Oliver Crossley on Awareness, Ease, and the Art of Letting Go

Name

Oliver Crossley

What inspired you to become a teacher?

Yoga gave me so much, I felt it was only fair to share it with others

How would you describe your teacher style in three words?

Always feel uncomfortable describing myself but maybe: mindful, explorative and restorative

Do you have a favourite pose, exercise or principle to teach - and why?

Always love teaching a handstand but i'm more interested in guiding people to the base state of equanimous awareness that all yoga practices point to, and the we all have! Being able to notice that and then slowly and more reliably return to it (still practicing) has given me so much freedom and ease. We all need a lot more of that these days

What does your personal practice look like outside of the studio?

I have my daily sitting practice and then I mix up a traditional ashtanga vinyasa yoga practice with road cycling and some weights

What do you love to do when you're not teaching or practicing?

Spending time with by my partner Bec and my dog Appa. Reading research articles about pain, mindfulness and health. And my regular job as a Physio that focuses on complex pain and invisible illness

What's your favourite animal - and why?

My dog Appa (Samoyed)

Are you a sunrise or sunset person?

Love both but can't beat a sunrise

What's your favourite drink?

Coffee

If you could have one super power what would it be and why?

Take away people's pain with a click of my fingers. I see too much of it in my job and to be able to alleviate that degree of suffering would be wonderful

What has your practice taught you about life?

That i'm not as special or important as my mind would like me to believe, being kind and curious tends to solve most problems, and the body is always telling me what it needs