Free Yoga in Our Park

Hello! My name is Ambeka Khadse. I was born in Queens, NY, grew up between Queens and Long

Island, and now live in Bayside. I completed my 200Hr Yoga Teacher Training with Yogaworks in 2019, and practice taught friends through 2019 & 2020 (via zoom). I began teaching monthly community classes with @friendsofcrocheron in 2021, and have joined New York City Parks and Recreation as a yoga instructor offering weekly Thursday evening classes as of June 2023.

What drew you to Yoga?

I was introduced to yoga in 2005 at my gym, as part of my wellness routine. I began practicing daily in 2008 as a complement to running, and by 2011 yoga was my main passion. Being able to challenge

myself daily, and seeing progress in my strength and flexibility kept me coming back, along with the

escape it provided at times of stress.

How do you motivate yourself when feeling lazy?

Our bodies tell us what we need and while we may not be able to listen all the time (ie – if we’re tired,

but still need to go to work), I try to listen when I can. What this means is that when I'm feeling lazy after work , I go home and watch tv, or sit in a chair and read my latest book. When I wake up unmotivated on a Saturday, I may walk to my local coffee shop and sit there for a bit doing nothing. Other days the walk over reenergizes me a, or I wak up ready to tackle all my errands. At the end of the day we need to find a balance, which includes accepting the at 100% motivation at all times is not realistic and a ‘lazy’ walk in the park can at times bring us much more calmness and fulfillment than a cardio-yoga class or a run

may.

What do you do when you are not teaching Yoga?

I have a degree in Industrial-Organizational psychology and have been working in the training / talent development field for the past 15 years. Outside of corporate life, I enjoy readying, traveling, and photography. Some of my favorite books are Leopard at the Door, The Alice Network, A Rive in the Darkness, and The Storyteller’s Secret.

I dove into photography in 2020, learning more about the camera I had purchased a few years back for my travels. As I began practicing with manual captures, I explored the nyc parks, photographing the wildlife and nature around us.



And traveling… that’s been a passion of mine throughout my life, having been exposed to the idea at a

young age. For me the joy of traveling is about getting to see new people, places, and learning about

different cultures, expectations, and norms. Every country has its own rhythm, and the variety of cities

within each country add their own unique beat as well. Some of my favorite experiences have been to

Indonesia, Mara & the Serengeti, Hoi An, Spain, Hawaii, and Jordan.