Young Yoga Instructor Inspires with Humor, Toughness

She may be young, but she will work you over on the mat.

Christie McClure, 12, of Land O' Lakes, is the youngest person in the country to have a 500-hour yoga teaching certification, she said.

"I started yoga when I was 5 years old in Ohio, I went every time my mom went. I thought yoga was so cool and fun that I instantly fell in love with it," Christie said.

She practiced in Ohio for three years, and eventually the family moved to Florida, where she, along with her mom, began training for their certifications.

"My second 5-day I was very sick and my mom asked me if we should just go home and wait until I have gotten better but I said no I will work even harder and longer," Christie said. "She was shocked that I didn’t give up. The most important thing that I have learned is whatever happens in life, happens and you always want to live in the present moment. Another thing is you never give up."

Soon the young yoga master will take on a teaching position at Florida Power Yoga, her mother's new studio, which is opening Feb. 2.

The soon-to-open studio hosted a pre-opening event recently, which drew 65 participants to an outdoor party style yoga session. That was Christie's teaching debut in Land O' Lakes, her mom, Denice McClure, said.

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"There was some laughter before I went up to teach," Christie said. But that didn't last long.

"She took control of the class and drove people to dig deeper with humor, style and toughness," McClure said. "She is inspiring just to watch."

Being so young does have its challenges, but it also has its rewards, Christie has learned.

"The biggest challenge was (if) people take me seriously or think of me as a kid, but then I realized that maybe I could bring something different to their practice like experiencing more childlike play than seriousness, and I have taught lots of adult classes and I find once they are safe in my hands they start to become more playful," Christie said.

"The best part is that I get to see everyone that I teach grow."

See also: New Fitness Biz Fires Up Yogis in Land O' Lakes