Fireside Chat with Shea at Dressel's Pub

Constance: Shea, thank you for joining me for a literal fireside chat here at Dressel’s Pub, fresh off your noon and 2 p.m. classes at Central West End Yoga. For those who don’t know, you teach Yoga Foundations at noon and Vinyasa at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, and we’re so lucky to have you on the team. Let’s dive in. What initially drew you to yoga, and what made you decide to become a teacher?

Shea: Thanks, Constance. I came to yoga after years in competitive sports, particularly volleyball. For me, physical training was always framed as punishment—mess up, and you run laps. That mindset shaped how I viewed movement: working out was penance.

Then, a friend brought me to a yoga class here in St. Louis, and it was unlike anything I’d ever done. It reminded me of gymnastics—there was strength, flexibility, and flow, but without the punitive undertone. I started practicing at home with Yoga with Adriene on YouTube, then moved to the Down Dog app. For the first time, movement felt empowering, not punishing.

That shift was life-changing. I wanted to share it with others, so I became a yoga evangelist, like so many teachers do. I dove into in-person classes, and eventually, teacher training at my local studio. A year later, I was teaching, and now—six years on—I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Constance: I love that. So many of us come to yoga looking for one thing and end up finding so much more. We were talking earlier about neurodiversity and how monotropism, the hyperfocus common in ADHD, has shaped your yoga journey. Can you share more about that?

Shea: Absolutely. My ADHD brain either avoids something entirely or dives in headfirst. Yoga was one of those deep dives. There was so much to explore—poses, breathwork, meditation techniques. That hyperfocus helped me refine my practice and teaching style.

Yoga also quiets the constant chatter in my mind. My brain is always racing—“this, then that, now this!”—but on the mat, I’m forced to slow down and focus on the moment. If I don’t, I lose balance or miss a cue. That practice of presence has been a gift, both on and off the mat.

Constance: That’s so relatable. Let’s talk about your recent 300-hour teacher training with Jason Crandell. How did that experience shape your teaching?

Shea: It was transformative. I wanted to deepen my knowledge and refine my skills, and Jason’s training delivered. The 300-hour program tied together everything I’d learned in my 200-hour training and filled in the gaps.

Jason’s technical approach to anatomy, sequencing, and adapting poses was eye-opening. He organizes complex concepts in such a clear, actionable way. It gave me the confidence to step up my teaching and trust my instincts more.

Constance: That’s incredible. You’ve mentioned that you believe yoga should always translate off the mat. What’s your teaching philosophy?

Shea: For me, yoga is about taking the lessons we learn on the mat—flexibility, strength, resilience—and applying them to real life. If we’re only practicing yoga to perfect a pose, we’ve missed the point. It’s about showing up for yourself, embracing discomfort, and cultivating patience and discernment.

Constance: I couldn’t agree more. How do you prepare for your classes?

Shea: I work with monthly themes to keep things cohesive and engaging. For example, if the focus is on arms, one week might be about strength, and another about arm balances. It’s a framework that allows room for intuition and flow.

In the past, I over-planned, sticking rigidly to a script, but now I aim for a balance between structure and spontaneity. It’s more fun for me and my students that way.

Constance: It sounds like you’ve found a rhythm that works. Before we wrap up, what’s one thing you hope students take away from your classes?

Shea: Presence. I want them to feel grounded, connected, and empowered—not just in their bodies but in their lives. Yoga isn’t just about poses; it’s a practice for living more intentionally.

Constance: Beautifully said. Thank you for sharing your story, Shea. We’re so lucky to have you as part of the Central West End Yoga community.

Shea: Thank you, Constance. It’s an honor to be here and to share this practice with others.