting your practice evolve and develop to where you decided that you would like to lead people in a yoga practice as well?

Veronique Ory:

Yeah, it really took five years of practicing every day and the There was a moment I was on a yoga retreat with one of my favorite teachers Kylie holiday out of New York City. And one of the participants on the retreat, he said to me, you know, you should really teach and I said, Oh, no, no, like, I really enjoy this. You know, I was, I was so worried that it would, you know, sometimes when you know too much, it kind of clouds your ability to have beginner's mind with it. And I found that with theater, it became very hard to just watch a play without simultaneously looking at the lighting design and the sound design. And oh, that's interesting. I wonder why the director made that choice is sort of like psycho analyzing everything, instead of just like, let it wash over you in a way that feels like what the team designed the show to do. And so I was really worried about that, becoming a yoga instructor of like, I don't want to lose the magic of it. And what ended up really shifting my thought surrounding that was, I started to feel like there was as much creativity and as much joy as experienced in theater, I also experience just like, a lot of heartache, a lot of drama, a lot of managing a lot of very large, dramatic personalities, that, you know, it tends to attract. And I would be managing all of that and feeling like I was putting out fires constantly with my theater company, like, it just seemed like there was something going wrong all the time. And then I would come to a yoga class and like you're, you know, this close, maybe like an inch away from your neighbor. And you're just like, it didn't seem like there was competition, it seemed like we're all doing this thing. And like, maybe you're putting your foot behind your head. But that's cool. Like, I don't need to do that, or, you know, all of these things. And I've found like, well, if I could feel like this, and have it be my livelihood, also, then maybe that would help bridge this gap that I've been experiencing of like, finding the peacefulness here on my magic carpet, and then like going back to work, and then sort of unraveling all of that, and then having to put myself back together. So I think having the awareness of like, oh, well, maybe sort of echoing the feeling of my first yoga class of wanting to feel like this all of my days of my practice on the mat, and like, little by little feeling that expansion of like, oh, how does this affect every single facet of what it is that I do? And finding that that awakening really helped? Like, okay, well, maybe I'll do a yoga teacher training and just kind of try this on and see if perhaps, that part of my journey can unfold in this way.

Todd McLaughlin:

Cool. You took that training? And then you jumped right into teaching? Or did you still pause on the idea?

Veronique Ory:

Yeah, it was it? If anyone was watching from the outside, or like I imagined, like if my life or a movie like like, the whole audience would be like, Come on already. Like, what are you waiting for?

Todd McLaughlin:

That's good. You don't I don't think I don't think jumping in and rushing. You know, this stuff is, is a good idea. So that's good that you give it some time to what a pleasure. Yeah.

Veronique Ory:

Yeah, I taught a little bit from yoga teacher training, one of my. So I did a 100 hour intensive in Costa Rica blue spirit through amazing yoga, which was another transformational experience, and then came back to New York and realize that you're really not going to get hired anywhere with a 100 Our people didn't really think that that was a thing. And so then I signed up for a 200 hour and Sara Marsh who owns for yoga, she really believed in me and right away, she was like teach yoga in the park. And here's this corporate gig and she just kind of gave some opportunities my way and you know, I created a thumbtack profile and garnered a private client over here and so started kind of getting my feet wet really slowly. And even when I moved down to Florida, I, you know, had maybe five group classes on my schedule and was still operating my theater company remotely. Up until December of 2019. I actually made the decision to close my camp. After 17 years, which was one of the hardest decisions that I made, and, and what happened when I did that is like the universe, as they say, conspired, and all of a sudden, the pandemic hit. And all of my at that point, I'd built up to 17 group classes a week at all the places that could possibly offer yoga, and all of that went away. And then an entire private client roster just emerged through word of mouth. And then I mentioned to my partner, Aaron Lanahan, I said, Do you want to lead a yoga retreat in Costa Rica? And she was like, yes. And so then we did. And so all of these things just started happening, I started writing down my dharma talks and published a book and all of these things, I just seemed like this, like, off landish, like big dream thing that'll happen, like years down the road, like everything just sort of started to fall into place in a way where it just felt like, Oh, this is this is where I am, this is, this is where I'm meant to be. And it's just been, I've just been, you know, so, so grateful, it's been really rewarding in so many ways. And just to get to have the opportunity to share the yoga teachings in this way that feels like it's drawing in from my background in theatre. So it's very much storytelling, it's very much creative. It's very much flow and improvisational, it's very much tuning into what each of my clients intentions are, and posing questions and all about self inquiry. And so all of the things that I found to be so helpful in my personal yoga practice, like planting the seeds for my clients in a way that feels like they're growing, and they're asking questions of their community, and then that has a really beautiful ripple effect to the lives that they attach, and so on and so on.

Todd McLaughlin:

That's amazing. Your new book is called shine on and off the mat. Is that correct? Yes. And you kind of gave me a little bit of an idea or insight into that you didn't know you're going to be publishing a book, and then you've published a book, can you tell? I have the dream of publishing a book one day, can you tell me what the evolution process was from the day you realize that I could do this, maybe I would want to do this, too. I am doing this too. It's done. Can you give me a little bit of a breakdown of what that process was like?

Veronique Ory:

Yeah. So for years, I've been really enjoying sharing stories from my life as a portal into my dharma talks at the beginning of my yoga class. And so I'll tell like a little nugget of a story as a way to universally connect, what ends up happening, right is, there's a certain theme, or there's a certain teaching that I'm individually uniquely going through, but very much so it connects to what everybody is going through in a certain regard. And so it would help plant this seed and would help kind of make sense of like, why we're in this twisted shape, or why we're playing with this bind, and so on. And as I was moving through teaching in this way, I started to get this really amazing feedback from my students that they like, really think about those stories. And they really think about those teachings throughout the week. And so it started to feel like, okay, maybe I should write these stories down, and start to just maybe have them as a collection for my own personal, you know, archives of sorts. And so seven weeks before the pandemic, I just started doing that in real time, I would just not anything extensive, but just kind of a short paragraph just to kind of jog my memory as maybe just like a way to kind of reference of where I've been, so that there's a connection to where I am to perhaps where I'm going and just in the way that I might journal and then look back and it just helps kind of clarify the journey a little bit. And so then when the studio closures happened, I very clearly had this vision of the idea of this interactive Yoga Book. For that it would be a story on one page, a photograph emulating the essence of that story on this page, and it would connect to a video series, where there would be a 20 minute meditation, a 20 minute vinyasa practice and a 20 minute yen practice. And there would be also, I received a lot of great feedback on my playlists. And I think music is a really great portal, this really beautiful universal language that can kind of bring somebody into an energy. And so connecting the music playlists, and then having a journal prompt so that people can kind of put their own voice and their own experience into this interactive container. And so that's the format of the book. And so it's one theme with the story with the videos, the music, the journal prompts per week for a 52 week journey through that first year of a pandemic.

Todd McLaughlin:

Wow. So that's super ambitious, because you said, out of 52, and for each week, you have so a story, a photo that represents and then so the video then you have a link in the book that you direct people toward on to what platform like Vimeo or? Yeah, Vimeo, thank you. I was like that probably said that wrong. And and then is that something that they need to purchase the book to be able to watch? And it's like, like there's a code, or is it something that those videos are available for people to see? Anyway?

Veronique Ory:

Yes, so I do have a special offer right now, specifically for your listeners. So there's my book, which you can get the hard copy or the ebook. So through an offering it through the month of February, little preview, so the first 10 entries of the book, I'll give you the link to put in the show notes. It'll be the first 10 entries of the book, as well as unlimited access to the videos on my Vimeo channel. Ordinarily, the, the subscription is just $7 a month. So it's very accessible to everyone. That was my big impetus, especially when everything shut down just wanting to create something where people can practice from anywhere.

Todd McLaughlin:

Yep. What a cool idea. I don't think I've come across this particular with presenting like this. Is this something that you got the idea off of somebody else? Or? Or is it that you just it just just dawned on you like, let me combine all these different visual mediums. Word in the sense that you can write you have photo and then a video. That's really cool. Sounds unique. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah, I'm excited. Yeah. I'll definitely sign up on what you're talking about. I went on your website right before we started the podcast. And so I was able to see that offer that you're talking about. I didn't fully check it out. So I haven't signed up yet. But I will write more done. And that's such a good idea. So I have a bunch of questions for you. So you're in theater. So you've been around mediums such as print and video and I'm guessing like when you're saying theater, like more like Broadway style theater, or were you involved in film prior to the theater element and or when you lived in LA, were you also involved in film? What is your relationship to film and your theater background?

Veronique Ory:

Yes, so I studied theater in college. And I moved to Los Angeles out of college, my theater mentor said, because I came to him, do I move to New York City or do I move to LA and he said move to LA because you'll never make a living in theater. Doing straight plays, I don't sing and dance in any way that one would pay for that. Even though I love it so much. Just casually alone in my house. But I moved to LA and I started to do independent films. And I really miss theater like I just love the craft of being Being in character development and really digging into script analysis and things like that. And so that was when I decided to start my own theatre company and start to create opportunities for myself and for my friends and for artists that I believed in. And initially, it was all of these published plays that I had read in college that I really loved. And then the evolution of that was, when I moved to New York, I had feedback from one of my colleagues, like, why are you doing this revival of this play that had this huge, successful Broadway run? Like, what is your angle? And so I started to question that, and then that's when I really shifted into finding different ways to support emerging playwrights and so started producing original plays and finding, yeah, new playwright, containers of curating plays in house and having monthly readings and different things like that. So yeah, a lot of experience on the stage, and then a little bit of experience on camera, and a lot of experience behind the camera and different in different facets as well.

Todd McLaughlin:

How did you, I know this is going a little bit more down the technical of like the how to I know there's yoga teachers that are listening that are utilizing online platforms, creating online platforms, their students that are listening that are benefiting from the online platforms that are being made. In relation to you have some really beautiful video that shot on your website that I saw of you practicing on the beach? Did you set up a tripod and film yourself? Or did you have a pro doing all this for you?

Veronique Ory:

I definitely had a pro. I definitely had a prep Fair enough. So Brandi Anthony shot the video that's on my homepage. And then my dear friend shots and Jeff shot the photographs that are in my book. And they're sort of woven into my Instagram feed as well.

Todd McLaughlin:

Nice. Yeah,

Veronique Ory:

that's the Vimeo series, I shot myself, because that was a weekly commitment that I made and, and I wanted it to feel intimate. Like at home, I didn't want it to be overly produced. I wanted it to feel like people were just kind of like stepping into my porch.

Todd McLaughlin:

Nice. And you said a 20 minute practice on yen a 20 minute practice on vinyasa. What were the three categories that you kind of kept it around?

Veronique Ory:

Yes. And guided meditation. Cool. Yeah, so anchoring the theme or into the meditation. So starting with a place where one could be still. And the invitation is, you know, you could also take those guided meditations on your commute, you could take it into your bath, you could take it on your walk with your dog, or your kids or your loved one. And so trying to and part of the reason just to come back to what you were saying, of why all of these things together is, I believe, and you know, of course, we're here talking about yoga, as you know, everyone listening, we're drinking the Kool Aid, like, Yep, we're here for yoga. But I often meet people who will say like, oh, I took a yoga class, once, it's not for me. And oftentimes, I feel like perhaps they are needing to receive it in a different way through a different person, maybe at a different time. And we all learn in different ways. And so finding that through either hearing it or reading it, or seeing a photo, or maybe doing a journal prompt, you know, maybe like the yoga practice doesn't look the way that maybe you think the idea of what yoga is. And so the hope is that there are these different ways to process it. And in the spirit of it being a 52 week journey is like, you could do it in sequence the way that I wrote it, or you could close the book, close your eyes, and then open the page and let the theme that is meant for you to show up to practice with and that could be a pondering, it could be doing the guided meditation or the vinyasa practice or the yen practice. It could be listening to the playlist while you're folding laundry, you know, there's so many different ways to play with it that there's this opportunity to and perhaps especially, you know, if you are new to the practice and then also if you have been practicing for a while and maybe feel like you're at a plateau or you feel like a little burnt out or maybe you're like wanting like a different creative pathway. It is hopeful that it's a canvas that you can kind of like show up where you are, and almost like a buffet choose the thing that resonates in the moment.

Todd McLaughlin:

So cool. Super creative. Thank you. Is once the today, did you practice any meditation today?

Veronique Ory:

Oh, gosh, yes.

Todd McLaughlin:

Can you get my Oh, yeah, were we gonna say?

Veronique Ory:

Yeah, I love starting the day with a meditation I actually do know the group the light meeting. Oh, goodness. So I originally found them on Insight Timer. And they are. I've been really, I've I go through phases, sometimes I want guided words. And sometimes the the soundscape of music feels like the thing and that feels really resonant these days. And so I thought you said light meaning the light meeting, the light

Todd McLaughlin:

meeting? Where would I find that?

Veronique Ory:

So they are on Insight Timer, and they also have a Spotify. And they're this chalice guitarist duo based out of Arizona, I believe. Cool. The music is. It's, it's a really nice guiding like, it feels like a journey. And it's like, it's just enough of something that like your mind could travel to different things. And then also it can just like really route you into the moment so that that tends to accompany on my morning walk.

Todd McLaughlin:

Very cool. And like 10 minutes, 15 minutes, our tracks, but you can do for 10 What's the how long? Yeah. One of the songs.

Veronique Ory:

Yeah, the track that I'm on 17 minutes. I've been really lingering on this one track for the last month. It's really good.

Todd McLaughlin:

That's so awesome. I I'm almost done reading a book called Becoming supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza. Have you heard of that? Yeah. Yeah. Have you read it?

Veronique Ory:

Haven't read that one. I'm very familiar with Dr. Joe Dispenza. His teachings, I think he's brilliant. It's pretty

Todd McLaughlin:

amazing, I have to admit. And he was kind of referencing this idea of like looking at the kaleidoscope. So I went on YouTube, and I found the kaleidoscope at this idea of like, it made me think of what you just said in terms of just having something on editorial that you won't necessarily be prompted, but your imagination can get queued off of the sounds that you're having. And so in watching the kaleidoscope, his concept I believe I understand properly is that, you know, you're watching all these geometric shapes, and there's that like center point in the middle and everything's kind of expanding and contracting around that center point. So it can let your consciousness settle down enough that then when you go along with your meditation, you're just in that sort of trance state a little easier than if you're in that place of like, gosh, my mind just keeps going and I can't focus and so it kind of reminded me what you said about the the audio side that might play out the same way that that visual with the kaleidoscope would Can you give me any insight into any other things you've come across that that helps you along in your meditation journeys.

Veronique Ory:

Yeah, I love having a journal nearby, I find that writing out the thoughts, particularly the thoughts that are on repeat, it's really helpful to get them out in that way. And it really helps especially in that stream of consciousness, consciousness writing, it helps unpack the subconscious. And so it feels like okay, like I'm having this thought at the surface and then when you kind of take a little bit deeper, then you kind of have like these reveals that start to emerge and then as you start to witness that in the space of, okay, what can I learn here, then? It's almost like there's like a freedom. It's like you're like kind of like letting go of it. The idea of being on the gerbil wheel with things and there's a, there's a nice, kind of like, oh, I can get off yeah.

Todd McLaughlin:

Like, does that mean like, you'll sit down with a journal and just say, Okay, I'm gonna give myself like 10 minutes, I'm just gonna write down, whatever comes up, I'm not gonna judge it, I'm not thinking somebody's gonna read this down the road, I'm not gonna publish this. I'm just like, writing, writing, writing, writing, then you'll go back and read and read through it and see what I can pick out. That's, that's the underneath underlying. That's cool. That's a good idea. I'm like, kind of analytical, I guess, like, do you set a time limit? Or you're like, Okay, I'm gonna write for at least 10 minutes? Or is it just free flow for you now at this point, like, cool, let me just get two or three sentences down. And that's enough. Is there some like magic amount of time that you've used that you find is is better than another?

Veronique Ory:

Hmm, I tend to want to explore a certain thoughts. So I'll just kind of like, chew through a certain amount. Topic or maybe a person or an event that I'm trying to figure out, or if I was, like, triggered by something else, just kind of like, free flow on that until I've processed it to a degree that feels satiating, which, you know, sometimes takes longer than other.

Todd McLaughlin:

That's cool. Where are you? Currently with? That rawness of you writing? Knowing? Like, no one's gonna see this, to being able to put that out into say, the universe via on social media slash whatever the platform is? Are you editing before? Or like, how many layers down the track from the raw to the final? Are you going these days? Like, do you have any challenges with that? Are you? Are you at a place in your life where you're just like, I'm gonna say anything and everything I feel, and I don't care how anybody judges me, I'm not gonna like worry about any judgment whatsoever. And I'm not gonna be scared about any of that. I'm just gonna put it out there. Or do you write the raw and go? Ooh, I know, that's gonna offend somebody. I'm not gonna say that. I probably shouldn't do that. I should be more sensitive. Like, in a nice way. I don't I'm not saying I'm just kind of curious where you're at with all that these days.

Veronique Ory:

I definitely write unedited for myself. And then my shares, I'm very mindful that I keep it in the space that is helpful. Yeah. And so I don't share names. I don't share personal. And then I don't share anything that is maybe like beyond what I would tell my like, closest people. I'm not Yeah, I don't I don't know. For me, I don't know that that is actually something that is helpful. And I think for me, it's really healthy to have a boundary of my personal life verse. And it's tricky, because a different person could just be like, This is me. And unabashedly, here are all my thoughts about all of the things. And I feel like my role personally is to be more like finding myself as a vessel to plant the seeds of an energy or an emotion or a certain processing or like a certain quality that feels like a universal consciousness so that it prompts people to process their own so they're not distracted by like my own specific unique story. Yeah, so it's, it's very tricky to navigate in a way that yes, wanting to share your heart and wanting to be open but also not wanting that like my new should detail. That could be a distraction.

Todd McLaughlin:

Yeah, I see that. It's so cool, because I can I can see your background as a screenwriter or a play writer, or playwright and or editor and or how you were talking about how you really love just like getting in on a story and character development and the way you're going to portray that. And then how you've been able to segue that over into explaining what you're learning in your yoga practice via these, like common myths and or common stories. That's really cool. What else? What else are you doing? So I like I like the idea of this, I love music. I love the idea of writing. I like to write but i like i like the thought of just like, blah, just get it out there and read it back and see what comes out for your own personal insight. What is your understanding of, are you so in terms of like, say just physical yoga where we can break down like, look how you can flex your hip, and you can use your quadriceps for Morris to engage your hip flexion. So there's like this very physical, analytical side. And then there's this like, amazing, you have a root chakra, and it's associated with this specific specific emotions. And maybe you're holding all your emotions down in the lower chakras, and you could try to pull them up. Where'd it Where are you at with the I tried to tend away tend to stay away from like, the spiritual side? Because I don't know, maybe there's a better word for it. Though, what is your How are you connecting these days with, say, the side that you can't see, in yoga? What's coming up for you these days?

Veronique Ory:

Yes, I always feel, in my own personal practice in the way that I enter into each class that I teach. It starts with an energy or an intention. And so say, my intention for this class is slowing down. Then every movement is almost through molasses. And every transition is like how slow Can we really luxury in the in between? And so it's maybe less about focus on what muscles are firing, or what we're stretching, per se, but it's more like, how are we finding these different physical avenues are these different modalities, and it might not necessarily be traditional son, a son be here we are standing pose balance, recording down. I really love playing with a deconstructing that, and finding that when we kind of move out of the habitual, then I tend to, and I feel I've gotten this feedback as well as like when we kind of sidestep away from being so much in anticipation of knowing what's coming up next, then we can kind of break those neural pathways up a little bit. And when we can kind of be separate from the anticipation of what's to come, then we can be a lot more in that beginner's mindset, which I think is a really beautiful practice to inhabit as much as possible. And so I, I really love moving in that way. And, and so there might be, you know, different movements than one would sort of expect from a Vinyasa style class or a yen style class, I think of those styles as influences or inspirations. And depending on what the story is, or the intention or the energy, then all of those movements are very purposeful, that they're helping support that intention that nothing's sort of haphazard, or by accident, or like, we're just doing this course sequence to like, get stronger, randomly, at this moment, three quarters of the way through the class, which you know, has its purpose as well. It's just, you know, it's it's something to think about, I think, as a practitioner and as a teacher, as well as of asking, like, why am I doing this? And is it adding? Is it in support of maybe the intention for the class So maybe the overarching intention of the practice in general,

Todd McLaughlin:

who has been a teacher that's been really influential, influential to you in learning how to and or being appreciative of the ability to do a Dharma talk or a this type of yoga practice of weaving a theme into the class.

Veronique Ory:

So many so many teachers, I really gained a lot from when I was in New York, taking up pure Yoga West. Kylie Holliday, who I mentioned before, I think she's brilliant. I've never anticipated anything. In any of her classes, she's masterful. I really love Dana slam. And learned how, and Scott Herrick like so many of those teachers, there have been such large influences. There have been so many moments where I felt like my physical practice was I just, I never believed that I could do the things that I saw when I first began. And they in different respects, like saw that I was able to do things before I knew that I could. And, and it really helped translate how when we think we can't do something, we end up proving ourselves, right. And it's probably not the way that we want to prove ourselves, right, to limit ourselves and so disbanding that and like really finding these more advanced postures have influenced my practice. And what's been so interesting, like moving to this quiet town away from New York City is like, I've slowed way down into my practice. And also, I love coming back to that as well as like remembering how empowering it is to just be in a headstand for 10 minutes, and like, close my eyes and feel like, wonder how long I could stay here for. And I never thought that I could do that. So a lot of those teachers really, really influenced my belief in myself. And it starts with the physical but, of course translates to so much more than that.

Todd McLaughlin:

Very cool. I appreciate. I wrote down all those names so that I can check them out. And what has been your experience with Guru Yoga? In terms of Have you subscribed to a guru or not? Have you had any guru challenges like, like, I liked the way that you're talking to me the way you had the relationship with your teachers where they could see something in you, before you cut. And I think, in some ways, in my own personal idealism of what a guru is, is a teacher, and in a lot of ways, those folks for you or your teacher, and they could see that, wow, look at what she could do, or what I think she can do. Or maybe this is a blockage that she can't see. And maybe I'm going to help her out and I knowing Guru Yoga or having a guru, maybe that's the hope is that the Guru is going to see something that I can't see, they'll remove that obstacle. I'll see. I'll see clearly, and then life's going to be amazing. What I know it's not that simple, but that's kind of like my idealistic dream that I had back in the day. Have you had any guru relationships situations over the years in your yoga experience?

Veronique Ory:

I haven't personally now. Yeah, the guru title is wildly either very like this is it or it's very divisive. And I haven't necessarily saw one out and one hasn't necessarily appeared to me in that form. And also, I very much have conscious time to connect to source and love mornings. So maybe in that way, there's this vertical connection to maybe ancestors or maybe like, the energy of I think the, the teachings that are sort of, in the universal energy and so maybe like that could show up as like, like an angel or some something that maybe doesn't even have a name. And yeah, I think I think sometimes it's like, okay, like, what would be most anchoring? What would be most uplifting? What is it that I need in this moment to progress or evolve or grow? And? And maybe it doesn't have a name? And that, and that's okay.

Todd McLaughlin:

That's cool. I'm curious do Do you believe a guru situation would hold you back more than it would propel you forward? It sounds to me like you're at a point where you're able to trust your intuition, enough. And listen, and like you said, if you can tap into a feeling of being connected to like a universal source, that then there's no need to have another person. And that in between process.

Veronique Ory:

There certainly could be valued to that. I don't know that I would really say, one way or another. And

Todd McLaughlin:

cool. I mean, I just curious, have my own experiences with that. And that's where I just like to pick people's brains and see, like, Yeah, where are you at, with all that stuff? You know, because there's, like, such an interesting part of the yoga world, you know, like, I'm personally now a little bit more just like, I just want to focus on my meditation and derive what I can get out of my own personal experience and see everybody as a guru, everyone as a potential teacher, possible teacher, so that's why I just wanted to see like, what, where you're at with that? Thank you, hopefully, I wasn't going too deep on you, or, you know, asking something that's too personal.

Veronique Ory:

Yeah. Well, it's, it's something that, you know, thinking about, you know, I was listening to Jeff crozz nose podcast, this morning. And it was this conversation on rom Das, and, you know, like, all this, you know, history of people in the 60s and the 70s, traveling to India and like, are their guru, like, showing up to them, and, you know, through psychedelics, and all of the, the things of that era happening, and and then certainly, you know, how that traveled to the west. And, and it's fascinating to think about how that happens. And usually I think, what I'm, what I'm sort of leaning into right now is, is that in the stillness, and the quiet, that guru or that teacher, and it could be in, you know, this oak tree here, it could show up in these in these different ways, and probably different than maybe we would expect it to.

Todd McLaughlin:

Yeah, yeah. I like that. I like the fact of thinking that your oak tree is your Yeah. You made mention how much and the orchid there's an orchid over there too, right. Yeah. And that little squirrel or Armadillo that's come scurrying across. Mm hmm. Good point. Like, do you are you? Oh, gosh. So then in terms of like, with animals in nature, to what level of communication Do you feel like you have with nature? I don't know how I'd answer these questions myself. So I know I've totally put you on the spot with some random stuff. But you know, I love it.

Veronique Ory:

I love it. Yeah, I have have a dialogue with the ocean often. And I'm I'm definitely a water. Baby. I love being next to the water, looking at the water in the water embodying water.

Todd McLaughlin:

When's your birthday?

Veronique Ory:

It's October 28.

Todd McLaughlin:

On the 30 If you're a Scorpio how to feel it? Yeah, yes, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I can relate.

Veronique Ory:

feels right. Yeah. So conversation with water, and then also conversation with trees. I, after, you know, being in the city for a bit, I would make intentional trips upstate. And there would be that point where you would get past Upper Manhattan and then all of a sudden, there's all these trees. And it's like, ah, like, there's something about that reminder to breathe, that I feel that we can, we can never get enough of it's some, it's involuntary. And yet we forget to do so with intention sometimes.

Todd McLaughlin:

That's cool. It's funny I had when I was leading a paddleboard yoga class, we're in this beautiful setting. And then all of a sudden, this big old truck comes barreling down the road that says, really loud, and so it was so quiet. And we're all just observing the sound of the water splashing on the board. And everything that's going on is so beautiful. And here comes this really loud machine sound, I started thinking, well, that's just another sound of nature. Because if humans, if we are natural, which I know there's a lot of debate there and philosophy but and we figured out how to make a car, the sound of the car going by, it's just the sound of a tool that nature has made. So how I know that's harder to do, probably in the city, when all you are around is the sounds of human made invention. But maybe it's possible to be in an urban environment, and still connect and commune with nature, but just in this version of the human made nature. And I always like to think I always put higher priority on the non human made nature, the water, sitting under a tree. Watching an armadillo. But what am I crazy, or does that make any kind of sense? Can you agree with that? Or does that sound like no, I don't want to be around trucks. I don't like that sound?

Veronique Ory:

Yeah, well, I think. So I was, I heard a quote. I heard it a while ago. And then I heard it again a couple of weeks ago, and it was attributed to Albert Einstein. But this is debated, who actually said it, that people are divided between ones that see the miracle, and everything. And ones who see the miracle and nothing or that they don't see the miracle. And it really struck a chord with me, because I think when we get into these dark pockets of processing grief, or we're in a spiral of anxiety, it's hard to see the beauty in the track that's disturbing the yoga class, say, or, you know, all of the things that are distracting us from our practice or meditation or just trying to live peacefully. And I found just as an example, I was remembering. In New York, I would be on any given subway car and in quieting myself down and deciding not to bury myself, in my phone or my book, or whatever it is that I was focusing on. I was so just in awe of all the different languages, how every single person looked like they were from a completely different world. And there's so much beauty in that right like we've all traveled to this place we'd like all somehow landed on the subway car and we're all like, squished in here. They're together. And maybe it's not comfortable. Long term. But yeah, there, there is a miracle in that. And, and I think remembering the miracle, and it is like a really great way to find the power of nature, like even in a city setting. And, you know, when you like, when you think when you think to like, oh my, like, I couldn't build a truck. You know, like thinking about, like, all the components that it takes to, like, make, like, one of those, like, massive, like, diggers or like, you know, construction vehicles that make the most amount of sound, it's like, wow, like, can't believe like someone put that together that's really marveling. And so it kind of like takes away or like, helps soften the edges of being annoyed by the distraction and kind of finding like, oh, like, there's also a gratitude practice, right? Like, this construction is happening here, or like, my garbage is being picked up. Like, I'm grateful that I don't have to do that. Personally, these different things. Yeah.

Todd McLaughlin:

Thank you. Thank you for going down that track with me. I love the fact like, Yeah, I like that you brought up like firing in the miracle and everything, like being able to sit on the subway and really appreciate cultural diversity. And like, whoa, we just, we're all here right now, like, Well, how do we all get here? Like, in this moment? Yeah. You know, like, it's kind of it is pretty amazing. It is amazing. You know, I I'm taking my glasses off during the podcast, because my wife watched the last one. She's like, Todd, the lights reflecting on your classes, you got to figure something out. And so I've taken them off, it's maybe it's good, because I feel like I'm like, my mind is going a little more into like, these different ideas. But I just looked at the time, and I went, Holy cow, we've been going for a while. Oh, my God. So I don't want to I want to be very respectful of your time. And I will have more questions for you. Hopefully, maybe we could do more in the future. Yes, I'd

Veronique Ory:

love that.

Todd McLaughlin:

Is there something veronik that you can help us close with? You've said some really amazing things, and I'm really enjoying our conversation. So I don't want to bring it to a close. But is there something that you would like to share before we do? Say goodbye? For the time being?

Veronique Ory:

Yeah. Well, before you hit record, I said that I really wanted to talk about stillness. And I feel like that's something that I just keep hearing people struggle with. And this like, intentional rest. And so I think this podcast is like a really great portal towards that this like really beautiful opportunity to simply listen. And I suppose I just feel called to share that. Perhaps this could be like little kernel, the little invitation to continue to listen that you know, beyond this podcast ending that you the listener, continue to stay open, and listen and and get still as often as possible. I think it's really, really profound, so simple and so profound.

Todd McLaughlin:

Yes. I didn't let her break the silence. After that. She said stillness. I have to come in with something. Yeah, cool, Veronica, that's amazing. You know, you have a great vibe. I'm so thankful for this opportunity to love this opportunity to meet other yoga practitioners and teachers and never having met you, you being open and willing to just come and talk with me and share this and share your ideas and thoughts, your projects. So I can't wait to release this and get for you. Dark from all of you, listeners. And so, on that note, thank you so much for ronique and I look forward to hopefully we can collaborate in the future. Yes, thank

Veronique Ory:

you for that really great

Todd McLaughlin:

native yoga taught cast is produced by myself. The theme music is dreamed up by Bryce Allen. If you liked this show, let me know if there's room for improvement. I want to hear that too. We are curious to know what you think and what you want more of what I can improve. And if you have ideas for future guests or topics, please send us your thoughts to info at Native yoga center. You can find us at Native yoga center.com. And hey, if you did like this episode, share it with your friends, rate it and review and join us next time