New York Yoga

Vrksasana 'Em, Cowboy!

2012-01-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

According to Yoga Journal, a recent article in Texas's Fort Worth Star-Telegram profiled professional bull rider Tate Stratton on his use of yoga and ballet to maintain control while riding the massive, bucking animal. Apparently the calmness of yoga rubs off on the animal, too, which, as Yoga Journal says, "we can only assume is extremely important when you’re trying to stay aboard a bucking bull for 8 seconds." Check out more of the article on Yoga Journal here, and here's the original article by writer Susan McFarland in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Saddle up, yogis!

Upcoming Events at New York Yoga!

2012-01-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

Our last Yoga Virgins Workshop for January is 1/28, but they start up again on February 8!

Teacher of the Month: Sara Clark

2012-01-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

by Rebecca Merritt

Sara Clark teaches with joy, kind words, and a go-with-the-flow attitude. She has a smile you want to share, and is a teacher who will instantly inspire you to take more classes. Sara teaches a vibrant vinyasa flow class and creates a space where every student can begin to find awareness on their mat. She is a teacher for all levels, letting students work where they are while encouraging them to try something new.

During the interview Sara mentions falling in love with yoga. This is a love that is easy to note, and one that she passes to anyone taking her classes. Join Sara for some yoga love at the York studio on Thursdays at 9:35am and Sundays at 11:35am, or at the Hot studio on Tuesdays at 8:15pm and Sundays at 2:45pm.

When did you first discover yoga?

In high school my sister took me to my very first vinyasa class and I immediately fell in love with it. It just made sense to me. Tennis was once my first love. Yoga has officially taken over.

How long have you been teaching?

For a year and a half. I got my 200 hour certification through Yoga to the People and I am going to be getting my 500 hour certification at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health.

What makes your classes unique?

Even though my class at times might be challenging, my sequences are meant to encourage and inspire. My classes are about enjoying where you are in the present moment, and setting all judgments aside. If you fall, remember that you are not alone. Get right back into the pose and begin where you left off. We are on our mats to practice. Exploration is encouraged.

What is your favorite pose to teach?

Headstand – because helping someone conquer their fear of being upside down is priceless. For most adults, the idea of being upside down on their head in no way sounds appealing. However the benefits of headstand are immense! And so is the victory. The first step is believing you can do it.

What is your favorite pose to practice?

At the moment, handstand; it deals with strength, courage, focus, control, and curiosity. Floating right into handstand is a phenomenal feeling but still often fall. However I’m baffled and amazed at my growth. Each time I practice this pose I understand more about my body and its alignment. It has been a humbling journey and my practice has deepened because of it.

Best advice for beginners?

Enjoy the capabilities of your body. Take it step by step. Enjoy exactly where you are and never feel rushed to get it right. Yoga is for all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages. And by no means do you have to be flexible.

Best advice for more advanced yogis?

Don’t let your ego get in the way. Try to still enjoy the nuts and bolts of the poses and continue to approach every pose like it’s your first time doing it.

What is your biggest yoga pet peeve?

I don’t think I have a pet peeve. We all come to our mats for different reasons. Just be mindful of your fellow yogis if you’re in a classroom environment. We all have different sensitivities, I just ask all students to be aware and respectful.

Reader questions…

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution?

This year I wrote down what I wanted to happen in my life during this year. Continued good health is at the top.

Do you have any words of encouragement for those trying to incorporate yoga into their routine this year?

Remember that yoga can be done anywhere. One class a week is better than not moving your body at all. During your lunch break or while the kids are sleeping you can practice one pose. Or maybe put in your planner, “At 1pm I will sit quietly, close my eyes, relax my shoulders, my jaw, my tongue, and breathe deeply for two minutes.” You can incorporate yoga into your life in many ways. No need to stress!

January Pose of the Month – Yogi’s Choice!

2012-01-12T11:50:00.000-08:00

A New Year’s Resolution Challenge

By Rebecca Merritt

The author in Pigeon

It is your turn to pick the pose! This January, why not give yourself a bonus, yoga asana, resolution? When students participate in a yoga teacher training program they are often asked to give themselves one particular peak pose to explore along the way. The student picks a pose they find challenging or even frustrating.

When I did my 200-hour Teacher Training at New York Yoga, my peak pose was Eka Pada Rajakapotasana – One-Legged King Pigeon. First, I will confess that I am still no pigeon king. But I am much further along in my exploration and it is no longer a pose I get frustrated with.

Now it’s your turn!

Pick a peak pose to explore this year! Pick something you struggle with, or something you are intrigued by. It can even be a pose you think you will never be able to do – you will be amazed at how far your practice advances over time.

The point of the exercise is not to do the pose perfectly at the end of the year, but to try to focus on deepening where you are in your practice. Working on one pose helps you to notice how much you can achieve on your mat – physical and mental. This goal may also a useful tool to help motivate you to practice, practice, practice since returning to your mat again and again is the only way to move forward.

Who knows, by the end of the year you may not even remember what pose you picked, or you may already be working on something new. But perhaps your peak pose will help you see it’s all about the journey and encourage you to explore along the way.

Happy New Year!

How Yoga Can Lead to Pure Happiness

2012-01-11T12:04:00.000-08:00

By Lisa Dawn Angerame

The yoga world is abuzz about the recent NY Times article: How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body, by William Broad, published January 5, 2012. It is an excerpt from the book, The Science of Yoga: The Risks and Rewards, which will be published on February 7th.

When I got to New York Yoga last Thursday morning to teach the 8:25 am class, general manager LeighAnn asked me if I had seen the article. I did but had only skimmed it because I could hardly get passed the photograph of three members of cast of the Broadway show “Godspell” who were all in some version of a yoga pose. They all looked kind of silly, in silly outfits, with silly expressions on their faces, and not really in a recognizable pose.

By Saturday, the yoga world was on fire. Links to the article were popping up on the Facebook pages of many of my yoga teacher friends. Finally, I sat down to read it and, honestly, found it difficult to get through. Not because it was talking about injuries and trying to scare me, but because it appeared to be a profile of one yoga teacher and that yoga teacher’s opinion. My jaw dropped at this line, “’the vast majority of people’ should give up yoga altogether.” What?

About the scare tactics, the author cites several extreme examples of people getting injured at yoga like, for example, a woman having a stroke while doing the upward bow pose (urdhva dhanurasana.) This sounds pretty bad, but so does skiing into a tree or crashing a bike into a ditch. The author also cites “statistically significant” trends in the number of people showing up at emergency rooms with yoga-related injuries. The interesting thing to note, as any good statistician knows, that numbers out of context can make a good argument or prove something totally wrong. The author says that ER-related injuries from yoga more than doubled from 2001 to 2002. But what he doesn’t say is what percentage that is of the number of people practicing yoga. So while it seems like a high number, did the percentage double as well?

By Monday, not only was the article the most emailed piece from the Times, but also yoga teachers were reacting. They took to the blogs and starting discussing the article with students before, during, and after class. Mostly everyone has been saying that this article is “wrecking yoga” and that yoga is about taking responsibility for your own practice. People are also lamenting the business of yoga. This may all be true, but let’s not forget why we all practice in the first place: to attain yoga. What is yoga?

Yoga is one of the six orthodox philosophical systems of the ancient Indus civilization that was codified by Sage Patanjali some time around 2500 BC. The entire yoga philosophy is summed up in 196 short statements, the Yoga Sutras, that describe techniques as to how to attain the state of yoga, a state of being when the mind is still and silent by arresting its modifications. This leads to freedom from unhappiness. Using specific, technical terms, Sage Patanjali describes the transcendental experience that is yoga. The rest of the Yoga Sutras are there to give tools and techniques at how to arrive at this state.

This book speaks of the physical postures of asana, the practice that is most widespread today, in a total of three sutras. These sutras are actually referring to the seat of mediation and not downward-facing dog, warrior poses, or any others that are so familiar today. Where did these come from and how do they help us in attaining a state of freedom and happiness?

The asana portion of the yoga practice was codified in three main texts that are believed to haven been written during medieval times: The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (15^th century), the Gheranda Samhita (17^th century), and the Shiva Samhita (17^th century). The Gheranda Samhita, as translated by James Mallinson, says there are “8,400,000 [asanas] of these, 84 are preeminent, of which 32 are useful in the world of mortals” (that’s us!). The Shiva Samhita describes four asanas and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, as translated by Brian Dana Akers, says that asanas “give steadiness, health and lightness of body.”

But in 1919, Sri Krishnamacharya, a scholar and the father of modern yoga, went to learn from a teacher who lived in a cave in the Himalayas. He was made to memorize a now extant text called the Yoga Karunta which is most likely the basis for all of the physical postures we call yoga asana today. Krishnamacharya is the teacher of the four main teachers responsible for spreading yoga worldwide including Indra Devi, K. Pattabhi Jois (Ashtanga Yoga), BKS Iyengar, and TKV Desikachar (Viniyoga).

Fast-forward 50 years. Now, there thousands of teachers and millions of students practicing yoga. Why? Because it feels good! Moving the body into different positions stimulates our connective tissues as well as the endocrine system, affecting a physical, physiological, and psychological experience. Moving energy, excreting hormones, and working with the thoughts that come up while this is going on, teaches us how to concentrate which in turn helps us silent the rush of thoughts in our minds.

We all come to yoga classes seeking out like-minded people to practice with. We could just as easily practice alone at home. But we set up our mats next to friends and strangers and move together with the same desire. But this is where injuries happen. A group setting can breed competition. Check out his handstand. Look at her crow. We get pulled out of our own experience on the mat and covet what others have. We push ourselves beyond our limits, stop listening to instructions and, when not interested or afraid of the pose that is being taught, we do something completely different.

Pay attention! Most of the time, teachers are teaching from their own experience as a yoga student. This means that each teacher brings something to the mat in a group class. Listen. Test it out. See what you can do with it.

But, the most important thing about practicing yoga is that, just like any other activity, whether it is playing tennis or golf, running, playing piano or violin, being a journalist, designing websites, investing in the stock market, speaking a foreign language, it requires practice and familiarity with the fundamentals of that activity. Therefore, it is the job of the yoga student to become a teacher. That does not mean everybody has to go to a teacher’s training. It means that every student needs to find the teacher within, the teacher who is determined, who is clear about what they are doing, who is organized, who listens, who pays attention to what is going on around and inside them.

Does this mean we will be seeing fewer injuries? Maybe, maybe not. Practice, pay attention, and allow the asana portion of the practice to give you steadiness and lightness in your body. Then work on attaining the stillness between the thoughts and the experience, the state of yoga, pure happiness.

Snowga!

2012-01-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

Connecticut yogi Anne Anderson has brought yoga to the slopes in the form of SNOWGA. Anderson, who is a certified Kripalu yogi and a certified ski instructor, combines her love of the two activities at Connecticut's Mohawk Mountain. According to Steve Grant at the Hartford Courant, SNOWGA is "intended to enhance snow sport performance and enjoyment with proper stretching poses, breathing techniques and meditation." Are you headed to Mohawk Mountain this winter? Stop by Anderson's SNOWGA class and tell us what you thought! Check out the rest of the article here.

Sh*t Yogis Say

2012-01-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

Based on the hilarious Sh*t Girls Say web series from Toronto comedians Graydon Sheppard and Kyle Humphrey, Lululemon brings us a video sending up the life of the yogi.

"I drank wayyy too much kombucha last night."
"I've got total yoga hair."
"My chakras are so aligned."
"Wanna see where I can put my leg? You want to see where I can put my leg."

We're laughing our asanas off.

Yoga in the Art World

2011-12-29T12:26:00.000-08:00

People sometimes forget that yoga is an art form, but luckily artists like Katie Grinnan and Meghan Currie are here to remind us. Take a look at Grinnan's sand sculpture and Currie's timelapse video on the Colossal design blog and we guarantee you'll have a newfound appreciation for the practice.

Thanks to yogi Sarah Calandro for sharing!

Cats are the Most Helpful Yogis

2011-12-28T12:15:00.000-08:00

There's no point in denying it: here at New York Yoga, we love a good cat video. Especially when it's a yoga cat video. Check this adorable video and you may soon start to teach your own cat to do yoga! After all, who doesn't love a little company in their practice?

Boutique Blowout, Holiday Style!

2011-12-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

Hey New York Yogis, check out the sweet sale happening in our boutiques right now!

Our Top 5 Yoga Holiday Gifts

2011-12-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

The holiday countdown has begun, and with mere days until we're exchanging gifts, why not shower your yoga friends and loved ones with yoga gifties? We've chosen some of our favorite for the season, all of which are available at our Hot Studio and York Studio boutiques.

1. Jade Yoga Mats

Eco-friendly and skidless, these yoga mats last a long time. In a variety of colors and thicknesses, you can't go wrong!

2. Indego Africa Yoga Mat Bag
These fair-trade yoga bags from Indego Africa come in a variety of patterns, and are perfect for the yogi on the go. All bags are made by the Cocoki women's cooperative in Rwanda.

3. Toesox

Strengthen foot muscles, increase circulation and improve posture with Toesox for yoga! "Toed" and "un-toed" Toesox with grips are available in a variety of colors, too.

4. Happy Yoga by Steve Ross

Master Yogi Steve Ross traveled the world to better his practice, and found along the way that a lot of the humor the Eastern masters used was missing from Western yogic culture. In this book, though, he instructs us on how to find it again.

5. New York Yoga Bandanna

Beat the heat and snag a cotton New York Yoga Bandanna for your favorite New York Yogi, also in a variety of colors.

Happy holidays!

Teacher of the Month: Linda Winnick

2011-12-15T12:16:00.000-08:00

Linda Winnick has had a very blessed, busy decade. She has been teaching yoga constantly over the past ten years. She is apprentice to Glenn Black, a multiple studio owner, a Teacher Training Director, has a Master of Arts in Ayurvedic Medicine and Yoga Philosophy, and has developed her own style called Shakti Yoga… and that’s just to name a few of her accomplishments.

Linda is also directing the next 200 hour Teacher Training course here at New York Yoga! If you are interested in becoming a teacher you can not go wrong in the loving hands of such an experienced yogi. She will help your practice grow, encourage your creativity, and shape you to be the yoga teacher you are meant to be. Linda’s teachings are based on her commitment to the discipline of yoga, with a focus on form, alignment, philosophy, and the cultivation of Shakti (Inner Power).

Linda, when did you first discover yoga?
Besides satisfying my bizarre interest at a young age by reading books at the library about yoga and martial arts when I was in elementary school, I was introduced to Sivananda at FIT. We did it in the gym with dimmed lights in a circle on gym mats. I remember visiting the ashram center in NYC and knew one day I would be ‘one of them’. I just had to burn off some necessary karma. I became a more dedicated student after I studied Oyama Karate with the founder of that school. I needed to learn respect and how to bow first. Then I dove into Jivamukti when it was on Second Avenue. That was when Sharon and David would teach morning classes almost every day! I was in love with the philosophy, the smells of incense, the colors and images of the deities. I probably had no clue about doing asana properly. It was all about this mystical experience.

How long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching since 2000. I graduated from Sivananda as all the teachers I respected had this as one of their first certifications. I had just completed my Master of Arts in Ayurvedic Medicine and Yoga Philosophy and I gave myself the gift of going to an ashram for a month. I had a three-year-old son, so being on the ashram and its rigid schedule was refreshing in comparison to the incredible responsibilities of mothering a young child and completing a 225-page Master’s thesis. I began teaching in a hospital where I was doing my research on using ayurveda and yoga to treat addiction. The patients of the detox/rehab at the hospital were my first yoga students/victims. I taught them on gym mats in their dining hall in scrubs (very much like the Sivananda deal I was used to!). I can say I have had an amazing teaching streak ever since it took off. I would teach 25 classes a week and privates between classes for 8 years. In my first year of teaching I got offered a faculty position at the Omega Institute, which I still enjoy. They have offered a variety of my workshops for 10 years in Rhinebeck. I taught for them in Costa Rica for four years as well.

Most of my experience has come from the thousands of hours of teaching (over 10k at this point). I have had a lot of students who have give me the opportunity to really understand asana and the body. I don’t have a large collection of certificates, but I have been studying with Glenn Black who has such a unique approach to yoga that it has morphed away from what we commonly know as “yoga asana.” I really like the pioneers who were brave enough to believe in what they see and not have blinders on because tradition dictates consistency and conformity to the tradition (aka dogma). I am very Aquarian in my inability to conform to a particular style. As an Ayurvedist, I need a lot of freedom to manipulate the variables in teaching asana in order to make an effective and hopefully intelligent sequence. I am also a bit of an anatomy and physiology nerd.

I have recently been offered to take over another yoga studio in Woodstock, NY making it my fourth studio. Besides being offered the Director’s position for New York Yoga’s Spring Teacher Training, I was also asked to be the East Coast Director of an Ayurvedic Certification Program. I have been bestowed with some wonderful gifts in my decade year of teaching!

What makes your class unique?
I am really about fun and creativity. I enjoy being entertaining as well as educational. I am incredibly enthusiastic about Yoga and Ayurveda, freeing ourselves from our own and self-inflicted pain, making the philosophy and Ayurveda accessible, and self-empowerment. I try to bring this to every class because having a really good time while we get healthy will encourage and motivate us to practice. My classes are improvised. I have worked so closely with asana for so many hours that I really like creating new patterns. I also like to go beyond the “normal” asanas. This is a skill I have developed by studying with Glenn Black. He has “given” me the freedom to work like this because of the freedom he has for himself as a non-conformist yogi.

What is your favorite pose to teach?
Strangely enough, bhujangasana - Cobra. I think I have seen the most postural breakthroughs with understanding the placement of shoulders, arms and sternum for students that reduce back pain.

What is you favorite pose to practice?
Anything that is upside down, on my hands balancing, combined with a twist!

Best advice for beginners?
Make it your business to find an experienced, loving, safe teacher who is patient and really knows how to teach you about yoga. Stick with them once you find him/or her!

Best advice for more advanced yogis?
Keep keeping it real.

What is your biggest yoga pet peeve?
“Yogatude”. We try to get freed up and then we get trapped in another box. Our egos get wrapped up in our views of false superiority by aligning to a particular way. I believe in intelligence and correctly introducing all aspects of yoga, but nobody has any ownership or a specific angle. I think the trade marking is so wild. Aparigraha in its "parigraha" form (Non Grasping in Grasping) is so ironic and so un-revolutionary. Though, I do also believe it shouldn’t be a free for all and we should respect each other’s efforts and not say we are from lineages that we truly don’t have rights to claim. I guess we need legal protection until we all become enlightened!

Holiday Specials at New York Yoga!

2011-12-14T12:48:00.000-08:00

Still need something for that special someone this holiday season? Try a New York Yoga gift card or stocking stuffer special and give the gift of Om!

Yoga in New York, featuring New York Yoga!

2011-12-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

Check out this beautiful video by Wari Om, featuring yoga teachers from (and practicing) all across New York. Can you spot the New York Yoga teachers?? : )

Yoga Gets into Med School

2011-12-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

In this fascinating article from BU Today, the Boston University student newspaper, writer Leslie Friday profiles a new yoga class for medical students in her article "Yoga Gets into Med School." So far, the class has shown the students have not only reduced stress levels but increased positive thinking. All you med students on the Upper East Side, this one's for you! Come to class and let it all go.

Crumpled and Uncrumpled

2011-12-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

By Elyssa Goodman
New York Yoga Social Media Manager

If you've been at New York Yoga for more than a year, then you know you get a lovely little message celebrating your yearly anniversary with the studio. I recently got my own message for the first time (yay, one year at New York Yoga!) and it made me reflect about the first time I went to the studio. It was such a great experience that I actually wrote about it on my blog, Miss Manhattan, in a post entitled "Crumpled and Uncrumpled." To celebrate my one year anniversary with New York Yoga, I wanted to share it with you here, so take a look and enjoy! Have you had a similar experience at the studio?

Holiday Lovin'

2011-12-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

Hey New York Yogis! We're so glad so many of you were able to join us at our Holiday Party last week. Here are some photos from the event, so be sure to check them out. A big shoutout to our Hot Studio Manager Ryan Lile for throwing such a great party. Happy holidays!

New York Yoga Goes International!

2011-12-07T12:21:00.000-08:00

Saskia Slaaf is not only an avid New York Yogi, but also a model. Dutch television program Niveau TV featured Saskia in a recent "Day in the Life" segment, featuring her practice at New York Yoga (starting at 6:05)! Check out the video here.

Finding a Home to Practice

2011-12-07T11:56:00.000-08:00

We all know how important it is to feel at home at a yoga studio because the practice is so personal. Personal trainer and blogger Michael Baptiste writes about this experience in his blog, Scales on Fire, in regard to his new home at New York Yoga. Thank you so much, Michael, for the lovely review, and we look forward to seeing you again! Click here to view the post.

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 13

2011-12-01T14:04:00.000-08:00

We've got another Sounds Like Yoga playlist from Teresa Harris this week, so get ready to rock your yoga practice with tunes from Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, and many more!

Our Holiday Party is Tomorrow!

2011-12-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

Hey New York Yogis,
Don't forget our annual Holiday Party is tomorrow! Stop by from 7pm-10pm at our York Studio for delicious food from Candle 79, a membership raffle, music, fun, and much more. We hope to see you there!

Pose of the Month: Vasisthasana

2011-11-30T12:31:00.000-08:00

December – Vasisthasana or Side Plank

By Rebecca Merritt

Let Vasisthasana help you balance instead of juggle holiday stresses and schedules. It is the perfect pose to help you regain focus, and maybe even stretch your limits.

In a text called Yoga Vasistha, Sage Vasistha helps Prince Rama discover spiritual revelation and wholeness. In the story Vasistha encourages Rama to move away from the physical, material, reality and towards a more satisfying spiritual life.

As the Holidays approach, we tend to think of gifts only as those things we receive wrapped up in boxes. Perhaps this year, take the time to think of the gifts wrapped up in you and in all the wonderful loved ones of your world.

Let Vasisthasana remind you that you have the steadiness to handle whatever the Holidays throw your way and the vastness to add to your joy every year!

Benefits:

Improves balance
Strengthens wrists, arms, legs
Encourages strong core and lower back
Stretches the hips
Full Variation: stretches the groin, inner thigh and hamstring of the lifted leg

How To:

1. From Plank Pose, roll to the outside edge of the right foot and stack the left foot on top of the right. Reach the left hand toward the sky or to the hip first as you find your balance. Make sure your right hand is directly under shoulder to ensure proper support.

2. Stretch in one long line, reaching with the feet and lengthening to the crown of the head. Roll the shoulder blades together down the back to broaden the chest. Stretch long through the right hand. Ground into the hand to help lift the left hip toward the sky.

3. Hold the pose and breathe. When you are ready, return to Plank and take the pose on the other side.

Variations:

V1. For help with balance, the stacked foot can step behind to provide more stability.

V2. To move deeper into the pose you can play with taking the stacked leg to the sky – either just lifting the left leg away from the right, flexing the foot and working the legs or by bending the knee and grabbing the toes in yogi toe-lock with the left hand, to stretch even further. See pictures below.

V1.

V2.

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 12

2011-11-23T13:07:00.000-08:00

This edition of New York Yoga's Sounds Like Yoga series is brought to you by New York Yoga instructor Teresa Harris. It's an indie-licious playlist, featuring the likes of Bon Iver, MGMT, Beck, and so many more. Click here to listen. Catch Teresa's 90-Minute Hot Vinyasa class on Saturdays from 11am to 12:30pm at our Hot Studio on 85th and Lexington.

Teacher of the Month: Juliana Mitchell

2011-11-17T12:30:00.000-08:00

By Rebecca Merritt

Juliana is caring, devoted, and motivational teacher who will have a major influence on your practice. She will meet you at your level, explain how perfect you are in this very moment, then inspire you to take your yoga practice a little deeper simply by being her sweet self. At New York Yoga, Juliana specializes in Restorative Yoga but can also be found teaching Vinyasa, Prenatal Yoga and various workshops (including a Yoga & Chocolate workshop when we are particularly lucky). She is also on the faculty for New York Yoga’s 200 hour Teacher Training Program.

You can join Juliana in sharing her love for Restorative Yoga every Thursday at 3:05pm and Sunday at 7:15pm, both at our York Studio. For those of you who have not yet experienced Juliana’s Restorative classes you are truly missing out on a treat. Restorative Yoga is the dessert of your practice; it will help you lengthen your breath, de-stress, heal and (of course) restore.

When did you first discover yoga?

When I was 6, I saw the gymnast Nadia Commaneci do a routine on tv and I was in total awe! Deciding to practice every day until I could do splits and backbends like her, I concocted some intuitive way of teaching myself. Unwittingly, I had begun my asana practice. Then when I was about 10, my Mom found Yoga and practiced for a time under Gurudev (aka Amrit Desai). She and I are extremely close, so witnessing the way Yoga brought her joy and balance was incredibly impactful for me. Mom taught me some more poses, introduced me to the concepts of non-duality and non-attachment, and exposed me to the practices of meditation and chanting.

How long have you been teaching?

In 2001, I was practicing Sun Salutations under a tree by myself and in an instance there was a distinct shift like a crack of lightning: This. This path. This path of Yoga. My life has been consciously committed to this path ever since. In 2004 I underwent a Yoga Teacher Training at OM Yoga and was blessed to find opportunities to start teaching right away. Since then, I’ve continued to deepen my studies with a teacher I love named Judith Lasater as well as with some time studying in India (primarily Atma Vikasa Yoga and a little bit in the Swami Rama tradition), and through many other paths as well.

What makes your class unique?

My teaching style is both precise and playful. I like to use rich, evocative language as a teaching tool, blending an encouragement to connect the Inner Wisdom with detailed explorations of anatomy & kinesiology. Paying homage to the breath one moment at a time, my classroom is a non-competitive, non-judgmental arena. Above all, I offer each class as an adventure, a journey back toward that part of ourselves which is already and always has been whole.

What is your favorite pose to teach?

I love to teach so many poses. Hip openers, forward bends, twists. Gosh! Tadasana. Anjeneyasana. Dancer. Eagle. So many poses. But, let us not confuse the poses for the Yoga. That is like confusing the diamond ring for the marriage. That’s my favorite ‘pose’ to teach.

What is you favorite pose to practice?

It changes. Right now, Cow Face and Pigeon.

Best advice for beginners?

There is no such thing as being good at Yoga.

And there is no such thing as being bad at Yoga.

Just show up, exactly as you are.

Best advice for more advanced yogis?

“In the life of the spirit, we are always at the beginning.” – The Book of Runes

What is your biggest yoga pet peeve?

While perhaps different than a peeve (and perhaps not!), I would like to call out to my vast yoga family (teachers and students of all lineages, all styles, all traditions): Let us please remember that we are all One under the great tree of Yoga. May we show grace, humility, love and respect with our words and our actions when we speak of traditions of Yoga or of other Yoga teachers, whose ways we may not understand. May we forge a unity of diversity within the Yoga community, and in doing so light a beacon of possibility for the world!

“Peace is every step.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Reader questions…

Why is a Restorative yoga practice important?

We are, by and large, a culture of compulsive do-ers and think-ers. And this compulsive doing and thinking of ours creates a monstrous stress that impairs the body and squelches the spirit. If we look at many of the faces on the subway and see what you see, I expect we will find a great deal of culturally normalized fear and gripping and hardness. While Restorative Yoga draws us back into the cradle of ease that is our true nature, this is a place from which the body can heal and the spirit can lift. Now, look around at the faces of a roomful of Yogis after they’ve practiced Restorative Yoga, and see what you see. You’ll see openness and ease and beauty.

How does yoga affect your everyday life?

The yoga practice has infused me with a light heart, a healthy body and a resilient spirit. This treasury is there for me every day. Jai!

Passions besides yoga?

The biggest passion in my life is my husband Travis, and celebrating and building our marriage. Also, I have an amazing family and phenomenal group of friends. I love time with family and friends, doing anything or nothing. Also, I love cats. I love all cats. And I especially love the two Zen Master cats with whom I live, Spock & Thor. I love to laugh. I love New York City. I love good food, love veggilicious food. Love to read. Love Yoga. D’oh! It all comes around back to that for me…

Jenny Gammello in Forbes Magazine!

2011-11-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

Hey New York Yogis! Our one and only Jenny Gammello is featured in the December issue of Forbes! Check out a blurb and the link below!

"After graduating from Carnegie Mellon in 2005 Jenny Gammello spent two years in New York City struggling to launch an acting career before deciding to make her peace with grown-up job reality—and study for the LSAT. But a funny thing happened on Gammello’s way to law school. She answered a Craigslist ad from a local yoga studio and found she could make a living doing something she enjoyed even more than acting."
-"How Millenials Can Survive and Thrive in the New Economy," Forbes

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 11

2011-11-10T12:52:00.000-08:00

This edition of Sounds Like Yoga comes from instructor Aubrey Lampkin, featuring the sounds of Massive Attack, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Broken Bells, and much more! Catch Aubrey's hot vinyasa class on Thursdays from 6:30pm-7:50pm at our Hot Studio on E. 85th Street. Check out the playlist here on our YouTube channel!

Power. Yoga. Power Yoga.

2011-11-09T13:23:00.000-08:00

Check out this really interesting article by Paul Kendall in London's Telegraph, "Power yoga: how money has changed a spiritual pursuit," about the relationship between people of power and yoga. Here's a preview:

"Suddenly, it’s not only acceptable for alpha males to do yoga; it’s considered by many to be a badge of honour. Billionaire investor Guy Hands, the British chairman of EMI, is a fan. So too are Peter Mandelson (who’s admitted a penchant for “hot” Bikram yoga) and Rahm Emanuel, President Obama’s former chief-of-staff. Russell Simmons, the multimillionaire founder of the hip hop label, Def Jam, does a one-and-a-half hour yoga workout every day and Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, was a devotee of the Indian guru Paramahansa Yogananda. When he died last month, it’s claimed the only book Jobs had downloaded on his iPad 2 was Yogananda’s Autobiography Of A Yogi."

babybites Babies' First Halloween Party at New York Yoga

2011-11-09T12:32:00.000-08:00

We were so excited to host the babybites Babies' First Halloween Party at our studio this past Halloween! Check out some photos below.

Dive into Devotional Warrior

2011-11-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

November Krama-rama: Devotional Warrior

by Rebecca Merritt

Devotional Warrior, though not a traditional yoga asana, is a pose that you have probably come across many times in your practice. When this came up as the pose of the month, I reached out to my teacher Jenny Gammello to see if there was a Sanskrit name for Devotional Warrior I was forgetting. We discussed that there isn’t one because Devotional Warrior is a krama; a transitional pose on the way to poses like lizard or yogi foot behind the head. Jenny encouraged me to honor it even so, saying, “Evolution of the form is as beautiful and important as the traditional roots.”

In Sanskrit, krama means: in order, one after another, or gradually. So Devotional Warrior is a stepping stone to deeper variations of the same shape. November is a perfect time to explore the idea of being on your way to something, but not yet being at the potential end goal. In yoga, we are taught to be in the moment, we do not practice to get any where but instead to value where we are right now. November is a time to appreciate our blessings and give thanks. It is a chance to look back and see the steps we’ve taken in order to get where we are, but more so, to find gratitude in the present moment.

This November, take the time to be a Devotional Warrior, honoring your evolution but also your perfect, present self.

How To:

1. From Downward Facing Dog step the right foot forward between your hands. On your inhale, bend the front knee, pivot the back foot, and rise up into Warrior I. You may want to step the right foot out slightly wider to the right, encouraging uddiyana bandha to help keep your balance.

2. On your exhale, swim the arms behind you and clasp the hands. Inhale and straighten the arms, rolling the shoulder blades down your back to meet, to lift and open the heart. All the while, keep a bend in the front knee.

3. Ground into the feet, as you exhale, hinge at the hips and fold forward to the inside of your right thigh. Draw the hands up and over the head to stretch the shoulders.

4. Hold the pose for five breaths. Keep drawing your right hip back to deepen the stretch.

5. To come out of the pose, release the arms and inhale back to Warrior I. Transition into Downward Facing Dog and repeat on the left side.

Benefits:

- Stretches and strengthens shoulders.

- Stretches and strengthens the thighs, calves and ankles.

- Good hip opener to prepare for deeper postures.

- Helps improve focus.

Children and Yoga

2011-11-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

Yoga has been proven to have innumerable health and emotional benefits for younger and older children alike. Check out this fantastic article, "Yoga for Kids" by Marsha Wenig, in Yoga Journal for more!

"The bustling pace of our children's lives can have a profound effect on their innate joy—and usually not for the better.

I have found that yoga can help counter these pressures. When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they can navigate life's challenges with a little more ease. Yoga at an early age encourages self-esteem and body awareness with a physical activity that's noncompetitive. Fostering cooperation and compassion—instead of opposition—is a great gift to give our children."

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 10

2011-11-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Check out our latest installment of Sounds Like Yoga, featuring the yoga class playlist of our own Emily Shapiro! It features tunes from Bjork, Cat Power, and The Shins for an indie-tastic yoga experience. Give it a listen on our YouTube channel here.

New York Yoga Halloween Special!

2011-10-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

Animals Talking in All Caps: Yoga Edition

2011-10-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

If you haven't yet seen the wonderfully silly Tumblr "Animals Talking in All Caps", here is a yoga-fied selection we love:

Eight Things I Learned from 50 Naked People

2011-10-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

The way we present our unclothed bodies says a lot about us, especially to Kate Bartolotta. Bartolotta is a massage therapist who contributed this great article, "Eight Things I Learned from 50 Naked People," to Elephant Journal back in September. As she says, our muscles and our skin tell a story of ourselves, so it's best to be truthful at all times, no matter how difficult it may be.

The "Curvy Yoga" Debate

2011-10-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

It's been a trend recently for studios to offer "full-figured" or "curvy" yoga classes, based on the idea that some poses in yoga are not easy for people of all shapes and sizes as perhaps we would like to believe. Many in the yoga community have opined about the subject, stating that yes, curvy yoga is a good way to diminish self-esteem issues that a typical yoga class might present for a full-figured person; or no, that having separate classes goes directly against yoga's philosophy of unity. Check out this article on YogaDork for more information. How do you feel about the subject?

"An overly brief and incomplete history of Yoga flowchart!"

2011-10-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

As those of you YogaDorks know, the site often features a yoga-related infographic. We especially like this one, designed by Allison Hinks, which shows a brief history of yoga through to today!

Teacher of the Month: Donnalynn Civello

2011-10-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

By Rebecca Merritt

Any student taking class from Donnalynn Civello is a lucky one. She is always fully present, ready to support and offer words of wisdom. She is a teacher who offers something new in every class and will always leave you pondering life. Because of her philosophy and grace, students come back to their mat week after week seeking more knowledge from this beautiful teacher.

Donnalynn teaches a challenging class that pushes you to experience your practice and be the poses. You will leave class renewed – in part from her aromatherapy massages but more so – from the love that Donnalynn puts into her classes.

Come visit Donnalynn at New York Yoga: Mondays at 6:20am for Vinyasa All Levels, Wednesdays at 7:35pm for Vinyasa All Levels or 9:05pm for Candlelight Vinyasa, and Sunday mornings at 8:20am for Vinyasa All Levels.

When did you first discover yoga?

I would have to say 1995. My ex was a vegan and a yogi. He got me involved in the Jivamukti community.

How long have you been teaching?

Officially since 2005 but unofficially since 2003. I worked with Raji Thron at Yoga Synthesis. He was in Colorado for a while. He’s in New Jersey now. It was a certification in five different kinds of yoga. – Ashtanga, Iyengar, Viniyoga, Classical Hatha and Anusara.

What makes your class unique?

I like to try to make my class a place of respite from the day to day because the world out there is crazy. I try to create a space where students can just be and where they don’t feel judged. I want them to feel supported and feel special. I give them words for wisdom of living, to help the live the best life they can, and I also try to create this sort of sanctuary with aromatherapy oils and lotions. I very purposefully use five senses. I really try to give them a full sensory experience. But the most important is to help them de-stress and to feel special, supported and inspired.

What is your favorite pose to teach?

Tripod headstand. I love teaching tripod because its one of those poses that is so rudimentary but everyone’s intimidated by it. But once you break it down its really easy and people get excited and inspired that they can do something like a headstand. It encourages them.

What is you favorite pose to practice?

Pincha Mayurasana. I love inversions. This one in particular is such a subtle balance. The tendency is to arch the spine and it takes such a subtle adjustment to tuck the tailbone towards the heels. When you straighten out and all the vertebrae stack you catch the air and the balance – you feel weightless. You send the feet to the sky; you let the sky take it and all the weight transfers. I cold just hang out there. I love it.

Best advice for beginners?

There’s no competition. Your practice is between you and your mat; don’t worry about what your neighbors are doing. No judgment. Listen, and be, and allow your breath.

I tell my students, I just want you to listen to me and let your body express itself. I just care that you listen and let your body have fun with it. I try to make my students feel nurtured and supported – I only care that they try.

Best advice for more advanced yogis?

Don’t think you know it all, because there’s a big difference between doing the pose and being the pose. There’s always room to take a pose deeper. Most people stop at doing the pose, but you need to breathe it and open up the chakras. Stop thinking “is this right, is this right.” It’s not about that. Once you know how to do a pose – that’s when the work starts. Knowing how to do it is just the beginning.

What is your biggest yoga pet peeve?

Celebrity yoga egos. I just feel like yoga is not about me. It’s about my students. The ego doesn’t have a place in yoga. If the egos there it becomes something else.

Reader questions…

How does being a nutritionist and Holistic Health Coach affect your practice?

Everything comes down to the fact that yogis need to have a clean diet. You are what you put into your body. And if you’re putting toxins in the body, the body is never going to achieve the subtle body connection of yoga.

Diet, mood, stress level, the amount of sleep you’ve had – are all part of your yoga practice. Understanding a holistic approach to life helps your practice. Everything comes out on your mat and it helps you understand what is going on in your life and your body.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

My dad was my teacher, he taught me everything. One of the best is that life is a game, and it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it only matters how you play it. I remind myself of that when things get hard. The only things that really matter are our connections to each other. It doesn’t matter how much money you made, but it does matter who you stepped on to get there. Learning to relax and learning to not take life so seriously helps things to be and flow easier. Allow what’s meant to be or come to you, come to you.

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 9

2011-10-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

Sounds Like Yoga is back with another installment of our yoga teachers' favorite tunes from class. This week is a great one from Donnalynn Civello, featuring Train, Beyonce, and Blue Mitchell! Catch Donnalynn's classes on Mondays from 6:20am to 7:20am (Vinyasa All), Wednesdays from 7:35pm-8:50pm (Vinyasa All) and 9:05-10:20 (Candlelight), and Sundays from 8:20am-9:35am (Vinyasa All), all at the York Studio.Visit the playlist on our YouTube channel and zen out!

New York Yoga's Jenny Gammello is a Lululemon Ambassador!

2011-10-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday New York Yoga's own Jenny Gammello taught her first class as a Lululemon Ambassador at the new Lululemon Athletica location on 85th and Madison. We're so proud of Jenny, and we're excited to see what else she'll be up to. Who knows? Maybe she'll be able to score us some free gear...

Here's some insight from Jenny on her experience so far:
It is a beautiful feeling in life to be supported and encouraged by community. I found that at New York Yoga, and now I'm expanding my family tree by becoming an Ambassador at Lululemon on Madison Avenue. At the opening of the store the excitement and positivity in the air was electric as we met the team and all the Ambassadors got to see our photos on the wall. Our new Lululemon on the UES offers the opportunity to reach out to and inspire even more people to find bliss and peace through the practice of Yoga, and our community so much richer for it!

Jenny Gammello, right (and above in the photo!),
with General Manager LeighAnn Monteith, left.

Got the Yoga Munchies?

2011-10-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is, but savasana brings out the hungry in all of us. If we're not jumping right into a meal, though, what's best to snack on in the meantime? We've posted before about various post-yoga snacks, and here are some more for you. A recent article on FitSugar gives some great suggestions that are not only good for you, but tasty too, like bananas and chocolate peanut butter! For more information, check out the article here. What are your favorite post-yoga snacks?

How Yoga Won The West

2011-10-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

Hey New York Yogis,

Check out this interesting article, "How Yoga Won The West," by Ann Louise Bardach in The New York Times. It highlights the Indian monk Vivekananda and how he brought yogic spirituality to the west. Vivekananda popularized the practice at the end of the 19th century, preaching simply "work and worship," and was almost instantly a hit here in the States. When we're on our yoga mats today, we have him to thank.

October Specials!

2011-09-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

Put Down Roots with Vrksasana

2011-09-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

October Pose of the Month: Vrksasana

By Rebecca Merritt

Autumn bring us a new season and with it a new schedule. As the kids go back to school we are reminded once again to rededicate ourselves to the practice of yoga. If you feel like time is rushing by or if there are too many to-dos on your list this month, return to your mat and notice that you can slow time down. Vrksasana or tree pose reminds us that we can be flexible and rooted, even when the wind tries to blow us every which way.

Benefits:

Strengthens spine
Strengthens thighs, calves, and ankles
Stretches inner thighs
Stretches chest and shoulders
Improves balance
Relieves sciatica
Reduces flat feet

How to:

1. Begin in Tadasana.

2. Shift your weight slightly onto the left foot, as you bend your right knee.

3. Begin to lift the right knee towards the chest so that you can reach down and clasp your right ankle with your right hand.

4. Draw the sole of your right foot up and against the inner left thigh; if possible. The foot may also rest on the side of the calf if the thigh cannot be reached. (Just be sure to avoid rest is on the side of the knee.)

5. Try to keep the pelvis square over the left foot and in a neutral, parallel position – you can place your hand on your hips to help find this steadying position.

6. Lengthen tailbone toward the floor, press the right foot against the inner thigh as you resist with the left leg.

7. Draw hands together in Anjali Mudra – in prayer at the heart – and with a soft gaze focus on a fixed point in front of you on the floor.

8. Stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Step back to Tadasana with an exhalation and repeat for the same length of time on the other side.

The Yogasm Exists?

2011-09-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

According to an article in today's Daily Beast, the possibility of achieving an orgasm from yoga is entirely possible and happens more often than you'd expect. It comes from engaging the muscles around the mula bandha, the genitalia, for both men and women. As writer Lizzie Crocker reports, sexologist Dr. Jeffre TallTrees says: “When women engage their PC [pubococcygeus] muscles, the tissue around the g-spot swells, which can lead to climax.” For men it's a little different: "When a man draws his sexual energy in, and up toward his navel... he increases his ability to prolong his stamina in the bedroom." So yogasms aren't just an urban myth! Check out the rest of the article here.

Seattle Craigslist: Yoga Mat for Sale

2011-09-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

Check out this amazing, hilarious account of one man's experience in hot yoga for the first (and unfortunately the only) time, from Elephant Journal!

Via elephantjournal.com

Seattle Craigslist: Yoga mat for sale. Used once. – $1 (Bellevue)

Yoga mat for sale. Used once at lunch hour class in December 2009. Usage timeline as follows:

11:45a
Register for hot yoga class. Infinite wisdom tells me to commit to 5 class package and purchase a yoga mat. I pay $89.74. Money well spent, I smugly confirm to myself.

11:55a
Open door to yoga room. A gush of hot dry air rushes through and past me. It smells of breath, sweat and hot. Take spot on floor in back of room next to cute blonde. We will date.

11:57a
I feel the need to be as near to naked as possible. This is a problem because of the hot blonde to my left and our pending courtship. She will not be pleased to learn that I need to lose 30 pounds before I propose to her.

11:58a
The shirt and sweats have to come off. I throw caution to the wind and decide to rely on my wit and conditioning to overcome any weight issues my fiancée may take issue with. This will take a lot of wit and conditioning.

11:59a
Begin small talk with my bride to be. She pretends to ignore me but I know how she can be. I allow her to concentrate and stare straight ahead and continue to pretend that I don’t exist. As we finish sharing our special moment, I am suddenly aware of a sweat moustache that has formed below my nose. This must be from the all the whispering between us.

12:00p
Instructor enters the room and ascends her special podium at the front of the room. She is a slight, agitated Chinese woman. She introduces me to the class and everyone turns around to greet me just as I decide to aggressively adjust my penis and testes packed in my Under Armor. My bride is notably unfazed.

12:02p
Since I do have experience with Hot Yoga (4 sessions just 5 short years ago) I fully consider that I may be so outstanding and skilled that my instructor may call me out and ask me to guide the class. My wife will look on with a sparkle in her eye. We will make love after class.

12:10p
It is now up to 95 degrees in the room. We have been practicing deep breathing exercises for the last 8 minutes. This would not be a problem if we were all breathing actual, you know, oxygen. Instead, we are breathing each other’s body odor, expelled carbon dioxide and other unmentionables. (Don’t worry, I’ll mention them later.)

12:26p
It is now 100 degrees and I take notice of the humidity, which is hovering at about 90%. I feel the familiar adorning stare of my bride and decide to look back at her. She appears to be nauseated. I then realize that I forgot to brush my teeth prior to attending this class. We bond.

12:33p
It is now 110 degrees and 95% humidity. I am now balancing on one leg with the other leg crossed over the other. My arms are intertwined and I am squatting. The last time I was in this position was 44 years ago in the womb, but I’m in this for the long haul. My wife looks slightly weathered dripping sweat and her eyeliner is streaming down her face. Well, “for better or worse” is what we committed to so we press on.

12:40p
The overweight Hispanic man two spots over has sweat running down his legs. At least I think its sweat. He is holding every position and has not had a sip of water since we walked in. He is making me look bad and I hate him.

12:44p
I consider that if anyone in this room farted that we would all certainly perish.

12:52p
It is now 140 degrees and 100% humidity. I am covered from head to toe in sweat. There is not a square millimeter on my body that is not slippery and sweaty. I am so slimy that I feel like a sea lion or a maybe sea eel. Not even a bear trap could hold me. The sweat is stinging my eyeballs and I can no longer see.

12:55p
This room stinks of asparagus, cloves, tuna and tacos. There is no food in the room. I realize that this is an amalgamation of the body odors of 30 people in a 140 degree room for the last 55 minutes. Seriously, enough with the asparagus, ok?

1:01p
140 degrees and 130% humidity. Look, bitch, I need my space here so don’t get all pissy with me if I accidentally sprayed you with sweat as I flipped over. Seriously, is that where this relationship is going? Get over yourself. We need counseling and she needs to be medicated. Stat!

1:09p
150 degrees and cloudy. And hot. I can no longer move my limbs on my own. I have given up on attempting any of the commands this Chinese chick is yelling out at us. I will lay sedentary until the aid unit arrives. I will buy this building and then have it destroyed.
I lose consciousness.

1:15p
I have a headache and my wife is being a selfish bitch. I can’t really breathe. All I can think about is holding a cup worth of hot sand in my mouth. I cannot remember what an ice cube is and cannot remember what snow looks like. I consider that my only escape might be a crab walk across 15 bodies and then out of the room. I am paralyzed, and may never walk again so the whole crab walk thing is pretty much out.

1:17p
I cannot move at all and cannot reach my water. Is breathing voluntary or involuntary? If it’s voluntary, I am screwed. I stopped participating in the class 20 minutes ago. Hey, lady! I paid for this frickin class, ok?! You work for me! Stop yelling at everyone and just tell us a story or something. It’s like juice and cracker time, ok?

1:20p
It is now 165 degrees and moisture is dripping from the ceiling. The towel that I am laying on is no longer providing any wicking or drying properties. It is actually placing additional sweat on me as I touch it. My towel reeks. I cannot identify the smell but no way can it be from me. Did someone spray some stank on my towel or something?

1:30p
Torture session is over. I wish hateful things upon the instructor. She graciously allows us to stay and ‘cool down’ in the room. It is 175 degrees. Who cools down in 175 degrees? A Komodo Dragon? My wife has left the room. Probably to throw up.

1:34p
My opportunity to escape has arrived. I roll over to my stomach and press up to my knees. It is warmer as I rise up from ground level – probably by 15 degrees. So let’s conservatively say it’s 190. I muster my final energy and slowly rise. One foot in front of the other. One foot in front of the other. Towards the door. Towards the door.

1:37p
The temperature in the lobby is 72 degrees. Both nipples stiffen to diamond strength and my penis begins to retract into my abdomen from the 100 degree temp swing. I can once again breathe though so I am pleased. I spot my future ex wife in the lobby. We had such a good thing going but I know that no measure of counseling will be able to unravel the day’s turmoil and mental scaring.

1:47p
Arrive at Emerald City Smoothie and proceed to order a 32 oz beverage. 402 calories, 0 fat and 14 grams of protein — effectively negating any caloric burn or benefit from the last 90 minutes. I finish it in 3 minutes and spend the next 2 hours writing this memoir.

3:47p
Create Craigslist ad while burning final 2 grams of protein from Smoothie and before the “shakes” consume my body.

4:29p
Note to self – check car for missing wet yoga towel in am.

New York Yoga at Fashion Week!

2011-09-15T13:14:00.000-07:00

Words and Pictures by Elyssa Goodman

During this past Fashion Week, we at New York Yoga had the pleasure of attending designer Vivienne Tam's yoga collection presentation, a "Live Sculpture Garden," at Lincoln Center. At the edge of the Barclay's Capital Grove, 20 female yogis downward-dogged, planked, and chaturangaed while wearing Tam's designs, all of which were made of hemp and organic cotton blend fabrics (incidentally, such fabrics allow moisture wicking, anti-bacterial and UV protection, and natural deodorization). This is Tam's first collection of yoga wear, made in collaboration with leading Chinese sports brand LI-NING. An active yogi herself, Tam always wanted her yoga apparel to be fashionable and functional, so set to developing her own line. This Fashion Week the line premiered, after 13 years in the making. As Tam herself has said, "Yoga has been the one thing that not only keeps me focused but provides me with a sense of peace and better energy," and many ways this line is her way to give back.

The presentation was choreographed by Gaiam power couple Rodney and Colleen Yee, who were also on site to guide the yogis through warm-ups and cool-downs. New York Yoga's own Kelly Stackhouse was one of the yogi/models involved, and you can see pictures of her and the collection below.

As Kelly says, she "seriously loved loved the experience! So rewarding to do something like this for an audience in such beautiful clothing with such inspirational teachers. Was amazing to meet and work with Vivienne and to finally meet in person the wonderful Rodney Yee who I have been eager to meet since I first began studying in 2005 in Toronto, Canada. It was also so great to work with so many beautiful teachers from all sorts of studios all over Long Island and New York City. Teachers I've heard of that I hadn't had the pleasure to meet. And when we had the opportunity to freestyle our practice at Lincoln Center, the things people were doing were so incredible. Just so much talent and beauty...a yoga fashion show, what a brilliant idea. Yes, I would do it again. And again and again. "

That's NYY instructor Kelly Stackhouse on the right!

Rodney and Colleen Yee

Teacher of the Month: Gabriella Barnstone

2011-09-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

By Rebecca Merritt

Gabriella Barnstone teaches from her growing love and knowledge of yoga. She is heartfelt, fun, wise and is able to meet you at whatever level you are practicing at with ease. She is a teacher who can take you from beginner to advanced student while continuing to challenge and surprise you as the journey progresses. No matter how advanced you become, she will remind you to keep a beginner’s open mind and to try not to stress about what’s coming next – whether it be in your practice, the class itself or life in general.

At New York Yoga, Gabriella teaches both Basics and All Levels classes. Her sequences work you toward a peak pose or encourage you to focus on one particular part of the practice each time, keeping her classes exciting and ever changing. Her classes will help you check your stress at the door, breathe and lose yourself in the Vinyasa flow.

You can visit Gabriella at New York Yoga on Mondays at 9:35am for Vinyasa All Levels, Thursdays at 11:05am for Vinyasa All Levels, Fridays at 11:05am for Vinyasa Basics and Saturdays at 1:05pm for Vinyasa All Levels.

When did you first discover yoga?

I think a friend took me to Jivamukti back in the days when Madonna used to go there. But really I started doing yoga because I was taking dance classes and making my own dance theatre work. I was used to everything being so technical and I wanted it to be more idea based. So I needed something that could help me stay strong and loose but that wasn’t dance. When I got into yoga and found myself going all the time, never missing class, and from there just really interested in it.

How long have you been teaching?

When my first teacher training opportunity presented itself to me I thought, I have to do this, I can’t not. I have only been teaching for four years – I feel like a baby. I’m constantly learning something new. I did my 200 hour at Laughing Lotus and I’m currently working towards my 300 hour at Yoga Maya.

What makes your class unique?

My vague answer is me. I believe you teach who you are. I think that’s why it’s so interesting to take class with different people, because you’re bound to get a different perspective that is truly unique. I believe every teacher has something to offer for that reason.

What is your favorite pose to teach?

I love, love, love focusing on specific poses in my classes. It is hard for me to pick just one peak pose. I’m going to have to say Savasana. I am not “teaching” Savasana but I am offering it in every single class. I think that it is such an important pose. Most people will say they love it but I have had students who have a lot of trouble with it. Sukasana is that way too. But you do all the other poses so you can do this pose. I find the sitting and stillness can be very hard for people – it can be hard for me too sometimes.

What is you favorite pose to practice?

I have to say Downward Facing Dog, because it always feels like coming home. I do a lot of puttering and warm up on my mat. So when you come in to Down Dog its just the moment of coming to my practice.

Best advice for beginners?

One of my favorite Sutras is the yoga practice should be for a long time, with devotion and enthusiasm. So don’t worry about what you’re trying to accomplish. This will be never-ending practice. If there’s poses you can’t do, don’t worry about it, because there’s always going to be poses you can’t do.

Best advice for more advanced yogis?

Always be a beginner. Try to have a beginners mind about everything. Once you’ve lost that, what is there?

What is your biggest yoga pet peeve?

What’s interesting to me about pet peeves as a teacher is that there’s nothing you have seen that you haven’t actually done yourself. This is totally yoga because when things come as that may be a pet peeve they are usually something that we know we have done before and they are right in front of us to deal with.

Reader questions…

How has being a dancer influenced your practice?

I think it’s definitely what made me attracted to Vinyasa, because the flow and linking everything together is similar. It also influenced my practice because I already had an awareness of the body. Though the way that I’m aware of the body now is so vastly different thanks to yoga. My interest in specificity comes from my dance experience too. I love how specific the yoga practice is. Physically it’s a completely different thing but I’m constantly amazed at the poses, their alignment and how intelligent they are.

What are your passions besides yoga?

I have a dance theater company which is definitely a passion. And I really feel like the practice of yoga has made me stop and breath and enjoy things. It has helped me to enjoy my life outside of work – relaxing, cooking, going to the farmers market, etc. It has become my passion to enjoy the simple things in life.

Where Is Yoga Going?

2011-09-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

Yoga seems to have moved a long way from only being practiced by men in India. Many modern yoga experts worry that it's become more of a business than a practice. Take a look at this article from Forbes by Alice Walton, where experts like Seane Corn and Rodney Yee discuss the state of yoga today and where it might be headed in the future.

Yoga and PTSD

2011-09-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

We've posted before about the positive effects of yoga on post-traumatic stress disorder patients, but this time writer Anu Bhagwati shares her personal story of the way yoga has affected her journey back from the brink of PTSD. As Bhagwati writes, practicing yoga ends up being difficult for military veterans because they have trouble making themselves vulnerable in what are supposed to be some of yoga's most relaxing positions, like savasana. Read more of Bhagwati's powerful story about yoga and PTSD on The Huffington Post.

September Specials!

2011-09-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Hey New York Yogis, check out our specials for September below!

Humbled by Hanumanasana

2011-09-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

September Pose of the Month
By Rebecca Merritt

This pose is named for the Hindu deity Hanuman, a devotee of Rama. During a great battle, Rama’s brother, Laksmana, falls ill and can only be cured by an herb growing in the Himalayan Mountains. It is thought that no one can make it to the mountains and back in time. However, because of his deep love and devotion for Rama, Hanuman is able to do the impossible and leap across India to the Himalayan Mountains. He does not know which herb to pick, so he brings the entire mountain back to Rama. The herb is found, and Laksmana is saved.

Occasionally we come across a pose that is more about the krama, or steps, than the actual peak expression. I believe Hanumanasana is such a pose. Full split is not something you just happen to slide into; it is a pose we work on, gain an inch, and work on some more. Hanumanasana is about the journey, and surrendering to the process. It is a pose that may seem unfeasible at first, but if you are devoted to the effort, there is no impossible.

Benefits:

Stretches/strengthens hamstrings, thighs, hips, groin and legs
Helps prevent and treat pain of sciatica
Stimulates the abdominal organs and by increasing circulation
Develops concentration and will-power

How To:

1. Begin in a lunge position. Lower the back knee to the floor. Bring the palms or fingertips to the floor, and draw the hips back to straighten the front leg; flex the front foot.

2. Slide the front leg forward. At the same time, sneak the back leg back an inch at a time.

3. Keep the hips squared to the front; continue to inch the front leg forward and the back leg back, slowly lowering the hips to the floor. Stop and hold when you reach your peak stretch breathing into the pose.

4. Once you have both legs straightened and fully supported by the floor, inhale the arms up overhead or bring the palms to prayer at heart center. Balance here.

5. Slowly come out of the pose by bringing the hands to the floor and sliding the front heel towards you. Repeat, bringing the opposite leg forward this time.

My First Time

2011-08-31T12:25:00.000-07:00

The yoga world is chock full of yoga superstars, but how did they get started? In this fun article from Mind Body Online, some of yoga's hottest teachers share their experiences from the very first yoga class they ever took. Many were brought by friends or were just intrigued by the prospect of doing something new. What brought you to your first yoga class? What was it like?

September Happenings at New York Yoga!

2011-08-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

Hi New York Yogis,

Take a look at some of our fantastic events coming in September and mark your calendars now! As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to contact us at info@newyorkyoga.com or 212.717.9642.

Teacher of the Month: Martha Evenson

2011-08-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

By: Rebecca Merritt

Martha is an 800 hour Jivamukti certified yoga teacher, classically trained in ballet, and has probably taught any fitness class you could name. This is enough to show she is experienced in her field. But there is so much more to Martha than that because she is a yogi who has devoted her life to the practice. This devotion comes through in the way she teaches her classes and talks about yoga.

Whether you are new to the practice or a long time practitioner Martha’s classes will help you grow and experience your practice in a purposeful way. Her alignment based vinyasa flow classes and her incredible adjustments will help you fully embody the asana. She will challenge, move and maybe even heal you.

Check out Martha’s 90min Hot Vinyasa class at New York Yoga Hot, Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

When did you first discover yoga?

It’s been a long time; I don’t really remember. I did Pilates before yoga, when I first came to New York for ballet. At the time there were only three Pilates teachers in NY who had trained directly w/ Pilates himself. I have been in the fitness industry my whole life. I ran a fitness program for two gyms and taught every sort of exercise class you could name – whatever trend was popular. I was exposed to yoga early, probably through dance. But I first got really interested in it when I started to take Ashtanga with Beryl Bender; I took her class, got hooked, and started practicing on my own.

How long have you been teaching?

I taught yoga at the gym before I did my certification – so since 1998 or 1999. I got my certification from Jivamukti in 2007.

What makes your class unique?

It is hard to think of yoga as unique, I’ve taken a lot of different styles of yoga and the basis is all the same. What I like to do in my class is use music and have people move and feel their bodies. I like to help students experience some opening in their bodies and experience their body in a new way.

I like to give hands on adjustments because you can put someone in a pose they would not be able to do on their own. Then they can feel what its like to really be in it. And when someone puts their hands on another person in a healing, caring way it’s very valuable. So music, adjustments, and I focus a lot on alignment – which goes back to my ballet dancing days.

What is your favorite pose to teach?

That changes from time to time – usually something that I haven’t taught before. I find it very interesting to figure out how to teach a new pose and stretch myself a little bit.

What is you favorite pose to practice?

Same thing – I like to try new things or something I haven’t done. It’s amazing to me that there are so many poses that I can still find ones that I haven’t done before.

Best advice for beginners?

Be sure not to view yoga as just another exercise. It’s so much more and you’ll miss out if you don’t see that.

Best advice for more advanced yogis?

Same advice. There’s more too it. Yoga is about something other than the exercise.

What is your biggest yoga pet peeve?

Being a yogi I try not to have a pet peeve. I try to see everything as equal. I guess my pet peeve would be when I myself don’t see everything as equal, when I start to be judgmental.

Reader questions…

How do you incorporate yoga into your daily life?

I would say for me, its influences everything in my life. I’m a vegan. My husband is also a yogi and we spend a lot of time practicing yoga, meditating, chanting, and studying scripture. I try to all day devote myself to following the teachings of yoga in every interaction I have. Whether it’s on the bus and someone needs a seat or helping people. Not judging people and seeing something as good or bad, but seeing all things as equal. Staying level.

Has being a classically trained ballerina influenced your yoga practice?

It’s a huge influence. I had amazing teachers. I was really fortunate to go to a high school for the arts and study with amazing teachers. I pull from what I learned from them all the time when I teach class. The discipline of teaching and practicing ballet is very similar to yoga – focus.

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 8

2011-08-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

This week we've got a playlist from New York Yoga instructor Donnalynn Civello. Catch Donnalynn's classes on Mondays from 6:20am to 7:20am (Vinyasa All), Wednesdays from 7:35pm-8:50pm (Vinyasa All) and 9:05-10:20 (Candlelight), and Sundays from 8:20am-9:35am (Vinyasa All), all at the York Studio.

Have a Little Faith
Michael Franti & Spearhead

Save Me, San Francisco
Train

Killing Me Softly With His Song
The Fugees

Berretin
Juanjo Dominguez

Ganesha
Wah!

Love's Ash Dissolves
Mark Isham

Kali Durga
Mercedes Bahleda

Chariots for Anthony
Jeff Johnson Trio

Larghetto from Serenade for Strings in E. Major, Op. 22
Alexander Titov New Classical Orchestra

Run, Yoga, Run!

2011-08-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

Though she wasn't a yoga fan at first, NBC New York's Melissa Davison noticed that her running got easier as she began taking yoga more often. Why? Balance, Core Strength, and Flexibility. Eventually, yoga not only made running easier for her, but improved her running skills. Check out the article here to see how it works!

The Art of Letting Go

2011-08-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

So much of yoga is the release of the outside world, calming the mind as well as the body. One of the ways we do this is by letting go and learning to accept life for the beautiful mess of chaos that it is. In his Elephant Journal article "Letting Go: What it means. How to do it." Seth Segall discusses the importance of learning to grow and change with your life's paths. For inspiration and tips on learning how to let go, check out the article here.

New York Yoga August Specials!

2011-08-03T13:53:00.001-07:00

Yoga > Fibromyalgia

2011-08-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

Yet another really fantastic health benefit of yoga is its ability to raise levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. This is the kind of stress hormone that's good to have a lot of, however. Higher levels of cortisol means a decreased level of pain, higher energy, and lower sensitivity to stress. In a recent study at York University, results showed that yoga's increase in cortisol has helped relieve not only pain in female fibromyalgia patients, but their stress levels about their illness. It doesn't only work for fibromyalgia patients, though, so if you're feeling stressed or achy, hit the mat for some much needed and beneficial R&R. Check out the article here for more.

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 7

2011-07-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

This week's playlist is a funky one from New York Yoga instructor Courtney Scarff. Courtney teaches a 60 Minute Hot Vinyasa Class at our Hot Studio on 85th Street on Saturdays from 8am-9am. Check out her class for some more sweet tunes like these and of course some fantastic yoga!

Slow Aging with Exercise!

2011-07-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

According to the article "How Exercise Can Keep the Brain Fit" by Gretchen Reynolds in The New York Times's Well Blog, a recent study shows that even the slightest activity--like cooking, gardening, or walking-- at an older age can slow dementia's progress. Greater activity can be even more helpful:

"If an inactive 70-year-old is heading toward dementia at 50 miles per hour, by the time she’s 75 or 76, she’s speeding there at 75 miles per hour,” said Jae H. Kang, an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School and senior author of the study. “But the active 76-year-olds in our study moved toward dementia at more like 50 miles per hour.” Walking and other light activity had bought them, essentially, five years of better brainpower.

If dementia can be slowed by exercise, one doctor says in the article, then this will greatly alter the aging process.

Experiencing Yogic Pleasure

2011-07-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

Interested in a deeper experience of sensual pleasures? In her Yoga Journal article "If It Feels Good," well-regarded meditation and yoga philosophy teacher Sally Kempton explains the a variety of pleasure types and how we can better our experiences of them. As Kempton says, "Pleasure is the emotional core of our sense of aliveness," and we can bring it into our lives in general and yoga practice specifically by taking joy in our activities. Sounds easy, right? There's actually more to it than you might think. Check out the article here, and make time for some pleasure in your life today.

$10 Yoga, Today Only!

2011-07-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

We're feeling steamy, are you?
Our A/C's out at the York studio, but classes are still in session!
Come in today with this ticket for $10 classes all day (click to enlarge).

New York Yoga on Well + Good NYC!

2011-07-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Highly regarded, New York- based online health resource Well + Good NYC featured New York Yoga instructor Jenny Gammello in a recent article by Ingrid Skjong entitled "Are you a workout wimp?", about facing the challenges a workout presents. Jenny does us proud, saying “So many of us are in the habit of limiting ourselves...I believe that the physical limitations we sometimes feel have to do more with emotional fears." Way to go, Jenny!

Meditation Will Pump YOU Up!

2011-07-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

As the great Hans and Franz once said, "We're going to pump you up!"

Little did they know the brain could also be pumped up...and by meditation no less! According to a recent study at UCLA, meditation may be like a push-up for the brain. According to author Mark Wheeler, "specific regions in the brains of long-term meditators were larger and had more gray matter than the brains of individuals in a control group. This suggested that meditation may indeed be good for all of us since, alas, our brains shrink naturally with age." This is because meditation may increase connectivity amongst many different regions of the brain, increasing strength over time. Check out the full article here, and keep up your meditation. Your 85-year-old self will thank you.

Teacher of the Month: Emily Wolf

2011-07-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

By Rebecca Merritt

Emily Wolf’s devotion to her practice and beliefs is contagious. Trust me when I say this is one bug you want to catch. If we all remember to breathe, practice and clear our minds – as Emily teaches – we will live more content lives on and off the mat. Her asana classes are challenging, perfectly balanced, and help us become the yogi we all strive to be.

Emily is a home-grown New York Yoga teacher. Her classes incorporate Ashtanga traditions, meditative focus and philosophy. She recently earned her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology, focusing on how to incorporate yoga and meditation to Western psychotherapy. She is also a member of the 200 Hour Teacher Training Faculty where she teaches Ashtanga, Meditation and Lineage.

You can check out Emily’s classes at the New York Yoga Hot Studio on Thursdays at 6:35pm and Saturdays at 11:00pm.

When did you first discover yoga?
I discovered yoga in 1999 after I had come to an emotional, spiritual, and physical bottom. Yoga slowly became part of a healing process for me. I really took to the spiritual aspects of it. I had studied it academically, and was very interested in religion, especially Eastern religions, but was never able to connect at a practice level. Once I started in asana classes, the meditation and Eastern philosophy all became a personal experience instead of an intellectual one.

How long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching since 2005. I did my training at New York Yoga with David Hollander and Michael Gilbert.

What makes your class unique?
My classes are based on my own practices which come from Tibetan Buddhism and the Ashtanga asana tradition. My experience as I’m teaching is like a meditation, which I hope I convey that on some level. I also try to integrate philosophy – my classes are not necessarily all about the asana. The asana is essential but it is just the vehicle.

What is your favorite pose to teach?
Any inversion; I like turning everything upside down.

What is you favorite pose to practice?
Right now, Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel pose). There’s heart opening, it’s invigorating, and it’s a little bit of inversion so everything’s kind of upside down. I can easily walk through the world with a closed off and self-protected stance. Urdhva Dhanurasana is a deep opening and is opposite of that. It reminds me to open my heart and be vulnerable.

Best advice for beginners?
Just breathe. Do not worry. In the words of Pattabhi Jois, “Practice and all is coming.” Just keep coming; take it slowly.

Best advice for more advanced yogis?
Don’t take yourself too seriously. We have to stay inspired, keep close to our teachers and those who inspire us. When the practice gets dry, when it feels complacent or dull or boring that’s when we really have to show up and find the enthusiasm again. Go back to the teachings and your teachers to get inspired. Do not give up. This is a lifelong process. We have to continue to keep stepping up. That doesn’t necessarily mean advanced postures. That means going deeper.

What is your biggest yoga pet peeve?
When I find myself getting competitive and when I see my students get competitive or comparing themselves to others. The comparison and critiquing is a dangerous mentality we can all fall into.

Reader Questions…

How do you incorporate yoga and meditation into your daily life?
It is important for me to set aside time for formal asana practice and meditation on a daily basis. No matter what happens in any given day, I commit to my practice and connect to something bigger than my self, like an anchor that I can rely on. Buddhist meditation is not just basic mindfulness, concentration or "clearing the mind," but rather includes contemplations and practices to engage in throughout the day. I find that EVERY time I'm angry, impatient, agitated, bored, needy, fearful or any destructive emotion, it is an opportunity to grow, transform it, and apply Buddhist practices/contemplations. Every encounter with my self and the world is an opportunity to practice.

How has Buddhism affected your practice?
Buddhism informs every part of my life. I was first interested in and studied Buddhism before starting a yoga asana practice, so I guess you could say it's been the foundation of the practice. I've been very focused recently on ethics and karma in both Buddhism and the yoga sutras, and I would say that directly impacts my practice. In a nutshell, every single thing I do, think, say, and put in my body matters, and has positive or negative consequences. If I am kind to others and rejoice in their good merits and efforts, then I feel the positive emotions rather than competitiveness or jealousy. If I tell little lies and live dishonestly, my mind will be swirling with guilt and fear of being found out and it's nearly impossible cultivate stillness and probe into deeper meditations.

What are you passionate about besides yoga?
It's like a match.com response... I love being outdoors, biking, running, etc. Service to others is also really important for me, giving to others what has been so freely given to me. I am only at this point in my life due to the kindness of others. I'm also deeply passionate about my bulldogs Boris and Nugget! Peanut butter and ice cream and my husband are ranked up there pretty high too...

Yoga is My Om-boy

2011-07-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

Though technically Om is not understandable through words, when practicing yoga, we find that the experience of Om is different for everyone. What does it mean for you? Take a look at this sweet Om infographic, created by yogini Alison Hinks for YogaDork, and see where your meaning appears!

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 6

2011-07-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

This week we've got another yoga playlist gem from New York Yoga instructor Jimmy Burgio, featuring Iron & Wine, Broken Social Scene, and even Sade! Give it a listen and get your asana on at one of Jimmy's classes Friday mornings from 8:25 to 9:25 AM, Saturdays from 9:15 to10:30 AM and 2:45 to 3:45 PM, and Sundays from 5-6:15 PM, all at our Hot Studio on 85th Street and Lexington Avenue.

How Exercise Makes Us Feel Good

2011-07-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

We all exercise for different reasons - to lose weight, to train for that next race, because someone else said we should...

And we've all stumbled across the same conclusion - exercise makes us feel good! And finally there's scientific proof of this. In the article "How Exercise Makes Us Feel Good", author Gretchen Reynold's discusses three different studies that give us a sneak peak into the world of the 'exercise high'.

Let the Sunshine in with Surya Namaskar

2011-06-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

Pose of the Month: Surya Namaskar
By Rebecca Merritt

In honor of the partial Solar Eclipse on the first of July, instead of offering one pose of the month, we encourage you to take on twelve! Surya Namaskar, or Sun Salutations, workout the entire body and help focus the mind. Going deeper, they help us to surrender and take on each day. By saluting the sun we welcome good health and strength into our lives.

Sri K. Parrabhi Jois says, "... let me repeat that no asana practice is complete without sun worship. Without its focusing of mental energies, yoga practice amounts to little more than gymnastics and, as such, loses meaning and proves fruitless. Indeed the Surya Namaskara should never be mistaken for mere physical exercise --for something incidental, that is, that simply precedes the asanas of yoga. Therefore, it is necessary, before beginning the sun salutations, to pray to Surya [...] to bestow upon us the good fortune of having only good thoughts, of hearing and speaking only good words, and of attaining a sound and strong body, so that we may have a long life and, one day, achieve oneness with God."

If you have taken class at New York Yoga you are familiar with this powerful flow. Here is your chance to try it at home on your own step by step. You’ve been waiting for the right moment to start a daily yoga practice, right? Well, today is your day!

1. Begin in Tadasana, Mountain Pose.

2. Next, inhale and raise your arms overhead into Urdhva Hastasana, Upward Hand Pose. Reach your heart and arms to the sun.

3. As you exhale, fold forward into Uttanasana, Standing Forward Bend.

4. Inhale and lengthen your spine forward into Ardha Uttanasana, Half Standing Forward Bend, and lift the gaze. Extend the spine.

5. Exhale and step or hop your feet back behind you into Plank Pose. Hands are shoulder width apart, and feet are at hip distance.

6. Exhale and lower to Chaturanga Dandasana. Elbows are bent at 90 degrees; hold the body in one long line, pressing back through the heels.

7. Inhale your heart and chest forward into Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Upward-Facing Dog, pulling the shoulders back and opening the collarbones.

8. Exhale, tuck or roll over the toes, coming into Adho Mukha Svanasana, Downward-Facing Dog. Ground down through your hands and feet, lengthening the spine, drawing the hips back. Take five breaths here.

9. On your exhale, bend your knees and peek forward between your hands. At the bottom of your exhale hop or step your feet between your hands and inhale lift the heart to Ardha Uttanasana.

10. Exhale back to Uttanasana.

11. Inhale, reverse swan dive arms out and up overhead coming to Urdhva Hastasana.

12. Exhale and bring hands to heart center, Anjali Mudra. Remain here for a few breaths and then continue on to your next round of Surya Namaskar.

Science Loves Yoga

2011-06-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

We know that yoga makes us feel refreshed and even uncrumpled, but did you ever know why? In her article series "Penetrating Postures: The Science of Yoga", writer Alice Walton explores how the scientific phenomena brought out by yoga positively affects our health. For example, yoga has the potential to boost immune function, reduce levels of the stressor cortisol, reduce inflammation in the body and also increase endorphin levels. Check out Part I and Part II of the article to learn more!

What To Know When Moving to the Upper East

2011-06-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

Recently transplanted to the Upper East Side - blogger Martha Pierce emarks on her quest to find 'the best of the Upper East'.

In her article, "What To Know When Moving to the Upper East", let's all New Yorkers know where she spends her down time in her new hood:

'Fitness centers aren’t too common, but there are a couple New York Sports Clubs and a Road Runners Club that meets at 9 E. 89th Street. For yogis — I’m not an extremist, but I love my down time — New York Yoga is the only way to go!'

Thanks, Martha, for sharing the yoga love. Upper East Siders - Where are your 'Best of the Upper East Side' hot spots?

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 5

2011-06-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

This week's playlist is a from New York Yoga instructor Danielle Sheather's Heart Opening Vinyasa class. Practice your asanas to the likes of Ben Harper, Sheryl Crow, Tom Petty, Queen Latifah, and more! Catch Danielle's 90 Minute Hot Vinyasa All Levels class on Thursdays from 9:30-11 am at the Hot Studio on 85th and Lexington.

Why Yoga Won't Bring Sanity to Your Crazy Life

2011-06-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

What? How is that possible? Doesn't that go against everything we believe as yogis?

In her essay "Why Yoga Won't Bring Sanity to Your Crazy Life," Elephant Journal blogger and traveling yogini Sadie Nardini says it's not so:

"As teachers, we say, and hope that with regular practice, you will learn to still the mind in the face of chaos, whether it’s gale-force wind during your much-needed retreat, the raw unknown of falling into (or out of) love, or simply the cacophony that’s ever-present as rolling commentary from other people, your own fears, and the background noise of random thoughts.

The fact that many people actually experience this relief is something they equate with the poses, or consistency, or a sitting meditation practice. And it’s true, eking out a cozy, livable place within the crazy can, and perhaps must include any or all of these things. But they are not the first, most pivotal and deciding factor in whether or not you will be able to do anything you wish, from chillaxing the mental chatter, to dropping a few pounds or cutting loose another kind of weight: Mr. or Ms. Kind-of-Right-but-Mostly-Wrong over there."

According to Nardini, the primary factor that enables us to accomplish our goals is focus. Yes, yoga helps us focus, but it isn't necessarily the guiding light at the end of the tunnel. Check out the rest of Nardini's article and tell us what you think!

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 4

2011-06-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hey there, New York Yogis! It's that time of the week again: your latest yoga class playlist is here with a great selection by York Studio Manager Rebecca Merritt! Realign your chakras to the sounds of Bela Fleck, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Beatles, and more. Namaste.

Teacher of the Month: Jimmy Burgio

2011-06-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

By Rebecca Merritt

If you visit Jimmy Burgio’s website you will notice a theme right away. Is that the Bat-signal with an Om sign inside!? It sure is! “I love superheroes. Batman was an ordinary guy that does extraordinary things,” Jimmy tells me during our interview. “I feel like that’s who we are as yoga teachers. You discover that you are your own hero. You’re the one you’ve been waiting for.” Jimmy helps mold yoga superheroes of the future as part of New York Yoga’s Teacher Training staff. When you take his class, you will quickly learn that you are in the hands of an extraordinary teacher and yogi. You will also discover that he encourages you to trust yourself, be adventurous, laugh and try a crazy pose or two. Follow his lead and you may just fly.

Jimmy’s classes are made up of heart and devotion – and of course the dynamite sequencing doesn’t hurt. He will teach you to fuel your practice with love and inspire you to take your yoga off the mat and into your everyday life. Come join Jimmy for class at New York Yoga Hot: Mondays at 6:35pm, Wednesdays at 5:15pm, Saturdays at 9:15am or 2:45pm and Sundays at 5:00pm. Do not miss Jimmy’s Midnight Summer Solstice Hot Vinyasa class on Tuesday, June 21st – it is sure to be out of this world!

When did you first discover yoga?
Eight or nine years ago, through dance. I danced with a modern company in Virginia and one of my teachers used yoga as part of the warm ups. I just really loved it. I was also reading a lot about world religions and reincarnation and was just really interested. I started taking classes at My Yoga Spirit, with Rachel Page and Lisa Asha Rapp, and then joined the teacher training program there because I just had a moment of knowing this is it.

How long have you been teaching?Five years. First in Virginia, and now it’s been four years in NYC. When I first started teaching, I was just doing community, donation-based yoga classes. And then when I was in the city for school I decided I had this great skill so I needed to teach. New York Yoga was the first to hire me full time.
What makes your class unique?
I think that having a dancer’s sensibility – I feel like I am really in tune with how the body wants to move and what feels good. That coupled with full on devotion. I want my classes to be like moving prayer meditations. I want them to be life affirming. I want a student to leave and think, “Yes, I just did something crazy – this is my life!”
What is your favorite pose to teach?Visvamitrasana! I love that it’s a pose that has everything in it. It has hamstrings, it’s an arm balance and it is just so poetic because it balances earth and sky. You have one foot on the ground and the other is reaching up to heaven.

What is your favorite pose to practice?
Yoga Dandasana. I love the sacred geometry of the pose. It looks like it’s about strength but really if you place your elbow over your wrist and your foot over your elbow you will stay balanced. It’s like cooking – it’s methodical.

Best advice for beginners?Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. It is okay to be in there and feel like the teacher is speaking a foreign language – they probably are! Yoga is like being a foreign traveler; you strive to learn the language, the culture, and the traditions but it’s best to keep an adventurous spirit. Eventually you will become a native but don’t be afraid to fall, laugh or cry first.

Best advice for more advanced yogis?
Never take your oar out of the water. Even when you are taking break or wiping sweat you should stay connected to the source – your whole life should be yoga. Figure out what you can do to bring your yoga everywhere. I think devotion is the easiest way to do that.

What is your biggest yoga pet peeve?
Cell phones, cell phones, cell phones – nothing disrupts the scared space of a yoga studio like the ringtone of a text message.

Reader questions…

How do you incorporate yoga into your life off the mat?
I try to make my life a loving thing. I believe you should do everything not because you have to, but because you love to.

On your website you are Jimmy Nataraj Burgio, why?
Nataraj was given to me by my teacher. It is Shiva’s incarnation as the cosmic dancer. When Shiva dances the world is destroyed so it can begin anew. I don’t think they knew what a loaded thing they had given to me. Dancing has been a recurring motif in my life. Also after I was hit by a car I couldn’t dance anymore but that’s why I teach yoga. You are always in the dance and beginning again.

What is the most unusual thing you have done in the name of yoga?
Skinny dipping. When I was in teacher training I would leave feeling exhausted and frazzled – so I would drive my van onto the beach with a friend. She and I would run, peel off our clothes, and jump into the Chesapeake Bay! After we would listen to music and dance under the bridge. It reminded me why I was doing what I was doing. It was a moment I felt really connected. When you’re feeling overwhelmed you have to find a light in the dark.

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 3

2011-06-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest installment of our Sounds Like Yoga series, with a playlist from New York Yoga teacher Courtney Scarff. Max and relax to the tunes of Alexi Murdoch, Sufjan Stevens, and many more! Give it a listen here.

New York Yoga

Vrksasana 'Em, Cowboy!

Upcoming Events at New York Yoga!

Teacher of the Month: Sara Clark

January Pose of the Month – Yogi’s Choice!

How Yoga Can Lead to Pure Happiness

Snowga!

Sh*t Yogis Say

Yoga in the Art World

Cats are the Most Helpful Yogis

Boutique Blowout, Holiday Style!

Our Top 5 Yoga Holiday Gifts

Teacher of the Month: Linda Winnick

Holiday Specials at New York Yoga!

Yoga in New York, featuring New York Yoga!

Yoga Gets into Med School

Crumpled and Uncrumpled

Holiday Lovin'

New York Yoga Goes International!

Finding a Home to Practice

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 13

Our Holiday Party is Tomorrow!

Pose of the Month: Vasisthasana

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 12

Teacher of the Month: Juliana Mitchell

Jenny Gammello in Forbes Magazine!

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 11

Power. Yoga. Power Yoga.

babybites Babies' First Halloween Party at New York Yoga

Dive into Devotional Warrior

Children and Yoga

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 10

New York Yoga Halloween Special!

Animals Talking in All Caps: Yoga Edition

Eight Things I Learned from 50 Naked People

The "Curvy Yoga" Debate

"An overly brief and incomplete history of Yoga flowchart!"

Teacher of the Month: Donnalynn Civello

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 9

New York Yoga's Jenny Gammello is a Lululemon Ambassador!

Got the Yoga Munchies?

How Yoga Won The West

October Specials!

Put Down Roots with Vrksasana

The Yogasm Exists?

Seattle Craigslist: Yoga Mat for Sale

Seattle Craigslist: Yoga mat for sale. Used once. – $1 (Bellevue)

New York Yoga at Fashion Week!

Teacher of the Month: Gabriella Barnstone

Where Is Yoga Going?

Yoga and PTSD

September Specials!

Humbled by Hanumanasana

My First Time

September Happenings at New York Yoga!

Teacher of the Month: Martha Evenson

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 8

Run, Yoga, Run!

The Art of Letting Go

New York Yoga August Specials!

Yoga > Fibromyalgia

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 7

Slow Aging with Exercise!

Experiencing Yogic Pleasure

$10 Yoga, Today Only!

New York Yoga on Well + Good NYC!

Meditation Will Pump *YOU* Up!

Teacher of the Month: Emily Wolf

Yoga is My Om-boy

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 6

How Exercise Makes Us Feel Good

Let the Sunshine in with Surya Namaskar

Science Loves Yoga

What To Know When Moving to the Upper East

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 5

Why Yoga Won't Bring Sanity to Your Crazy Life

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 4

Teacher of the Month: Jimmy Burgio

Sounds Like Yoga, Volume 3

Meditation Will Pump YOU Up!