Natalie Irwin

My yoga journey began when I was 15 years old. At the time, my primary focus was golf, which was not only my athletic passion but also my pathway to a college scholarship. My first yoga class was Hatha style, and I instantly loved it. My grandmother shared an interest in yoga, and together we attended both Hatha and Kundalini classes, which became a cherished bonding experience.

The turning point in my yoga journey came when a hot vinyasa studio opened in San Antonio. I fell in love with the dynamic flow of vinyasa yoga, which kept me strong and flexible for golf while also providing immense mental benefits. I believe that my dedication to yoga, combined with my golfing talent, played a significant role in earning me a golf scholarship to Baylor University. Despite the rigorous schedule of a student-athlete, I continued to practice yoga, advocating for its inclusion in our mandatory workouts.

In 2010, I moved to Dallas for an internship, where I discovered Uptown Yoga. The studio quickly became my second home, and I found myself attending classes twice a day. The consistent practice deepened my love for yoga, and three years later, a teacher suggested I consider the Uptown Yoga Teacher Training program.


I enrolled in teacher training in 2015, and it turned out to be one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life. The training transformed my practice, boosted my inner confidence, and strengthened my connection to the yoga community. It exponentially expanded my knowledge and appreciation for yoga.

In the spring of 2021, eager to expand my knowledge, I enrolled in an advanced 300-hour teacher training offered by the studio. At the same time, my husband and I were expecting our first child. Teacher training provided a grounding force amid the big changes ahead as one month into the training, I was diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy due to placenta previa. I spent the final three months on bed rest in the hospital. Yet despite these challenges, I continued my training through virtual Zoom classes and earned my Prenatal Yoga Teacher certification while pregnant. Our healthy, vibrant son was born in August 2021. I completed my 300-hour certification in December 2022.