Meet the Wanderist: Anna Hansen

Meet the Wanderist: Anna Hansen. Born and raised in Colorado, Anna is a snowboarding, mountain biking, road cycling aficionado. As a devoted yogi of over twenty years, Anna views the practice as medicine. She has been teaching for eight years and even offers free classes on her youtube channel: MOVE with Anna. Learn more about the Wanderist who turned her passion into a lifestyle:

HOMETOWN:

Fort Collins, Colorado.

SALT OR SNOW:

Both!

SPORT OF CHOICE:

Yoga, snowboarding, mountain biking, road cycling, hiking, and wanna-be surfer:)

FAVORITE DESTINATION:

The beach. Living in landlocked Colorado I always want to travel to the water when I can.

WHAT DOES ADVENTURE MEAN TO YOU?:

Adventure can mean trying something new — a whole new sport or maybe some days it means trying a new yoga pose. Adventure to me is exploring a new place or a well-loved one for a favorite outdoor activity, and often adventure includes getting out of your comfort zone!

WHEN SEEKING ADVENTURE, WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU DO?:

Usually, the first thing I do is pick an amazing location and then plan the next part. If I’m going to lead or participate in a yoga retreat I find a sweet place first and take it from there!

THREE THINGS YOU CAN’T TRAVEL WITHOUT:

Yoga or workout clothes, great sunscreen and moisturizer, and my dog!:)

HOW YOU GOT STARTED PRACTICING YOGA:

I have been a yogi for a long time, about 20/25 years. I started really becoming devoted to my practice a little over a decade ago. I signed up for a yoga teacher training about 8 years ago and totally fell in love with it. Standing in front of a room of people has always been a little out of my comfort zone, but teaching yoga has become such a healing part of my life, as much as practicing yoga. I believe that yoga is medicine!

TIPS FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO START YOGA:

Find a good beginner class or try one online if you aren’t ready to go into the studio — I offer free ones on YouTube. Relax, and have fun with it; don’t worry about "doing it right" or needing to be perfect, we call it a practice for a reason. Yoga is important, but it doesn’t have to be serious. Show up to yoga each time with the intention to come out a little better than when you arrived, you will get better each time you show up on your mat, even if it’s not big leaps every class, you are making progress!

FAVORITE SNACK TO FUEL WITH:

In the summer I love smoothies and fresh-pressed juices in the heat.

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?:

Gosh I have a lot of role models. I guess from the surf world it would be Rell Sunn. I never had the chance to meet her but I have heard so many stories from people who knew her. Hearing how much community spirit, love and aloha she shared and created with so many people and how that continues to grow to this day, long after she is gone, is really inspiring to me.