#ODDlight Teacher Feature: Audrey Guedelekian

Each month we bring a teacher into the #ODDlight and illuminate their interests, practices, and who they are. There is a real person behind those teachers and it’s their knowledge filtered through their own experiences that make them that person that pulls you into class.

Name: Audrey Ann Guedelekian

Hometown: Glendale, CA.

Favorite color: Right now: Arizona Green Tea Turquoise

What’s your sign? Scorpio'

Fun Fact most wouldn’t know about you?

- I was born left handed. Learned to write and draw with both hands later. Now I'm dominantly right handed. Can still do random things with my left

- I have my bachelors in fine art and am pretty awesome at drawing and painting

- I teach indoor cycling aside from yoga and AcroYoga

Share a story or anecdote with us – something magical, changing, funny, or adventurous. Something that you love to tell.

I was practicing yoga with one of my mentors last summer. She had us in ustrasana (camel pose) it was a backbend that wasn't my friend. She came up to me in the midst of the pose and placed one finger on my heart. She said push my finger with your breathe. It was a struggle but I felt some space open up. Coming out of the pose I felt so much emotion run through my body and tears fill up my eyes. It was the first time I truly lived in that pose. It doesn't matter what emotion was attached to the tears but that this was one of the first very clear moments where I experienced yoga as medicine.  

When you aren’t at the studio where can you be found (favorite past time)

- doing Acroyoga at a park, or in a pool

- making giant bubble contraptions

- building my own hula hoops

- recently got into body building. Let see how long this phase lasts

- napping with the pup, Mochi

How do you define yoga? Yoga is your relationship with yourself.

Why do you teach? It keeps me happy. I am lucky. People come to me feeling physical or emotional pain, and they leave relaxed and grateful is so fulfilling to me.

What brought you to become an instructor? Right after I completed college I was faced with a pretty emotional break up combined with the pressure of starting a career. Pain and change taught me a lot during that process and was the best thing to have happened to me because of what came after. I Decided to take a teacher training with a yoga therapist with no intention to teach. One thing lead to another and here we are. I'm the happiest I've ever been. Giving, receiving, connecting and co-creating.

What is your favorite song to play in class? Lately it's been anything by Kygo

What is your favorite pose or flow? Why? Aside from inversions I love danurasana. Bow pose. It's one of the few backbends that feel accessible to me.

Memorable yoga moment? Every time one of my students thank me after class for reaching them in some way through words or music or the yoga. That's my favorite moment, every time.

What is your favorite yogi prop or piece to wear or use? (favorite mala etc) I have no real connection to places or things. The memories I have are connected to the people I had them with.