By Jessica Joshi Photo courtesy of Fraser Johnston. Fraser Johnston (12) started practicing yoga in fifth grade as an opportunity to build strength and flexibility for ballet. However, in high school, Johnston decided to hang up the pointe shoes and pick up the mat to pursue a yoga teacher certification, which involved a rigorous 200-hour training program of learning postures, studying yoga philosophy and completing introspective work. “What attracted me to yoga is that it isn’t about how you look or how good you are. It’s about showing up, breathing, and moving in your body wherever you may be that day,” Johnston said. After graduating from the Dwi Prada Yoga school in 2019, she started teaching at Two Pillars Yoga Studio in East Memphis. Two Pillars is a co-op that allows teachers to have autonomy in their classes and grow their followings.  Photo courtesy of Fraser Johnston. For Johnston, yoga is not only an exercise but also a safe space to connect with her abilities and body. As a teacher, she works to encourage her students to engage with breath, embrace their own strengths, and enjoy the process. She currently is teaching kids’ yoga classes and vinyasa flow, which merges poses with breathwork.
“It is as simple as showing up. You do not have to be flexible or have good balance to come. Everyone is welcome,” Johnston said. Ellen Feild (12) and Madeleine Hays (12) attended one of Johnston’s vinyasa flow classes at Two Pillars. Johnston even made cookies for her students to grab on the way out of class. “It's an amazing way to support Fraser's hard work while also getting a workout and getting a calm time to think and breathe,” Feild said. “Fraser was a great instructor, and it felt comfortable since I know her. There was less pressure than if I had been with an instructor I didn’t know,” Hays said. Johnston teaches classes on Monday nights at 5:30 at Two Pillars, alongside pop-up classes in local parks. She also encourages people to text her or find her in the hallway to ask questions about her classes. “I think our culture and social media is constantly telling us we need to look a certain way. For me, yoga combats this. I can move and don’t have to worry about how it looks. I can fail and fall, but my practice is just as valuable,” Johnston said. To register for a class with Fraser, visit: http://twopillarsyoga.com. Follow @fraser_yoga on Instagram for more class opportunities and updates.
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