Interview with Frederica Valente Perfeito

What Is The Aim Of Your Company?

Since 2015, I’ve been teaching travelers in yoga&surf retreats, but since Summer time, I came to my hometown, in Madeira island, where I’m starting my own community of students. So that’s what I want to build, a community, students, people that trust me and develop in yoga and in life. I also host yoga retreats, so my aim is to host 3 to 4 yoga retreats per year and have a base in Madeira .

Where In The World Do You Feel Is The Best Place To Visit For A Yoga Retreat?

Can’t say in the world because I never been everywhere. I currently live in madeira which is a beautiful place, full of nature and the temperature is always pleasant, between 20 and 26 degrees, all year around. I’ve seen amazing places in Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and India, so that’s always a good choice.

What Does Yoga Mean To You?

Salvation, awareness, commitment, self discipline, self love, ground, concentration, meditation, happiness.

What Has Helped You To Improve Your Classes/Retreats Since You Began Instructing?

The more I teach, the more I know human body. The more I practice myself, the more I understand asanas and all that its related too. So I believe you can only teach if you are a practitioner. Also, I  watch some alignment/anatomy videos on youtube and Instagram: Kino Macgregor, Stu Girling, Celest Pereira, Adell Bridges, John Scott, Deepika, Mark Robberds, David Keil.

How Did You Feel After Your First Yoga Class And How Do You Want Students To Feel After Practicing With You?

Well, I have to be honest, I didn’t like my first yoga class, it was painful, I didn’t understand what I was doing and I got super sad afterwards. Only now I can look back to understand that something opened in that class. Then I tried a couple of times at the gym and I really liked how relaxed I would feel afterwards. Then with Ashtanga, I really can't explain, it was a mixed feelings, relaxed, better sleep, more focused and at the same time I felt powerful, strong and connected. So what I tell my students is exactly this, everything takes time, it all comes with the practice, with self discipline and commitment to yoga but, especially, to yourself. 

What Impact Has Yoga Had On Your Own Life?Who Were You Before You Started Practicing And How Has The Practice Contributed To Your Growth?

I was a lawyer for almost 8 years in Lisbon and I made the decision of having yoga as a daily practice because I was so unhappy, I have never been content neither grateful so everything was stressful, dramatic, lack of self love and tons of self pity. I’m not perfect now, but this yoga journey that was and it is a self discovery journey has made happy, grateful and ore fearless.

What Skills And Qualities Make A Good Yoga Teacher?

When I practice, I like my yoga teacher to care. First, care about who their students are, asking for the name, injuries, conditions, know a bit about the students. Alignment verbal adjustments or even physical adjustments. Demonstrate less, look for every student instead, correct any student even is it’s a teacher. Give options, be open be kind and compassionate. Listen, smile and that I can feel I trust, that gives me inspiration.

What Style Of Yoga Do You Practice?

Gentle/vinyasa Flow and Yin Yoga.  Sometimes Ashtanga yoga.

What Advice Would You Give Someone Who Is Just Beginning Their Yoga Journey?

As a practitioner: keep practicing, be kind and patient, keep practicing. For a yoga teacher: start teaching and practice yourself. And when I say practice, it’s not just asanas, it’s all what yoga represents.

What Has Been The Biggest Struggle In Hosting Yoga Retreats Around The World?

I don’t have bad memories, I guess the struggle is to teach a person that is not ready to receive yoga and the transformation that occurs, either a person with a big ego or a person with lack of self love, very insecure, nervous, anxious.

What, In Your Opinion, Is The Most Troubling Issue Facing The Global Yoga Community Today?

I have to say I don’t agree with the high prices, I believe yoga should be available for everyone. Yes, this is my job but I don’t like to pay much for yoga so I also don’t think it’s fair for my students to pay a lot. I don’t like it to be a super expensive business. I don’t mind that everyone is a yoga teacher, I hope all of us were, hopefully better people.

What Is Your Personal Yoga Philosophy?

To be grateful, for every moment, good and bad. To become more aware of myself and to be grateful.