08/07/2026
Meet the Yogi: Cailey Burnett
Where do you live?
Walden
Who are the members of your family?
My fiance Steve and my puppy Casper!
What is your occupation?
Science teacher
What do you like best about your occupation?
I love making connections with my students, but most especially those who donāt start the year as fans of science. If I can get them curious about the planet, and slowly encourage them to start asking their own questions and actually wanting to do the research to learn more, I feel like Iāve done my job. Iām lucky to still stay in touch with students from my first year teaching, who are now halfway done with college!
Why do you practice yoga?
I attended my first session with a friend who had heard about Joanās classes through the grapevine, and we got hooked. Regular yoga had never quite āgrabbedā me, but the challenge of aerial yoga was instantly intriguing. Itās become an absolute highlight of the weeks that I sign up for classes, and I countdown the days until I return!
When did you start practicing yoga?
Last winter, right around the new year.
What do you like about our yoga class?
I love the camaraderie and positivity that all participants share with one another. Sometimes you see familiar faces, sometimes new, but everyone is always so supportive and truly cheering each other on. Itās a wonderful way to try new things, get a solid workout in, and put a smile on your face!
Which pose is most challenging for you and why?
I canāt remember the names of this move in particular, but the inverted push-up is VERY challenging for me. (And itās a personal goal to be able to get there someday!) Iām really proud of how much stronger Iāve gotten (grip strength, core strength) since starting aerial classes, but Iāve had a weak/tight lower back for many years after an injury, and the inverted push-up is quite difficult! I still hope to make it happen someday!
What surprised you about doing yoga?
I was (and still am) surprised by what my body is capable of. As a former athlete, hitting my 30ās definitely proved that I canāt do certain things I used to do without thinking, but Iām also really grateful to these classes for proving to me just how capable I still am of learning new things! The most surprising aspect of all is really my grip strength progression, and all around body-awareness. I had a slip on my stairs recently (dang puppy got too excited about going outside and pushed my feet out from underneath me!) but I think Iām so lucky that my body is so much stronger and more resilient due to yoga, and thatās likely why I didnāt seriously injure myself with that slip! Thanks, Joan!
Which pose is easiest for you and why?
I LOVE a controlled backflip! And have stopped needing a wrist wrap, which is something Iām proud of. Iāve become a big fan of a supported headstand (with one leg in the swing), because Iām proud of how straight Iāve managed to get my torso up in the air as my core strength has increased!
What are your yoga goals?
I think Iām feeling a lot more confident with attempting new moves, and Iām proud of how strong Iāve gotten, so now I would like to focus on more of the mind-body awareness, or connection. I can be a high-stress individual, especially during the school year, and Iāve been trying to work on leaving each class with intentionality and bringing that mindfulness into other aspects of my life. I have found myself trying Joanās mantra for deep breathing and relaxing all parts of my body on different occasions when I come home from a crazy day at work, or have a chaotic behavioral situation with my (very smart and sweet) puppy. Itās helped me feel more in control of my physiological response to different stressors, and Iād like to continue to hone that.
What advice do you have for someone thinking about trying our yoga class?
Get out of your comfort zone! Nobody in that room is there to judge you- if anything, the women in the space are so glad that youāre there and experiencing the same thing that theyāve all come to love and look forward to! Doing hard things is fun, rewarding, and youāll get the bug to want to come back and try a repeat tricky move, a brand new pose, or maybe youāll just want to redeem yourself after using the āforbiddenā word š
