Born and raised in Bergan, Norway, Fredrik has always been passionate about health and well-being. He is a trained firefighter and personal trainer, and completed our 200hr teacher training this year.
Fredrik recognised through yoga that change starts from the inside and out. With a strong focus on the breath and a love of inversions, you’ll leave his class feeling grounded and more confident on and off the mat. We caught up with him at the studio.
How did you get into yoga?
Two or three years ago a good friend of mine dragged me into his yoga class to show me that it wasn’t just all wishy washy. In an instant I fell in love with it and started to come to every class I could.
I started doing 30 days for £30 at every studio that offered it near to where I lived and it set me up with a daily practice for months.
I quickly started to see huge improvements both in my physical and mental health. The revelations kept on coming – I realised that I’d prioritised others over myself and not listened to my needs in a very long time… I saw a lot of changes in my life in general.
What made you want to become a yoga teacher?
I’d been working as a personal trainer for some time and loved seeing my clients progress and make positive changes in their lives, I believed becoming a yoga teacher would enable me to help more people.
As I said, I totally fell in love with Yoga. I was also fortunate to be part of a very nice community at Collaborative Yoga, which was a charity project. They asked me to become part of their teacher team and started letting me assist and shadow their classes.
How did teacher training change you?
Teacher training definitely made me more flexible, in mind and body! It also opened my eyes to how yoga can be accessible to any person, no matter age or physical limitations. I began to consider how my yoga practice would change as I grow older. We all want to be practicing when we are 110 and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t.
What do you think makes a good teacher?
An inquisitive mind and a compassionate nature. Someone who does a lot of self practice and gets experience through their own practice. What I’ve learned from going to a lot of different classes and teachers is that you have to teach what rings true to you. Use your own experiences on and off the mat and find your own way.
Of all the benefits Yoga has to offer, which of them has had the greatest impact on your life?
I find in this busy London life Yoga really has a tremendous effect on my mental health. My practice calms me down, making me more focused and clear.
What’s your favourite pose and why?
Pincha Mayurasana! I love the feeling of strength and stability that I get in this posture, it’s my favourite way to enjoy the benefits of being upside down.
When you’re not teaching, where are we most likely to find you?
At a climbing wall or a taco place!
Favourite track to practice to?
Tash Sultana – Notion. Anything by Tash Sultana!
Any advice for those interested in the teacher training?
My number one tip for anyone embarking on teacher training: don’t be afraid to fail and mess up. That’s the place you can do it and should do it, so you get over the fear of teaching others. Fail, fail, fail and then in the end you’ll be teaching something you know and have experienced.
You can check out Fredrik’s weekly classes here.