“What kind of yoga do you teach?”
If you’re new to the yoga world, or even a longtime practitioner, you might have the following question: what kind of yoga do you teach?
The answer is a little more complex than simply stating one style of yoga, especially because there have been so many offshoots of yoga created since its colonization and popularity began in the West at the turn of the 19th century. Another issue is that modern-day yoga has been promoted as a movement practice for elite slender white women and that couldn’t be farther from the truth of where the practice is rooted historically.
Modern-day yoga has been promoted as a movement practice for elite slender white women and that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
My first answer to your question is this:
I teach inclusive yoga to diverse groups of people, including men, women, non-binary, LGBTQIA, and trans people with any ethnicity, physical ability, body type, or financial background. If you cannot afford the cost of pricy yoga classes, I will still teach you.
What you might not know is that yoga was traditionally a practice for the elite in India, particularly men, and women were not allowed to practice. Only people with a higher social status were privileged to learn and practice, and the highest honor was to have the privilege of teaching yoga to the king. The practice of yoga dates back around 5,000 years and can be traced back to northern India [1].
When you begin to understand the meaning of many of the asana names, such as Sirsana, which translates to “the King’s Posture,” you begin to discover that the word etymology is indicative of its origins. Other asana names are quite practical and named after different animals, such as Bakasana, which is also known as “Crow Pose.”
All Physical Yoga (Or Asana) Is Hatha Yoga
Something else that is important to understand is that all yoga, in terms of physical practice, is Hatha yoga. Yoga in its wholeness is truly a life philosophy based on the ancient Vedas that provides practitioners like you with specifics on how to lead a pure life. It advocates for vegetarianism, charity, purity of the mind and body, meditation, and more.
In the Ashtanga yoga lineage, which is based on the 8 limbs of yoga from Patanjali’s yoga sutras, asana is part of the eightfold path (similar to Buddhism) and rooted in Hinduism philosophy and practice [2]. But asana practice, or what has come to be known in the West as yoga, is only one of eight parts of what it means to truly be a yogi and have a true yoga practice. Additionally, Hatha yoga has become known as a beginner or introductory style of yoga that involves a more static practice focused on learning the different asanas [3].
Bottom line: yoga is a way of life, not just a sport or type of exercise that makes you look good or gain flexibility.
Bottom line: yoga is a way of life, not just a sport or type of exercise that makes you look good or gain flexibility.
Yoga Has Tremendous Benefits
It seems that the ancient yoga practitioners were onto something that we’re now beginning to understand through neuroscience as mental health and wellness have come to the forefront of discussion trends. When breathing techniques (also known as Pranayama) are properly incorporated into a yoga practice, it often helps achieve the ultimate goal of yoga: the union of the mind, body, and spirit [4].
Yoga is indeed a spiritual practice, but the benefits of conscious breathing and meditation when used in combination with asana practice are tremendous. So it’s no surprise that it has gained such immense interest and popularity among the masses, especially now while facing such critical challenges and living through historical times that have generated incredible stress and anxiety for many. Yoga is a holistic practice that can be very therapeutic for you.
Yoga is indeed a spiritual practice, but the benefits of conscious breathing and meditation when used in combination with asana practice are tremendous.
What You Will Learn In My Classes
I have been a dedicated yoga practitioner since 2010. I finally fell in love with the practice when Darshan, my most influential dance teacher, invited me to a Bikram yoga class (love the practice, not the man) [5]. Not only was she a graceful dancer and teacher, but also a Bikram yoga teacher who was very dedicated to movement, anatomy, and the healing arts.
And that set me off on my movement journey as a seeker of what resonated with my body in addition to dance. I studied Vinyasa and Hatha yoga in New York City but felt at home with Bikram yoga [6]. Later on, I discovered Ashtanga in Andorra and went on to obtain my 200-hour certification in Ashtanga Vinyasa in Mysore, India [7]. I love practicing Yin yoga (Yoga with Kassandra is a huge inspiration of mine) and I plan to pursue another teacher training in this lineage in the future [8][9].
I have also finished my master’s training in Dance Movement Therapy, a psychotherapeutic practice that involves art, dance, and movement with the same goal as yoga: the union of the mind, body, and spirit [10]. There is an important emphasis on developing your self-awareness which I tend to incorporate into my yoga classes.
The yoga you will learn from me combines what I have learned in Ashtanga Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin yoga with my training as a dancer and dance movement therapist. The focus is on how to connect with your body through both your breath and unique movement. You will always be challenged with finding your edge, but gently reminded to listen to what your body is saying to you. Indoor classes usually include music, whereas the yoga I teach in nature often focuses on the musical sounds of nature.
I hope you will join me in class very soon so we can share a moment in mindfulness and community. Please reach out with any questions and remember to visit my Offerings page to join the current classes!
