Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Neuman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I moved to Baltimore from Los Angeles in 2004 at the request of a friend who opened the first yoga studio in Mt Washington. She wanted me to not only teach there, but eventually she asked me to take it over. Although I did not actually take this over, I did do a lot to get it off the ground.
Eventually the studio was sold twice over, but I stayed on.
I expanded my teaching to many studios in the area, and soon also taught in Silver Spring as well. Today I have my own online studio and continue to teach my Baltimore students as well.
I am also a singer, songwriter and musician. In 2006 I met my husband to be who was also a musician with a legacy of being in the punk scene in DC during the 80’s. We form our first band ‘Sister Ex’ which played through out the DC, MD and VA areas for over ten years. Our current band is called, Winter Sect.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not smooth at all!
I was coming here on the heels of a 19 year marriage that had ended abruptly. I came here with nothing: not even a stick of furniture. People would come over to my apartment and sit on the floor!
In in 2008 I had the first of two total hip replacements, which made teaching very difficult! But I managed to hang in there.
I make friends easily and was saved when a fellow yogi pulled her furniture out of storage and let me use it.
I also had a lot of mishaps in new relationships that caused much pain.
Once I met my now husband, things smoothed out. He is guitar player who encouraged us to embark on music projects together. We perform in our current band Winter Sect several times a year.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In both the teaching yoga and being a musician parts of my life I consider myself an artist. Every class is a creation that is designed by own practice and knowledge as well as my collaboration with the muse (higher self).
I love performing most of all as a musician. Our band is original music and I write most of the songs, We also started a yearly tribute show to David Bowie. This originally started in Baltimore at a club called ‘1919’ in Fells Point. I put together seven bands who all did Bowie cover songs in their own style. We moved around to many venues in Baltimore, and now it is currently at a venue in DC call ‘The Pie Shop’. We do it on Valentines Day and it is called ‘A Bowie Valentine’. It sells out every year and brings so much warmth and love to community as well as the musicians who perform. It is one of my favorite shows to do.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If you are starting out as a yoga teacher, you have to absolutely love to teacher and understand that it is a service to do so. That being said, it take a lot of effort to make sure you are in the right place to give what you have, and to give it gracefully. It is always a gift to have a mentor to help you navigate the delicate balance of being a student, a teacher AND a business owner. (I highly recommend a mentor)… Since the pandemic, yoga studios are all struggling. As teachers we can encourage people to support studios by attending and offer classes that make sense for their lifestyle and needs.
As a musician: well, I’ll put it this way, by all accounts, I’m not young anymore. And yet, I do what I do with 200% commitment because #1 we are never too old, #2 there is no ‘use by’ date on creativity and #3 it brings joy to those who come to our shows.
Life is about service and love, nuff said?
Pricing:
- Single class: $25
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winter_sect/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claudia.neuman and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057048415953/https://www.facebook.com/WinterSect/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOuJXwD3a1M
