Yogis Uncovered | Meet Isabel
In this edition of Yogis Uncovered, we sit down with Isabel who you may recognize from her programs like Handstand Fundamentals. We get personal and learn about her unique upbringing, life adventures, and what it’s like to be from two different cultures. Subscribe to see the full interview!
“It is very freeing and like there’s not the physical constraint of clothes. You are really just in your natural state in your body. I love sun, the sun on the body feels good.”
Hi, I'm Isabel Love and I live in the Pacific Northwest.
Where are you from originally?
I grew up in the South in Georgia. I lived in China for two years. I am half Chinese. So I spent some time teaching there, traveling, spending time with family. And then I moved to the West Coast about a decade ago. I was in California for five years bouncing around and I've been in the Pacific Northwest now for six years.
What do you love most about traveling?
I enjoy meeting new people. I'm of two different cultures. Dad is first generation Chinese. So I like experiencing new languages, new culture, new food. I travel a lot though. It’s fun. It is tiring. It can be a lot. And sometimes when I get home, I’m like, “I don’t want to do anything, I just want to chill”. Everyone’s always like so impressed
How long have you been doing yoga?
I’ve been doing yoga for 20 years now. It’s a long time.
What’s your favorite yoga pose?
Well, I love inversions. I probably started doing handstands and upside-down play eight or so years ago. I have a very bendy spine. I do like back bends and they feel good. But when I started doing handstands and hand balance work, it was like a little bit of an obsession. I love the challenge. I love anything that’s not just yoga, any movements, any sports that challenge balance.
What do you like about practicing yoga naked?
I’m a pretty open person and I don’t mind being naked. It is very freeing and like there’s not the physical constraint of clothes. You are really just in your natural state in your body. I love sun, the sun on the body feels good.
What’s your favorite environment for practice?
I like outdoors and nature, preferably. I have done a good amount of beach yoga. I don’t love sand getting everywhere. I love the beach. But sand, it’s a real struggle. I do like like a handstand in nature where it’s uneven ground like a tree branch, that is fun too. Cause that’s like another added challenge. But outdoors, if I’m like doing stuff like supine on the ground and then ideally it’s more flat.
How do you like working with TNY?
This is my first time working with True Naked Yoga and it’s been great. The team, everyone here is really nice. The setting for the shoot is gorgeous. And I get to just practice yoga. So it’s a good day. The water feels so good. It’s hot today!
*this interview has been edited for brevity and clarity