Lessons on Stress Relief from Yoga Master Victoria Vega
Photo courtesy of Victoria Vega
Whether you’re a caregiver, a parent, a student, or a recent grad entering the workforce, each demographic has faced their own unparalleled, unforeseen challenges. Therefore, caring for your mental health should not be an afterthought, but should be a priority. For our May 2021 issue, yoga instructor and meditation facilitator Victoria Vega of VGV Yoga spoke with Cubicles to Cocktails about why she’s passionate about wellness, and the impact it can have on facing present and future challenges together.
According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “During August 2020–February 2021, the percentage of adults with recent symptoms of an anxiety or a depressive disorder increased from 36.4% to 41.5%, and the percentage of those reporting an unmet mental health care needs increased from 9.2% to 11.7%.” Of that group, young adults, (18-29) and adults without a high school education had the highest increase in anxiety and depressive disorder symptoms as well as unmet mental health care needs.
As an Afro-Latina with Puerto Rican heritage, Vega’s work increases the visibility of Black and Brown participants within the wellness space, especially as they face higher rates of COVID-19 cases in tandem with a mental health crisis. It also gives them a safe-space to share their struggles with a woman of color who is specially trained to do so.
Vega decided to enter the yoga field after surviving a stressful corporate career in the fashion industry as a wholesale assistant. During that time, she reminisced about the yoga classes she had taken as a student at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Following a layoff in early 2019, Vega took the leap. By April, she had completed 200 hours of instructor certification courses and was ready to start her next chapter. Although she’s in a new field, her experience in the corporate sector has been an asset as a small-business owner.
“Clear and concise is the key. I do my best to be approachable and welcoming to all of my students, new and returning, just as I always tried my best to be approachable in the office,” Vega said. “Punctuality, organization, and presentation have stuck with me from the corporate world into my small business as a yoga instructor. Every week, I plan a new sequence out with a new theme, [by] having each complement one another in hopes my teachings will be relatable to some, if not all, of my students. Clear pronunciation and directional cues are so important in my classes, as my classes are very alignment based.”
Photo courtesy of Victoria Vega
Despite the advantages of going virtual, the wellness market has been flooded due to the immediate, collective shift to digital within the past 1.5 years. Instructors are not just competing against studios locally, but globally too. “Folks have access to millions of teachers and classes around the world at their fingertips, so sometimes it's difficult to have students return to classes week after week,” she said. “I mean, who wouldn't take advantage of joining classes with other teachers [that] we couldn't before this?” Due to the pandemic, Vega has gotten creative and shifted her business model, by increasing her certifications, building her client network, and offering more online classes.
Before COVID-19, Vega would have to commute to classes across NYC, but now she has the flexibility of hosting students around the world. She’s revamped her classes in order to be a better resource for clients wherever they are. Vega is now certified in Trauma-Informed Yoga and has adapted her yoga lessons with at-home props. She stays in touch with her community via newsletters, social media, and free, on-demand YouTube classes. “This accessibility can bring in more students, as life continues to happen to all of us and we all have different schedules,” she said.
As a small-business owner and yoga instructor who is working from home, Vega must also take time to disconnect. When asked how she recharges, it’s all about creating physical boundaries between being offline and online. She encourages others to dedicate a space reserved solely for self-care, whether it be a room or simply a corner, where you can go for five minutes to center yourself.
Photo courtesy of Victoria Vega
“Rest is needed to keep going, so please allow yourself time [and] space to rest, sleep or do absolutely nothing when you need to just simply be,” she added.
Vega also advised women to say ‘no’ to projects that they don’t have the time or bandwidth to dedicate themselves to. “Saying ‘no’ creates healthy boundaries for yourself,” Vega said. “Saying ‘no’ has often at times seemed like [a] taboo, but we are NOT obligated to do everything, be everywhere all the time or fulfill an expectation that we didn't set for ourselves.”
Most importantly, Vega emphasized that yoga should not be the sole ingredient within your wellness recipe, but rather a step on your journey to a better lifestyle and mindset:
“No, yoga isn't the cure of all things, but it can be a tool we use to regulate and bring balance into our life, mind, and body. While yoga isn't about getting fit, a sweet perk that can come of yoga is getting our body toned and moving. Movement is medicine. Movement allows us to flow and shake off any stagnant [or] sticky energy, creating room and space for ourselves. Yoga shows us ways to return home to the self, bringing us back to our heart’s center. It allows us time to simply be with ourselves and get to know ourselves better, [therefore] helping to create a more genuine and authentic way of living.”
“A Day in the Life of Victoria Vega”
Photo courtesy of Victoria Vega
WAKE UP: A typical week for me consists of waking up early and I get my coffee brewing.
8:30 AM: After a few sips, I begin meditating at 8:30AM with an inspiring yoga teacher and friend who I look up to, Amy Wolfe.
9 AM: After meditating, I take about an hour to an hour and a half of self-yoga practice before officially beginning my day.
10:30 AM- 2 PM: Throughout the week, I teach multiple virtual yoga classes for studios and private clients, build new sequences and playlists for the following week's classes.
BREAK: I go out for plenty of walks and local hikes in my neighborhood. Getting out in nature is essential for my well-being and the well-being of us all I believe.
3-6 PM: Back to work! I maintain my website and continue to upload free yoga classes via on-demand for folks that can't join classes live.
EVENING: When I'm off the yoga mat I spend lots of quality time with my loving fiancé, Jay, our cat Abyss, and chat on the phone with my family almost every day.
About the Author
Mary Anderson is a multifaceted media professional with a passion for storytelling. In addition to writing for InStyle, Fashionista, and Harper’s Bazaar her work has been highlighted on The View. Connect with her on her website.