Teacher Spotlight: Dan Carter
Meet Dan! A fun & friendly presence around the studio, Dan loves a diverse "fitness diet" that informs his own way of teaching. Learn more about him below :)
What is your current practice like and how does it fit into your daily routine?
I'm currently obsessed with foam rolling and incorporating it into my yoga practice. I try to foam roll at least once a day and notice the way it shifts my daily movement. When I do an asana practice, I try to hold postures a little longer than I traditionally used to and notice the shift in my shapes. The foam rolling has really increased my awareness in basic postures like lunges and warriors and really increased my depth in peak postures like Hanumanasana and Scorpion.
What inspires you to practice at Flow?
...the instant good vibes you feel when walking through the door of Flow. I describe it to friends of students as that feeling of OM. You can feel that vibration the moment you enter the studios, you sense your connection to everyone practicing there. Oh yeah and the animal crackers!!! I always eat exactly three after I take a class at Flow.
What was your first yoga experience like?
I really wanted to go to prom with this girl and she was obsessed with yoga! I didn't know much about it (my family is a Pilates family) but I went with her to a class. It was a heated, vinyasa flow and I was a mess, but totally hooked. Eventually I realized I didn't really like girls that way, but I was still obsessed with yoga. Haven't looked back since!
Who are some of your most influential teachers?
Sam Breschi -- or Sam-imal as I call him, Alicia Moyer and my mom Peggy. It's a bit odd because they all teach really divergent modalities (Prana Flow, Functional Movement and Pilates) but they've all inspired my career and shaped my teaching style. I feel very lucky to get a healthy fitness diet from the three of them.
What is something the Flow community may not know about you?
When I switched from a career in television to yoga I realized I needed a new hobby since I had turned my primary one into a job. My fiancé Cassidy and I have always big fans of drag, but I think that was the point when we both turned it into a more serious craft. We hold an annual gathering of Faeries where we throw a big party in the woods with everyone dressed in drag, if you're having trouble picturing it, check out Cassidy's Instagram @DragOfTheWoods. We also do local performances, I've done everything from a Taylor Swift to Kellyanne Conway impersonation.
Anything else you'd like to share?
If you're interested in a playful, energetic and community oriented class I hope you come join me. My classes always include arm balances and "big" postures, but I break them down in a way that makes them accessible to the newest students and challenging enough for the most experienced of yogis. If you want to get a feel for the personality of my classes check out my Instagram @DanimalYoga.
