Q&A with yogi and aerialist Lacey Ann Hardy

In an age where our social media feeds are full to the brim with #fitspo selfies of abs, abs and more abs, there couldn’t be a better time to fit in a Q&A with yogi and aerialist Lacey Ann Hardy. On her super-inspiring Instagram, you’ll find arty photos of the yoga instructor in the most insane poses, breath-taking videos of her doing her thing in her always-awesome leggings and motivating descriptions to boot. So what keeps her motivated? We find out.

Q. When did you first try yoga and did you love it right away?
A. I started hot yoga seven years ago. Oh goodness, I remember that first class. It was awful.  Honestly, I thought I was going die. I only made through 15 minutes of a 90-minute practice… the rest of the time I was lying on my mat just trying to breathe. I can definitely say it wasn’t love at first sight. But I liked the idea of being challenged by yoga, so I went back for another few classes just to see if I could make it through the full 90 minutes. I noticed in every class I was getting stronger and little bit more flexible. I always felt lighter, clearer and energised after class. It didn’t take long before I grew in love with my practice and ultimately myself.

Q. What was it that made you give it a try?
A. At that time in my life, I was lacking physical activity. Work was taking up most of my time and I was considering getting a gym membership. A friend of mine had recently practised a Bikram yoga class for the first time, and she couldn’t stop raving about how intense it was. She described the sweat to be equivalent to stepping in a shower. I was intrigued and asked her to go with me. The rest is history!

Q. Did you have any preconceptions about yoga that turned out to be false?
A. I did, as do most people. I thought yoga was just about working on flexibility, but that is such a small piece of a hatha yoga practice. On the outside, yoga offers both strength and flexibility. You increase your mobility, regain balance, optimise health and, in my opinion, touch the divine.

Q. What do a lot of people think about yoga that might not be true?
A. Throughout my years of teaching, the most common phrase I’ve heard is, “I’m not flexible enough for yoga.” That’s like saying “I’m not strong enough to go the gym.” People assume you have to be naturally bendy just to begin practising. Not at all! If you start going to yoga classes, your flexibility will increase in the same way that if you go to the gym and start lifting weights, you’ll get stronger. Yoga is for everyone, all ages, sizes, the inexperienced or the experienced. It’s great for people working through injuries too.

Q. At what point did you realise you wanted to make a career out of yoga?
I was about six months deep into my practice when I came to terms with the fact I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to spend all day every day at the yoga studio. When I was off my yoga mat, I was already thinking about my next session. I wanted to immerse myself in my practice and expand my knowledge. Becoming a teacher was just a matter of time. I went to a two-month teacher training course in Palm Desert, California, just after 14 months of practice.

Q. What is the most rewarding thing about practising yoga?
A. Hmmm, how do I choose one? I suppose when all the layers are peeled and I arrive at the foundation, yoga rewards me every day with connection. Connection to my body, to movement, to breath. Connection to my mind and learning to observe my thoughts, to practise stillness and clear my head. And then there is my connection to something deeper. My practice is a spiritual one woven into the physical. It’s soul food for me. I get answers to questions I didn’t even know to ask myself. Everyone experiences it differently, every practice is as unique as a thumb print. But for me, I know I am always more in tune with my higher self when I return to my mat.

Q. How did you become an aerialist? It’s not something that’s easy to come by…
A. Aerial arts have always inspired me, but they intimidated me for ages. I had a couple of Las Vegas yoga students who were aerial performers and I picked their brains about it. Finally I decided to give it a try and I knew during that first class! It was love at first height! A fire was ignited inside and I became obsessed. I took as many classes as I could for about three months before deciding to train one-on-one with a coach. I got lucky and started training with an aerial coach for Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas. Aerial silks are my medicine. Just like my yoga practice, it feeds my heart and soul every time I fly.

Q. What other activities and/or sports do you enjoy and why?
I enjoy outdoor activities. Hiking, skiing, swimming; I’m even a PADI scuba-certified diver. I live for that natural high you get when being physically active outside. In the water, I feel like a mermaid. One of the coolest perks of the job I had as a naturalist at Shark Reef in Las Vegas was being able to scuba dive with eight-foot sand tiger sharks!

Q. Did you have a background in any sports before you tried yoga? Did you work out?
Not a whole lot. I played football as little girl. I did gymnastics for about two years before my teenage years. That’s why I say yoga is for everyone – I started in my mid twenties without any kind of physical advantage.

Q. Do you have any idols within yoga?
I do! Most of them of are teachers within the Bikram yoga community. I have quite of few people I look to for inspiration for different things. I have to say my most influential teachers were Brandy Lyn and Sheri Hull. I learned a lot about advanced postures from them. Some of my current inspirations are yoga champions such as Gianna Purcell, Cynthia Wehr and Ky Ha.  Recently I’ve been practising with Ky Ha and an amazing group of yogis at Bikram Yoga London Bridge.

Q. Do you have any idols outside of yoga?
Would it surprise you if I said my husband? Dan Hardy is a professional mixed martial artist and sports commentator for the UFC. I admire his will, determination and perseverance… but most of all, I admire his humble yet unshakeable strength. He is an absolute warrior with a courageous heart. I am grateful to share this journey together.

Q. If you weren’t involved with yoga, what do you think you would be doing, career-wise?
A. I would definitely pursue more circus-related endeavours. I love performing, but it’s taken a backseat for the time being as I moved internationally and began traveling with my husband more. Prior to yoga, I was a full-time make-up artist. I would go back to more make-up gigs as well.

Q. Why do you think yoga has become so popular?
Word is spreading. I think yoga has become popular for many reasons, one of them being mentally beneficial. People often hear how practising yoga has calming benefits to the mind. As society becomes more fast-paced and demanding, yoga has become a way to de-stress and detox. Many celebrities endorse yoga as well, so it has risen in the fitness community as an all-in-one workout.

Q. How do you think it’ll develop, grow and evolve in the next few years?
A. Yoga is always evolving. Yoga teachers often start with a particular style as a foundation and then put their own spin on it. Bikram yoga, Forrest yoga and Baptiste yoga are just a few examples of people creating their own series. I think that will continue. The newest craze in America is to create yoga fusion classes. Yoga with Pilates, yoga with dance, yoga with weights, or even aerial yoga. The sky is the limit – literally!

Q. Which style of yoga do you enjoy the most and why this style over the many others?
A. Hot yoga (the Bikram series) is my favourite. It’s what I started with and it will always be my first love. I enjoy stretching and backbending in the the heat, and I always feel lighter and healthier after sweating. I also practise ashtanga yoga. It’s fantastic to build a lot of core and upper body strength.
Q. What would you say to a someone who is thinking about trying yoga but feels intimidated? How could they benefit?

A. Showing up for class is the first step. Don’t have any expectations. Just show up, try your best, breathe, maybe even remember to smile. With every class, you will get better at the poses and learn more about yourself. Yoga is a lifelong practice without a final destination. No judgement. No critisism. You will gain from every session, be it physically or mentally. Taking that first step is a milestone in itself because you’re overcoming fear of the unknown. How about that? A breakthrough before you even step foot on your yoga mat! Many more wonderful surprises are in store for you.

To check out Lacey in action, make sure you follow her on Instagram and Twitter (@serpentlacey).