This is the third in our ongoing series celebrating our happy customers. In our continuing celebration of Earth Day, we’re profiling Debbie Pulone, the first to receive this week’s Design Highlight, Water, Wind, Fire & Earth (10% off this week only using the promo code WWFE10!) Debbie received her mat this past Christmas as a surprise from her amazing photographer husband, Joey. She’s a highly dedicated teacher, but when she’s not teaching she’s practicing yoga, and when she’s not practicing yoga, she’s running and raising money to cure blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. It’s fitting that a yogi with so much amazing energy practices with an equally energetic yoga mat like our best-selling Water, Wind, Fire & Earth! Thank you so much, Debbie. Keep pounding the pavement — the world needs more women like you!
QTell us a little bit about yourself. What keeps you busy off the mat?
AI am a Reading Specialist in Howard County, Maryland. I love practicing yoga, reading, hiking, running and hanging out with my family. I have three amazing teenagers (Max, Liv and Sofie) and a fun-loving, adventurous husband, Joey (who I am trying to convince to start practicing yoga with me ;-)
QWhat kind of asanas do you practice?
AVinyasa flow and restorative.
“Yoga is such a huge part of my life. I love that it provides me time to slow down and time for myself — to decompress and destress.” ~ Debbie
QHow long have you been a yogi?
AMore than 20 years!
QWhat role does yoga play in your life?
AYoga is such a huge part of my life. I love that it provides me time to slow down and time for myself — to decompress and destress. I NEED it for the increased flexibility and muscle strength and toning.
QDo you have a favorite pose?
AI like all balancing poses.
QHave you ever had a “yoga moment”, something that happened during practice that you didn’t expect? That made you laugh, brought you joy, made you cry?
AOnce I took a class from an instructor who combined cardio with yoga poses. It was extremely challenging, but so much fun! At the end, during shavasana, I had a really hard cry. I was worried that everyone would hear me since it was so quiet. I don't really know why but it I took it as a sign that it was a really great class that helped me release some emotional tension. Later talking to my friend that was in the class, she too said she cried.
QIs there a pose that used to be a “pillar pose” — one that you were working toward — that is now accessible to you?
ACrow — even though I can now do it, I can’t hold it long. It’s a work in progress.
QWhen you placed your order with Big Raven Yoga, what made you choose Water, Wind, Fire & Earth?
A It was a gift and I love it!
QDo you have your eyes fixed on any other Big Raven designs? If so, which one(s) and why?
ASo many are lovely!
QDo people ask you about your mat?
AYes, sometimes. I'm surprised more people don’t ask. It’s so pretty and stands out against all of the other generic mats in class.
Thank you so much, Debbie — we really appreciate you taking a few minutes out of your day to answer questions!
(Debbie received perennial favorite Water, Wind, Fire & Earth for Christmas from her husband, Joey, but it’s 10% off this week only using the promo code WWFE10!)