Meet Kirschen Katz | Celebrity Yoga Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kirschen Katz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kirschen, how does your business help the community?
Social Impact: How does your business help the community or the world.

This is yoga:

I walk through my clients door and sense her agitation, thoughts are swirling, energy is off, bad night of sleep. We head to our mats and start with a few rounds of pranayama (breath work) and by round ten, calmness takes over and her body softens. Then, on to asana (poses). She loves vrksasana (tree pose) so today we hold this pose longer. Hydrating her with water throughout her practice helps keep her energy levels up.
Multiple sun salutations gets her body moving and her mind in a lovely trance. Adjusting her on each pose keeps her strong body in alignment. Breath is flowing beautifully and now she is present. Lots of twists to wring out any stagnation and congestion, and then some inversions for increasing prana (vitality).
And don’t forget core, one hundred sit ups and she’s feeling accomplished. Because? It’s not so easy to make it to our mat.
Our hour flies by and she’s in shavasana, our final asana, with her head massaged and the yummy scent of orange essential oil wafting over her.
We seal our practice with a healing AUM and blessings to all.

This is yoga:

I enter the gym at Animo Inglewood High School and greet thirty yogis (students) from the @jklivinfoundation. Energy in the room is buzzing but mixed, some students are animated & chatty, others are short on calories and hydration. Snacks and water are top priority.
We make our way to the floor and roll out our mats. Sitting down in ardha padmasana (half lotus) we begin our practice. Yogis start tapping into their calm ujjjayi breath and the room goes silent. They move gracefully and consciously through a series of poses, and when they arrive at one particular challenging pose, everyone yells out in unison, ‘CHATURANGA’!
Off to the wall, each yogi goes up into an inversion called ‘wall dog’. This pose scares some students, because inversions can be scary, but we slow it all down, every student cheers each other on, and soon it’s a wall of wall dog!
On to 100 ‘proper’ sit ups. We finish with pranayama, shavasana, essential oils and a beautiful, harmonic AUM.
And most importantly our gratitude circle, which is part of every jklivinfoundation class.

As a young girl with no self esteem, who grew up in a violent house, I was fortunate to be introduced to running (and sports in general) at twelve years old. Athletics saved my life and got me out of my dire situation, but having developed a yoga practice in my twenties transformed me.
As a yoga instructor I’m honored to help guide my clients through their transformation.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My marriage ended horribly in 2003, I returned to Los Angeles from the Big Island of Hawaii and had to scramble both emotionally & financially. I had my yoga teaching certificate and had been teaching a few classes here and there in Hawaii, and I’ve had my own yoga practice since 1989. I’ve used mantra’s throughout my life, and my mantra during this challenging time was the word ‘abundance’, for me and all who surround me’.
I was at my hair salon in the Pacific Palisades, sharing my story to a beautiful stranger, when she invited me to come and teach her yoga. This was the beginning of my yoga career.
Within weeks, she introduced me to two very dear friends, whom, by the way are still my clients 16 years later. They turned around and introduced me to Julia Roberts, whom I worked with for seven years, and was lucky enough to travel with her during her filming of Eat, Pray, Love. And Reese, who is, of course, extraordinary.
Through word of mouth, my business has grown and includes actors, producers, managers and singers. many with Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys. I spend my day traveling to homes teaching not only yoga, but combining weights, treadmill, hiking, running, and most importantly listening. I incorporate pranayama (breath work), shiatsu (pressure point), and essential oils into an hour session, finishing with a yummy head massage!
I’ve traveled internationally with my clients and have been hired as the Celebrity Yoga Instructor to corporate events and workshops.
All this is exciting and fun, but what really inspires me, are the ten years I’ve worked with the @jklivinfoundation. Founded by Camila & Matthew McConaughey, the jkl program is dedicated to empowering at risk high school students by providing them with the tools to lead active lives and make healthy choices for a better future.

If you knew how I suffered with violence in my childhood, and saw how disciplined and determined I was to change my story, you wold not be surprised at where I am today.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
How fun! Let’s go!

Monday morning hike up Paseo Miramar, then yummy chicken/kale salad at Porta Via in Pacific Palisades. Walk across the street to Carbon 38 & alo for the best and brightest in athletic wear! Rhema at C38 is fabulously helpful. Off to Blue Star donuts for dessert on Abbot Kinney and extra cool shopping.

Tuesday morning hike/run at Franklin Canyon, bring dogs! Lunch at Urth Cafe on Beverly Drive. Excellent Rooibos Latte!
Drop by Beverly Hills Bikini Shop ’cause we’re heading to the beach tomorrow!
Afternoon spa day at Olympic Spa on Olympic Blvd. Book Jin for the 90 minute ‘Goddess Treatment’ with Darphin Products from France. Relax in the Himalayan Salt room and reduce inflammation in the Infrared room.
Later, fancy dinner at Craft in Century City. Best short ribs/truffle risotto in town.

Beach Day! Heading to Zuma Beach in Malibu. Our first stop is erehwon for provisions on Wishire Blvd in Santa Monica. Also, be sure to get the Immunity Max drink to keep your immunity UP! Enjoy the beach and get your daily dose of vitamin D. After your lazy morning of sun & swim, head over to The Frederick Weisman Museum at Pepperdine University and visit this excellent museum. Please make sure to spend some quality time driving around viewing this magnificent campus, makes you want to get your second Masters. More shopping at Cross Creek! Alan at Oliver Peoples will fit your pretty face with new shades.
The Malibu Colony Company is my favorite shop for gifts (for me!) Heading back to town, pop in Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica for sunset cocktails & alien viewing.

It’s Thursday and we’re heading downtown to view art and dine. But first we’re taking a little excursion through Hancock Park for some gorgeous/historical mansion viewing. This stunning community was built in the 1920’s, the architecture is extraordinary and I’m fortunate to have clients here for an inside peek.
On to the Broad, Philanthropist Eli Broad’s sculptural museum has an excellent collection of modern art, Murakami, Koons Balloon Dog (my favorite), Basquiat, basically all the greats! Shop at the Museum Store for ‘Kidrobot Dunny Blind Box Mini Figure Series’…say what???
Lunch follows at Bottega Louie down the street. I love me some BL! This lively space used to be a bank and when packed, which is always, has great energy. Very diverse in its patronage, which I love and need! Food yum, but the desserts are the most beautiful/delicious desserts in the world, and I’ve been around the world!

Our last day together and I’ll need a vacation after you leave!

We’ll start at Caffe Luxxe at the Brentwood Country Mart for pastries, lattes and flirting with all the cute cyclists that hang out after their early morning ride.
Of course there’s great shopping, and my favorite boutiques are Poppy (beautifully curated children’s clothing), Diesel (charming bookstore), and Turpan (Hermes, gifts you would want!).
From here we’ll roll over to the Getty and take the tram up to this Richard Meier designed museum. Full of treasures, your head will spin from viewing all the stunning Master Impressionists.
The views and food are spectacular from The Restaurant which is where we’re having lunch!
Let’s head for a little drive up the famous Mulholland Drive, and stop off at one of the many turn outs for viewing our majestic city.
We need to move our bodies! So we’re dropping down to Fuller Avenue Trailhead and hiking Runyon Canyon, Go!
More shopping down our iconic Rodeo Drive and then heading to my favorite park and happy place, to see turtles at Will Rogers Memorial Park across from the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Dinner at the Ivy, where the service is wonderful and the onion rings/apple tart tatin are scrumptious.
Chow!

Brentwood

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A glorious ‘Shoutout’ to the beautiful/inspirational tribe that elevates & nourishes me:

Mama: the absolute love of my life

Husband: my safe haven

Sister: my forever soul sister

Clients/Friends: my seekers & motivators

jklivinfoundation: true beauty

Mother Earth: my place of peace

Yoga Mat: my sacred space

Clients Dogs: my delight

Website: Kirschenyoga.com

Instagram: @Kirschenyoga