CHRIS TEMKIN
Owner, Laughing Frog Yoga
CHRIS TEMKIN
Fiercely open, honest and beautiful – that’s how I’d describe Laughing Frog studio owner, Chris Temkin.
Chris left the entertainment business as an editor to open Laughing Frog in 2011. Located on the 2nd floor of a non-descript strip mall in West LA, the studio is an oasis of calm. Chris did a complete renovation of the space, and the cherry colored flooring, high wood ceilings, and natural light create a serene place to practice.
I had the chance to ask Chris some questions regarding the challenges of running a yoga studio and how he came to the practice.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Massachusetts in a few different places, all not far from Boston.
What is your daily practice? (or not daily, but, you know)
Getting Laughing Frog Yoga off the ground has been an intense and overwhelming experience. There has been so much to consider, so many choices to make, so much uncertainty. How I relate to others, myself, money, life, has all come to the surface. Major existential questions keep coming up: Why am I here? Who am I? What do I want? What’s important? What’s most important? I became mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that something as seemingly simple as starting a business could push me to such an extent, but there you have it. Though I think the intensity has been a blessing in disguise. It’s been a mirror. I’ve been shown my default way of living: where I get stuck, how much I wasn’t honoring and caring for myself. My friends think it’s funny; I opened a yoga studio and became more stressed out than ever.
I try spending my mornings coming back to myself. My crazy mind has all types of ideas about who I’m supposed to be, all of the things I’m supposed to be doing, and how screwed I am that I can never be and do everything I “need” to. So I sit and meditate, breathe, feel my body, and remind myself that the whole thing is a blessing.
What is it that keeps you practicing?
Yoga dissolves my anxiety and reveals a fierce caring within me. It wakes me up, shows me life, how much I care about it, how much I want to show up for it, and my ability to do so. Then yoga forgives me when I fall short.
What is your mission as a yoga teacher?
It’s hard for me to imagine anything more magnificent than existing in the world as a human being. But we get so caught up in our fears that we don’t see it. We miss the whole thing. I want people to realize how awesome they are.
As applies: When did you move to LA and why?
I moved to Los Angeles in 1993. I told myself I was coming out to play music, but looking back I think I was needing an adventure.
When/where/why did you take your first class?
I’m going to say that my first yoga class was about 15 years ago at Yoga House in Pasadena. Although I couldn’t really see it at the time, I think I intuited the lack of sanity in my life. I don’t quite remember why I thought yoga might help, but I’m glad I did. The high school I attended was the second largest on the east coast at the time and offered some diverse classes. My friend signed up for a “yoga” class. When I asked him what that was he told me they just laid around on the floor listening to trippy music while the teacher said deep shit. I remember I would try to talk him into cutting class sometimes. He’d say, “no way man… I’ve got yoga.” He loved it. Maybe that just stuck with me.
Most memorable thing that happened in that class.
I remember it was hard and seemed like everyone knew what they were doing except for me. After class I was speaking with the instructor who said she felt it was time to go to India to find her Guru. I was like, “Huh?” I had no idea what was going on.
Describe a turning point, shift, evolution in your practice
As happens to many of us, when I was young, my family went through some really hard times. It was confusing. I didn’t really learn how to stay connected to myself and at the same time function effectively in the world. I developed some bad habits. I think I’ve been on “the path” in one way or another since I was a teenager, but my yoga practice really took a turn when I found Mark Blanchard’s place in Toluca Lake. I started taking Mark’s wife Elizabeth’s class. Elizabeth is the real deal. Fierce love… no bullshit. No pretense. When you’re around someone who authentically gives a shit, believes in you, and at the same time shines a light on your arrogance, it’s hard to continue showing up half-heartedly.
One of your favorite aspects of yoga/your practice?
The combination of relaxed open senses, ujjayi pranayama, and using the bandhas to activate energy centers. Sometimes the room begins to glow.
What was the last thing to happen that reminded you that you love teaching yoga?
There’s someone who’s been coming to the studio for some time. Let’s just say this person is not someone you’d peg as the super ambitious type. A few weeks ago I was teaching a class and this student was working an amazing triangle pose. Powerful. Radiating. Precise alignment. I kept asking myself “Who is that? It looks like so and so, but it can’t be… but it is.” It was a great reminder of the awesome transformational power of yoga practice.
Chris teaches twice a week at Laughing Frog. Come take a class!
FIND YOUR FLOW ( Level 1/2 )
Friday, 6pm & Saturday, 10:30am
LAUGHING FROG YOGA
11870 Santa Monica Blvd, Ste 208
Los Angeles, CA 90025
818-434-6705
www.laughingfrogyoga.com
Catherine Tingey
Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 33 years and teaching privately for 13 years.
About the Author
Catherine Tingey+ Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 33 years and teaching privately for 13 years.
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