Teacher Spotlight: Adam Hocke

Heroic Adam Hocke is the man with the plan. He’s currently teaching Mondays at 6.30pm and he’s totally acing it. We put him under the spotlight.

What’s currently inspiring your sequencing?

 More than ever I am inspired by teachings and practices of self-compassion and making sure that the embodied practices we work with are utilised as acts of self-care and not just another way to beat ourselves up or sculpt ourselves into our perceived ideal. In this time of strangeness and difficulty, I believe we need teaching that helps us be kind, see our relationship to each other, and learn to be mindful and present in reality, even if it's hard to take.

How does yoga inspire you in your life off the mat?

I don't think I could truly love or be kind or be present for the people I care for if I didn't take time to care for myself.

Who do you love to teach and why?

I love a student who is curious and a little bit sceptical. Someone who doesn't just accept at face value what I have to say but has to process it and question it and find their own way of understanding.  

What does yoga mean to you?

A daily discipline of doing the work of keeping myself together.

How do you encourage people in your life to start doing yoga?

I believe the way to inspire those around you to start doing yoga is to make sure you are doing it yourself and demonstrating its benefits.  When you can show yourself as kinder, healthier, and more compassionate as a practitioner, it's far more effective than any nagging or bragging or begging.

Which pose can’t you get enough of at the moment?

I'm loving back-bending at the moment, especially in Upward-facing Bow Pose. Although some say that these types of poses are there to wake you up and stimulate, I am finding their effects incredibly grounding.

If you had a superpower it would be:

Well, if I couldn't just end this pandemic and quarantine, I'd settle for the ability to cut my own hair!