Erin Sampson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Erin, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of work, my newest source of joy has been e-biking with my husband, Matt. We’ve discovered an incredible world of trails in our Northwest Arvada and Boulder backyard. It has opened up so many opportunities for both adventure and connection and has become more than just a hobby. We are using bikes for work, scouting out and filming yoga classes in new locations. It’s a way for us to spend time outdoors together, get exercise, and truly soak in the beauty of where we live.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Erin Sampson. I founded Five Parks Yoga in 2015 with a simple intention: to share yoga in a way that feels accessible, authentic, and connected. When my family moved part-time to Costa Rica, I wanted to continue teaching and stay in touch with my Colorado students. With only a very basic camera and an internet connection so slow it sometimes took a full day to upload a single video, I started filming classes outdoors and sharing them online. What began as a bridge between myself and my home community soon grew into something much larger – an international community of students practicing together from all over the world.
Since then, Five Parks Yoga has grown to more than 275,000 subscribers on YouTube and a library of over 500 unique classes, filmed in Costa Rica, Colorado, and beyond. In 2017, I hosted my first yoga retreat with just seven people, and since then I’ve welcomed hundreds of students from all over. Alongside retreats, I’ve expanded into workshops and 200 hour teacher trainings, creating opportunities for students and teachers to experience the depth and transformative power of yoga in person.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that changed how I see the world was when my husband and I moved our young family of five to Costa Rica. At the time, the internet wasn’t much help. We didn’t have endless resources to guide us, but we took the leap anyway. We moved simply for the experience and the adventure, not knowing exactly what we would find. What was planned as a six month adventure, turned into a new way of living, one that shaped not only who we are as individuals but also how we raised our children. Living in a foreign country taught us resilience, creativity, and patience, but it also reminded us of the joy of simplicity and the beauty of living fully in the present. That leap of faith into the unknown changed the course of our lives, and it continues to influence the way I see the world and the way I share yoga today.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be: have patience. When I hosted my very first retreat, just seven people showed up. At the time, I wanted things to move faster. I imagined full retreats, a thriving community, and a larger impact right away. The same was true with YouTube: the subscriber base grew slowly and steadily, one class and one student at a time. I felt impatient at times, but life had its own current, especially while raising kids and moving between two countries with so many moving parts. Looking back now, I see how much sweetness there was in those early steps – in being new, in growing little by little and in letting things unfold at their own pace. Time has taught me that patience allows you to appreciate the process, not just the outcome, and that the timing of things often turns out to be exactly right.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
My passion is sharing yoga in a wholehearted, intentional, and meaningful way. That’s why you’ll often hear me speak about gratitude, mindfulness, or simply remind you at the end of class to find peace and grace for yourself. Those moments aren’t scripted; they’re genuine reflections of what I try to carry into my own life. I think that’s why students at my retreats and trainings so often tell me that the classes online feel just as authentic as being with me in person. What you see in the videos really is who I am.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Yes – I really am tap dancing to work every day! And no, I’ve never been this excited about my career. Part of that comes from a big life transition: with three kids now having moved out of the house, I’ve found new energy and space to focus on my own personal growth. That’s opened the door to a deeper commitment to health and wellness — not just for myself, but in the way I share yoga and mindfulness with others.
Five Parks Yoga is also entering new terrain, which has been incredibly energizing. I’m expanding into more travel-focused health and wellness content, along with more frequent retreats and teacher trainings. It feels like the perfect convergence of timing, growth, and passion, and every day I wake up grateful and excited to do this work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fiveparksyoga.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiveparksyoga/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/fiveparksyoga
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@fiveparksyoga
Image Credits
Tamarindo Films – Matt Sampson
