Interview with Jennifer Pansa of Ansa Yoga

by Colleen

During my long training ( really long!) for the marathon in February, I had problems with sciatica and even after rest and physical therapy I was still having pain. Fortuitously I was booked to do makeup for the cover of Yoga Journal and that’s where I met Jennifer Pansa. She suggested I try her class and so dragging my body a week after the marathon I did…and I am hooked! Slowly my pain is disappearing and my body is becoming stronger and more limber, it’s even making a difference to my tummy!

Jennifer teaches at Exhale at the Epic in downtown Miami, Exhale at the Loews in Miami beach and private classes booked through her website.

How long have you been doing Yoga?

I have been doing Yoga since 2008 when I experienced foot tendonitis when I was backpacking in Patagonia. I was carrying too much weight and I ended up getting tendonitis in my feet. After doing physical therapy I decided I wanted to start yoga because I thought it might help my feet. It made everything else in my life feel better too so then one thing led to another and now I’m teaching yoga.

What do you think is most beneficial when practicing yoga and should everyone practice yoga?

Everyone can certainly benefit from doing Yoga. I think the most interesting thing about Yoga is finding strength where there is weakness, finding length where there is tightness,and finding balance where there is imbalance. I love that saying because it’s really true to what Yoga does and it’s not just in your body.If you’re tight, if you’re strong or if you’re overly flexible you need to create strength, you need to create balance and not just on the mat but in your life where it really counts.

The yoga philosophy combined with the movement is what really benefits people. It’s the physical practice that lures people in because they want to look good, feel good and then we all get hooked, because Yoga is like a drug ,we are literally changing the chemistry of our bodies to feel better. As long as you can connect with it I think it’s a great practice.

You teach Yoga flow, do you teach any other classes?

The Ansa flow class is a Vinyasa based class. It is inspired from the Asthanga tradition, Hatha Yoga being physical posture and Vinyasa which means rapid movement.

I also teach restorative Ansa Yoga or chill yoga I call it , which is a very relaxing class. It’s a lot more stretching to restore energy. Sometimes it’s not very beneficial to do a very strong class with a lot of push ups if it’s been a particularly stressful week, so this is more relaxing using pillows and blocks.

I also teach some more advanced classes like power flows focusing on strength building and on the opposite spectrum I also teach meditation with breath work called Prana Yoga.

Because this is a beauty blog, do you wear makeup to practice Yoga?

Good question… I wear a tinted moisturizer. I started wearing one after a visit to a facialist named Skin by Tatum because when you are sweating and releasing toxins you shouldn’t cover your skin with much at all, so when I’m practicing Yoga I don’t wear anything but when I’m teaching I wear my tinted moisturizer.

Do you use anything in particular to clean your skin after Yoga and releasing those toxins?

I do, I use Burt’s bees all natural wipes because they are the only ones that don’t have harmful chemicals in them like parabens and sulfates, chemicals that strip the skin of it’s natural moisture and plus they smell good. Then I relubricate with moisturizer after I’ve used the wipes.

What tinted moisturizer do you use?

Jane Iredale tinted moisturizer SPF 15.

Do you wear sunscreen?

Yes I wear Luzerne products which were recommended to me by my facialist and also Pangea Organics for all my other skin products. Raw Elements also has a great sunscreen that I use when I know I will be out in the sun.

Do you think practicing Yoga improves your skin?

The skin is the largest organ of your body and it’s there that toxins are released when we sweat and this rejuvenates the skin. Also the influx of oxygen to the skin is important when you are breathing really deeply and just relaxing. If you are interested in reducing your wrinkles in your face Yoga can be beneficial because the technique of relaxing the muscles can help you look better.

So there are several benefits of Yoga! Flat stomachs and relaxed wrinkles, I’m in!

Exactly!

What is your favorite Yoga pose?

My favorite pose changes depending on the day, sometimes it’s the hip stretch, pigeon pose but nine times out of ten it’s shivasana, I love to lie on the floor and relax! I also like handstand for the inverted breathing challenge.

Do you do any other sports besides Yoga?

I do mostly Yoga but I also sometimes run, do Jiu Jitsu. Snowboarding is my favorite but anything outside, hiking, bike riding.

You live in Miami, do you have any favorite hang outs besides your Yoga studio of course?

I go to Panther coffee often and my new juice bar that’s going to be my new hangout in Key Biscayne which is opening in July!

My business partner who is a raw chef will be coming up with the juice recipes.

Thank you so much for answering all my questions!