'It was a joy to teach US comedian yoga'

A yoga teacher says it was "a joy" but "surreal" to give a lesson to a comedian she had booked to see perform that night.

Gosia Federowicz, who lives in Harborne, Birmingham, reached out to stand-up Gianmarco Soresi on Instagram after booking tickets to see him live, to see if he wanted any local recommendations.

She was surprised and excited when the American performer and seasoned yogee booked in with her for a private lesson before he played Birmingham Town Hall on 30 September.

"It felt a bit surreal that he actually said yes," she said.

He later shared a photo of himself mid-headstand in her studio with his 1.4 million Instagram followers, telling them: "If you're looking for a private session in Birmingham at a gorgeous home studio look no further."

"This was after class when she asked me to measure how high the ceiling was," he added.

Federowicz, who is also a yoga therapist and artist, said she had been a fan of the comedian, who has performed on The Tonight Show and The Late Late Show, for years.

"He posted about going to yoga very frequently while he was in New York and on tour," she said.

On the spur of the moment, she wrote: "Hi, welcome to Birmingham and do you want some recommendations for food and yoga?"

He responded the day before his gig and turned up "a bit jetlagged" but was "very friendly, very kind, very warm, and very focused on his yoga".

"Because I didn't want to appear too starstruck, I just thought of him as every yoga client that I have," she said.

The pair did a "very advanced" hot vinyasa session side by side in front of infra-red heaters after the comic asked for "a strong practice".

"He definitely enjoyed it, he said, and said it was just what he needed."

She added: "He was just a person who needed yoga rather than the global comedian that he is.

"I think that's what happens in yoga. That felt quite amazing and also I was happy to know that I could help him in some way, to do the amazing show that he did."

Federowicz said, looking back, it had been "a really good way to welcome somebody to Birmingham".

"It was nice just to see the other side of the person, the regular person who's just living his life and trying to support his health," she said.

If he ever returns to the city she "will definitely see" if he wants another session.

"It was a fantastic class and he's a totally seasoned yogi with an incredible practice and I had no notes to give," she added. "It was a real joy to host him."

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