Yogis Uncovered | Meet Chiara
Meet Chiara, an Italian naked yoga teacher, massage therapist, and holistic health practitioner. In this latest edition of Yogis Uncovered, we chat with Chiara about her journey into yoga, growing up comfortable with nudity, and her deep passion for holistic healing and self-care. Get to know her below!
“Yoga brings me regulation, peace, calm, and inner knowledge, which is the most precious thing that I’ve gathered in recent years.”
Hi, my name is Chiara, and I’m Italian.
What was it like growing up in Italy?
Growing up in Italy was very beautiful and healthy, I would say.
What do you do for work?
My job is very interesting. I am a holistic health practitioner, massage therapist, and a naked yoga teacher. What I really love about my job is that I am an ice bath facilitator and almost a trauma-informed breathwork facilitator. I help people get through their healing journeys with the somatic practices that I’ve gathered for myself. My main job is to take care of myself, but through that journey, I’m able to assist others in theirs too.
How did you get into yoga?
I challenged myself because I used to say that yoga was not for me. When I saw that resistance, I didn’t like it, so I wanted to go for it and see. It eventually became the most healthy practice of my daily life.
What are your passions or hobbies besides work and yoga?
When people ask me about my hobbies, I say that my hobbies are my life and my work. I’m passionate about what I do, and I do what I’m passionate about. So, I don’t really have separate hobbies, what I do in my life is just me.
What does yoga bring to your life?
Yoga brings me regulation, peace, calm, and inner knowledge, which is the most precious thing that I’ve gathered in recent years. I’d say it’s the most important thing that has helped me grow.
Did discovering yoga change the course of your life?
Of course. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was studying languages, working on a restaurant project, and doing logistics in an office. Yoga brought me back to my love for movement and fitness. It really changed my life and made me look inward.
Were you always comfortable with nudity, or did that change over time?
I was always comfortable being naked because my family didn’t have that taboo. I grew up normally being naked with my parents inside the house. Also, in Italy, being topless is allowed, so I was used to that. I definitely felt that covering myself wasn’t aligned with who I am. I’ve always felt comfortable in my nudity, although that doesn’t mean I didn’t have insecurities. Growing up with yoga and gaining awareness actually helped me overcome those insecurities, and it still does.
How does being naked on camera affect your life?
I love it, but I’ve also been modeling since I was 15. I really cherish and value the power of the camera, seeing myself, watching my videos, and looking at my photos. It allows me to see myself from the outside, and that’s precious.
What’s your favorite yoga pose?
As a yoga teacher, I have to go with the cliché: Shavasana. It’s the hardest one because you have to be still, and the only thing you can do is work on your mind and connect it to your body to truly create that presence. It teaches you the power of relaxation, which is something we all want to master in life.
How do you feel about taking classes from other yoga instructors?
I love being taught by other teachers when they resonate with me. I dislike it when I find teachers I don’t connect with, it makes me wonder why I went to the class! But overall, I love being a student all the time. Going back to being a student brings me back to reality. It keeps me humble and teaches me the perspective of my own students.
How was your day on set with True Naked Yoga?
I loved the set. I’ve been modeling since I was 15, and I’m 35 now, and this was the best set ever. It felt real, human, and like a blessing. It’s made up of real people who care about what they do, while still being super professional and talented. I felt taken care of. Everything was healthy and aligned with my own lifestyle. They even allowed me to rest because I was feeling a bit sick that day. It was simply the best.
Do you have a life motto or a piece of advice you wish you had heard ten years ago?
The idea of advice from ten years ago doesn’t make much sense to me because whatever happened in my life brought me to where I am today. I do wish I had been told that whatever I choose for myself is the right choice. That would have given me more confidence and made things easier. But we can’t go back in time, and if I did, I might have become a different person. As for a life motto, I used to never have one, or I had way too many. Nowadays, my life philosophy is: If not now, then when?
Where can we find you online?
You can find me on Instagram at @ChiaraColognola. I also have an Italian Instagram profile, @ChiaraColognola.ita, in case you want to learn Italian. I also have an OnlyFans page under my name, and you can find the link to that on my Instagram page!
*this interview has been edited for brevity and clarity