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Liformers are a bunch of dedicated, joyful go-getters who inspire us daily with their creativity, honesty and love of yoga. Our “Meet the Liformers” series gives you the chance to get to know them a little better, find out how they practice, and catch their enthusiasm.
Natasha Swinford is a yoga and fitness instructor, content creator, and movement educator based in Berkeley, California. She shares strength-focused yoga, mobility training, and creative sequencing on YouTube and in person. She is a wife, mother of two humans and six fur babies, and is navigating life with metastatic breast cancer. Her work centers on resilience, fun, curiosity and helping others feel strong in their bodies. You can find her content on YouTube and Instagram, where she documents it all.
Where are you from? Where do you live?
My mother is from Portugal, and my father is from India. I was born in Zambia, Africa, but grew up in California and have been here most of my life, with a couple of stints in New York where I met my husband and had our first child. I’m now settled in our dream home in Berkeley, California.
How did yoga come into your life?
I started teaching right out of college. It began with step aerobics and kickboxing, and soon I realized I needed more balance in my life, so I got certified in yoga and Pilates. Movement has always been a huge part of my life, and I genuinely love teaching classes.
When did you realize you were hooked on yoga?
Yoga has always brought me balance and joy, but I truly fell in love when I discovered Instagram yoga in 2013. I was a new mom and suddenly found a whole community and world of yoga challenges. I grew up doing acrobatics, so seeing all the handstands and creative shapes had me hooked. I would do five or six challenges at a time and post multiple times a day, completely immersed in learning new skills, especially handstand presses at that time.
At this stage in my life, it’s less about what I can do and more about staying connected and safe in my body. After an initial Stage I cancer diagnosis in 2018, and five years later learning it had returned as Stage 4, yoga became something deeper. I practice to stay strong, to feel like myself, and to continue to thrive. Movement has carried me through surgery, scans, medications, and side effects. I feel incredibly grateful to feel well and live normally so far, and I truly believe yoga and my diet play a huge role in that.
What’s your favourite yoga pose?
Anything that makes me feel strong. I love Side Plank Variations and all inversions. Handstands make me feel powerful and alive. I love being fully in the moment, not thinking about anything but the movement and the breath. Inversions require patience, focus, and humility.
What are you reading?
I’m actually reading The Hunger Games. I never saw the movies until recently with my kids, and now I’m hooked.
What’s in your smoothie?
Since my diagnosis, I’ve followed a pescatarian keto approach. If I’m having a smoothie, it’s usually berries, spinach, and soy or almond milk. More often, I’ll go for full-fat plain Greek yogurt with hemp seeds, chia seeds, berries, and a nuts-and-seeds granola. So good and super filling.
What’s your favourite Liforme Mat?
Right now, it’s my Tantalising Terracotta Liforme. It’s just so pretty and inviting, but honestly, I love all of them. The grip, the cushioning, the texture… you really can’t beat a Liforme mat!
Aside from yoga, what do you love to do?
Spending time with my family is my main priority. I love taking the dogs to the park, creating classes, filming and editing for YouTube, and connecting with people online.
I also enjoy sharing my cancer journey and hope it inspires others navigating their own. It’s not something I ever planned for my life, but it has put everything into perspective, what matters, what doesn’t, and the reminder that none of us are invincible. What matters most is how we show up every single day.
