Meet Kerry Temple – Wood of 63rd Street Yoga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerry Temple-Wood.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story is that of weaving, a weaving of breath, movement, time, life circumstances, curiosity, and empowerment.

It starts with my mom taking me to a local yoga class as a kid in a small town in Ontario, Canada. In 1970, there was nothing ‘usual’ about that except she had done it years before. I never asked her how or why she took me, but my life changed that evening. Since that time, the path of yoga, breath, and consciousness have been the threads that weave the wonderful, messy and imperfectly perfect energy of my life. I never was a perfect pose person! But I love the juicy exploration of my inner and outer world and the wealth of wisdom available if I truly learn how to listen.

I took my teacher training in Toronto in 1981-82 when training was a year long. Today, I have a small boutique studio in Niwot, CO. Through my 4+ decades of yoga, my personal practice, teaching, and approach have evolved as life and time has honed me. My commitment to yoga and meditation as an integrated path of wellness has continued to deepen. I have shifted to a more fluid exploration of postures and breath and over time my practice has become more aligned with my own changing inner rhythms, body awareness, challenges, and strengths.

Now, in my midlife years, my passion and mission continue to evolve as I ripen and journey into my second half of life. Questions and curiosity are my daily fare. Questions like: “How do I do this thing called aging?” And how do I do it well? Where is the road map? What is my “yoga”? Am I really prepared to live a long second half of life? And, what is Eldership and how do I claim it?

As baby boomers and as a society, we have put ‘aging’ on the map in a very profound and impactful way. And, if I may be so bold to say, as a society we don’t have a good map for this! We are all in the very beginning stages of learning how to travel this road well, in body, mind, and spirit. What I do know is this: I feel more alive, have a stronger voice that speaks my truth and feel more confident and empowered than I have my entire life. I am not anti-aging!

In a culture obsessed with youthfulness, learning to embrace the transition and wisdom of becoming an Elder takes intention and diligence! I am immensely excited about my 60’s and 70’s hold and have to teach me. Because the yogic path is the lens through which I view the world, it seems to me that living a longer life has as much to do with staying healthy and vibrant in our physical body as learning to cross the bridge into being a Wisdom Keeper, cultivating passion, insight and spiritual maturity.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’m not sure “smooth road” and living life are words to have in the same sentence. Life is what it is. I have been immensely blessed with a healthy body, heart, and mind, family, community, and love. Challenges, getting hit by the cosmic 2 x 4, of course! This is where we grow, is it not?

Many of my life lessons have been around fear. I have a lot of fears, or have had a lot of fears! I am slowly choosing to look and ‘face’ them as I feel ready. Do they make rational sense – not necessarily? And in concert with my fears is the energy of confidence or a lack of confidence! This has been a big one for me, not feeling I am enough.

One of the ways I addressed the fear/confidence issue was to sign up for a public speaking course and to give a talk last fall. I dove in, did it and rocked it!

In the work I do with yoga, midlife women and aging, I know that fear of aging is huge. If I do not look some of my own fears in the face, I really have no business in guiding others. Have I grown from this choice and experience? I would say a definite yes! More still to do? Definite yes!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
We have a small boutique yoga studio on our 3-acre farm just outside Niwot, Co. The studio is in the wonderfully renovated chicken barn with amazing views of the front range. We are a community-based studio where the breath is the foundation, slower is stronger, wisdom is honored, and all are welcome! Though we specialize in yoga for the 50+ practitioner, I love that we have an inter-generational clientele ranging from the students in their 20’s up to folks about to turn 70.

Part of what makes us unique is that we are a slow yoga studio. With spacious, therapeutic pacing and small class sizes students are invited to slow down in their practice; to listen, feel, stay present and curious. Classes invite the mindful exploration of our inner and outer worlds physically and emotionally, and the wisdom available to us in that listening.

What was you like growing up?
I was a ‘tomboy’, loner and nature lover. Climbing trees, swimming, biking and walking in the fields and forests was where I felt the spirit and the divine most strongly and where I loved to spend my time. I also loved books and my very first job was in the little local library, though I don’t think I lasted too long because I always got “lost” reading in the stacks! Overall, I am a kinesthetic learner so school as we knew it then was not my favorite place to be. Somehow the universe still led me to yoga. For that, I am grateful. Still true to this day, my happy place is being on my mat, in nature, in my garden or on the earth in some way.

Contact Info:

• Address: 6541 North 63rd Street
• Phone: 303. 818. 0519
• Email: kerry@63rdstreetyoga.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/63rdstreet_yoga/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/63rdStreetYogaStudio/

Image Credit:
Barb Colombo / Kerry Tempe-Wood

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.