Ask The Teacher

Students often express this concern. Feeling stiff is what brings many people to a yoga class. Yoga brings to mind a sense of being loose, flexible, “bendy,” and relaxed. So it can be challenging, or even depressing, to come to a class and realize just how stiff you are. You may be surprised to learn…

Question:  In some of your classes, we chant the Prayer to Patanjali. Who is Patanjali and why is he so important? Answer: Patanjali is best known for the Yoga Sutras. The Yoga Sutras are short, compact aphorisms (concise statements, containing a truth) of practical and philosophical wisdom that were first created 5,000 years ago. The Sutras were…

Question:  I know that I feel pretty good after a yoga class, but do you truly believe that yoga can have a positive impact on my future health? Answer: You know your question makes me recall a time long ago in my youth. I was a kid when JFK initiated his national fitness program. I know that…

You may have heard the word “bandha” associated with many yoga practices and wondered what that word means. Setu Bandha, Mula Bandha, and Jalandhara Bandha are a few examples. Jalandhara Banda is taught specifically as a breathing (Pranayama) practice. However, this lock is created naturally in some yoga postures that you do regularly in class like Setu Bandha (bridge…