20+ Years of Yoga Mastery
Kim Arnott has been practicing in the Reno area for over 20 years in various Yoga styles, including Hatha, Bikram, Vinyasa, and Yin. She's E-RYT 200 certified and was trained at Satya Core Flow. She's continued her education over the years with Yoga Sculpt and Vinyasa HIIT and she's a Reiki Master. She loves fun, creative, and challenging Vinyasa Flows that allow us to approach things in a safe and fun way.
How did you start practicing yoga, and what led you to teaching?
In the early 1990’s I took my first yoga class in the basement of the YMCA. I was hooked and practiced Hatha Yoga for the next two years in that dark basement!! At that time, the first Bikram yoga studio opened in Reno, and I transitioned to Bikram for the next eight years of my practice.
When I next found Vinyasa, I was in love with the flow of it and the creativity allowed, and I have been practicing ever since. I had the opportunity in 2012 to take my first 200-hour teacher training to advance my practice and learn more of the philosophy. I was really interested in learning Sanskrit, and I did not plan to teach yoga as I had a full-time career as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, but I started teaching right away. Since then I've completed several additional trainings including yoga with weights, HIIT Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and just recently completed my 500hr teacher training at Temple Yoga.
What makes your style of teaching unique/special?
My teaching style might be considered more of an exercise-y style of yoga. I love to add arm balances, inversions, and creative transitions in a fun and interesting way that is challenging, yet I hope comes across as supportive and encouraging.
I think my style of teaching is unique because I have had the opportunity to practice under many amazing teachers, and I try my best to express and bring a combination of all my practices and trainings to my students that I have been so lucky to experience.
What is the greatest gift you’ve received from practicing yoga?
This is a tough one… I am naturally a quiet, shy person who has anxiety. Yoga has changed my entire life, giving me the gift of multiple ways to help me deal with my anxiety. I still struggle with anxiety in multiple situations and around people I don’t know, but yoga and teaching yoga have helped me to continuously push myself and work on this. All the way through my 20s and early 30s, I could not speak in front of a group of people; I had so much anxiety it was impossible, and through yoga and teaching, I was able to find my voice and now use it to teach and connect with people whom my anxiety would have prevented me from doing so in my past.
What have you learned through practicing and/or teaching?
Sooo so many things… but right now at the forefront is to take the time to appreciate and acknowledge where I am right now! It's ok to take a break, to be happy where I am, I don’t always have to be chasing or being more✨
Song or album on repeat at the moment?
