Gala Ortin: A Conversation on Yoga, Mindfulness and The Wellness Edit

Instagram @galaortin

The Essence of Your Practice

My approach to yoga is rooted in presence, authenticity, and connection. To me, yoga isn’t something that starts and ends on the mat, it’s a way of being. If it were a feeling, it would be the quiet, expansive peace that comes after a deep breath. If it were a philosophy, it would be returning home, to your body, your truth, your essence. My practice embodies fluidity and grounding at once, reminding us that we can be both strong and soft, disciplined and free.

Journey Into Yoga

Yoga came into my life at a moment of deep transition, after a knee injury that ended my competitive horseback riding and during a period of personal transformation. I had spent years chasing performance and perfection, and yoga brought me back to presence and feeling. It reminded me of the freedom I once felt riding horses, that pure union of body, breath, and rhythm.

As my practice evolved, so did my desire to share it. Teaching became my way to connect and create community, first in Barcelona, then internationally. The app was born from that vision: to make meaningful, heartfelt yoga accessible to everyone, wherever they are, and to extend the energy of my classes beyond physical spaces.

Guiding Philosophy

My teaching is guided by three pillars: presence, awareness, and alignment - not only in the body, but in life. I believe yoga is an act of remembering, who you are, what you need, and what truly matters. Every practice is an invitation to listen, to soften, and to return to balance.

I hold space for my students to move with intention, to honour their energy, and to find strength through surrender.

Daily Rituals

My mornings are sacred. I wake early, in silence, before the world stirs. I make a cup coffee and spend a few minutes journaling or setting an intention for the day. 

Roy, my dog, is a big part of my grounding  walking with him reconnects me to nature and simplicity. I also end each day with gratitude, even for the smallest things, it keeps me centered and open-hearted.

Instagram @galaortin

Transformative Moments

A defining moment was realizing that yoga could hold me through pain, not just physical, but emotional. After my divorce, my mat became the place I learned to breathe again, to rebuild trust in myself, and to let go. That experience shifted how I teach: from discipline and form to compassion and feeling.

It made me understand that yoga isn’t about perfect poses, it’s about remembering that you’re whole, even when life feels fragmented.

The Wellness Edit by Gala

The Wellness Edit is my space to share the essence of mindful living - a curated collection of reflections, rituals, and inspirations that blend yoga, movement, travel, and inner work. It’s about living with intention, from how we move and breathe, to how we rest, create, and connect.

Readers can expect honest stories, rituals that ground and uplift, and insights into what truly supports balance in a modern, ever-changing world. It reflects my philosophy that wellness is not about perfection, it’s about alignment, authenticity, and joy.

Instagram @galaortin

Personal Connection

The class that holds the most meaning for me is “Root to Rise.” It was the first sequence I created after a long period of personal healing. It begins grounded, almost heavy and then slowly unfolds into flow and expansion. It mirrors my own journey of rediscovering strength through softness.

That sequence became the foundation of my app and my teaching a reminder that growth always begins with grounding.

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