I began to delve into spiritual/physical practices with studies in Polarity Therapy in 2001. With a few hours of the course devoted to yoga the fire was lit. I quickly began practicing and teaching basic classes. My studies found inspiration from Iyengar, Ashtanga Vinyasa and Vini styles. Godfrey Devereux has been my greatest inspiration and source of knowledge regarding yoga. His clarity, depth and breadth of instruction have been powerful forces behind my understanding of yoga. I have completed a 500 hour course of study with him. Yoga has enabled me to combine my spiritual inclinations with my work. While this can be done with any work. Yoga seems exceptionally well suited for this combination. I wanted a career that fostered my health and that of others without compromising for the sake of money or anything else. I teach in Taos, New Mexico. I have been teaching for 7 years. Over this period I have taught over 5000 classes. I work with students at various levels up to intermediate. I also teach seniors, beginners and those with injuries. This time spent with students on the mat is my most valuable asset. I have seen a myriad of body types and helped each individual to access yoga.
I rarely use Sanskrit in class. I'm not interested in wowing you with weird esoteric techniques, foreign language, or religious ritual. I'm interested in practical experience. Knowledge about yoga is best gained by experience. You cannot understand what yoga is doing by watching a class. You have to get on the mat and experience it for yourself. I am most interested in having students experience unity. While this goal alone makes yoga worth the time and effort, it just so happens that in practicing these techniques we also greatly enhance our physical and mental health. Come to a class. Regardless of your level of ability or favored yoga "style", I can show you techniques that will enhance your yoga experience. If you're a beginner, so much the better. You're much less likely to have developed bad habits in yoga practice.
Styles of yoga have become fashionable and numerous. But if we consider the meaning of the word Yoga, we can see that styles suggest duality while Yoga means union. Styles of yoga can be looked at as pieces of yoga with particular techniqes or approaches emphasized by a group of adherents. Sometimes followers of a particular style begin to think that their's is the only way, or the best, or the closest to the truth. This is nonsense. Consider different styles as ways to enhance different parts of your own practice. Realize that there are many paths to the goal of yoga, namely realization of unity. No one style has the corner on achieving that goal. When I teach, I am trying to cultivate an awareness in the practitioner of 5 basic principles. These are alignment, flow, bandha, breath and awareness. These principles can be used in conjunction with any style. I strive for an environment of letting go in my classes. Yoga, if it is really yoga, will not be an act of aggression. I'm not here to force you into something. I'm simply here to facilitate your taking your body to where it can go with comfort and stability. This will be challenging, but it shouldn't be painful and it shouldn't cause injury. Yoga can be very spiritual, intellectual and physical but it can aslo be earthy, fun and emotional. Some well known styles that have influenced me are Ashtanga Vinyasa, Vini and Iyengar. I have learned the most from Godfrey Devereux, who has written several books on yoga and teaches in Italy and around the world.