an interview with
Sydney Noelle
Interview by: Vivian Li
Photos by: Jah Levy
So, what do we consider the “modern woman” of today?
In the Moodyverse, constrictive gender binaries cease to reign. The “modern woman” is, at the end of the day, an idea surrounded by a long history of patriarchy, oppression, and a strict gender binary. With this in mind, we open a conversation on the “modern woman” by identifying this oppressive past and observing what the women of today do to combat the restrictive gender narratives that linger onto the present.
Someone who embodies Moody’s idea of a “modern woman” is Sydney Noelle; she is unapologetic, empowered, and resistant.
Sydney Noelle is not-your-typical NYC yoga instructor. Her teachings combine hedonistic meditation with pole-dancing, creating a new and innovative way to tap into spiritual and sensual yoga. While looking like an absolute badass, Noelle is redefining what it means to be a “modern woman,” dancing off the weight of pole-dancing taboos and working significantly to promote the importance of self-love, sexuality, and mental health—especially for people who identify as women in our society.
Noelle’s work involves teaching self-love through physical movement. She begins and ends each of her classes with the statement: “Your body is yours, and you should take care of it how you see fit. Your body is your temple,” empowering her students with the affirmation of their own autonomy and body’s sacredness. In this, Noelle is a testament to what the “modern woman” of today fights for: autonomy, respect, and self-care. The debilitating standards for women have historically been dictated by men, for men; however, Noelle’s work gives us insight into how self-care (or, caring for that “temple” of yours) can combat these restrictive forces, challenging patriarchal constructs by highlighting the power and autonomy in all of our bodies.
The “modern woman” of today is also notably entangled with technology. Whether it is on television, in movies, or on social media, the technology of the last decade has shaped the standards for women in society—in some ways productive, but in many ways harmful. Despite her strong social media presence, Noelle acknowledges the toxicity of the Internet and how feelings of insecurity are not uncommon. In her personal experiences with self-image issues, she shares, “When you can switch your perspective to an appreciation of how your body functions, and what it allows you to do, that is where you can start to love your body from just a place where it's not so physically focused.” With this in mind, Noelle sheds light on another aspect of Moody’s “modern woman”: someone who is empowered by who they are and what they can do regardless of their physical appearance.
Moody Magazine, like Sydney Noelle, preaches sex positivity, self-love, mental well-being and everything in between. Noelle participates in this discussion, adding her perspective on how, “Everything is intersectional. Self love is related to sex positivity, which is related to mental health.” No matter who you are or how you identify as, Noelle leaves us with knowledge on how to be the modern—and best—- version of ourselves.