Exclusive Interview

Gratitude, Millions, Daily

with Kerri Verna

Interview by Chris Palmore

Kerri Verna, known online as Beach Yoga Girl, has built a global community around yoga, movement, encouragement, and the possibility of personal transformation.

At the time of this conversation, more than one million people followed her daily work. Her background included yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, indoor cycling, kickboxing, personal training, and stand-up paddleboard yoga.

Here, Kerri reflects on grace, surrender, faith, her restored marriage, and why gratitude is essential to the practice of yoga.

What does being grateful mean to you?

Grateful means that I receive by grace the gift of life and live it to the fullest. It is not by my own doing; I owe all the honor and glory to God.

Everything that has been given to me is only by God’s grace, and I am extremely grateful and blessed.

“I receive by grace the gift of life and live it to the fullest.”

Right now, in this moment, what are three things you are grateful for?

God and His love.
My husband and family.
Kino MacGregor and our friendship.

How is gratitude part of your yoga practice?

With every breath, I am thankful to be alive. Every time I sit on my mat, I am grateful that I can touch my toes—even when I am in pain.

Just being able to live this life and have a daily practice is a blessing, and I am grateful for every moment of it. Without gratitude, it is just self-inflated ego.

Could you tell us about a struggle from the past year that you are now grateful for?

I have had many struggles—physical, emotional, and in business—this year. I think what I have learned most about struggle is that there is no struggle in surrender.

Once you surrender, you will experience peace that surpasses all understanding. It is only through the fight for control that we feel fear, anxiety, pain, defeat, and worthlessness. In surrender, there is only love and peace.

Kerri Verna practicing yoga on the beach

You share beautiful images and thought-provoking words with more than a million people. Who is one of your role models, and why?

I don’t really have a role model other than my spiritual leaders and mentors who have helped me along the way.

I would say that the message and life of Jesus influence most of my posts because of His unwavering love for humanity in the midst of such persecution. I aspire to love people the way He did.

What project or accomplishment do you consider the most significant in your life so far?

My business projects are all quite secret at the moment; otherwise, I would mention them.

However, the most significant accomplishment by far in my life is my restored marriage with my husband, Nick. We went through a very dark time when I felt as if I would never be okay and we would never be able to repair the damage that had been done.

Being able to see the miraculous transformation of that relationship gives me hope that nothing is impossible if you surrender to the power of God.

“In surrender, there is only love and peace.”

In closing, what is one suggestion you have for helping our readers incorporate gratitude into their daily lives?

Pray.

Kerri, thank you for sharing your gratitude with GratitudeSpace. Your reflections offer a powerful reminder that surrender can create room for peace, love, restoration, and hope.

Connect with Kerri Verna

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INTERVIEW

Gratitude, Millions, Daily

What does being grateful mean to you?

Right now, in this moment, what are three things you are grateful for?

How is gratitude part of your yoga practice?

Could you tell us about a struggle from the past year that you are now grateful for?

Connect with Kerri Verna

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