Chelle Diaz aka Viper X

My journey to becoming a yoga teacher found me in Miami at the beginning of last year, where I was lucky to meet Chelle. She made sure that I felt right at home (along with the rest of the amazing OHY305 family!), she also insisted I got to see a little Miami nightlife and spend some time on the beach despite our long days in the studio!

I knew 200 hours of yoga was going to be intense but I didn’t really know exactly what to expect. Turns out laughing, crying, apple cider vinegar shots and a whole new world of kombucha was on the cards, but most importantly some connections with incredibly generous people made it such a beautiful experience and it wouldn’t have been the same for me without Chelle.

Living so far away from people it can be hard to stay in touch, I am so grateful to be able to use technology to stay connected with friends all over the world! Distance doesn’t need to limit connection. It’s been special to keep in touch with Chelle and support each others teaching journey’s since training and I know that we will have more time to share in the future!

Read on to be inspired by the way she approaches life and keeps it in balance…

Please introduce yourself, and what it is you so wonderfully do…

Hello world! My name is Chelle I am a local Miami artist (Viper x) and yoga teacher at Original Hot Yoga 305. I bounce around from my mat to painting murals to DJing events and festivals, my life feels like a constant push ’n’ pull, but I live for the thrill and adventure of it all.

What is your ideal way to start the day?

My morning rituals to brush, floss teeth, and scrape my tongue (super important!), wash + moisturize face, and then head to the kitchen. While making my morning pot of coffee I take a shot of ginger or apple cider vinegar paired with a green juice. I then sit outside and meditate for 20 minutes with my coffee waiting for me at the end. Now I’m ready to get my day started!

Do you have any daily rituals/ routines? Morning and/or night?

Some rituals I do on a daily:
1. Yoga practice (60 - 90 mins)
2. Read emails
3. ACV Shot
4. Paint or draw for a few hours in the day
5. Eat an Avocado
6. Work on music at least 20 mins (guitar or songwriting)
7. Listen to new music with my plants :) give em some love

Do you have any practices or remedies to stay healthy, both in body and mind?

I practice and teach Maha Hatha Yoga (mentored by Gianna Purcell) I believe this practice to be sustainable to keep the body and mind aware and connected. I find yoga, meditation, and pranayama (breath work) to be the most helpful in healing the mind and body and treating it as one. It really helps me with my anxiety and depression were I can function and handle my lifestyle, but same goes for when painting, drawing, or making music they're my alternative therapy not just a career.

When you need to get out of town, where in nature do you like to escape to?

When I escape city of Miami I love driving down to the Keys (Key West) and camp out on the beach to watch dolphins, manatees, and the most incredible sunset. Its island life and is filled with so much history and peculiar locals.

How do you like to spend your nights and or/weekends?

I love to spend my nights in the recording studio making music with friends or collaborating on a project or event. I usually dj local parties or LULU Lemon events if I’m not doing that then I’m usually on touring gigs. For when I’m not working I love to plan mini weekend vacations to the springs or hang on the beach with my closest friends.

How do you unwind, recentre and find balance?

I love to listen to music (probably heavy metal) and sing to unwind from a hard day. To find balance I do different prana techniques and get on my mat and practice.

What is your favourite way to exercise?

My favorite way to exercise is dancing naked because you feel the fire and burn while having the time of your life! Also Ashtanga yoga because of how strong it makes me feel after.

Your favourite meal to cook?

Avocado, vegan chorizo, quinoa bowl I make with cashew cheese and mole tempeh topped with super greens and salsa verde.

Your favourite place to get dinner?

My favorite place to get dinner is GO Bistro Ramen this local ramen place that has the best avocado fries and vegan ramen. I love that when you say sake time the server comes and brings the whole table sake bombs, this is where everyone has a cup of beer with two chop sticks on top holding the shot of sake, then every body at the table slams their fits at the same time so that the sake shot falls in your beer and everyone chugs together. CHEERS!

In what ways do you work to find balance in your life?

PFF this might be the hardest question yet since I am my own manager as a freelancer, but the most important thing is my calendar and my planner! I rely on both for time management and to not forget anything (since I can be a little bit of a stoner sometimes ;) I try to schedule, plan, and have rituals to keep myself on track with working, socializing, and self. I have to admit it’s pretty hard to keep in touch with family, I try as much as I can, but I live a fast paced life it’s hard to get time with myself most of the time which is why I practice yoga so much to dedicate that time for myself. It’s definitely not easy when I work all hours of the day hustling all the time so it’s a constant practice to stay organized and focused to try maintain balance.

What/where/who do you turn to when you need inspiration?

I turn to my community and nature when I feel that I need inspiration, seeing the people in my art & yoga community around me who are creating for the greater purpose of life and for the better is my constant reminder I have the most inspiring people around me, and I feel very blessed for the people I have in my life because I don’t know where I’d be without their input.

How would you describe your style? What & who influences you?

Ok maybe this one is the hardest.... My style is a lil bit everywhere, one second I’m future goth, next I’m punk indie, and then the next I’m Aaliyah from the 90’s. I’m always changing my styles depending on how I feel. To me dressing myself is like picking art to put in a gallery, I like to make sure it expresses how I feel and who I am so I’m always willing to take risks and be playful.

What is your definition of beauty?

I don’t think I have one definition of beauty, I think that there’s beauty in everything depending on the perspective of the eye, but to answer the question I think that beauty is being yourself and not giving a fuck what people think and just be happy ... be YOU.

In what ways do you care for your mind, body & spirit?

Certain things I do to care for my well being is taking even just an hour of my day to do physical activity, meditate, hydrate, create. All of these things keep me together and making sure I’m well nourished in the body, spirit, and mind.

What are you most grateful for in your life?

I am mostly grateful for the fact I get to do what I love everyday of my life with the people I love the most, and I wouldn’t change it for a thing. Although there is never a dull moment and it can be super stressful I wouldn’t trade any of it because it’s the life that I was meant for.

Current favourite…

Book - The Secret Life of Plants

Movie - FoxFire - 1996

Song - The End of the World - Sharon Van Etten

Podcast - My Favourite Murder

Clothing item - Cowboy boots

Coffee Shop - White Rose Coffee

Despite our current isolation time, is there anything you are working towards/ any future visions?

I have just been featured in a magazine called Literal Thots by Maya Menard, local Miami artist. It's a women run magazine with the purpose to take back our sexuality without anyone giving us hell for being who we are. Now available to purchase. (Pictured right)

I am currently working on different paintings, digital art, and drawings to start selling online as well as some bondage jewellery I’ve been working on collaborating with artist Maya Menard. Since we’ll be in quarantine for a while I also started my new EP to hopefully be released when this ends so I will be locked in my studio for most of 2020. I am also starting to do meditation and Maha online classes donation based so if anyone wants more information or is interested you can DM through Instagram: @chelleyoga305 or @veneno.chelle