Meet Desiree Crossman | Certified Yoga Therapist & Thai Yoga Massage Teacher

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

Hi Desiree, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
A teaspoon a day keeps the ego at bay. One of the most challenging aspects throughout life is harmonizing the ego. The ego develops, shapes, and evolves to protect us from external criticism or some form of trauma, perhaps denial. Every person has their personal experience. To have an ego is neither positive nor negative, it should be neutral, at the very least oscillating back and forth within a humbling parameter. If the ego is underdeveloped, the lack of confidence prospers and a person may never grasp their true worth or experience their innate potentiality. If the ego is overdeveloped, it may demonstrate to the outside world a falsified persona, hiding a monumental amount of insecurities and the highest expectations of the self. In my opinion, it is necessary to have an ego, it can be your biggest advocate, your cheerleader, your strength. I also believe humility should be parallel, alongside self – awareness, inner work, and soulful lessons. Maintain the ego, feed it just enough to be satiated.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Thank you for this space to tell a little about myself. I practice yoga and am a board-certified yoga therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapy. My personal brand, Yoga Simplified Method, is to help bring people back to the basic steps of achieving harmony in the body. This entails consultation with a client, personal assessment, lifestyle management, goals involving the practice of yoga. How I got here was not an easy journey. It took several years of studying as well as clinical/mentoring hours with an accredited institution to get to this level. When I first started yoga over ten years ago, I didn’t realize at the time how therapeutic it was for me and still is. Personal challenges allowed me to evolve as well as constant current challenges. As a practitioner, I am now equipped to handle situations in a more positive, constructive manner as well as help others and guide them in doing the same. Being able to apply the tools I learned and continuously learn has been a blessing. So now here I am, working with others to help them optimize their greatest asset which is the mind and the breath to achieve awareness.

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?
Being a native here, San Diego never ceases to amaze me. I love all the hiking trails and eateries but it still isn’t enough. I personally love to walk and there’s nothing short of fun, adventurous walks in and around San Diego. La Playa in Point Loma is cool to do that I only recently discovered believe it or not. It is tucked away and shows the harbor in such a way that it reminds me of certain parts of Sydney Australia that are considered hidden gems. There is also the Ho Chi Minh trail in La Jolla that tucks a hiker away to another world and opens up to the beach. Speaking of beaches, we do have a fair share of amazing beaches and I love staying at Silver Strand State Park overlooking the Coronado Islands and Point Loma Peninsula. Another fun excursion is taking the trolley all over San Diego proper and getting off in Coronado for another stroll, getting a history lesson of Bankers Hill, Old Town, downtown etc. This is just a few of MANY things to do in San Diego.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are many books and teachers who have contributed to my success as a person and being human. All my previous relationships with lovers who showed me my own shortcomings and my lack of awareness in ways I was not mature enough to understand. To the ones who caused me pain, they were unaware of their actions and didn’t know any better on how to handle their shortcomings. One particular book that really changed my life was the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. That was the most influential book during a crossroad in my life and it taught me how to trust the universe in all its glory and the power of humility. In addition to that book, yoga therapy was and has been my savior throughout this journey. All the teachers, talks, lectures, questions, meditation, breathing, moving, listening, understanding, not understanding the ways yoga is all-pervasive. It really teaches us how to recognize harmony and humbleness, and not to give ourselves to others but rather to the divine nature.

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