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Terrence Monte
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Terrence is a 300 hour certified teacher that has been teaching yoga since 2006. He pays close attention to the alignment of the poses and the power of the breath to quiet the mind. His classes mix music and humor to encourage a deep, consistent practice. His teachings focus on the belief that we use asana practice to learn how to train ourselves to take care of the yogi to our left and to our right.
*More about Terrence
Where are you originally from?
I was born in the Bronx, and then moved to the suburbs when I was 6. Valhalla, NY.
What classes do you teach at Pure?
Currently, I teach Hot Power basics, but will be teaching a Vinyasa I/II shortly. I am also the Managing Teacher at Pure East (and formerly the AGM here).
How long have you been practicing yoga?
7 years
What brought you to yoga?
My first class I ever took was a required class as part of my grad school curriculum. I hated the idea of doing yoga. I was really upset that this was required as it didn't seem to apply to my area of study at all. I had all these preconceived notions about "those people" that did yoga. But, and I can't overstate this enough, I fell in love with yoga in that first class. I left completely feeling the diametric opposite of all my notions of what yoga was. I felt amazing, and I was really impressed by the stuff that I could do in that first class. The feeling I have from that class is as clear to me today as it was the day it happened. When I recount this experience I always say "That was the day that yoga ruined my life- I was going to be a rich man doing a job I hated until I found yoga."
What brought you to teaching?
I am the son of two teachers and have been teaching since I was in college (I substitute taught in the NYC public school system to help fund college, I taught in graduate school, and then I taught yoga!). I am very clear that I need to be of service to a community, and teaching is something I am really good at. I know that my diverse background of experiences allows me to touch all sorts of people, and I feel like I can give back to someone the experience I got in my first yoga class. That's what drives me every class- and it's why I like teaching beginners.
Who was your first yoga teacher and how did heinspire you?
My first teacher was Ralph Hall- a Baptiste instructor who was also my movement specialist in Grad School. He was LeCoq trained and knew how expressive the body can be. He taught me how, through learning the intricacies of how the body works, we can understand on a deeper level how the world works. Sounds pretty heavy- and it is.
What motivates you to practice today?
As I evolve my practice, I continue to learn what's truly important in my life. Yoga helps answer the question "What is it you are holding on to that you don't need?" I learn how to simplify, strip away, remove the excess- whether it's emotional or physical. As I simplify my own life, I get a stronger desire to be more compassionate, more giving, more of service to my community.
Before becoming a yoga teacher, what did you do?
I was a mechanical engineer, and then a professional actor (MFA).
Aside from yoga, what other hobbies or interests do you have?
I'm an avid reader, photographer, and most importantly-dog owner.
If you weren't a yoga teacher, what would you be?
Rich. But seriously, I think I would like to return to engineering one day. Work for Apple or Google. That sounds really fun to me right now.
What do you love about Pure Yoga?
We connect the major teachers in NYC. We have given a home to teachers that otherwise wouldn't have the same platform to show off their art, and we allow them to do this as their only source of income. This place houses the most knowledgable, compassionate yogis I know of AND we bring in other phenoms to practice with our community. No other studio does it as well as Pure, and I'm proud to be a part of that action. |
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