Name: Will Meister A.K.A Restorative Yogi
DBR Title: Project Manager
Office: Houston, Texas
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“A coworker, Alfredo Martinez, introduced me to yoga at LA Fitness. I liked it and kept going. I appreciated the clarity and relaxation. I took a staycation and decided to try a class at Joy Yoga – I’ve been hooked ever since, going several times a week and completing teacher training in 2016. I teach restorative yoga, which I like to call adult naptime. It’s my job to help people relax, which is exactly what I do here at DBR, right?”
Before working at DBR, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
The two most interesting jobs I had:
I was a stage hand in college at the university theater. The variety of performances were interesting. I got to meet Magic Johnson and James Earl Jones. I ran a props table for the Broadway tour of Footloose the Musical and packed up semis full of sets and props. I also got to do my homework during symphonies, which was handy.
I ran a BBQ pit for two summers for my step-father. He taught me how to grill, a skill that’s come in handy over the years. It was hot, hard work, and I remember sneaking away for ice cream when it would get slow.
If you had to eat only one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A poached egg on toast with a side of spinach…or potatoes. I make a mean poached egg.
What is your least favorite food?
Cherries. I used to eat them when I was little. One summer, I was visiting family in Michigan and ate so many cherries, I got sick. I still can’t touch them – not real cherries, artificial cherries or cherry-flavored candy. No cherries for me.
If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
A bear…somewhere between Winnie the Pooh and a black bear. Like, Pooh Bear, I like honey and often go to my thinking spot and think, think. Like a real bear in the forest, I could climb trees and take lots of naps.
If you could only drink one beer for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Hoegaarden – I first had it when I studied abroad in college. It was a great contrast to all the local beer in London. I still have a glass I snuck out of a bar that semester.
Do you have a motto or personal mantra?
In yoga, I often use mantras. Lately, I’ve been using “Take a deep breath and slow down”.