Brandi Rollins

Brandi is a Certified Lila Yoga Instructor and Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher. She continues to study YOGA under the guidance and teachings of Erica Kaufman, founder of Lila Yoga Studios. As part of Brandi’s interest in yoga philosophies and practices, Brandi traveled to India and studied at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandarim in Chennai, India in 2012.

Background: Real YOGA entered my life when I began practicing with Erica Kaufman at Lila Yoga Studios. At first, the movements and philosophy she offered simply felt right. It spoke to me in a way that I could hear…but, at the time, couldn’t yet quite make out. Then at some point, when I was ready to receive more, I HEARD Erica’s message, and wow! YOGA IS AMAZING!

While I don’t remember exactly what Erica said, this is how I experienced it: YOGA is the yoking of the mind-body for the purpose of allowing the greater manifestation of the greater ME! It’s a way of moving into stillness in order to experience the truth of who I really am.

From that moment on, I could see that how I practiced YOGA was a direct reflection of how I was choosing to practice LIFE – i.e., the degree to which I invited clarity, wideness, gratitude, and intelligence into the WHAT and HOW of my living. And as I released more of what was unnecessary (e.g. stress, unworthy thoughts), my practice became a process in which I began to experience and remember more of ME. The REAL ME.

Ironically, it was never my intention to teach YOGA. I undertook Erica’s Lila Yoga Teacher Training program to deepen my YOGA studies. But, over time, she showed me through her own teachings that TEACHING YOGA is a courageous, sincere, beautiful form of SERVICE. And now, several times a week, I have the opportunity of getting out of my own way and allowing authentic and sincere teaching to take place.

My Teaching Philosophy: My approach to teaching YOGA is very similar to how I practice YOGA. I am not interested in teaching people to “do” Yoga. Rather, I am interested in teaching people to use asana (i.e. the physical practice of yoga) to focus the mind, invite greater nourishment and freedom into their mind-body, and to experience YOGA as a celebration of their LIFE and their LIVING. In each class, I provide a space where students can experience YOGA as their own, rather than simply regurgitating a list of asanas.

What can a new student expect in a class?

To feel internally nourished, to sweat, and to leave the class having CELEBRATED your living! To be pushed to release more of what is not necessary like the stress, worries, and expectations of daily life, and to allow more of your BEST SELF to have a greater presence in their practice and daily life. While this is what I offer, what any individual receives in a class will depend on their sincere interest in exploring and allowing creativity in their YOGA practice.

Bio: Brandi is a Certified Lila Yoga Instructor and Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher. She continues to study YOGA under the guidance and teachings of Erica Kaufman, founder of Lila Yoga Studios. As part of Brandi’s interest in yoga philosophies and practices, Brandi traveled to India and studied at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandarim in Chennai, India in 2012.

Brandi currently teaches Lila Yoga at Lila Yoga Studios.

Brandi is also the author of the award-winning book, Raw Foods on a Budget, a comprehensive guide to affording a plant-based diet. She is the author of Confessions of an East Coast Raw Vegan and co-author of the ebook, Raw Food in Real Families. She is the creator of the Raw Foods on a Budget website (www.rawfoodsonabudget.com), where individuals can read budget-loving articles, download recipes, watch TV episodes, and participate in Bootcamps.

Brandi has her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State. She has a Masters of Science in Human Development for which she completed a thesis on the topic of the development of food preferences in childhood. Her dissertation examines how parents’ use of limit setting and restrictive feeding practices influence children’s eating behaviors and weight outcomes. You can find out more about Brandi’s research and publications at www.brandirollins.weebly.com.

Brandi happily lives in State College, PA.

Read More