People We Adore: Erin Cruz

A: Yoga has been a great love, passion, and driving force in my life, long before it became my business. I began practicing in 2000 as a complement to ballet and other forms of dance, hoping to gain flexibility. I would venture to say that most folks find yoga for physical reasons, but we stay because it starts to take hold internally. In

2016, I decided to take a deeper dive into my practice and completed my first 200 hour teacher training. I wasn't sure I wanted to teach, but as I got into it, it felt like what I was meant to do. I went on to add my 300 hour certification in 2020, which was also when I started dabbling in the world of sound healing. I have also been leading retreats since 2019, which allows me to bring together my passion for yoga, music/sound, and travel.

Retreats are the most challenging but most rewarding part of what I do, bringing together likeminded folks in inspiring settings, and creating a space for people to be authentic, vulnerable, and joyful. I truly love what I do, and feel both honored and humbled to be a part of people's journeys in this lifelong, life-changing practice.

A: My superpower would have to be my intuition & ability to read the energy of both individuals and situations. I feel like I tap into this to some degree each and every time I step in front of a class, workshop, retreat group, and 1:1 interactions with students. It is a huge part of my job to use this & stay tuned in to what people are showing up with and what they need, so that I can remain in service to them.

A: I have so many, and man do I notice the difference when I don't do them!! Yoga and meditation are big ones of course. Both acts - movement and getting still - are so key to my overall wellbeing. I also love strength training and dance, both of which provide an energetic counterbalance to my quieter practices.

I also have several rituals around scents - oils, incense, candles, etc. The link between scent, emotions & memories is so powerful, and I find the simple act of applying an oil before meditation, or burning incense as I prepare and drink a cup of tea (just a couple of examples) so calming and healing. I also make jewelry as a hobby and side business, and the process of working with the stones and crystals & creating something is very meditative & therapeutic.

A: This tends to change for me, seasonally or situationally, but lately I've been very in tune with the sacral chakra. I've been doing a lot of work - internally as well as projects and ideas - that have called heavily on my creativity, passion, and self expression.

We can't wait to share Laura's live interview with Erin- check it outhere.