Yogis Uncovered | Meet Gabriella
In this edition of Yogis Uncovered, we meet Gabriella, a Bay Area native turned full-time model in sunny San Diego. She shares how yoga became a part of her coastal lifestyle and how she found confidence and freedom in the practice, both clothed and unclothed. Join us as Gabriella opens up about her journey, passions, and the power of feeling comfortable in your own skin.
“I prefer doing nude yoga just because it makes me feel more confident with my body and myself. I don’t have the roadblock of fixing my clothes if my strap falls off my shoulder… I can focus more on my poses and my flow when I’m nude versus when I’m clothed.
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Hi, my name is Gabriella! I’m originally from the Bay Area in California, and I currently live in San Diego.
What was it like growing up in the Bay Area?
I grew up in Silicon Valley, so growing up there, technology was introduced into schools early on, and it’s the tech hub of the world, so everyone’s very academically focused. Kids were motivated to get really good grades and to get into top colleges.
Did you follow the same tech career path?
No, I went to college up in Chico. I got a bachelor’s in sociology, and then I moved down to San Diego and started working. I also began to monetize my modeling career in San Diego, so I’m currently a full-time model.
How did you get into yoga?
I was introduced to yoga in college. I took a class called “Intermediate Yoga,” even though I had not too much experience. When I moved to San Diego, yoga was a big part of the lifestyle there, so I joined a studio, and that started my passion for yoga.
What’s your favorite yoga pose?
My favorite pose is Supta Baddha Konasana because it’s relaxing but also gives me a stretch.
What do you do for fun?
Besides yoga, I like to go to the gym, go to the sauna, and hang out at the beach. I also love live music, especially EDM, so I go to a lot of EDM festivals. My favorite EDM DJ is Zed’s Dead. They’re a duo that plays bass music and dubstep.
What’s a fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know?
I’m 26, but I feel like I look underage, and because of that, I get carded a lot. And one time in Vegas, I got carded five times within 20 minutes.
How did you become so comfortable being nude?
At first, I was a model that didn’t do nude modeling, and then a photographer asked me to try a nude shoot. I was pretty reluctant at first. But then I decided to give it a go, and I realized I was way more comfortable shooting nude than I thought I was. I decided that that was where I excelled because I felt my confidence on the camera. My family was Catholic. So nude modeling especially is definitely stigmatized, and they’re not the most supportive, but it’s okay. You got to do it.
What is it like doing nude yoga versus clothed yoga?
I prefer doing nude yoga just because it makes me feel more confident with my body and myself. I don’t have the roadblock of fixing my clothes if my strap falls off my shoulder. That doesn’t happen when you’re nude. I can focus more on my poses and my flow when I’m nude versus when I’m clothed.
Where can we follow you online?
My Instagram is @isagabriellaaa
What is your favorite self-care practice?
Sleeping in, going to the sauna, and I started cold plunging at my gym, which is hard, but it helps a lot with my mental health. Also when it’s warm enough, I like to go in the ocean, and that helps me mentally as well.
*this interview has been edited for brevity and clarity