When a quarter cup of smoothie drenches the freshly-pressed maxi skirt of a sorority girl, one might expect her to burst into hysteria. Erica Natal, a Delta Zeta, is not flustered. She simply wipes off the spill with her fingertips and gets back to chatting. She stays true to the mantra “stay calm, cool, and collected.” I sat down with her to discuss her life at UT.
Life as a Yoga Instructor
Erica Natal: Since I was in high school I’ve been doing yoga, and I just fell in love with it. I had a knack for it and so I was just like why don’t I teach it? I love giving back, and it’s such a rewarding experience to be able to show people the practice and also to try new things out myself. It’s a way of life. I would definitely say yoga enhances my life, but my world doesn’t revolve around it. I think you should keep revolving around different things. You want to be well-rounded. You don’t want to be radical to either way. You want to have a nice even blend.
Her Campus UT: What advice would you give to potential or current yoga instructors?
EN: You have to have a passion for it. Truly love what you do. Truly love the practice and want to further your knowledge on it. Be a people person, because you interact with people all of the time. They ask you questions because they think you have the answer. It’s really cute.
HC: What advice would you give beginning yogis?
EN: What happens on the mat stays on the mat. Keep an open mind, don’t have an ego, and go with the flow. This is your practice and it’s as demanding or as chill as you want it to be. It’s just how you feel internally and you’re the only one that can figure that out.
Life as a Stellar Student
The summer following her freshman year Natal interned as an event planner for Susan O’Neal. In addition, she played Susan “the southern belle” in the UT production of Company last year. Although she practices yoga, she is a type-A personality when it comes to grades. Natal has never earned a grade below an A (aside from one A/B). This semester she is taking 17 credits, which account for a whopping 10 courses. Her current cumulative GPA is a 3.88, which ranks her in the top ten percent of her class. Somewhere in between all of this she finds time to be a part of the UT chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota musicians, the Camerata Singers ensemble, and continues to be an active sorority member.
HC: How do you juggle your school work, practices, and social life?
EN: I have a planner, but it’s intense. I’ll show you (she pulls out a planner with pages that are as thick as a deck of cards, covered in color coordinated scribbles, doodles, and notes). It’s my lifeline. Organization is the key and I work ahead of time. I don’t like rushing and that’s another thing I gain from yoga. Whatever is going to happen is gonna happen so I don’t really stress about it, but just learn how to react to certain situations in a better manner. So, for me working ahead of schedule is more relaxing than cramming at the end.
The smile plastered on Natal’s face from the time she rolls out of bed is entirely genuine. Of course she has bad days like everyone else, but the majority of the time she is bubbly, happy, and loving life. Her well-rounded, balanced personality that is sprinkled with ambition and dipped in humility is what makes her a UT campus celebrity.
Erica’s Certifications:
- Yoga Levels 1-3
- Yoga Prop
- Prenatal Yoga
- Anatomy
- In Progress: 200 hour license
You can join Erica in one of her yoga classes in McNiff Fitness Center:
Monday– 6:05-6:55 pm: Power Yoga with Props
Thursday-8:15-9:15 pm: Yoga for Stress Relief
Friday– 9:00-9:45 am: Vinyasa Yoga