MATY EZRATY - A Tribute
MATY EZRATY
Today we celebrate the life of yogini master teacher, Maty Ezraty, who left us way too soon. Maty made her transition to other realms this week. She left her body temple at the young age of 55 very unexpectedly. The teacher of teacher's left her yoga children. Maty was the teacher of many of today's most influential yoga teacher. As the yoga world grieves with her departure, I am here today to honour and celebrate her life.
Maty is the founder of Yogaworks. Almost twenty years ago I walked into one of her classes in Los Angeles and soon after I started working at Yogaworks, where I taught classes, worked behind the desk, worked in management and participated in Yogaworks growth and expansion before moving to New Orleans. At Yogaworks I completed my 200 Hour and 300 Hour, as well as countless trainings. During my many years working at Yogaworks from my early twenties to thirties I matured not only as a yoga teacher, but also as a human - through the guidance and influence of mentors and teachers such as Maty Ezraty, Annie Carpenter and Lisa Walfort. I am lucky to have met such magnificent women in this life time. Maty's passing is a big reminder to all of us....
Cherish Each Moment
.
Every moment is so special.
One of my last experiences with Maty, not long ago in Nicaragua, we went on a night hike to witness baby sea turtles hatch and make their way into the ocean. It was a true miracle to witness new life and nature's intelligence. Perhaps that was a sign for me so that today when I think of her and (this) life ending, I also see new beginnings as her soul takes the great journey and new adventures. Perhaps today is the day of new beginnings for us all. I am also deeply touched by the yoga community coming together all over the world in honor of Maty's life.
On this last trip I expressed my discomfort to Maty about yoga practice going from the traditional hour and a half, two hours practice to now the usual one hour. Her unexpected response to me was -
YOU CAN FIT A LOT AND
A VERY COMPLETE YOGA PRACTICE IN ONE HOUR.
The conversation went on to sequencing and creating a well rounded practice with whatever time you had. Her insights were brilliant. Not only it affected my on going classes, also my yoga teacher trainings, which I now teach
How To Create An Effective One Hour Practice
and the workshop I developed based on this conversation -
How To Create A Home Practice
On our plane ride back from Nicaragua she also said something that truly stuck with me about teacher trainings -
" IT'S NOT ABOUT THE 200 HOUR OR HOWEVER MANY HOURS! IS BETTER TO SPEND LESS HOURS WITH A SOLID GREAT TRAINING AND TEACHER THAN COUNTLESS HOURS WITH A NOT SO GOOD TRAINING OR TEACHER. DON'T GET SO CAUGHT UP WITH THE "HOURS" - FIND QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY." - MATY EZRATY
I couldn't agree more! What a jewel of a person.
Maty's teachings and insights were beyond mastery and extremely influential in all I do. I am including here a very cool video interview she gave at Purple Valley in India so you can enjoy her wisdom. As well as a print interview as we celebrate her life! I hope you get inspired by Maty as much as I have!
Thank You Maty!
May we all carry her torch and continue to spread "good yoga" out there into the world!
Much much love,
Nathalie