#ODDLight: Sabrina Howard

Name: Sabrina Howard

Nick Name: Sabwinkles, DJ Sabribri on the mic. Sab-nasty. (Okay, the last one isn't actually a thing but I want to make it a thing so spread the word.)

Hometown: Chi City

Favorite Place: See answer above. I also love Crete, Greece. And Southern Italy.

Favorite color: Greeeeeen

What’s your sign? Leo

Most embarrassing moment? Last week when my right boob waved hello to the kind folks at LAX. You can ask me in person for full details.

Fun Fact most wouldn’t know about you? I played the violin for about 8 years (first-eighth grade). Some of my greatest hits included My Heart Will Go On and Under the Sea.

Share a story or anecdote with us: Earlier this year, I went to Thailand for the first time. While in Chiang Mai, I visited one of the elephant sanctuaries outside of the city. Our last activity with the elephants is bathing them in the pond. At the end, one the elephants sprayed me with her trunk. I giggled, somewhat shocked but also amused. Then I realized that my prescription sunnies had fallen off and into the water. One of the trainers tried to help me find them but it only took a minute for one of the elephants, Stella, to wrap them in her trunk to give them back to me. My glasses are all scratched up now but they hold such a fond memory.

When you aren’t at the studio where can you be found (favorite past time)? Either in the kitchen making something yummy or at the coffee shop communing with my dissertation and a matcha latte.

How do you define yoga? Connection.

Why do you teach? To help students locate the tools that they already possess for cultivating their own happiness.

What brought you to become an instructor? I don’t generally consider myself to be a creative person but yoga inspires me to challenge myself and try new things. Teaching has become a wonderful complement to my academic life because it serves as an outlet through which I can express myself in a very different way.

What is your favorite song to play in class? This is always changing. Right now, it’s “Oya” by Obeyi. I recently saw them at the Afropunk music festival in Brooklyn so I'm v v into it.

What is your favorite pose or flow? Why? Um…I love a few good rounds of Suria Namaskar B! Sun As are overrated.

Memorable yoga moment? Trying to figure out how to hop from bakasana into chaturanga. I do it all the time now but I honestly still don't know understand it.

How did you first hear about One Down Dog? I was a Groupon baby.

What is your favorite yogi prop or piece to wear or use? I’m very into bolsters right now.  I don’t do anything fancy with them but I love one under my knees during savasana. I'm also planning to invest in one to keep in my bed.

Are there any links, @names, and #hashtags you would you like us to use in promoting you and your happenings? @girlwiththehipsterglasses on the ‘gram.

If you could have any super power what would it be? I’m a travel junkie so definitely teleportation.

What was the last book you read? Non-academic? Little Fires Everywhere